Buy Or DIY: Chocolate-Flavored Lip Balm

Take a little medicine right in the kisser with chapped-lip healers such as cocoa butter and vitamin E. If you've got a pioneering spirit (or just want to impress your crafty friends), get to your stove and create a homemade balm -- it's easier than you think.

Buy It
Our favorite ready-made lip soothers.

• Out of Africa Organic Shea Butter Lip Balm with Vitamin E in Tropical Vanilla is made with African shea butter and natural vanilla flavor. $3, outofafricashea.com
• Indigo Wild Coco Zum Shea Butter Chocolate Lip Balm features organic chocolate chips and cocoa butter. $4, indigowild.com
• Own Nighttime Lip Therapy is rich in shea butter and glycerin, which plump lips while you sleep, and the roller ball makes it zippy. $10, ownproducts.com
• Softlips Beeswax Lip Conditioner, with jojoba oil and vitamin E, has a refreshing mint flavor. $2, softlips.com

DIY It
Blending natural butters and oils conditions lips, says beauty pro Janice Cox, author of "Natural Beauty at Home."

Chocolate-Vanilla Lip Balm

• 1 Tbsp. grated cocoa butter
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 tsp. grated beeswax
• 1/8 tsp. vitamin E oil
• 10 chocolate chips
• 1 to 2 drops vanilla-flavored oil
• Any additional flavors of your choice, such as raspberry or mint

Combine all ingredients in a double boiler on the stovetop. (You can also use a small microwave-safe container and heat on low for about 1 minute, or until the ingredients just begin to melt.) Stir until the mixture is completely melted and well blended. Pour into a small, clean container and let cool completely.