Please critique my vegan lip balm recipe

[kikajess]

Hey, everyone!

The other day, I lost my favorite lip balm. It is a horribly chemical-laden drugstore product, and losing it seems like a good motivator to try a homemade lip balm. I have read a bunch of threads on here about making lip balm, done a little outside research, and here's the recipe I've concocted. What do you think:

10% Carnauba Wax
29% Shea Butter
18% PKO
43% Hemp Oil

I also want to add both peppermint and cinnamon EOs - any advice on how much of each to add in?

And I think I need some vitamin E in there as an antioxidant maybe? About how much? Or would the cinnamon EO keep rancidity at bay?

I don't know what kind of household container to put it in. Any ideas for that, too?

Thank you, everyone!

 

[Lin]

Curious, why the PKO?

Very little on the EOs, you don't want to exceed 1% (total/combined). I don't pay attention to how much vitamin E I add currently, if you're just making a small batch for yourself I'd say a couple drops or one vitamin E capsule emptied. You can really put it into anything you want. Small jar, plastic container, etc. Do you have tubes/pots/tins for at least some of it? Anything extra you can put into a container and use out of that or later melt it down to refill containers. I use some tiny storage containers from the dollar store, they're about 2 ounce in size. I've got one next to the bed that I just use the balm out of directly on my lips, cuticles, sometimes the bottom of my feet or elbows on dry spots.

 

[judymoody]

I wonder if the result might be a little soft and hemp is prone to oxidation so you'd want to use it up pretty quickly, regardless of the vitamin E

I would go VERY sparingly with the EO as both of those are very potent. Maybe .5 % of your recipe or even less. Start with a few drops and see how it goes.

Majestic Mountain Sage has some great lip balm recipes if you want some inspiration.

Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Susie]

I use a really basic lip balm recipe that has a fairly long shelf life. I still store in the refrigerator until I need a new tube, but that is more out of an abundance of caution, as I do not want to use preservatives of any sort. I aim for 1 oz of balm(which lasts me months).

I reuse my lip balm tubes if it is just me using them. Some cotton swabs with a really strong degreaser will clean out a tube that has had the little disc removed and cleaned separately. Then a trip through the dishwasher finishes it. Spray well with alcohol and allow to air dry completely(or use a hair dryer set to cool) before filling.

Lip balm tubes are about $10/100 available online. Or you can buy the 1.5-2 oz containers from the dollar stores. I strongly suggest you not aim to make more than 1 oz(7 tubes) until you get a basic formula you like.

My basic formula is:
Coconut Oil(76 degree)-10g
Olive Oil-12.5g
Beeswax-7.5g
Vit. E 1000 IU- 1 capsule squirted in
EO-3 drops of strong, 5 drops of mild(peppermint and cinnamon are both strong)

You can always remelt this and add more of one thing or another to suit you. I leave the balm in the measuring cup I melt it in, and allow it to cool completely to test it for texture and amount of EO. Then when it suits me, I remelt once more, and pour. You will probably want a harder balm(more hard at room temperature oil) in the summer, and a softer one(more liquid at room temperature oil) in the winter to help with application. However, you want more liquid oil than wax regardless of season.

Lip balm flavors are available in several online stores. Rather than EO's, you might want to try those. I usually do not use EO's for my own lip balm, but I will use them if I am making it for someone else.

 

[kikajess]

Curious, why the PKO?

Very little on the EOs, you don't want to exceed 1% (total/combined). I don't pay attention to how much vitamin E I add currently, if you're just making a small batch for yourself I'd say a couple drops or one vitamin E capsule emptied. You can really put it into anything you want. Small jar, plastic container, etc. Do you have tubes/pots/tins for at least some of it? Anything extra you can put into a container and use out of that or later melt it down to refill containers. I use some tiny storage containers from the dollar store, they're about 2 ounce in size. I've got one next to the bed that I just use the balm out of directly on my lips, cuticles, sometimes the bottom of my feet or elbows on dry spots.

Thanks for the great tips! I chose PKO for two reasons: 1. I have it on hand, and 2. I am going off a guide that recommends including a brittle oil such as PKO.

As for containers, I can get some little 2-ounce plastic salad dressing containers from work. Do you think it matters what number plastic it is?

 

[kikajess]

I wonder if the result might be a little soft and hemp is prone to oxidation so you'd want to use it up pretty quickly, regardless of the vitamin E

I would go VERY sparingly with the EO as both of those are very potent. Maybe .5 % of your recipe or even less. Start with a few drops and see how it goes.

Majestic Mountain Sage has some great lip balm recipes if you want some inspiration.

Let us know how it turns out.

Thank you, Judy! I have my heart set on hemp oil because of its comedogenic rating, which is zero. The other two zero-rated oils, linoleic sunflower oil and safflower oil, are too hard to come by in comparison to hemp, so hemp it is!

If it is too soft, that's okay for my first time. I'll continue to update my progress.

 

[oranget]

Comedogenic ratings ! What a good idea. I just googled and found this chart, https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html, and am sort of freaked out the cocoa butter is a 4, with 5 being the highest. interesting.

 

[Lin]

I don't think you need to worry about comeogenic ratings for Lip Balm, lip skin isn't the same as the rest of the face. So unless you've specifically had issues I wouldn't be concentrating on that.

