Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Products Of The Hive => Topic started by: riverbee on February 19, 2016, 12:36:56 pm

Title: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 19, 2016, 12:36:56 pm
i have been asked by my husband's firm to provide them with 500 tubes of lip balm. every year the firm orders 'novelty' items with their logo to give away to their clients and employees, like water/can coolies, flash drives, pens, canvas bags, etc...
so the lip balm will have their logo/website on the label with my contact info, and it will be designed by their in-house guru who does all of their design marketing.

500 tubes of lip balm, i have never made 500 tubes of lip balm!............ :D
i don't even know what to charge for this?  lol, i need pete's math brain!

i did order one of these trays to speed up the process, i can fill 50 at a time. i almost purchased two? has anyone used this tray for filling lip balm tubes? 

Lip Balm Tray (https://www.elementsbathandbody.com/Lip-Balm-Tray-Oval-Tubes.html)

Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Zweefer on February 19, 2016, 01:20:11 pm
That is a lot of lip balm!
Congrats on the order.  As I respond I realize I have nothing of value to add... :sad:
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Jen on February 19, 2016, 02:37:30 pm
Good Night Nurse!

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs7.postimg.cc%2Fsshx3ob6v%2Fforehead_slap.jpg&hash=ee4c78d0ab28ab07bbc414028e55e298f296e1df) (http://postimage.cc/)

On the other hand, it's good therapy while in recovery  ;) 8)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: brooksbeefarm on February 19, 2016, 02:44:12 pm
Balms Away, Squirt. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Jack
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: lazy shooter on February 19, 2016, 04:36:51 pm
Riverbee:

You may wish to purchase the wax for this venture.  It would shorten the process, and it would not take the lost honey production for your bees.  Maybe if you are going to make 500 units, you could double the process and make 1,000 units.  That way you would have them for sale for the next year or two.  This is going to be an assembly line process and once it starts it will be easy to continue.

What price do you get on retail, one at a time, lip balms?  You could produce them cheap and have them for sale.  I would be interested in purchasing some of them.

lazy
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 19, 2016, 06:14:01 pm
zweef, thanks!

jen, lol, good therapy......it might be, but not going to happen right now until am able to tackle it and not get wax all over the kitchen! target date is june.

jack..............i accidentally pushed the 'thank you' button for your post when i meant to thank lazy...........so you get a free one for poking fun on me....lol!
btw it's good to see you back with the puns on me, someday i am going to have to come down your way and give you dance lessons............
..........(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1056.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft373%2Friverbee1%2FMiscellaneous%2520Smileys%2FDanceLessons.gif&hash=b47cce2b9c6127aef579aa23d14955e51f16c602).............. :D
jack, how are you filling your lip balm tubes?  or is your wife filling them?!......... ;D  seriously though, my hands are not as steady as they used to be so i thought this tray would work well, even if i only wanted to fill 10 or 20, just tape off the rest.

lazy thanks for your suggestion, and thanks for your interest.  these are the tubes i am using, they are clear .15 oval tubes, a little more 'real estate' for labeling:

Oval Lip Balm Tubes (https://www.elementsbathandbody.com/.15-oz-OVAL-Natural-Lip-Balm-Tube.html)

i have plenty of wax; 500 tubes of .15 oz = 75 oz which = 4.6875 lbs of wax, and i do have that and much more lazy, not sure how much wax i have in pounds but i am not going to run out anytime soon.  i did consider purchasing other wax so i am not 'depleting' or taking away from my available supply, but one of the marketing details on the label that has been kicked around is that the lip balm has been made by an in-house beekeeper. with this i can't honestly use another beekeepers wax.

the assembly line process would be in the labeling.  our thought was, after the labels have been designed and printed, one afternoon/evening or two, the board president and his wife and the two of us would crank them out, all 500. 

this is a new tube i am using, so i am thankful i do not have to figure out the label! i just need to cover costs; wax, materials, and my time.  in the past lazy, i have used the round tubes with an 'okay' label and charged $3. 25 - $3.50 a tube.  this will be different for a bulk purchase such as this, and i don't have the costs of the label.  thank you lazy!

Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: brooksbeefarm on February 19, 2016, 07:31:47 pm
Hey RB, i bought one of those trays for the round tube, it comes with a scraper (looks like a ice scraper) so if you run the tubes over you can run the scraper over the top of the tubes and recycle the balm. It works great,  :yes: one thing though, buy the tray where you buy your tubes, i bought some tubes from another company and the tube tray i had would not work  on the new tubes and i had to buy there pour tray. You can pour 50 tubes at a time and the balm sets up fast, 500 hundred tubes wouldn't take long to pour the wax melting, coconut oil, shea butter, ect. would take a spell. If i can do it a hippy squirt shouldn't have any problems. :no: :laugh: :laugh: Jack
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 19, 2016, 08:02:36 pm
jack thanks!  i did read somewhere that wherever you buy the tray/tubes, buy from the same company, tubes, tray...........all are different?  thanks for that tip!  good to know someone else has used this and had success!

jack, i didn't buy the scrapers available, do you think the plastic paint scrapers you can buy from the big box stores would work for the tray as well?  looking at them i wouldn't see why they wouldn't......?

here are the scrapers from elements bath body; same place i bought the tray and tubes:

Spatula; Flat Spatula Scrapers (https://www.elementsbathandbody.com/Spatula-Flat-Spatula-Scraper.html)

5 sizes of scrapers.  what size scraper are you using?

thanks jack!


Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: brooksbeefarm on February 19, 2016, 09:33:17 pm
RB, i didn't know the scraper was separate? mine came with the tray. Yes any scraper would work, the one that came with it was the same width inside the side rails on the tray. You could buy a plastic ice scraper and cut it to size, but you really wouldn't have to. The tubes that came from the Busy Mountain lip balm kit, i can pour from top to bottom, the tubes i bought from Bulk co. likes about a 1/4 in. going to the bottom of the tube? I'll have to change the oz. weight on them, Don't understand why they made them not going to the bottom of the tube?? Jack
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Jen on February 19, 2016, 11:51:37 pm
Really like the oval tube, haven't seen those before  :)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on February 20, 2016, 09:15:44 am
Cool opportunity, riverbee! I hope your name or contact information can be squeezed somewhere on their label.   ;)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: lazy shooter on February 20, 2016, 09:45:15 am
Riverbee:

At the price of production, and since there was already a profitable order in place, I would produce another 500 units to sell over the next several months or year.  Also, think how cool it would be to visit in someone's home and give the hostess a "chap stick."  You could do the same with visitors to your home.  And you would have them to sell for quite some time, and the profit margin is "out of this world." 

I guess I misspoke when I used the phraseology "assembly line" work.  What I meant, and was not wordsmith enough to state it was: When I make jelly, I start with a gallon of juice and make several eight-ounce jars of jelly.  Per example, my prickly pear jelly recipe yields 60 half pint jars per galloon of juice.  Since the hardest part of jelly making is getting all the juice, cooking vessels and jars ready I find it much easier to bite the bullet and make a large batch at one time.  I would do the same with lip balm.

I drive by two flower shops in my wee town, and in the past, when we visited friends, I often take the lady of house a small arrangement of flowers or a unique sort of indoor pot plant.  I have found that a pint of honey in a Muth jar is a nice substitute for flowers.  Gee, a chapstick made from my local bees with a cute label would be nice.

Hey, think of the other ladies and old world charm.

lazy
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: brooksbeefarm on February 20, 2016, 10:45:04 am
I made several extra lip balms to have on hand and wonder if it will become rancid over time? ??? If so that could set your sales back some or for ever :sad:. Jack
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 20, 2016, 07:41:02 pm
jack, thanks for your earlier post on scrapers, my order of the tray came with 50 of the oval tubes all at $14.99.  think i might order another tray, and whatever scrapers, not very expensive, rather than jury rigging something i might be cussing and swearing at.......... :D

bakers, thanks! a great opportunity and yes my contact info will be on the label as well!

lazy thanks, as far as the large batch, i get what you are saying.  i will have to adjust my recipe of 7 ingredients from 20-25 tubes of lip balm to 500, so i think the easiest and best way to do this is a trial run of 50, then go from there.  also i am also always giving away honey, lip balm, candle gifts anytime i see the opportunity, it's very cool and always appreciated, last gift was to my surgeon and his p. a..  they don't get gifts or thank yous very often.

