How to Make Lip Balm
People often buy a lot of lip balm, especially in climates that promote chapped or dry lips. This can get expensive, and some formulations do not work well for some people. When you make your own lip balm, you can customize the formulation to improve effectiveness for your specific needs.
First: Choosing and preparing materials
The primary consideration when setting out to make your own lip balm is whether to use a premade lip balm base or a combination of wax, oil and other ingredients. For example, in the latter scenario you might have purchased bees wax, coconut oil and vitamin E. However, it may prove preferable, or at least easier, to purchase a ready-made lip balm base of your choice from an online store or local merchant. For example, you might get five pounds of vegan base. The same store should have both the lip balm tubes and lip balm tube holders required for making a large amount of lip balm. You also need essence or flavor oil, glass pipettes for each oil flavor you choose, a large glass measuring cup that pours, spoons, spatulas, newspapers and clean-up towels.
Second: Preparing the work area
Wear an apron and find a large countertop or work space free of clutter. Consider where your microwave oven is located so that you can make repeated use of it. Cover your work area with newspapers or any paper that can protect the counter. Then, determine how much oil or essence flavor to add later. For example, the package might advise "2%."
Third: Working with the glass measuring cup
Fill your glass measuring cup no more than 3/4 full with clumps of the lip balm base. Then, begin a routine of heating for 30 seconds, removing the cup (wear protective gloves), stirring the base, and heating another 30 seconds until it is evenly and fully melted.
Fourth: Flavoring the melted base
Give each flavor you intend to use its own pipette and add your predetermined quantity of each oil or essence to the melted base.
Fifth: Filling lip balm tubes (or other containers such as jars)
While your measuring cup mixture is still fluid and melted, carefully and slowly pour the mix into the tubes. With tubes, ensure that you do not fill them past the inside screw. Label and shrink-seal these tubes later, if you wish.