I’m excited to have Jen from Something Turquoise on the blog today, sharing her easy and adorable tutorial for Lip Balm Wedding Favors. Something Turquoise is full of creative DIY wedding projects, inspiration and more. In the tutorial below, Jen demonstrates how to make lip balm using the Lip Balm Base. If you’re looking to make your lip balm from scratch, visit the full tutorial on Something Turquoise for a fantastic recipe, along with free downloadable labels! Take it away Jen! -A.M.
I’ve been experimenting with waxes, butters and bases for about two months now and I’ve finally found some amazing products that you will love. Not only are these lip balms amazing for your lips and of course darling – but they are super cheap to make! These will be fantastic as wedding or bridal shower favors but they will also make wonderful homemade gifts anytime of the year…
In this tutorial I will be showing you the super easy (like so easy it’s ridiculous) way to make your own lip balms and an advanced way of making them from scratch – with a special recipe I created just for you!
SUPPLIES // empty lip balm tubes (these come in many shapes and sizes, available all over the internet!), Brambleberry Lip Balm Base, your choice of flavor oil, a pouring pot, a chopstick, a pipette, and labels to fit your lip balm containers – either from Paper Source or Martha Stewart Home Office. Mica to color your lip balm is optional.
Bramble Berry makes an amazing melt and pour lip balm base – believe me I’ve tried quite a few and this one is superior! All the best ingredients are already measured and melted down for you so that all you need to do is re-melt this special concoction and add your choice of flavor oil!
On the lowest heat possible, slowly melt the lip balm base. Stirring your base with a chopstick works wonderful – but don’t use a wooden one – little splinters will break off in your base – I know, I did it. You will easily be able to make 20 lip balm tubes from one container of 4 oz lip balm base – but you will only be able to get 8 of the screw top tin containers.
Once your base is completely liquid remove from the heat and add your flavor oil – I chose Vanilla. Technically, the normal ratio for adding flavor oil is 1% – 3% by weight meaning if you’re making 10 oz of lip balm you would add 0.25 oz of flavoring oil. So if you are only making this 4 oz batch you would use about 0.10 of an ounce – meaning a little tiny bit. The flavor of your balm is completely up to you, I started by adding just a little bit of oil and then smelled my mixture – if I couldn’t smell the scent enough I added a few more drops. Simple. Also, women might enjoy a heavier scented balm – while men might prefer a lighter scent. Ps: the only reason there is turquoise Washi tape on the handle of my pouring pot is so that I know of all my pots – this one is for lip balm 🙂
If you want to color your lip balm – that step is in the advanced part of this tutorial. Now fill your empty lip balm containers with your melted base! For the tin containers, fill to the height that you are happy. For the tubes, if you are OCD like me and don’t want a hole in the top of your lip balm – only fill them right past the little twist pin inside the tube and let them cool. Then re-melt your base and re-pour.
After your first pour has cooled you will need to re-melt the rest of your base that has hardened in the pouring pot. Now go back and top off all your tubes. This step is optional – however this makes the tops of your tubes perfect looking. If you over-pour don’t worry – just wipe the excess base off the sides of your tube, no one will know.
So fun, so easy and so cute! I’m now completely obsessed with making these
Now for the label. Clean the outside of your tube/container with rubbing alcohol – if there is any ‘oily’ residue on the outside from the pouring of your base or working with the waxes, the label won’t stick.
You can find these darling free downloadable lables via Jen’s site, be sure to check them out!
If you’re looking for a more advanced tutorial, check out Jen’s awesome recipe for making lip balm from scratch! You can find the full recipe and tutorial here.
Hi, may I add vitamin e oil in this recipe and how much should I add? thanks!
Hi Joy!
You can definitely add vitamin E oil if you like! Keep in mind, vitamin E oil can make your soap sticky if too much is used. I would recommend starting out with about 1-3% of vitamin E in your recipe.
Vitamin E oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vitamin-E-Oil-P3200.aspx
To check the consistency, dip a frozen spoon in your melted lip balm. That will harden it immediately and you can check the texture. If you want more vitamin E oil, you can add it. 🙂
The Spoon Trick: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/spoon-trick/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi! You obviously have a very popular blog and a loyal following. I noticed you didn’t credit or give a link back to the original creator of this awesome content. Am I missing something?
Hi Christie!