"I made several extra lip balms to have on hand and wonder if it will become rancid over time?"

yes jack it can.........here's the secret/ some info and to anyone who makes lip balm, and it will last a very long time without going rancid:

1. add an antioxidant.  use vitamin e in your lip balm.  it is an antioxidant and will increase/extend the shelf life of your lip balm, and also any bath and body products anyone makes.  antioxidants reduce the 'oxidation' process of the oils/butters in your lip balm once the cap is opened. (exposure to oxygen (air).

i use T-50 vitamin E oil, (tocopherol) it has a higher content of tocopherols than the vitamin e found off the shelf in gel caps or regular vitamin e liquid.  with that said i have lip balm that has lasted for 2 years with just regular vitamin e out of the capsule dripped in the lip balm mix and never went rancid.

rosemary oil extract is another antioxidant.  i use this in one recipe along with the vitamin e.

2. The shelf life of your product is always the shelf life of the shortest-lasting oil or butter.  with vitamin e added to your lip balm, it will extend the shelf life.  some oils and butters have a very short shelf life.  store properly, cool, dry, away from heat, and i have learned don't buy anymore than you need, otherwise it can and will go rancid on you before you can use it up. pay attention to how long you have had an oil or butter sitting around and decide if it's outdated or not.  you can google shelf life of any oil or ingredient you use in lip balm. if the shelf life is about up or up, i wouldn't use it. get some fresh stuff.

also, for this project, i think i am going to use one recipe, a copycat of the popular name brand peppermint flavor.

just curious all, what lip balm do you purchase and use?



Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Chip Euliss on May 23, 2016, 09:12:51 pm
Holy Bat Lips---that's a lot of balm!  Good luck with the new venture :)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Mikey N.C. on May 24, 2016, 09:43:06 pm
Chip,  how big are the bat lips in N.D. :laugh:
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Chip Euliss on May 25, 2016, 01:25:39 pm
Chip,  how big are the bat lips in N.D. :laugh:

About the size of 500 tubes of lip balm I guess :laugh: :laugh:

Sounds like River is going to be BUSY!
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Zweefer on May 25, 2016, 03:02:53 pm
How's the project treatin you Riverbee?
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on May 26, 2016, 02:19:00 am
lol.........thanks chip and zweefer! dang my life for the past couple months has been crazy!...........

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1056.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft373%2Friverbee1%2FEmoticons%2FCrazyrolleyes_zps9402819e.gif&hash=f70e20d3585de7bdfe91a48cf15910810bfb8a67) (https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1056.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft373%2Friverbee1%2FEmoticons%2FCrazyrolleyes_zps9402819e.gif&hash=f70e20d3585de7bdfe91a48cf15910810bfb8a67) (https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1056.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft373%2Friverbee1%2FEmoticons%2FCrazyrolleyes_zps9402819e.gif&hash=f70e20d3585de7bdfe91a48cf15910810bfb8a67)

and zweef, the lip balm project is kickin my butt, cuz i seemed to have misplaced my tweaked recipe (burts bees copy cat).  (actually i think it went in the trash when i purged my files during winter months along with some other records i seem to be missin while i was looking for something to do while i was beetching about hip surgeries......... :D)  so re-creating it from memory................oh wait..........hmmmm what memory..........LOL..... :D

anyways just tryin my best to catch up lately, i started the lip balm project, meant to post these earlier....... here are some pix........

500 lip balm tubes...........what was i thinkin'?

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs33.postimg.cc%2Fwxwej3p7v%2FLip_Balm_Tubes_1.jpg&hash=fd3d8e1be00d6f10e529a4bc622d1c0bee9b77bd) (http://postimg.cc/image/wxwej3p7v/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs33.postimg.cc%2F9owrul3zf%2FLip_Balm_Tubes_2.jpg&hash=a974e8777dcfe69fd8a2aad6bc0f86393926d54d) (http://postimg.cc/image/9owrul3zf/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs33.postimg.cc%2Ftxk5gb3aj%2FLip_Balm_Tubes_3.jpg&hash=a6a95456570064dcbb4eddd1aa65e0a00229e271) (http://postimg.cc/image/txk5gb3aj/)

the tubes did not come from amazon but a supplier (elements bath and body) i have used in the past (great company).
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 26, 2016, 08:07:49 am
I wish I was closer.  I would come over and help you knock those out.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Zweefer on May 26, 2016, 08:15:07 am
Naw, this is one of those things that builds character...
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Lburou on May 26, 2016, 12:40:13 pm
...i seemed to have misplaced my tweaked recipe (burts bees copy cat)...
Would you mind posting that recipe when you find it?  And, your sources for the ingredients?  You have posted similar things in the past and it helps (us) to find new sources.  I may make up some of those to sell with my honey in September.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on May 27, 2016, 12:04:43 am
thanks bakers, wish you were closer too!  you could help me on the character building part too.......... :D
aye, the character building part is going well zweef............depends on who you ask around here................. :D

