Lip Balm Problem

[Guest guest]

Hi shannon, I'm nooo expert, but I remember reading about how to fix that

problem. This is info. from sweetcakes.com. I have also heard stevia will

help but I have not tried that yet.

Sweeteners -- even " grocery store " -type sweeteners like honey and stevia --

can be notoriously hard to mix into lip balm. Through our own experimentation

and feedback from our customers (particularly RuthAnn of Mermaid's Bath --

thanks, RuthAnn!) we've come up with the following tips for incorporating our

sweetener into lip balm:

Make your basic lip balm mixture (whether it's " from scratch, " using various

liquid oils plus beeswax, or using our preblended base plus beeswax). Add to

this our All-Natural Sweetener (we recommend using 3% by weight). Stir

continuously as the base cools (the sweetener will want to pool at the bottom

initially, but will become more willing to blend and integrate as the mixture

cools down). When the base has cooled and is opaque and thick, put the container

in a hot-water bath to remelt, stirring constantly. Voila! The sweetener will

stay nicely combined with the base.

A couple more caveats/comments, courtesy of our customers:

" You must allow the mixture to cool COMPLETELY after the initial melt before

you put the mix in a hot-water bath or over a double-boiler to emulsify the

sweetener with the lip balm. "

" Stir constantly both while you cool the mixture until you can't stir anymore

AND while you re-melt the mix -- if you don't stir at all times, some of the

sweetener will not mix in and will be left sitting in the bottom of the cup

or pot when you pour. "

HTH

Tammy

[Guest guest]

Hi shannon, I'm nooo expert, but I remember reading about how to fix that

problem. This is info. from sweetcakes.com. I have also heard stevia will

help but I have not tried that yet.

Sweeteners -- even " grocery store " -type sweeteners like honey and stevia --

can be notoriously hard to mix into lip balm. Through our own experimentation

and feedback from our customers (particularly RuthAnn of Mermaid's Bath --

thanks, RuthAnn!) we've come up with the following tips for incorporating our

sweetener into lip balm:

Make your basic lip balm mixture (whether it's " from scratch, " using various

liquid oils plus beeswax, or using our preblended base plus beeswax). Add to

this our All-Natural Sweetener (we recommend using 3% by weight). Stir

continuously as the base cools (the sweetener will want to pool at the bottom

initially, but will become more willing to blend and integrate as the mixture

cools down). When the base has cooled and is opaque and thick, put the container

in a hot-water bath to remelt, stirring constantly. Voila! The sweetener will

stay nicely combined with the base.

A couple more caveats/comments, courtesy of our customers:

" You must allow the mixture to cool COMPLETELY after the initial melt before

you put the mix in a hot-water bath or over a double-boiler to emulsify the

sweetener with the lip balm. "

" Stir constantly both while you cool the mixture until you can't stir anymore

AND while you re-melt the mix -- if you don't stir at all times, some of the

sweetener will not mix in and will be left sitting in the bottom of the cup

or pot when you pour. "

HTH

Tammy

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I have tried making flavored lip balms a few times and when I do the flavor

oil always seems to want to sink to the bottom and doesn't blend well with the

base. I have tried a couple of different brands of flavor oils and both of them

did the same thing. Is there a trick to this that I am missing?

I would much appreciate any information anyone can give me on this.

Thank You,

[Guest guest]

,

That's a problem I've struggled with in the past, too.

One way to get around it is to switch to essential oils in very small

quantities...

I finally found a tiny whisk that is battery operated (at a yard sale, for a

buck ;-] ). Whipping it until it is starting to become translucent seems to

keep the flavor oils emulsified until the balms solidify. If you keep a

bowl of very hot water nearby you can pour a bunch and then put the container

into the bowl of hot water - whip it again - pour, etc.

The Essential Herbal - the magazine by, for, and about herbie people and the

things they love - HERBS!!!! 6 juicy issues per year, filled to the brim

with crafts, recipes, lore, and remedies. Subscribe today!

www.essentialherbal.com

[Guest guest]

,

That's a problem I've struggled with in the past, too.

One way to get around it is to switch to essential oils in very small

quantities...

I finally found a tiny whisk that is battery operated (at a yard sale, for a

buck ;-] ). Whipping it until it is starting to become translucent seems to

keep the flavor oils emulsified until the balms solidify. If you keep a

bowl of very hot water nearby you can pour a bunch and then put the container

into the bowl of hot water - whip it again - pour, etc.

The Essential Herbal - the magazine by, for, and about herbie people and the

things they love - HERBS!!!! 6 juicy issues per year, filled to the brim

with crafts, recipes, lore, and remedies. Subscribe today!

www.essentialherbal.com

[Guest guest]

,

That's a problem I've struggled with in the past, too.

One way to get around it is to switch to essential oils in very small

quantities...

I finally found a tiny whisk that is battery operated (at a yard sale, for a

buck ;-] ). Whipping it until it is starting to become translucent seems to

keep the flavor oils emulsified until the balms solidify. If you keep a

bowl of very hot water nearby you can pour a bunch and then put the container

into the bowl of hot water - whip it again - pour, etc.

The Essential Herbal - the magazine by, for, and about herbie people and the

things they love - HERBS!!!! 6 juicy issues per year, filled to the brim

with crafts, recipes, lore, and remedies. Subscribe today!

www.essentialherbal.com

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I have tried making flavored lip balms a few times

** ,

I have the same problem but with the honey I mix in. I use food grade

Lecithin (which I buy from a health food shop as it is cheaper there). If

the flavour oil is water (or alcohol) based then it will not blend well with

the oils used. Lecithin is an emulsifier (sp?) which helps water to bond

with oil. The basic rule of thumb is to add up to 3% to your recipe. Start

low though as liquid lecithin has a very dark colour and if you add too

much, the balm will become too sticky.

Good Luck,

Tsoumbakos

www.earthsgoddess.com

[Guest guest]

, I am guessing that your flavorings are water based and that

your lip balm is oil based - oil and water do not mix. You'll have

to find an oil based flavoring, or use an emulsifier. Then you

should also add a preservative.

I never use flavorings, instead I add a drop of essential oils. My

last batch I used a drop of peppermint essential oil, yum.

Sagescript Institute, LLC

Microbiology Assays

http://www.sagescript.com

>

> Hi All,

> I have tried making flavored lip balms a few times and when I

do the flavor oil always seems to want to sink to the bottom and

doesn't blend well with the base. I have tried a couple of different

brands of flavor oils and both of them did the same thing. Is there

a trick to this that I am missing?

> I would much appreciate any information anyone can give me on

this.

> Thank You,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

....

>

> I finally found a tiny whisk that is battery operated (at a yard sale,

for a buck

I got a couple of these small battery powered whisks at the dollare tree.

Check there of you want to get one to try with your lip balm.

Raven