lip balm advise

[Spice]

I am going to make this lip balm that I have in mind. I was thinking, since I live in NorCali, during the summer it gets hot. I will be using a tube to put my lip balm, but my fear is when it gets hot. I dont want my lip balm to melt, so I was thinking of using carnuaba wax rather then beeswax. Now, I have a new fear, is carnauba wax to hard? Should I just stay with beeswax. Since I've never made lip balm and used either beeswax or carnauba, I haven't a clue. Any ideas on beeswax vs carnauba wax?:???:

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

Why were you thinking of using it rather than beeswax?

 

[Susie]

I know nothing about carnuba wax. But I live in the deep south, where hot and humid is the rule for at least 8 months of the year. I have one formula for summer and one for winter. The summer formula has 10-15% more beeswax than the winter one. I make up the batch, then test ONE tube with the pocket test to be sure it will not melt before pouring the rest of the batch into tubes.

You will have to do your own trial and error on the formulas you like. Just remember that you can endlessly remelt and tweak a batch, just keep good notes.

 

[FlybyStardancer]

I too live in NorCal, and if you have the right % of beeswax, it won't melt in the summer. I haven't used store bought stuff in over a year, and live in houses that get HOT and haven't had issues.

The rule of thumb I saw way back when was that you use half of the percentage of carnuba compared to beeswax. I think I got it from Mountain Rose Herbs? It's been a while since I looked it up.

 

[dixiedragon]

Keep in mind that a lip balm that won't, say, melt in the car on a hot summer day also may not melt enough when pressed to the lips. The "standard" that many crafters use is the pocket test. A tube of lip balm should be able to be in your pocket without melting.

 

[Spice]

Why were you thinking of using it rather than beeswax?

I was thinking of using carnauba wax because it would be a harder wax, and less melting.:???:

 

[Spice]

Thank for all the advise, I have a starting point. I will keep good notes and do pocket tests. I will also, keep in mind that to much carnauba can be just as bad as the melting. My thoughts on this is that the standard will be where I start. The only reason am thinking carnauba is because of a recipe that I have that uses that wax. Either way I will repost when I make this lip balm.

 

[IrishLass]

I use a combo of 8% carnauba and 8% candelilla waxes in my ladies lip balm. It makes a firm balm that stays solid in my pocket, and it has a nice, lovely sheen to it (which is why I have designated it as my 'ladies balm'). My formula is actually a tweak of MMS's 'Firm and Glossy' lip balm found here: https://www.thesage.com/recipes/recipe-exec/.State/Display/id/170

I use different oils and butters in mine: castor, aloe butter, meadowfoam seed oil, kokum butter, cocoa butter, ButterEZ, and lanolin.


IrishLass