The way I got started in soapmaking was because I started making my own lip balm. I was using Chapstick, then had to swap to the all-natural Chapstick, which they stopped making. Then I swapped to Burt's Bees. And was allergic to the one with peppermint EO in it. And got sick and tired of the "maybe they have it, maybe they don't" game at the store. And sick of the ever increasing prices. So, I looked up how to make my own on YouTube University(you can learn anything there). The rest is history.
Long story short, you will probably be perfectly fine if you just swap to some homemade lip balm that does not include petrolatum products. You probably won't need the super expensive fancy stuff. Just get beeswax, coconut oil, and olive oil. Then I use a 1:1:2 ratio. I melt mine in a Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave.(water splashes into the cup if you use the double boiler method) You may have to adjust your ratios depending on the consistency you want. And remember that if you are using lip balm tubes, 1oz of product will need 7 tubes. So, don't get excited and make 16 oz or something huge. Trial and error will require lots of small adjustments. I would only pour up one tube until you get the right consistency. Just cover the rest with plastic wrap once it gets cool.
Once you learn your preferred recipe, then you can go get colors and flavoring and such.