"Would you mind posting that recipe when you find it?  And, your sources for the ingredients?  You have posted similar things in the past and it helps (us) to find new sources.  I may make up some of those to sell with my honey in September."

lee, absolutely! the recipe went somewhere, i am thinking the shredder, along with a file with documents in it i needed at tax time...........gee, i saved the folder itself, but the folder was empty!.......... :D  i really did get on a jag this winter for purging stuff, but somehow i managed to either misplace or shred it by accident.  anyway, i have been a 'chemist' in the kitchen for about a week, starting with the original base recipe i had,  and tinkered with it a few tubes at a time and from memory.  i think i have it nailed down. received some great feedback, so i went ahead and have about 100 tubes or so done now.  tomorrow i want to do another test/revision on the amount of beeswax added, summer recipe vs winter recipe. 

i will post the recipe, and can help you out with any questions.  if you would like i can send you a couple tubes? so you can test drive for yourself, but i am told what i have now is pretty similar to burt's bees peppermint version.  before burt's bees was bought out, the ingredients that were originally used were minimal, now there are extra carrier oils in it.  just a tip, because of fda regulations, ingredients are required to be listed from the most prevalent to the least. if there are ingredients that are equal in amounts they can be listed alphabetically.  how does this help......gave me a clue on how to tweak the recipe.

the ingredients i use are what originally appeared on burts bees peppermint vit e lip balm some years back:
coconut oil (i use organic)
sunflower oil (i use organic)
lanolin (i use anhydrous lanolin) anhydrous lanolin has no smell, no taste and no water, with all impurites removed. it is similar to the composition of wax. this makes the lip balm stay on longer.  the no water part is important as this can and will contribute to lip balm going rancid.
peppermint essential oil
vitamin e oil ( i use natural vitamin e oil and have used t-50)
rosemary oil extract

vitamin e oil and rosemary oil extract will extend the shelf life of any lip balm, and also it is important to know the shelf life of the oils used in any recipe, this will also extend the shelf life.  (i think this is why burt's bees have used oils with longer shelf life without added preservatives).

i am using the lip balm trays, this makes character building more productive, less stressful and/or less non disney language?............. :D
there is a bit of a trick to using these, it's not hard, and using a heat gun to smooth the tops of the tubes off if need be.  (hair dryer would probably work).  you can also use an egg carton and droppers or large syringes.  you can use a pyrex cup with the egg carton trick, but you can't scrape off excess wax that spills over, using droppers or syringes to fill tubes makes it easier.  you can get syringes from your local vet, and my local walgreens gives away some pretty good sized eye droppers if you just ask for them, (marked in milliliters).  the egg carton trick for up to 12 tubes......take an egg carton turn it upside down, cut an x in the center of where each egg sat to fit your tube......holds it in place. 
also, my right hand has seen better days, from fractures and carpal tunnel, it shakes quite a bit sometimes......with the trays a pyrex works good, but if i only filling a few tubes, i will use the dropper or syringe.  makes for less cussing........ :D

suppliers:
elements bath and body; excellent company, excellent customer service.  lip balm trays, tubes, sunflower oil, vitamin e oil , peppermint oil and rosemary oil. other miscellaneous tools.  can't say enough about them and would highly recommend.

mountain rose herbs; again, excellent company, excellent customer service. i purchased the organic unrefined coconut oil from them; it is the best!
i have purchased many other ingredients from them in the past. awesome stuff!

anhydrous lanolin..........this stuff is hard to find.  mountain rose herbs used to carry it.  i purchased this from majestic mountain sage.........their shipping costs are high.......if i could find this elsewhere i would. 

so, can't say enough about elements bath and body and/or mountain rose herbs lee.  help this helps?!
sorry for the long dissertation.......... :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 27, 2016, 04:40:35 am
I often send a recipe to a sister via email or post it on here as a back up.  I may lose the recipe, but I know where to look.  On occasion, I'll see a keeper on line.  I copy it and paste it to a word document. 
If anything ever happens to me, and it will, I can hear the kids now.  "How many chocolate chip cookie recipes did she need?"  :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Lburou on May 27, 2016, 09:24:41 am
Thanks RB, I appreciate the details! 