This guest blog post was done by Jen from Something Turquoise. I’ll include a link to the blog below! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Something Turquoise: http://somethingturquoise.com/
Awesome Kelsey! Thanks for the reply 🙂 Not that I’m trying to get all up in your blog biz, but I wanted to mention two things: 1) If you like Something Turquoise it’s nice to give a credit link in the actual post. That way readers don’t have to dig through comments to find Jen’s work. and it helps readers find new blogs. 2) You want to be careful of duplicate content from a search engine standpoint. Google has cracked down on low-quality sites that scrape content from elsewhere and republish it verbatim. Obviously this isn’t a low-quality site, in fact it’s rather AWESOME, but Google may get confused if you repost from other blogs lock-stock-and barrel. Anyway, so glad I found you and let me know if you have any further questions about SEO. We can of course discuss privately via email 🙂 Thanks again Kelsey!
Hi Christie!
Thank you so much for your feedback! I totally agree, it’s important to give credit. That’s why we updated this blog post to include an introduction paragraph that links to the amazing Something Turquoise blog. Thanks so much for reading. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Oh and I want to let you know I bought the nourishing lip balm base
Ok..so I bought lip balm base from Brambleberry just to cut time. I would like to add some cocoa butter to the mix to give it a chocolatey smell. I want to make like a peppermint patty smell to it. I’m not good at guessing how much I should use of Ingredients. How much cocoa butter would you suggest I use in a 4 oz base? Your advice is greatly appreciated.
Hi Lia!
What a fun idea! I would recommend adding .2 or .3 oz. to the 4 oz. of lip balm base. That should give you a nice chocolatey smell.
Keep in mind that cocoa butter can get grainy if it gets too hot. I would recommend melting your base in the microwave then adding the solid cocoa butter to the melted base. Stir until it’s fully melted. If there are still chunks of butter left, pop it back into the microwave on 5-second bursts. That will ensure the butter heats gently. 🙂
Also, our Mint Julep Flavor Oil would give you a nice minty smell! You can use that at 1-3% in your recipe.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Cocoa butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Cocoa-Butter-P3218.aspx
Mint Julep Flavor Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Mint-Julep-Flavor-Oil-P3845.aspx
Are your lables 2″ long and 1/2 wide for standered 15 oz lip balm tubes?
Hi Casey!
Our lip balm label templates are designed to fit the lip balm tubes we sell, which are about 2″ long and 1/2″ wide.
As for 15 oz. lip balm tubes, we don’t have any templates for those. Sorry about that! You may want to check online to see if there are label templates available. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Lip balm tubes: https://www.brambleberry.com/Lip-Balm-Tubes–P3024.aspx
Clear lip balm tubes: https://www.brambleberry.com/Clear-Lip-Balm-Tubes-P4750.aspx
I make my own lip balm and was wondering what size labels you use for the lip balm tubes.
Hi Casey!
Our lip balm tubes are about 2″ long and 1/2″ wide, so that’s how big our labels are. We have a lot of great premade templates you may like brambleberry.com. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Templates: https://www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=templates
Can the olive oil be switched out for sweet almond oil?
Hi Renee!
You could definitely switch out the dash of Olive Oil for Sweet Almond Oil! I would add a small amount and use the “frozen spoon” trick to see if you like the consistency before adding more. The frozen spoon trick is where you place a spoon in the freezer before making your balm. Then while it’s hot, place the tip of the spoon into your mixture so it hardens on the spoon. Then you can apply that to your lips, and see what you think! If it’s not moist enough, you can add a little more liquid oil 🙂 I hope that helps!
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I love your lip balm labels and would love to download them but when I do, I’m not able to change them to add text I want to make sure is added. Do you have a way to send the template how you have it but able to tweak and change??? If you could email me instead of responding to this list, I would greatly appreciate it. my email is [email protected] Thank you! Beautiful job on them!
Hi Diane!
If you are looking for some great free templates that allow you to change the text, I would recommend checking out our Template section on Bramble Berry!
Free Templates: https://www.brambleberry.com/Search.aspx?k=template
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Can you please explain how to sterilize the lip tubes, pots etc. Thanks in advance.
Hi Debra!
An easy way to sterilize your packaging is to simply spray it with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol and wipe it down with a tissue after. I hope this helps! 🙂
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Could you tell me where you got the stickers? I found the template online but I need to know where to find the blank stickers to print them.
Hi Rachel!
The stickers in this tutorial were created by Jen from Something Turquoise through Avery’s Online Label Generator. You can create your own labels there to customize your products. Here is the link:
http://www.avery.com/myavery/selectproduct.do?Ns=Rank%7C0&N=4294966354
I hope that this helps! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I found the software no problem. I need to know where to find the actual stickers to print onto.
Hi Rachel!
