Adding things to Lip Balm

[BalmMaker]

Hi,

I just started making lip balm. I use a mix of beeswax, coconut oil, and almond oil, along with some essential oils. I'm just curious if I can add things like cocoa powder or raw vanilla beans to the mixture?

Does anyone know how this would turn out? Would it effect the quality or shelf life of the product? If I use the vanilla beans I wanted to leave them in the mix unstrained so that you see the bits running through. Do you know if this would also scent the mix well or would I still have to add essential oils for a stronger smell?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!!

Thanks,
Erin

 

[Catmehndi]

I don't know about vanilla beans - perhaps someone else does.
You can certainly add cocoa butter which smells like chocolate and has wonderful properties.

 

[Lindy]

I would be quite concerned about the texture with vanilla beans in it. The organic cocoa butter is amazing! You can also use things like shea butter, lanolin, honey powder, etc.

 

[carebear]

Gritty, I'd think. And even if the powder was fine, it would possibly seed crystallization of the cocoa butter.

 

[IrishLass]

Gritty is what I was thinking, too. I like my balm to glide on nice and smooth. The vanilla beans and the cocoa powder might make for a nice for a lip exfoliant, though.

IrishLass

 

[Jezzy]

Lindy, what would the honey powder to? Just curious sounds like a great idea!

 

[carebear]

I would be quite concerned about the texture with vanilla beans in it. The organic cocoa butter is amazing! You can also use things like shea butter, lanolin, honey powder, etc.

honey powder is water soluble - how would one incorporate that into an oil based product without it being gritty?

 

[Lindy]

Actually from what I understand it incorporates into the lip balms than honey and remains suspended instead of separating out the way honey does. I haven't done it yet, it's on my things to do list, but it sweetens the balm naturally and since it is such a fine powder it's not supposed to be grainy. To incorporate it you would take a small amount of oils and add the powder to that mixing well until it is fully incorporated and then add to the melting ingredients of the lip balm.

I wish I could remember where I found this, it was on one of the forums and the OP said it worked really, really well. You just don't want too much of it because otherwise you are licking your lips too much which increases dryness.

I actually like glycerin in my lip balms for a sweetener....

HTH

 

[Manda]

You could possibly infuse vanilla pods in oil, then use the oil in your lip balm.

I have not tried this myself and am not sure whether or not the lip balm would require a preservative because of the vanilla.

I have used cocoa power in lip balm. It made it dry and grainy but I possibly used too much. It didn't change the colour a whole lot - only makes it a light brown.

 

[Sunny]

Does anyone have an answer to this question - if you infuse dried plants in oil, is it then necessary to use a preservative? I infused vanilla bean pods in oil and wanted to use it in lip balm, is that safe?