Wellness Mama founder Katie Wells has published a do-it-yourself recipe for an “ultra creamy lip butter,” positioning it as a more nourishing option than some traditional lip balms and describing a five-ingredient formula that includes beeswax, cocoa butter, mango butter, meadowfoam seed oil and optional essential oil.
On February 26, 2026, Katie Wells, founder of Wellness Mama, published a post and printable recipe for “Ultra Creamy Lip Butter,” a homemade lip product she says “melts on contact” and is intended to offer extra hydration compared with some lip balms.
Lip butter vs. lip balm
In the post, Wells draws a distinction between lip butter and lip balm. She writes that lip balm typically relies on a blend of waxes and oils to moisturize, while lip butter may also include wax and oil but adds “more creamy lip butters.” She lists shea butter, mango butter, cocoa butter and cupuacu seed butter among common options, describing butters as thicker than liquid oils but not as hard or waxy as beeswax or candelilla wax. Wells also says these butters have a “unique fatty acid profile” that she describes as beneficial for skin and lips.
Ingredients and scent options
Wells’ recipe uses five components: beeswax pellets, cocoa butter, mango butter (with shea butter listed as an alternative), meadowfoam seed oil (with other liquid carrier oils suggested as substitutes), and an optional “lip safe” essential oil for scent.
She describes mango butter as smooth and creamy with some astringency that can help avoid an overly greasy feel. For cocoa butter, she says it helps add thickness “without over relying on beeswax,” notes its slightly chocolate-like scent, and describes it as high in saturated stearic and palmitic fatty acids.
Wells describes meadowfoam seed oil as a liquid carrier oil that makes the blend lighter and more spreadable, and says it is more easily absorbed than heavier carrier oils such as olive or avocado oil.
For essential oils, Wells recommends choosing “lip safe” options and lists lavender, sweet orange, geranium, mandarin, neroli, rose, spearmint and peppermint. She cautions that some oils—including cinnamon, lemongrass, clove and ginger—may cause sensitivity, and adds that lemon and lime can cause phototoxic reactions when exposed to sunlight. She also says cocoa butter pairs well with lavender, peppermint or orange for a “white chocolate” style scent.
On dilution, Wells advises a general range of 0.5% to 1% for the oils she lists, which she says is about 5 to 10 drops for this recipe.
Method, yield and storage
The instructions call for melting all ingredients except the essential oil in a double boiler (or a heat-safe glass bowl set over a pot), turning off the heat, stirring in the essential oil, and then pouring the mixture into lip balm containers to cool.
Wells notes the recipe yields about 13 regular-size lip balm tubes and says it can last about 6 to 12 months if stored properly in a cool, dry place. She advises avoiding hot or humid storage conditions—such as leaving the product in a hot car or in a steamy bathroom—to help preserve quality. She also suggests using a dedicated heat-safe glass bowl or a Mason jar for easier pouring and cleanup.
The Wellness Mama post cites three references in its sources section: Susan M. Parker’s 2014 book “Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty,” a 2021 Byrdie article about meadowfoam seed oil, and a 2021 Eden’s Garden article about essential oils considered safe for lips.
