Lip balm labeling

[HumbleDaisyMae]

An update on my labeling. Changed to the white sticky tabbed ones and did it all again. A bit of a struggle jamming in my printer because they folded the label package to put in a smaller envelope. Any who…Thanks for all your tips. I might still want to scream, I guess I got better at it as I went, #50 looked pretty even…, but it is done and the adhesion looks to be good.

 

[AliOop]

An update on my labeling. Changed to the white sticky tabbed ones and did it all again. A bit of a struggle jamming in my printer because they folded the label package to put in a smaller envelope. Any who…Thanks for all your tips. I might still want to scream, I guess I got better at it as I went, #50 looked pretty even…, but it is done and the adhesion looks to be good.

That is EXACTLY why I hated doing lip balms for so long. Twice I gave away all my supplies and said, Never. Again.

But eventually I gave in again, and eventually I found a rhythm that made most of it not so bad. The labels at the end tho...

 

[HumbleDaisyMae]

That is EXACTLY why I hated doing lip balms for so long. Twice I gave away all my supplies and said, Never. Again.

But eventually I gave in again, and eventually I found a rhythm that made most of it not so bad. The labels at the end tho...

Seriously @AliOop i am with you. I’m considering going to little pots or tins but they are not as convenient and increase the cost. I’m sure I would not like filling them any better!! If we scream together can we break the sound barrier?

 

[lucycat]

How many lip balms do you make in a year?

If you don't make many then I think the best lip balm labels are to design your label, print on plain paper and then use Scotch Packaging tape to put them on the lip balm tube. The tape is 1.88 inch wide which is the amount of space between the roller edge and the top of the container. My label covers about 1/2 of the container and the tape covers that and the rest of the tube. They stay clean because the tape covers them, they are cheap, and they look good. I hated the way labels looked months after being in a purse and mine look just as nice as the day I made them.

However, they take time. I put the label on a flat surface, cut the tape so it's about an inch larger than the label, press the tape onto the label part, and then pick it up with my fingers on the label section (front and back) to prevent fingerprints on the tape portion not covering paper. I trim the tape (I don't like the serrated edges) and apply to the tube.

I can label 30 lip balms in about 20 minutes. So, definitely not for anyone selling many. I make about 150 a year, mainly to use as freebies for my open house and as a freebie for orders.

To eliminate drips from filling just buy one of the lip balm filling trays. Mine came from MMS and they are about $15. Mine holds 50 tubes. I think lots of places sell them. They are so easy to use. I never need to clean the tube before attaching the label/tape. I used to think all lip balm tubes/caps were uniform sizes. I don't today. So, I would purchase a filling tray from where you normally purchase tubes/caps.

 

[HumbleDaisyMae]

@lucycat if I could do 30 tubes in 20 minutes I would be in heaven! I do like your method and that it will stay clean. I will definitely be using this method on my next batch. I have the tray that holds 50 and they do fit tightly, guess I just need practice on being neater! Thanks so much for sharing, one question?: do you seal the cap to the tube in any way?

 

[lucycat]

@lucycat if I could do 30 tubes in 20 minutes I would be in heaven! I do like your method and that it will stay clean. I will definitely be using this method on my next batch. I have the tray that holds 50 and they do fit tightly, guess I just need practice on being neater! Thanks so much for sharing, one question?: do you seal the cap to the tube in any way?

My last step is to use shrink wrap tubes. I don't know of any other way to keep people from picking up a lip balm tube and not opening it.

@lucycat if I could do 30 tubes in 20 minutes I would be in heaven! I do like your method and that it will stay clean. I will definitely be using this method on my next batch. I have the tray that holds 50 and they do fit tightly, guess I just need practice on being neater! Thanks so much for sharing, one question?: do you seal the cap to the tube in any way?

It takes some practice putting the tape over the label. Sounds silly but sometimes the label seems to jump to the tape and of course is crooked. The right pressure, length of tape and practice and you will get the hang of it.

