Formulating from Your Cupboard - Day 2

For each of the lip balms we will be making this week, I gave myself a target. Did I want it to be vegan? Did I want it shiny? Soft? Firm? For our first formulation, I targeted a glossy yet firm lip balm. Come join me for how I approached using materials in my cupboard to make this lip balm.

Finished Lip Balm – Formulation #1

When I first applied Formulation #1, I was struck by the creamy sensation of it gliding across my lips. I liked how it felt a little heavier and intense. While it wasn’t as firm as I was expecting, it wasn’t extremely soft either. If I wanted to make this formulation a little more firm, I might consider adding up to 5% of Carnauba or Candelilla Wax.

Weighing Waxes and Oils

I was also pleased with the light glossy appearance it gave the lips. It wasn’t bright like applying a thick yet still liquid lip gloss. Instead this gave the lips a healthy yet natural looking shine. I think this makes this a great formulation for both men and women.

Weighing Oils

The last thing I might change about this formulation is the usage rate of the Peppermint Essential Oil. While it wasn’t painful, it was strong. It definitely made my lips feel cool. While some people like that strong tingly sensation, I tend to like a more mild lip balm. Each to their own, right?

Original Recipe:

Proposed Changes:

Weighing Oils

Weigh everything except the Sugar Baby Flavor Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil into a microwave safe container. Heat gently until everything is liquid. If you still have a few stubborn beads of beeswax, remove the container from the microwave and stir. The heat in the solution should melt the beeswax.

Add the Sugar Baby Flavor Oil and Peppermint Essential Oil to the liquid lip balm mixture. Stir well. For here you can either use a pipette to fill your lip balm tubes or use a filling tray. Use whichever is most convenient for you.

Adding Lanolin

I like using a filling tray when making 50 or more tubes of lip balm because they are simple to use and fast. If you are using a filling tray, insert your tubes into your tray. Flood the tray with your melted lip balm. Allow the mixture to cool. Scrape off the excess. I like to use a plastic putty knife. Remove the tubes from the tray and cap.

Adding Flavor Oils

If you are going to pipette the lip balm into the tubes, fill the tube until you get a dome of liquid material at the top. Wax shrinks when it cools and doing this helps insure that you get a very pretty top. Fill all of your tubes making sure they are domed on the top before they cool. (You may need to reheat your lip balm during this process. This is normal and to be expected.) Allow the tubes to cool then cap.

Mixed Lip Balm

Now you can label your lip balm. Because I am making several different recipes, I have labeled today’s lip balm Formula #1. (Original, I know.) By the end of the week, we will have several recipes to try and I wanted to keep them straight! Stick around. This week is only going to get better!