It never fails...When I discard some good junk, I find a use for it within seven days.  Purges are a necessary evil, but I'm not very good at it, invariably I discard something I regret.  :)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: kebee on May 27, 2016, 01:20:46 pm
  You and me both Lbrurou, I am at the stage that I hoard everything since I know I will need it the minute I throw it out, only thing is know I have it and cannot find it.

Ken
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Lburou on May 27, 2016, 01:30:09 pm
  You and me both Lbrurou, I am at the stage that I hoard everything since I know I will need it the minute I throw it out, only thing is know I have it and cannot find it.

Ken
Ken, we are in good company...    ;)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on June 01, 2016, 09:49:13 pm
"only thing is know I have it and cannot find it.
Ken"


ken too funny!!!............ :D :D :D

300 tubes done 200 more to go, then label all!
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Zweefer on June 03, 2016, 02:03:33 pm
Pictures?!?!?
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on June 04, 2016, 07:39:43 pm
i know, i know!  lol............will definitely take pix of the finished product, i have about 100 or so to go, ran out of some ingredients, had to order more, otherwise would have been done! 

as far as a pic tutorial, i will have to take the time another time to show how i do it.............lip balm in these numbers is a lot more time consuming than preparing for and pouring candles!

and ps bakers, i am a heavy user of one note (2010)  many of my recipes are saved in that program or on a word document, but when i start tinkering with the recipes, it goes on paper, all the changes, the tinkering and sometimes they don't get transfered to the pc.

"if anything ever happens to me, and it will, I can hear the kids now.  "How many chocolate chip cookie recipes did she need?"  :D"


yes!............too funny!!!  :D :D :D
lol, my son, my grandkids are going to be saying well how many bee books did she need! .......... :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on June 05, 2016, 09:30:35 am

and ps bakers, i am a heavy user of one note (2010)  many of my recipes are saved in that program or on a word document, but when i start tinkering with the recipes, it goes on paper, all the changes, the tinkering and sometimes they don't get transfered to the pc.

"if anything ever happens to me, and it will, I can hear the kids now.  "How many chocolate chip cookie recipes did she need?"  :D"




river: Back to chocolate chip cookies...the recipe I always use is in my head!  I always, always look for something that is a little bit better or has little more kid appeal.  Same thing with brownies.
I am very bad about backing up files.  You think I would learn after losing some important files on computers that have crashed.
Your on the home stretch, river! 
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on June 06, 2016, 12:17:26 am
thanks bakers!  i will probably have this lip balm recipe ingrained in my brain for the rest of my life............... :D :D :D

but i did have to laugh about your chocolate chip cookie recipe...........err uh RECIPES!!!.......... :D
i also tweak recipes for some reason?

backing files up?  i back files up, almost on a daily basis.  hard to lose something ya don't have down on a peice of paper or printed yet!.............. :D

i am on the homestretch, waiting for an ingredient to come in to finish the rest........then all i have to do is put the labels on 500 tubes of lip balm.........
not sure i ever want to do this again?!........... :D

btw, another funny thing, my lips sure have been full of lip balm the past few weeks, and there is no shortage of it around here..... :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on June 10, 2016, 01:50:26 am
my 500 tubes of lip balm are completed! i am waiting on the labels, i saw the first draft today, some changes need to be made, but it was pretty cool!
will share the label when it's final! 

lots of testing, mixing, messing in the beginning, but this is the master recipe everyone who has tested has said "better than burts bees", what a compliment! i will give this and break it down as best i can to help others.......but this stuff is really good!  and i will add some helpful tips and info. 
this is an awesome recipe for some great lip balm!  (lee i promised, here it is!: ;))

riverbee's peppermint lip balm recipe with vitamin e and organic oils:

for 75 tubes:
1. beeswax> 96 grams or 3 3/8 ounces
2. organic unrefined  coconut oil> 136 grams or 4 3/4 ounces
3. organic sunflower oil> 116 grams or 4 ounces
4. anhydrous lanolin> 34 grams or 1 1/4 ounces
5. natural vitamin e oil>  12 grams or 3/8 ounces or (1 tablespoon)