When putting the tape on the container the most important thing is getting the tape lined up just above the roller edge. If the label isn't perfectly lined up under the tape it's usually not noticeable. Not putting the tape on straight means you have to redo since it will either be on the rolled edge or protruding above the container.

 

[HumbleDaisyMae]

My last step is to use shrink wrap tubes. I don't know of any other way to keep people from picking up a lip balm tube and not opening it.

It is unbelievable what people do. I suspect they don’t do that in a store, but somehow there seems to be different rules in market world.

 

[Hope Elisabeth 68]

It is unbelievable what people do. I suspect they don’t do that in a store, but somehow there seems to be different rules in market world.

Actually, remember the ice cream challenge people were doing? They would do it in the store if they could!

@lucycat if I could do 30 tubes in 20 minutes I would be in heaven! I do like your method and that it will stay clean. I will definitely be using this method on my next batch. I have the tray that holds 50 and they do fit tightly, guess I just need practice on being neater! Thanks so much for sharing, one question?: do you seal the cap to the tube in any way?

I keep my base in the freezer. It freezes very well. Then I scoop out the amount I need, flavor it and pour. It is very quick that way, and keeps for a long time without going bad at all.

 

[ToniO]

I use a 50 lip balm filler tray. Keeps the lip balm tubes clean, makes filling a breeze and allows me to flash chill them to set easily.
Also remember that using a heat gun on the outside lip of your metal jug will keep the wax mix flowing smoothly, with no waste.

Lip balm labels from Online Labels are great!
I design them using Adobe Illustrator and then use the free (when you purchase their labels) Maestro Label Designer to print perfect labels. I always do a test one to make sure they align properly. (Multidesign - then edit layout)
Then I do shrink wrap bc, yes, ppl love to open them (even though I always have testers available)!

 

[HumbleDaisyMae]

I use a 50 lip balm filler tray. Keeps the lip balm tubes clean, makes filling a breeze and allows me to flash chill them to set easily.
Also remember that using a heat gun on the outside lip of your metal jug will keep the wax mix flowing smoothly, with no waste.

Lip balm labels from Online Labels are great!
I design them using Adobe Illustrator and then use the free (when you purchase their labels) Maestro Label Designer to print perfect labels. I always do a test one to make sure they align properly. (Multidesign - then edit layout)
Then I do shrink wrap bc, yes, ppl love to open them (even though I always have testers available)!

How do you provide a hygienic tester?

 

[dmcgee5034]

My “tester” is more of a sniffer. I put a bit of the excess in a small clear plastic container from the dollar store. They have lids that I label with the flavor/scent. Smelling them usually gets someone to buy the scent they prefer. I have had to be watchful and point out the testers to stop people from pulling the caps off. This also lets me dip me finger in to put a dab on the back of their hand to “feel how nice” - yes, that’s me saying this as I’m applying to their hand.

I am happy to have printed my first sheets of labels with the little seal tab from Online Labels yesterday. Took me a minute to figure out that I needed to adjust the text orientation to have it on the tube the way I wanted it. The preciseness needed to get the label perfectly straight and perfectly aligned to not impede the twister or the cap will require some practice to find my rhythm.

 

[Ephemerella]

Seriously @AliOop i am with you. I’m considering going to little pots or tins but they are not as convenient and increase the cost.

I make a LOT of lip butter. I use pots instead of tubes for exactly the reasons in this thread. I also get more real estate for labeling. I use washi tape for a bio seal. They are more expensive, but I find the time saving more than makes up for the cost of the packaging.

 

[ToniO]

How do you provide a hygienic tester?

I have glass shot glasses with plastic tester sticks (and little trash containers behind) and tell ppl to scrap a little off the lip balm.
I use these tester sticks for my face/skin products also.
I keep most of these sticks and wash/sterilize/reuse.

In the summertime, all my testers are kept inside two flat insulated lunch boxes with reusable freezer packs.
Most products are in two large coolers behind my tables with only a single of each product that will be 'sacrificed' for the display.

 

[Zing]

I'm real late to this party but I use these, https://www.onlinelabels.com/products/ol1102 . Avery labels never stayed on my tubes.