In our experience, in whichwe have slaved away trying to make the 'perfect' lip balm,we have found that there is noexactformula to stick to. It depends how you like your lip balm.
However,we have picked up a few tips along the wayfor makingreally good lip balm.
In addition, we have included a Safety Assessment FAQ at the bottom which we hope you'll find useful!
Lip Balm MakingRules
What oilshould Iuse?
Use a medium to high fat / thickness oil, not a dry 'thin' oil. You can useSweet Almond OilorApricot Kernel Oilif you would like no odour from the oil, but for a delightful coconut smell, use ourVirgin Organic Coconut Oil. Add someCalendula oilfor sore, chapped lips, orRosehip oilhas excellent rejuvenating properties and is ideal for anti-ageing balms.Castor oilis a thick, glossy oil so is ideal for use in lip balm or indeed lip gloss (see below). The more ofanyoil youuse in a lip balm, the glossier the lip balm. But steer clear of Extra Virgin Olive Oil -it turns the lip balm green and tastes too savoury for our liking!
What butter should I use?
Stick to our top-qualityOrganic Shea butterandOrganic Cocoa butterfor the best texture and flavour. The better quality of the butter, the better the lip balm.
What waxshould Iuse?
If you want an unrefined wax, go for aYellow Beeswax. If you want to tone down the beeswax odour, go for ourOrganic Refined Beeswax.With all types of beeswax,a little goes a long way. However you can swap the beeswax forCandelilla waxin order to make your lip balm Vegan-friendly.With an almost identical texture, you can use the exact same amount as you would beeswax. Or our newCarnauba wax would work well.
What preservativesshould Iuse?
Generally speaking, anhydrous (water-free) formulas don't need any preservatives, asthe lip balm should last up to 24 months without, if unopened and stored in a cool, dark place. However, we would recommend it be used within 6 months of opening (when used by the end consumer). To add more antioxidant power, add around 1% ofVitamin E.
What quantities should Iuse?
Generally speaking, you need to use roughly15-20% beeswax to 25-30% butter and 45-50% oil.The more butter and wax you use, the thicker or 'sturdier' your lip balm will be. This is good if you wantyour lip balmto stay on for quite a while. Itwill also be'creamier', which is howwe like it! However, add more oil for a 'glossier' lip balm - though it doesn't cling to your lips as much so you'll have to re-apply more often.
Is a tube or a pot best?
Tubes are more handy than pots for when out and about, but you will needpipettesto make lip balm in tubes. Lip balms can look cuter in pots though, and can make better-lookingpresents.
How do I flavour the lip balms?
If you want a gorgeous natural flavour, you can usepure essential oils, or ourNatural /OrganicFlavour Oils. Or, for a more punchy aroma, you can use our Funky n' Fruity Lip Balm Flavour Oils, which allow a maximum of 5% in your lip balms! You could also try flavouring your lip balms with honey, real chocolate, vanilla pods or coffee. Be experimental - it's fun! (If you are selling these to the public though, please check the suitability of your recipe with your safety assessor!)
How do I add natural colour to the lip balms?
Our Mica Colours are ideal for colouring both the lip balm and your lips. You can choose between our PearlescentMica-based ShimmerColours, which add a gorgeously subtle, shimmery sheen to your lips, or ourPigment Colourspack a powerful punch, meaning you need to use less of them in your balm.
What about making lip gloss?
If you want a thick liquid texture, just make the recipe below but with roughly 7 times as much oil. OurOrganic Castor Oilis ideal for use inlip gloss as it is thicker than other oils so will stay on your lipslonger.Alternatively you can just use ourOrganic Lip Gloss Base.
Click herefor a lip balm recipe with instructions.
Safety Assessment FAQ
Do I need to have myproducts safety tested before I sell them?
Yes. But this process needn't be a daunting one - ourSafety Assessmentscome with all the relevant information sheets you need to be compliant - it's simple when you know how!
Do I still need my own assessment if I buy your kits and/or ready-made bases?
Yes. As you are bringing them to the retail market and using your own branding, you would need the assessment to be in your name. However ourwould be covered by our safety assessment so donotrequire you to buy your own.But you'll still need your own paperwork, such as batch sheets and Product Information Files (PIFs). Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have all the legalities in place before selling your products. Getting aSafety Assessmentneedn't be a daunting process though (see above). Also, we sell a handyStarter Lip Balm Assessmentfor almost half the price of our standard one, which allows you to sell either ourPre-flavoured Organic Lip Balm Bases, or ourReady-made Organic Lip Balm Basewith added selected flavours.
