Yesterday, May 26, 2020, in Wisconsin it was OK to enter Phase I of our re-emergence into pandemic society. Or something like it. I am still being very careful and wearing a mask when I go out and limiting my exposure by not going to many places. Every state seems to have a different approach to how to live with the new and unknown COVID-19 and I respect everyone's situation. I've been pretty much sticking at home. I have had nice, relaxing visits to friends' outdoor driveways and that's been very enjoyable. It is getting difficult though. I would like to be able to live life as usual. 

In the meantime, I've been spending time this summer exploring how to add products to my line-up. I am excited to add: lip balms, bath bombs, candles, solid lotion, and solid dish soap. I love the solid dish soap and will be stocking that in my shop very soon (more on that later). I did, however, add lip balm and bath bombs! 

It was very important to me to try out cardboard, recyclable lip balm tubes. I found these tubes that will hold 0.2 oz of lip balm product and this is just slightly more than 0.15 oz plastic lip balm tubes that everyone is used to. I tried many different lip balm recipes and settled on one that was 1/3 portion of beeswax, liquid oils, and cocoa butter. I like a little harder of a lip balm, personally, because it feels less greasy and doesn't melt as easily as other recipes. I'd like to share the recipe with you in case you would like to make them at home too. 

                   

 

 

Peppermint Lip Balm Recipe

2 TBSP organic, natural beeswax (17.0 grams)
1 TBSP sunflower oil (16.0 grams)
1 TBSP avocado oil (16.0 grams)
2 TBSP cocoa butter (17.0 grams)
20 drops of high-quality peppermint essential oil (I like to buy from New Directions Aromatics)
15 drops Vitamin E oil
9 drops rosemary extract (as a natural preservative. I like Wholesale Supplies Plus https://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/search.aspx?q=rosemary%20oleoresin)

 

Directions: 

Pour a few inches of water into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat. Using a double-boiler, SLOWLY melt the cocoa butter and beeswax. Heating these too quickly can negatively affect the texture of the lip balm. This could take up to 10 minutes or more. Once melted, add the liquid oils. Remove from heat and add essential oil, vitamin E and rosemary extract. Pour into lip balm tubes (this made about 10 of mine) only about 10% capacity. Let solidify and pour the remaining mixture into the tubes incrementally, being sure to leave some space at the top, not filling to the rim of the tube. Let solidify and then place in the refrigerator for a few hours to overnight. Cap the tube and it's ready to be used! 

Note that you can use any kind of oil that you like...olive oil, coconut oil, etc. You just need a liquid oil, a solid oil, and beeswax. If you like a softer lip balm, just add more liquid oil. Be careful to use essential oils that won't irritate skin. I chose sunflower oil and avocado oil because they are skin-loving oils that are absorbed quickly. Cocoa butter offers a creamy feel for the balm. You could substitute the cocoa butter for shea butter or use both! That's the beauty of lip balm. The recipe combinations are endless. 

Stay safe out there and wash your hands!

XOXO,

Lesley