Spa-inspired presents, including these handmade lip balms, can be created from basic kitchen ingredients and craft materials.
To make more than one kind of lip balm at a time, divide the recipe in half and scent and color the batches separately. For lip balms, we like to use essential oils that have an "edible" scent, such as citrus. Beeswax pellets are available at crafts stores.
Makes two .15-ounce tubes and two 1/2-ounce tins or pots
Tools and Materials
1 tablespoon beeswax pellets
2 tablespoons carrier oil
A few drops essential oil(s)
Lipstick shavings in desired color
Special equipment: heatproof glass jar, plastic pipettes, cosmetic-style plastic tubes, slide tins, or metal pots
Directions
1. Put beeswax and carrier oil in jar, and close lid. Heat the jar in a pot of water over medium-low heat until wax has melted. Remove jar from pot carefully.
2. Stir mixture with a metal spoon. Using a pipette, add essential oil, 1 drop at a time, until strength of scent is to your liking. Stir in lipstick shavings, 1 at a time, until desired shade is achieved and color is even throughout.
3. Using another pipette, transfer lip balm to containers. Let set for 1 hour.
Gift-Packaging Idea
Top cosmetic tubes and tins with custom labels: Water-slide decal paper is clear, making the design look as though it has been printed directly onto the container.
Clip-Art Labels
Small Rectangular Lip Balms 1
Small Rectangular Lip Balms 2
Small Round Lip Balms 1
Small Round Lip Balms 2
Large Rectangular Lip Balms 1
Large Rectangular Lip Balms 2
Large Rectangular Lip Balms Blank 1
Large Rectangular Lip Balms Blank 2
Large Round Lip Balms 1
Large Round Lip Balms 2
Lip Balm Tubes
Label How-To
Always fill containers before labeling them. Download clip-art labels, above, and print with an ink-jet printer onto water-slide decal paper. Spray with clear-coat varnish, and let dry. Cut out each label. Transfer to a bowl of water; soak until decals start to separate from paper backings, about 1 minute. Slide decals from papers and onto clean containers. Blot excess water with a paper towel. Let dry for 2 hours.
Sources
Oval lip balm tubes with caps (#0807-12SP), $6.48 for 12; and Tins: Flat (pots) with rolled-edge covers (#5562-02SP), $12.12 for 12, and slide top in small (#5569-01SP), $17.76 for 12, and large, $22.56 for 12; from sks-bottle.com.
Similar containers, from sunburstbottle.com.
8 1/2"-by-11" clear water-slide decal paper for ink-jet printers, $10.50 for 10 sheets, from beldecal.com.
Varnish, $5.67, by Krylon Kamar, from dickblick.com.
Get More Bath and Body Treatments and Learn About Essential Oils
If you are Looking for lip balm containers & don't want to wait for an online order....
-get round single bead organizers with screw caps which are sold in local craft stores with jewelry making supplies.
If you want small round labels for balm...
-get Avery 1" round multi-use labels sold in office supply stores
I found a great assortment from lipbalmtubes.com. They also had waxes and waterproof printer labels for the tubes.
After an endless amount of searching for the small metal tins, I found some at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. They are in the wedding section at both stores. They appear to be used as favor tins, for candies and what not, but they will work great for this (although a little bigger then 1/2oz).
I'm wondering where I could get containers to put the lip balm in. Any online sites or stores such as hobby Lobby (which I already checked)?
to polly_po Look above the "Label-How to" for the labels for the labels Then, download them and save in your docos. Easy. :O)
How download Clip-Art Labels ???
Love this idea! Essential Oils should be food quality though. I have read through the Essential oil section and do not find any info on this. Regular fragrance may not be food safe, therefore should not be consumed. Also, for the carrier oil, coconut oil is wonderful for lip balms. I have used coconut oil just out of the jar. Blessings, JJ
From the photos included with the instructions, it appears they may have used Sunflower oil but others could probably be used. You would probably want to use "food grade" oils, rather than mineral or baby oil...
Greetings, I am wondering what type of oil is to be used as the 'carrier' oil? If any one has some ideas on this, I would appreciate the suggestions. These look like they would be wonderful gifts,Thanks again.
I would love to add sunscreen to this recipe. Has anyone tried that? And if so, what type did they use?
I made these and everyone I gave them to loved them. I created my own clip art for decals. They really turned out cute but I found out later that most of the decals fell off. Did anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions before I make them again?
I made this lip balm but without lipstick as they are full with chemicals. I used 100% organic strawberry powder and it works perfectly. It's a really good lip balm.
Have just made some lip balm as Christmas presents. Am cook-a-hoop with the result!
this is great. I can
I have been trying out various lip balm recipies and this is the first one that actually worked for me. You can see my attempts (and photos) on my blog http://cosmeticsgenius.wordpress.com
I used the n n n n n n glossiern n n n n n version above and was very happy with the result. In n n n n n m disappointed in the honey though - it separated from the rest of the mixture as it was cooling and now is a little puddle at the bottom of the lip-gloss pot.
Did anyone get the honey integrated?
I had to re-create the labels in Microsoft Publisher. I just wish I had found that font.
I'm having the exact same problem. Have you figured it out yet?
Has anyone figured out how to use the clipart for the labels?? I have already made my lip glosses, and ordered my water-slide paper, now I just need to figure out how to make the labels. I can't figure out how to alter the clip-art to read what my flavor is. Please help!
Does anyone know why water transfer paper is used in this project instead of adhesive labels? It seems like a lot of extra work to use these type of labels.
Does anyone know why water transfer paper is used in this project instead of clear or white adhesive labels?
You need to add shea butter to the beeswax or the mixture sets too stiffly
What is the diffrence between bees wax sheets, chunks and pellets?
when i was on lipbalmtubes.com they said that soy was okay. The company has alot of the supplies needed for this project. and info too
Will soy wax work? My local craft store has lots of that but no bees wax.
The lib balm tube clip art is now available. I found it on the list this morning 11-19-08. Thank you MSL for all of your help. It's great to know that someone was listening.
Kimberli 21
I can't wait to make this lip balm with the oval tubes I just ordered, but I cannot find the clip art for the tubes. Please help me find the clip art. Kimberli
Molly,
Sources
Oval lip balm tubes with caps (#0807-12SP), $6.48 for 12; and Tins: Flat (pots) with rolled-edge covers (#5562-02SP), $12.12 for 12, and slide top in small (#5569-01SP), $17.76 for 12, and large, $22.56 for 12; from sks-bottle.com.
Similar containers, from sunburstbottle.com.
i think that your cookie magazines are really good.i love the christmas ones where there are cookies hanging everywhere!i live in ottawa, canada so where can i get those lip balm tubes that you showed on page 116 in Martha Stewart Living December 2008? molly,age 9