DIY Vegan Lip Balm Recipe

I am, in no way, a vegan. I do however, use cruelty free products and if there's a vegan alternative in my price range I will buy that.
My best friend is a long-term vegetarian, recently turned vegan so I'm trying my best to learn more about alternatives to beauty products.

I've been suffering quite badly with very bad dry lips recently, the corners of my mouth were especially painful and red raw. I went on the hunt for some great lip balm and after some research was recommending some 'Lanolin' which turns out is actually a nipple cream which is great for your lips. I decided to research what lanolin was, and I honestly wish I hadn't.
I won't say what it is here, just in case, but a quick google search will tell you. It's pretty grim, you have been warned. 

If I hadn't already been on the hunt for vegan products, I was now.

I decided to try and make my own and it's actually turned out pretty great for my first time!

You will need:

• 1 tablespoon of shea butter*
• 1 tablespoon of soy wax**
• 5 drops of peppermint oil***
• 5 drops of vitamin E oil****
• Small container such as a small jar or pot. 

1) Put your Shea butter and soy wax into a microwavable container and melt at 15 second increments, until completely liquid. Stir in between increments to make sure the two ingredients become completely combined. Alternatively, put in a glass bowl on top of a pan of boiling water and melt that way, stirring constantly.

2) Add the drops of your chosen oils and mix until combined.

3) Place into a small jar, pot or container of your choosing and leave in the fridge to set.

4) Use it regularly to keep your lips feeling moisturised and healthy!

* Instead of Shea butter you could use cocoa butter. Both are really great moisturisers and both absorb brilliantly into the skin. If you add in the essential oils later on specifically for the smell, Shea would be better for you as it has a less intense smell which really allowed the essential oil smell to come through. Cocoa butter is a beautiful smell, but can sometimes be overpowering when put right below your nose. Just make sure you like the smell before you use it!
          You could also use Coconut Oil if you'd prefer. Coconut oil is full of antioxidants, vitamin E and fatty acid emollients which is perfect for moisturising your lips. 

** Instead of soy wax you can also use candellila wax or carnauba wax. I personally used the soy wax because I had it to hand, but it's whatever your preference is.

*** I used peppermint oil because I love the smell and it gives my lips a little tingle when applied which I like. Some people say that the oil adds some plumpness to your pout, but I've yet to notice that. Other oils which are truly beautiful to use in lip balms are: Almond Oil, an odourless oil rich in minerals, proteins, vitamin B, vitamin E and has SPF, or Lavender Oil, a soothing oil that will help any painful or peeling lips.

****Shea butter also has naturally occurring vitamin E and vitamin A in it, so if you wanted to you could omit the vitamin E oil later on (although I like putting it in as Vitamin E oil is great for adding moisture, 

And in the blink of an eye, it's 2 and a half years later...

Hello glorious people of the internet!

It's been some time since I wrote a blog post. October 2015 I believe the last one was. It's now April 2018! So I think an update is required...

2015, 16 and 17 were all very tough years for me. Last time I wrote I explained how I was taking a year out of university... I actually ended up taking two years out of uni.

I was all prepared to return in September 2016 but, unfortunately, my father's operation fell in the October, just 1.5 months after returning back to university. I already had 5 essays to do, as well as the third year work, and I knew that this would put me even further behind and create a real struggle for me, so I decided to defer for a further year.

Now, I was only allowed to take 2 years out of university maximum, so if anything else went wrong towards September 2017 it was tough luck. It was either go back to uni or... never go back to uni again (or start a course from scratch), but I was adamant that I had completed [and paid a hefty price £££] for 2 years worth of university and I was not going to let that go to waste!

So in September 2017 I returned back to university, a ball of nerves, with 5 essays equating to 21,000 words to complete during the first 3 months from my second year, alongside another 10,500 words worth of third-year essays to write.
Needless to say, I had a lot to do.

If you decide to take time out of university, I encourage strongly for you to download all online resources your university offers that'll help you to complete your university work. I was locked out of my account so I couldn't even access the essay questions thus making it so I couldn't do the work during my two years off! Frustrating!!!

All of these essays were due in between mid-December and January so I had a lot to do. Further to that, third-years also have to complete a 10,500 word dissertation, which is honestly the hardest thing I've had to do, to date.

I strong advise starting this early, here's why...
Due to me having so many pieces of work to do, I put off starting my dissertation. I had the topic marked down, I had a mind-map of ideas to research and that was it. My attention was on the essays due in, in December and January, and then my attention went on to the presentation and essays I had to complete in March. Basically, the work-load I had made it very difficult to spend any time on the biggest project of my whole university career (not only in volume, but it also equates to 60% of my overall degree grade!).
So, mid-March rolls around and I'm panicking about my diss. I need to get my butt into gear, sit down, plan it out, have a meeting with my mentor, and just. do. it. (Thanks Shia Labeouf).
It's also worth noting that I still had a group presentation and another essay due in, around the same time as my diss needs to be handed in.

University is the most stressful and un-enjoyable experience of my life. 
I know, I know. University is meant to be the "best time of your life!", but for me it's just... not. I hated living at uni, I do not drink very often, I don't enjoy going out clubbing or partying, I need my sleep, I need my space. All of these things are opposite to the majority of university-goers. In fact, when I lived at university, I still spent all of my 'free' time back at home. It just was not for me. It caused seriously bad mental health issues for me and honestly made me have panic attacks about returning.
I'm commuting now. Luckily, during my years out of university I passed my drivers test. Uni is around 45 mins away outside of rush hour, or 1.5 hours away during rush hour. It's doable, but it takes a lot of effort.
I was very well supported by the department during my time off and my return to university, but nothing could have prepared me for the workload or how lonely I felt.
I knew no one on the course anymore, something I knew in theory but put into practice and it's one of the most lonely and difficult experiences.
I miss my friends from the first two years. Honestly the most embarrassing moment of this year is having to whisper to my lecturer that I don't know anyone, when being asked who I was in a group with for my presentation. OR the same lecturer introducing me on the first day, in front of everyone, and him telling them to make me feel welcome...

Here I am today.
I am 2 weeks away from being finished with this course. 8,300 words away from my dissertation being complete. 2,500 words away from my remaining essay complete. 9 days away from my group presentation being over. I'll be working until the last day, but fingers crossed it'll be worth it!

I've also accepted a conditional offer from my #1 university for teacher training!
I passed both my numeracy and literacy skills tests first time (numeracy was a miracle... my dad swore, literally, in the middle of a car park because he was so shocked!)
I need to get at least a 2:2 in order to get onto this course, arrange some more work experience and ... find some smart clothes!
Wish me luck!

I'll try my best to keep this blog updated, but we all saw what happened last time!

Maisie x