It all starts with how it's made.
Out in the Northern California hills, where morning light filters through coastal fog and jars of herbs sit quietly in the sun, our lip balms take shape. Grown, gathered, and crafted by hand.
This is how our handmade lip balm comes to life.
Explore our herbal lip balms →
What Makes Our Lip Balms Different
Most lip balms are built for shelf life and scale. Ours are built for skin.
Each batch is made slowly, using whole herbs, organic oils, and time-honored methods that prioritize potency over production speed. Every ingredient has a purpose — to soothe, protect, hydrate, and heal your lips.
At the center of our formulas are solar-infused herbal oils — medicinal plants slowly steeped in oil over time to draw out their soothing and restorative properties. This process creates oils that do more than moisturize, carrying the plant’s soothing and restorative properties directly into the balm.
Most conventional lip balms rely on waxes and synthetic ingredients to create a barrier that feels good at first, but often requires constant reapplication. Our balms are designed to work differently. Rather than just coating the lips, they support the skin more directly — helping to calm irritation, support repair, and finally move your lips out of the cycle of constant dryness.
Step 1 — Growing & Gathering the Herbs
On the homestead, herbs like calendula, lemon balm, comfrey, and yarrow are grown seasonally, rooted in real soil and real sunlight.
Others, like St. John’s wort, are wildcrafted — carefully harvested from the land in a way that allows the plant to continue thriving year after year.
Each plant is chosen for how it supports the skin, from calming calendula to antiviral lemon balm and restorative St. John’s wort, then gathered by hand at the right moment, when its properties are most vibrant.
Read more about Theora and her off-grid herbal process →
Step 2 — Solar Infusion (Where the Magic Happens)
This is the heart of every balm we make.
Whole, dried medicinal herbs are slowly infused into organic oils in the warmth of the sun over several weeks. It’s a simple, traditional process — much like a long-steeped tea — but instead of water, the herbs infuse into oil.
This slow, solar process gently draws out the plant’s healing compounds, creating rich, herb-infused oils that carry the color, scent, and therapeutic properties of the plants.
This is what we mean when we say our balms begin with herbal infused oils.
Rather than building a formula and adding extracts or essential oils at the end, the oils themselves are infused from the start — allowing both the herbal properties and the natural aromatics of the plants to become part of the blend.
We then strain it by hand, leaving behind a rich, herb-infused oil ready for the next step.
Step 3 — Blending Oils, Butters & Wax
Once the herbal oils are ready, they’re gently warmed and blended with nourishing butters and waxes.
Organic, locally-sourced beeswax brings structure and locks in moisture, while cocoa butter and shea butter add a rich, conditioning layer. Coconut oil and castor oil bring softness and slip, allowing the balm to glide easily across the lips.
This step is all about balance. Enough structure to shield the lips from the elements, enough softness to melt on contact, and enough richness to deeply nourish.
Step 4 — Hand-Pouring Into Our Zero-Waste Tubes
While still warm and liquid, the balm is carefully hand-poured into each tube.
We use recycled paper tubes and tree-free labels — materials chosen with the same care as the ingredients inside. Each one is filled by hand, with close attention to temperature and timing so the balm pours smoothly and evenly.
It’s a slower process, but it allows every batch to be crafted with care from start to finish.
Step 5 — Cooling, Setting, and Returning to the Earth
Once poured, the balm is left to cool and firm up in place. As it sets inside the tube, it takes on its final texture — smooth, solid, and ready for everyday use.
When the balm is finished, the zero-waste tube can be composted at home, returning to the earth rather than lingering as waste.
From the herbs we grow to the tube in your hand, each step is considered from start to finish.
Why This Process Matters for Your Lips
When lip balm is made this way — from whole plants, slowly infused, and carefully blended — it works differently.
It doesn’t just coat the lips, it melts in, softens dry skin, and stays with you — supporting your lips as they heal instead of fading and needing constant reapplication. With regular use, it ends the cycle of dryness, helping lips stay smooth, comfortable, and less prone to cracking.
That same approach is what makes it effective for cold sores and sensitivity. Lemon balm, supported by herbs like lavender and St. John’s wort, helps prevent outbreaks with consistent use and shorten their duration when they do appear — while calming inflammation and supporting faster skin repair.
From Our Hands to Yours
A small everyday ritual, made to support your lips in a way that feels simple, steady, and effective.
Natural Lip Balm FAQs
What is the best natural thing to put on your lips?
The best natural lip care uses nourishing ingredients that both protect and actively support the skin. Herbal-infused oils, butters, and waxes help soften dry lips while delivering the soothing properties of medicinal plants — rather than just sitting on the surface.
What is the healthiest lip balm?
The healthiest lip balms are made with simple, natural ingredients and no synthetic fillers or fragrances. Formulas built around herbal-infused oils go a step further, helping the skin repair and recover instead of just creating a temporary barrier.
What actually works for dry lips?
Lip care that works for dry lips needs to do more than provide a quick layer of moisture. Herbal lip balms made with infused oils help soften, repair, and strengthen the skin over time, reducing the need for constant reapplication.
What is best for dry lips naturally?
Natural lip care that combines nourishing oils, protective waxes, and herbal infusions is most effective for dry lips. Ingredients like calendula, lemon balm, and St. John’s wort help calm irritation and support the skin as it recovers.
Can natural lip balm help prevent cold sores?
Yes — lip balms made with herbs like lemon balm can help prevent cold sores with regular use and support faster healing when one appears. These herbs are known for their antiviral and soothing properties, helping keep the skin more resilient.
Why does lip balm make my lips more dry?
Some lip balms rely on waxes and synthetic ingredients that sit on the surface without supporting the skin underneath. This can lead to frequent reapplication. Lip balms made with herbal-infused oils help break that cycle by working more directly with the skin.