Test the Balm before pouring, you can test a little bit on a spoon in the freezer to solidify fast. It's miserable if you don't like the result and need to re empty a bunch of containers, I've been there! I don't believe it matters what container you store it in but I don't melt it down in the container. When I've got some I'm going to remelt to refill tubes I transfer it into glass or metal. Salad dressing containers should be fine, and many are microwave safe (I've used gladlock or ziplock ones in the micro) so pouring temp shouldn't be a problem.

 

[MzMolly65]

I don't know squat about lip balm and am still working on fixing my first batch but I have a question about the EO's ... I thought both peppermint and cinnamon are irritants of sorts .. wouldn't they irritate sensitive lips?

 

[AnnaO]

Comedogenic ratings ! What a good idea. I just googled and found this chart, https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html, and am sort of freaked out the cocoa butter is a 4, with 5 being the highest. interesting.

Yes a person such as myself who is prone to those little white epidermal cysts called milia forming on their lips may benefit from bearing comedogenic ratings in mind here

 

[shunt2011]

You can use peppermint and cinnamon at a very low rate. Just drops.

 

[kikajess]

I use a really basic lip balm recipe that has a fairly long shelf life. I still store in the refrigerator until I need a new tube, but that is more out of an abundance of caution, as I do not want to use preservatives of any sort. I aim for 1 oz of balm(which lasts me months).

I reuse my lip balm tubes if it is just me using them. Some cotton swabs with a really strong degreaser will clean out a tube that has had the little disc removed and cleaned separately. Then a trip through the dishwasher finishes it. Spray well with alcohol and allow to air dry completely(or use a hair dryer set to cool) before filling.

Lip balm tubes are about $10/100 available online. Or you can buy the 1.5-2 oz containers from the dollar stores. I strongly suggest you not aim to make more than 1 oz(7 tubes) until you get a basic formula you like.

My basic formula is:
Coconut Oil(76 degree)-10g
Olive Oil-12.5g
Beeswax-7.5g
Vit. E 1000 IU- 1 capsule squirted in
EO-3 drops of strong, 5 drops of mild(peppermint and cinnamon are both strong)

You can always remelt this and add more of one thing or another to suit you. I leave the balm in the measuring cup I melt it in, and allow it to cool completely to test it for texture and amount of EO. Then when it suits me, I remelt once more, and pour. You will probably want a harder balm(more hard at room temperature oil) in the summer, and a softer one(more liquid at room temperature oil) in the winter to help with application. However, you want more liquid oil than wax regardless of season.

Lip balm flavors are available in several online stores. Rather than EO's, you might want to try those. I usually do not use EO's for my own lip balm, but I will use them if I am making it for someone else.

Thanks for the great tips! An ounce sounds like a perfect starting amount. I didn't realize tubes were so cheap. If I this recipe turns into a must-have item for me, I will definitely get some real tubes.

 

[kikajess]

I don't know squat about lip balm and am still working on fixing my first batch but I have a question about the EO's ... I thought both peppermint and cinnamon are irritants of sorts .. wouldn't they irritate sensitive lips?

Yes, to some i think they would be an irritant. This is just for me. My lips are like leather, lol. The cinnamon and peppermint would be more stimulating than irritating...I'm hoping for a bit of plumping action. Plus, I think they would really help mask the smell of my PKO, which is very pungently nutty.

 

[kikajess]

I don't think you need to worry about comeogenic ratings for Lip Balm, lip skin isn't the same as the rest of the face. So unless you've specifically had issues I wouldn't be concentrating on that.

Test the Balm before pouring, you can test a little bit on a spoon in the freezer to solidify fast. It's miserable if you don't like the result and need to re empty a bunch of containers, I've been there! I don't believe it matters what container you store it in but I don't melt it down in the container. When I've got some I'm going to remelt to refill tubes I transfer it into glass or metal. Salad dressing containers should be fine, and many are microwave safe (I've used gladlock or ziplock ones in the micro) so pouring temp shouldn't be a problem.

I dunno...I have a tendency to break out around my lips, like, in the corners of my mouth, these tiny little pimples. They bug me. Since I'm customizing this recipe just for me, I figure it's better for me to use low comedogenic oils. And I just looked up the rating for PKO...it is compared to CO, which is a pore clogger. I may leave out the PKO. Maybe make one with and one without...yeah, that's what I'll do.

 

[Susie]

I don't know squat about lip balm and am still working on fixing my first batch but I have a question about the EO's ... I thought both peppermint and cinnamon are irritants of sorts .. wouldn't they irritate sensitive lips?

Very small amounts. VERY small amounts. A little goes a LONG way in lip balm. I would test it using 1 drop of EO mixed with say 4-5 drops carrier oil, then put on thin skin somewhere away from my mouth before committing it to all the oils and the tubes.

 

[kikajess]

Very small amounts. VERY small amounts. A little goes a LONG way in lip balm. I would test it using 1 drop of EO mixed with say 4-5 drops carrier oil, then put on thin skin somewhere away from my mouth before committing it to all the oils and the tubes.

Susie, that's a super idea. Will do. Thank you!!

 

[Lin]

I did say unless you've had problems

Forums like this I type my posts to address a large amount of people who may be reading and not posting or come across the thread doing research in the future.