How To Make Lip Balm

Living in Australia comes with the blessing of great weather year-round, which means more time spent in the backyard and at the beach.

Sounds like heaven, right? It really is, however the additional exposure to the sun and UV rays means we should be extra vigilant about looking after our skin and lips. Dry, chapped lips are not uncommon in this part of the world if you don’t take care of them.

There are so many lip balm products on the market that it can almost be overwhelming. So here at Aussie Candle Supplies we decided to make our own.

The results were so fantastic that we decided to share it with you! We’ve even gone one better and included a section of our website to supply all the bits and bobs you’ll need to get going.

The beauty of making your own lip balm is in the fact you can tailor the flavouring and colouring to your personal preference, and they make really great gifts for friends and family.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

*NOTE: The type of lip balm base you use will be determined by whether you are making lip balm in a pot or in a tube. You can find both types here (Lip Balm Base). Each lip balm pot holds 8g while a tube holds 5g.

• 80g lip balm base for pots or 50g lip balm base for tubes (see note above about different bases)
• 2.4-4ml of flavouring (optional) for pots, 1.5-2.5ml for tubes
• Colouring (optional, and must be FD&C and oil based or lip safe mica)
• Sweetener (optional)
• 10 lip balm pots
• 1 Pyrex jug or other microwave-safe container
• Spouted plastic jug or disposable pipette (optional for pouring, see Step 6)
• 1 stainless steel stirring spoon

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place your lip balm base in the Pyrex jug or microwavable container.
   
2. Heat in the microwave just until the base begins to melt, remove and stir before heating again. As it doesn’t take a lot of heating to melt the base, with your spoon give it a quick stir occasionally throughout this process.
   
3. Once your base is completely melted, it’s time to add your flavouring and colour. However, if you prefer a totally natural and pure lip balm, feel free to skip this step. While you may need to experiment on quantity based on your brand of flavouring, it is generally used at a rate of 3-5% of the total base weight. **Never use candle fragrances, even if they are body safe. Body safe is a term used for skin safe fragrances and NOT for ingesting.
   
   
4. As most flavours are unsweetened, you can add sweetener to your base now.
5. Just like flavouring, colour is a personal choice and it can be difficult to measure particularly for small batches. Using a dropper can be really useful for this purpose. Work slowly and add in small doses at a time until you reach your desired shade. If using lip safe mica, add very small amounts of the powder at a time until you reach your desired shade.
6. With your spoon, stir the base thoroughly before pouring in to your pots or tubes. Depending on your confidence level, you can choose to pour straight out of the Pyrex jug, from a spouted plastic jug, or fill with a disposable pipette. When pouring in to pots, ensure there is enough space between each one just in case you spill. When pouring in to tubes, use a tube tray that holds them steady. Pour low and keep in mind that the hotter you pour, the more chance there is of cracks and holes appearing. The good news is that these can easily be filled by a double pour.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between lip balm base for pots and tubes?

The two use different bases, so choose the one that matches your container. As a guide, a pot typically holds around 8g and a tube around 5g, which helps you work out how much base to melt for your batch.

Can I use candle fragrance to flavour lip balm?

No. Never use candle fragrances in lip balm, even ones labelled body safe. Body safe means suitable for skin, not for ingesting, so only use flavouring made specifically for lip products.

How much flavouring and colour should I add?

Flavouring is generally used at around 3 to 5 percent of the total base weight, though this varies by brand, so experiment in small amounts. For colour, use an oil based FD&C colour or lip safe mica, adding small doses at a time until you reach the shade you want.

Why are there cracks or holes in my finished lip balm?

This usually happens when the base is poured too hot. Pouring at a lower temperature reduces the chance of cracks and dips forming, and any that do appear can be fixed easily with a second pour to top them up.

Do I have to add colour and flavour?

Not at all. If you prefer a plain, natural lip balm you can skip both and simply pour the melted base on its own. Colour, flavour and sweetener are all optional and down to personal preference.