6. peppermint essential oil 2x distilled> 14 grams or 1/2 ounce or (1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon)  (add more if desired)
7. rosemary essential oil> 6 grams or 1/4 ounce or ( 2 teaspoons) (add half as much as the peppermint if you up the peppermint).

for about 37 tubes:
1. beeswax> 48 grams
2. organic unrefined coconut oil> 68 grams
3. organic sunflower oil> 58 grams
4. anhydrous lanolin> 17 grams
5. natural vitamin e oil> 6 grams

6. peppermint essential oil 2x distilled> 7 grams  (add more if desired)
7. rosemary essential oil> 3 grams  (add half as much as the peppermint if you up the peppermint).

some tips:
melt your beeswax first, double boiler method, on a very medium low heat. (not in the microwave). you want to keep the heat down, and melt slowly, high heat destroys the properties of bees wax and oils. also oils have flashpoints (on the label) and more heat will dissipate essential oils when added.  when the beeswax has melted, add in the coconut oil, the sunflower oil, the lanolin and the vitamin e oil. wait until all these oils are melted into the beeswax.  i use the trays for pouring lip balm, these are excellent, but do not pour into these trays above 140 degrees or add the peppermint or rosemary oil until a temp gauge reads at or just below 140 degrees.  what i did was when the beeswax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, lanolin and vitamin e oil, had become liquid, i took my pyrex cup out of the double boiler and let it sit until a temp gauge read about 140 degrees.  i then added the peppermint oil and rosemary oil, stirred well, and poured into the tubes in the tray.  don't add these two oils (peppermint and rosemary) at high heat, add them when a temp gauge reads about 140 degrees to pour into the trays.  i didn't flood the tray but overfilled each tube in the tray........what this does is, you will have no dimples or sunken tops. sure this doesn't make sense but if you fill lip balm tubes from other methods, i think most will understand what i am saying?

i posted in grams.........grams are most accurate to measure waxes/oils and recreate and/or make your recipe the same over and over.  a digital scale with a tray is invaluable. (grams/ounces)  i don't make lip balm without it.  i can recreate any recipe with it exactly. as i did 75 tubes at a time i did record ounces, tablespoons, etc to help others here.........i use a digital scale, 1 ounce plastic cups and pipettes to transfer oils into the 1 ounce plastic cups. these are the plastic cups i used and have used, these are in ounces, drams, tablespoons, teaspoons, milliliters, etc.......these are great to use:

 1 Ounce Measuring Cup  (http://www.elementsbathandbody.com/1-oz-Measuring-Cup.html)

pipettes or syringes of any sort are helpful to draw or transfer liquid on the scale; to draw out of the bottle, put in the measuring container; too much, take it out, too little put some in, easier than pouring and slopping around pouring straight from bottles etc.....you will have a mess...........gee how do i know this?........... :D :D :D

hey, if anyone has questions please post and ask, i am sure i missed something!

Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on June 10, 2016, 05:18:44 am
Congratulations on the completion of the 500 lip balms!
Thanks for posting the recipes.  With all this talk about lip balms, I think this year I will take the plunge into lip balm.  8)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Lburou on June 10, 2016, 04:54:48 pm
Yes, thanks!  Should be a sticky...
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on June 10, 2016, 10:42:21 pm
thanks bakers and thanks lee!

i have 5 trial tubes laying on a counter in the kitchen, that i go back and forth from, varying degrees of consistency (beeswax) and flavor, peppermint and rosemary oil extracts. 

for these 500 tubes, i was asked to tone down the zing of the peppermint found in burts bees.  so i did for this order.  (personally i like the zing, some don't).  when i start making this recipe for my own customers i will add more peppermint/rosemary extract. i learned it's what makes the zing.  when you open the bottles and make 500 tubes of lip balm, you figure out quickly it's the rosemary and the peppermint, they compliment or 'marry'......... :D and its these two ingredients that give it that zing.  the staying power is the lanolin; it's the lanolin that holds all the ingredients on for a longer period of time.

