| Christmas and New Year are not big holidays here in China. Now Christmas doesn’t particularly surprise me but I thought that there might some excitement over the Gregorian calendar New Year. I was surprised to find that most people go out for dinner or maybe karaoke but otherwise it would be just another quiet night in Beijing, China.(As quiet as a night gets in such a large city. 😉 )
However, China is gearing up for the Lunar New Year. The enormity of the holiday is crashing about my ears!I have found that as people get ready to go home for the Lunar New Year or I get introduced to new people, it is common for gifts to be exchanged. I wanted to share my two recipes for a lip balm that I keep in my bag just in case I find myself in need of a small gift to exchange. And the best part is that a lip balm doesn’t take much space in my purse either! Today we will be looking at recipe I formulated both for texture and light color. I prefer creamy, smooth and easy to apply lip balms. I also really like lip balms light in color, especially when I will be adding color to it. I used Soy Wax because it is so light in color. However, I have found that using the Soy Wax is a little tricky. You need to make sure that is is fully melted. The liquid lip balm mixture should have a bright, clear, glistening quality to it. Otherwise, you may struggle with fractionation, due to the fact that it wasn’t fully melted. I used High Melt Point Shea Butter in this formulation. I prefer High Melt Point Shea Butter over the regular Shea Butter for anhydrous mixtures, like lip balm. Shea Butter lends a creamy and soft shine to the lip balm. I also used Peach Kernel Oil. It is a light oil that adds a nice smoothness to the lip balm without lending a heavy greasiness to the final product. I think Peach Kernel Oil is a absolute must to add to your selection of luxury oils. The last little things I added to this recipe was a flavor oil, essential oil and lip balm color. I wanted it to be flavored with the Rose Otto Essential Oil but I also wanted it to be a little sweeter. I also wanted a smidgen of color. I thought an elegant pink would fit the flavor perfectly!
Recipe:
Weigh everything except Sugar Baby Flavor Oil, Rose Otto and Ruby Lip Balm in a microwave safe container. Heat everything gently until it is crystal clear. If it does not get hot enough to completely melt the Soy Wax, it could fractionate. If unsure, try the plate test before putting into containers. Add the Rose Otto, Sugar Baby Flavor Oil and Ruby Lip Color. I used a toothpick to add the Ruby Lip Color and the Rose Otto. With both of these ingredients, a toothpick amount is all you need. A little goes a long way. Stir well. Pour into containers and allow to cool. Label and enjoy!
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 Finished Lip Balm  Weighing Ingredients  Melted Oils  Adding Color and Flavor Oils |
Sorry if I missed this, but how many tubes will the recipe make? Perfect timing of this recipe I have been struggling to figure out soy wax in lip balm. I either don’t add enough wax and it’s too runny or I add too much and I end up with rock hard tubes that won’t turn. Argh! I really want to try this recipe. I love, love, love rosewater in baked desserts. This is my recipe for Persian love cake http://dustbathladies.blogspot.com/2010/02/persian-love-cake.html I might try to make a rose and cake flavored lip balm, if I can figure out the soy wax! Thanks for the lip balm recipe 🙂
This recipe will make 22 tubes. I think you will like using soy wax if you use a similar percentage to this recipe! That cake looks fab!
Now, I’m not usually a rose person, but this sounds divine, maybe I will have to break down and get some rose otto, just for these!!! Thanks Taylor!!! Happy New Year!!!
Rose Otto makes fantastic lip balms and really yummy lotions!
Those black tubes look so darn sexy with the rosy pink balm in them … too bad we have to cover up most of the tube with a label… boo hoo : (
BTW: When we lived in Hong Kong, every Chinese New Year my husband gave “Red Envelopes” containing $2 HK (=25¢ US at that time) to all the unmarried employees and I handed them out to the children. They signify good luck and the amount of money, “2”, is good luck too. What I remember most about Chinese New Year was all the noise, the bright colors, the laughing children and adults, and the food!!! Yum!!! It goes on for days. Enjoy it Taylor, and take a few pics to share.
I agree about covering the tube with a label! Rats!
I’m looking forward to the New Year and Taylor is also super excited. I think the family is ready to haul us everywhere possible!
That sounds like a wonderful memory of the New Year in Hong Kong!
Lovely, I like it. Would adding a little more color, say a second toothpick, deposit a sheer color on the lips?
Actually to add a tint to lips, you would use more than a few toothpicks worth. Several drops (about 8 for a 100 gram batch). Does this help?
Yes, thank you. That gives me a chance to mix a little darker color.
Taylor, thanks for this recipe. I was recently given some lip balm with rose. I thought that I wouldn’t like it, but it has ended up being my favorite. I want to make some when it runs out. Another strange flavor that I have ended up liking is Lavender Essential oil.
Yum! That sounds great!