You can typically find those type of stickers at your local craft or office supply store! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Love love love! What a great post! Actually, the entire website is awesome! So easy to follow directions, very detailed!
Now I gotta make some myself
Good morning, Anastasia!
Thank you so much for stopping by. We are excited that you will be trying this recipe out and can’t wait to hear about how it goes. If you are able to get any pictures of your fun products, be sure to share them with us on Bramble Berry’s Facebook page. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
https://www.facebook.com/BrambleBerry
Hi! Is there any problem with using agave nectar in lip balm? I want to use a liquid vegan sweetener because stevia doesn’t completely dissolve and tends to leave the balm a tad grainy. Thoughts?
~Evie
Good morning, Evie!
You can use Agave Nectar, but it could become a bit sticky in your batch. We would suggest doing a small test batch to see how you like it for your lip balms. I hope this helps! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Hi!
I’m having trouble finding lip balm labels i can create with a printer in the stores. I’m wondering where you purchased the ones in the picture. Ive checked office supply stores and hobby/craft stores. Any large chains you know of that might carry them? Or a link I could order the labels from? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Than you for everything! I love your site!
Misty
Hi Misty!
Those colorful labels that you see in this guest post actually come pre-printed from Martha Stewarts Home Office labels. Most of that particular brand will work great with Avery’s online label maker. You should be able to find them at any office store, or even online! I hope that this helps. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Are there a listing of lip safe Essential Oils anywhere on Bramble Berry’s website?
Hi Mariel!
While there isn’t a direct list, you can use such lip-safe essential oils like Balsam Peru, Carrot Seed, Lemongrass, Rosemary and Spearmint! I hope that this helps. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Balsam Peru Essential Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Balsam-Peru-Essential-Oil-P4443.aspx
Carrot Seed Essential Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Carrot-Seed-Essential-Oil-P3830.aspx
Lemongrass Essential Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Lemongrass-Essential-Oil-P3822.aspx
Rosemary Essential Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Rosemary-Essential-Oil-P3817.aspx
Spearmint Essential Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Spearmint-Essential-Oil-P3821.aspx
I love a good lip balm but have to have an SPF factor. How can I do that with a homemade product? Thanks for the great tutorial!
Hi Marianna!
Since Sunscreen/SPF is considered a drug by the FDA you cannot make any claims about your product protecting you from the sun. But you can use titanium dioxide or zinc oxide as they have been known to help with sun protection.
Here is the actual languaging that defines sunscreen as a drug is here: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=2840d521290f433ef8e5afed3f64c86f&rgn=div5&view=text&node=21:7.0.1.2.10&idno=21#21:7.0.1.2.10.2.1.11
Zinc Oxide: https://www.brambleberry.com/Zinc-Oxide-P5046.aspx
Titanium Dioxide: https://www.brambleberry.com/Titanium-Dioxide-Pigment-P4040.aspx
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I would like to make a lipbalm for my birthday favor, i want to order supplies and kit everything included, please show me the link. thanks
Good morning, Ai!
This particular guest tutorial does not have a kit, but we do have other lip balm kits (https://www.brambleberry.com/Soap-Queen-Lotion-and-Balm-Kits-C339.aspx) that you can choose from, here are a few of my favorites:
Winter Lip Balm Kit: https://www.brambleberry.com/Winter-Lip-Balm-Kit-P5340.aspx
Chocolate Lip Balm Kit: https://www.brambleberry.com/Chocolate-Lip-Balm-Kit-P5343.aspx
Infused Lip Balm Kit: https://www.brambleberry.com/Infused-Lip-Balm-Kit-P5341.aspx
-Becky with Bramble Berry
How did you get the colorful border around those white labels??? I looked at the avery print online site & I didn’t see any borders that fit the label perfectly like that.
Hi Nikki!
Those colorful labels that you see in this guest post actually come pre-printed from Martha Stewarts Home Office labels. Most of that particular brand will work great with Avery’s online label maker. I hope this helps! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Hi Becky!
The butters I used were deodorized cocoa butter, shea butter and mango butter. I also used several oils like infused olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, evening primrose oil, grapeseed oil and apricot seed oil (yup – that’s a lot of ingredients). I melted the cocoa butter in a double boiler, very slowly and on low heat for about 20 minutes. I let it sit for another 20 minutes while I measured and heated my oils in the microwave – two rounds of 30 second bursts – stirring between bursts. I then stirred in the mango and shea butters, letting them melt with the heat of the oils. Finally I added the cocoa butter and essential oils. I poured the mixture into little glass jars and let them cool on the counter overnight. They turned out a little soft and super grainy. If I decide to remelt everything I may add a little candelilla wax. It is worth remelting everything? Should I temper the whole batch?
