Recipe of the Day: Lip Balm

LIP BALM

Base ingredients:
1 oz Beeswax
1 1/2 cup Carrier oil (Almond, Apricot Kernel and/or Olive - 1/2 cup of each is good.)
40 drops total Essential Oil per tube
(The consistency of the balm is determined by the amount of beeswax used.)

*This makes approximately 30 .25 Lip Balm tubes.

Other optional ingredients:
Infused oils (ie: Calendula, Monoi, Vanilla, Stevia)
Cocoa butter
Aloe Oil
Honey

Flavor suggestions:
Citrus (Orange, Tangerine, Mandarin, Lime, Lemon or all)
Mint (Peppermint or Spearmint / can burn the lips, be mindful, use less than 40 drops!)
Chocolate Mint (Use an infused oil of the Cocoa bean or pure Chocolate)
Honey (Use a Honey absolute)
Vanilla (Use an infused oil of the bean or a Vanilla absolute or C02)

Directions:
Weigh all ingredients. Begin by melting beeswax in a double boiler (bain marie) , then adding the Carrier oil(s) until all items are melted. Beeswax is the item that will take the longest to melt. Use caution and never heat over direct heat.

There is some debate and difference in recipes as far as when to add the essential oils. Keep in mind that high temperatures destroy some of the therapeutics contained in essential oils. The options are adding the essential oils to your mix once your Beeswax+Oil base has melted and is no longer on the fire or adding the 40 drops to the ladle you will use to pour into the Lip Balm tube.
Once the oils are melted use a plastic dropper or small ladle to dispense the solution into Lip Balm tubes or jars. Be mindful not to burn yourself. Oils and wax get hot very quickly and the temperature can climb higher than you suspect. Fill tubes until the inside screw is barely covered. Allow to firm for a few minutes. Once the lower tube is firm then top off the tube with more oil/wax solution. The dropper can be used to make a dome of solution on the lip balm tube. Once the solution cools there will be a slight indentation from shrinkage.
Cap when all tubes are filled.



Images are old engravings that have been digitally enhanced, ©Roxana Villa