Peppermint Mandarin Holiday Lip Balm Recipe
Do you reach for your lip balm more often during the winter than at other times of year?
Make a holiday lip balm with peppermint and mandarin essential oils.
When I lived in a climate that turned cold during winter (I live in Florida now), I noticed my friends doing that all the time! Another thing I noticed was that people love to receive handmade aromatherapy products as gifts. (Okay, I noticed that a long time ago!)
So I thought, why not make a holiday lip balm recipe and share it with friends? I created a lip balm with Peppermint essential oil, and hints of citrus, cocoa, and vanilla. It's delicious!
Peppermint essential oil makes this holiday lip balm a little cooling, which is a nice effect. It's also a protective, healing blend that can support you against getting sick.
This recipe makes about 18 tubes. (Plenty to share!) You can get lip balm tubes at Aromatics International. You can also get a lip balm tube tray, which holds the tubes in place and prevents spills as you're pouring the hot liquid balm into them.
Pro Tips for DIY Lip Balm Success
Tip # 1: The "Stovetop Melting Method".
I like to use the "Stovetop Melting Method" to melt the ingredients.
Place a glass measuring cup in a soup pot that’s about 1/4 full of gently boiling water, leaving the measuring cup's handle hanging over the edge of the pot so it doesn't become too hot. Your ingredients will go in the measuring cup, and the water will heat the glass to melt them.
Tip #2: Prepare your lip balm tubes.
Set up all your open lip balm tubes, so they're ready to receive hot liquid. If you have a lip balm tube tray, load the tubes into the tray.
(You'll be so grateful this step is done when you're ready to pour or pipette the hot liquid!)
Tip #3: Measure the ingredients beforehand.
A kitchen scale works best for this. Be sure to tare your scale so you're not measuring the weight of the bowl as well.
Tip #4: Pipettes are ideal.
I prefer to transfer the melted liquid to the tubes with a plastic pipette, like the ones you used in chemistry class. That way I'm not trying to pour from a large container into something with such a small opening.
You can also use a funnel if you have one of those on hand.
Tip #5: Have fun with labels.
I like to make fun labels when I make holiday lip balms. You can name your lip balm, list the ingredients, and put fun stickers on it!
And now for the recipe!
I like to keep the concentration of Peppermint to about 1 drop for every lip balm tube. The right amount of Peppermint is refreshing and cooling, but too much can get hot and irritating.
Peppermint and Mandarin Lip Balm
Keep your lips feeling moisturized!
Ingredients
½ oz (14 gm) Beeswax (Cera flava)
½ oz (14 gm) Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao)
1 fl oz (30 ml) Vanilla-infused Jojoba Wax (Simmondsia chinensis)
10 drops Mandarin Oil (Citrus reticulata)
10 drops Peppermint Oil (Mentha x piperita)
Equipment
Lip balm tubes (about 18)
One lip balm tube tray (optional)
Several small bowls (to measure your ingredients)
Kitchen scale
Glass stirring rod (or a stainless steel spoon)
Funnel or a plastic pipette
Pyrex measuring cup
A cooking pot that can hold the Pyrex
Directions
Set up the "Stovetop Melting Method" by placing a Pyrex measuring cup in a soup pot that's ¼ full of gently boiling water. (This is your makeshift double boiler!)
Melt your beeswax in the Pyrex.
Add the vanilla-infused jojoba, stirring until melted.
Add the cocoa butter, and stir until melted.
Remove the Pyrex from heat, and add your essential oils.
Stir gently to blend the ingredients.
Pour the liquid into the lip balm tubes very carefully.
As soon as the lip balms are solid (which should take a few minutes), remove the tubes from the tray and gently place the caps on the tubes so the essential oil does not evaporate.
(Let your lip balms cool and solidify for several hours.)
Looking for more lip balm recipes?
Try making one with Coconut, Cocoa, Vanilla and Lime!