~Evie
Hi Evie!
That sounds like an amazing recipe, so skin-loving! Shea Butter can get a bit grainy in some recipes, so I would suggest trying using a bit less in your next recipe to see if that changes the consistency or the graininess that you are experiencing. Since you have Mango and Shea Butter in your balm, I would not suggest remelting in the microwave as that type of heat can cause graininess in your batch. I’d defintley experiment in small batches with your ratios to find which one will work the best for you and help combat that graininess! I hope this helps. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Yup, you were right Becky. Remelting was not the way to go. I’m back to the drawing board. 🙂 I have a question about lip balm though. What ingredient makes the lip balm heavier and helps it adhere to the lips? Shea butter? Candelilla wax? I’m looking to make a creamier lip balm than what I’ve been making (will be packaged in a small pot/jar/tin versus tube). Thoughts?
~Evie
Good morning, Evie!
We’ve found that a mix of Coconut Oil, Candellila Wax, Sweet Almond Oil and Avocado Oil really work well for us (in our Nourish Lip Balm Base – https://www.brambleberry.com/Nourish-Lip-Balm-Base-P5231.aspx) and we encourage you to experiment with different fixed oils to see what works the best for you! I’m a big fan of Shea Butter in my lip balms, as it gives it that extra soft and skin-loving feel. Here are a few recipes that you can check out for extra lip-balm inspiration:
Vanilla Latte Lip Balm: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/vanilla-latte-lip-balm/
Talk It Out Tuesday: Lip Balm: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/talk-it-out-tuesday-lip-balm/
Winter Lip Balm Recipe: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/winter-lip-balm-recipe/
I hope this helps! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Wow – what an awesome post! So thorough and clear with beautiful photos. I just love the labels – adorable! I find that making lip balm or body balm from scratch is more difficult for me than making cold process soap. My balms are very hit or miss. They tend to be grainy despite all the “tricks”. I have a whole pile of fabulous body balms but they are terribly grainy. Is there any way to “save” them??
~Evie
Hi Evie!
I am so sorry to hear about your frustration with your body balms and butters. Could you tell us a bit more about what is going on so that we could help you troubleshoot? We’ve actually found that certain butters can actually make the formulas go grainy if melted instead of tempered. Let us know about your recipe and we can try to help you out! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Very cute. Great pictures, too.
Hi Erica!
Thanks for stopping by and enjoying this fabulous guest post. We couldn’t get enough of the cute labels and clear instructions. If you get a chance to try our Nourishing Lip Balm Base out, let us know, we’d love your feedback =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Nourish Lip Balm Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/Nourish-Lip-Balm-Base-P5231.aspx
As always you have totally outdone yourself. This is a great post. Thanks
Hi Odette!
We were so lucky to have Jen from Something Turquoise as our guest blogger for this post. She did a great job and I hope you get a chance to make some lip balms of your very own! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I really would think you’d want to wear gloves and not touch the butters with your bare hands, wouldn’t you? I mean the temps you are using are not high enough to kill germs/bacteria that could start growing in those lip balms. I know it’s rare, especially if you don’t have any water in there, but I would think it would be a better practice.
Hi Lauri!
Thanks for the eagle eye. This is actually a guest post from Jen at Something Turquoise. Because there isn’t any water in the product, it isn’t actually going to grow any mold, microbes or bacteria in it, but you are correct, where gloves is definitely a best practice when handling any bath and body products. Thanks for the feedback. =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Thanks for show us how to make our lip balm, I was wondering how to get started.
Hi Lucy!
If you ever have any questions about making lip balm, don’t hesitate to ask. Here is another fun recipe with our Nourishing Lip Base you can try out.
Domino Lip Balm: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/domino-lip-balm/
Happy Lip Balm Making!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I want to add fresh goats milk to my lip balm do you have a recipe you might be able to recommend for me.
Hi Corinne!
We have never used goat milk in our lip balms before as it tends to shorten the life of the product and we’ve never found a way to keep it properly preserved in a lip balm. If you are looking for other lip balm recipes, I would check out our list here:
http://www.soapqueen.com/category/bath-and-body-tutorials/lip-products/
Or you can even chat with the crafters and soapers at the Teach Soap Forums to see if they have any idea or tips for you!
http://www.teachsoap.com/forum/
I hope this helps!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Me too Lucy. I want to start making bath and body products tor my family.and also gifts. I am going to try balms and butters first wish me luck.