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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Strawberry scented vegan lip balm

I have made many kinds of lip balms, but so far I have always used beeswax as the base. A while ago I ordered a container of carnauba wax with the intention to make vegan lip balms one day. I was mostly curious how different they will be from the beeswax ones. Last night I was feeling inspired and late at night (it really was late!) created my first lip balm without the use of beeswax. 

Carnauba wax is a wax of the leaves of the palm Copernicia prunifera, a plant native to and grown only in a certain region of Brazil. Carnauba wax comes in the form of hard yellow-brown flakes and is used to thicken the oil parts of solid products to give them their form and structure, as well as ensuring a smooth application. The wax also prevents the oil and liquid parts of an emulsion from separating. It is used as an ingredient in many cosmetic products, especially lip balms and lipstick. Carnauba wax can also be found in mascara, eyeliner, foundation, eye shadows, deodorant, and various skin care products. 

Ingredients:

1 tsp cocoa butter (scented or unscented depending which one you prefer, if you use scented you will have a strawberry-chocolate scented lip balm)
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp macadamia nut oil 
1 tsp carnauba wax 
4 drops vitamin E oil
6 drops strawberry fragrance oil

Instructions:

In a small pan or glass jar combine the cocoa butter, oils and carnauba wax (not the vit E oil and fragrance oil though). Place in a larger pan filled with water and heat until cocoa butter and the wax have completely melted. Mix everything together with a metal spoon. Cool down for a few minutes, but do not allow the mixture to solidify. Add vit E oil and strawberry fragrance and mix everything together. Pour mixture into prepared lip balm jars or tubes of your choice. Leave to cool down for a few few hours before capping the containers. 

 Here the melted wax with cocoa butter and oils is cooling down 
before adding vit E oil and fragrance
My vegan lip balms cooling down in their containers

This lip balm made from carnauba wax has a bit different consistency the the ones I usually make from beeswax (it seems to be lighter). I can't decide at the moment if I like these more or less then lip balms with beeswax. So far I can only say that I have been enjoying wearing it on my lips all day!

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