if you like you can up the beeswax, only do it a little a time, even 1/2 gram or 1 gram makes a difference as to the consistency.  (when you up this you need to up the rosemary and peppermint because of the additional liquid wax/flavor). 

best way to experiment on consistency....... make up your 'base' batch, just with the beeswax, coconut oil (this stuff is awesome, its sweet, smooth and silky), sunflower oil, the lanolin and the vitamin e oil. when it melts together, take a piece of waxed paper, and drip some onto the wax paper, let it harden or throw it in the freezer.  smear it on your lips and/or the back of your hand. if you want it stiffer, add more beeswax. a little goes a long way.
i did with one test tube. when you add more beeswax you need to add a little more rosemary and peppermint oil. 

when i achieved the base i thought the law firm and 500 clients might like, i then added the rosemary and peppermint (off the heat) again dripped on a piece of wax paper/freezer method and tested it.  add more to your recipe if you so desire, drops at a time, stir it in, wax paper thing, get it to your liking or what you think your customers will like.  experiment!  you can always remelt until you get it the way you like it!
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: tedh on August 09, 2016, 11:30:00 am
Riverbee, or anyone for that matter.  Josh and I ended up with a nice chunk of beautiful capping wax and want to try our hand at lip balm, following your recipe.  Checking things out on line I see that Mountain Rose Herbs have "unrefined coconut oil" but it says nothing of "organic".  Is that a problem?   Also couldn't find Majestic Mountain Sage for the anhydrous lanolin.  I did find a company called SoapGoods that has "lanolin anhydrous-USP", will that fill the bill?  I also thought we should get a spatula scraper.  It looks like the 4 inch is closest without going over the size of the Oval Lip Balm Tray.  Correct?  Thanks, Ted
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on August 14, 2016, 12:09:58 pm
Inspired by riverbee, I have placed an order for tubes and a tube filling tray.  We will see what happens.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: brooksbeefarm on August 17, 2016, 09:50:37 am
Hey Squirt, or anyone? i can't find a measuring cup or syringe that measures grams? Is a CC. or Ml. the same as a gram or close to it??? Jack
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: apisbees on August 17, 2016, 10:39:45 am
grams is weight cc and ml is volume. so you need a scale of a conversion table for what you are weighing to its volume.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on August 20, 2016, 01:05:54 am
my apologies for not responding sooner.....took a trip to go trout hunting............ :D :D :D

"Checking things out on line I see that Mountain Rose Herbs have "unrefined coconut oil" but it says nothing of "organic".  Is that a problem?   Also couldn't find Majestic Mountain Sage for the anhydrous lanolin.  I did find a company called SoapGoods that has "lanolin anhydrous-USP", will that fill the bill?  I also thought we should get a spatula scraper.  It looks like the 4 inch is closest without going over the size of the Oval Lip Balm Tray.  Correct?  Thanks, Ted"

ted. yes the unrefined coconut oil sold by mountain rose herbs is organic; description:

"Certified Organic & Fair Trade Certified & Kosher Certified & Non-GMO Project Verified"

Mountain Rose Herbs Coconut oil Unrefined Organic (https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/coconut-oil-unrefined/profile)

btw, anything mountain rose herbs sells is probably the best on the planet, may pay a little more, but you get what you pay for and great customer service. 

anhydrous lanolin majestic mountain sage, webpage here:

MMS anhydrous lanolin (https://www.thesage.com/catalog/products/Lanolin.html)

scrapers?  use a plastic paint scraper, works great, whatever size that you like to use to scrape off the top of the lip balm trays ted.  the trays will have a dang 'divet' in the center of the tray molded into the plastic. grind it down.  i use a two inch paint scraper, works great.......... i scrape one side and then the other. you might do it different.  if you don't grind the center divet down from the molded plastic tray, you will be cursing non disney language and will be messing up the tops of your finished lip balm if you don't do it, whether you use a 4 inch or a two inch, cuz the scrapers will get hung up on this.  grind the divet down in the center, run your scraper quickly across, nice, smooth tops.  your welcome ted......... :D :D :D

"Hey Squirt, or anyone? i can't find a measuring cup or syringe that measures grams? Is a CC. or Ml. the same as a gram or close to it??? Jack"

jack, i use a digital scale that measures grams.  measuring in grams is the best way to measure ingredients for what i have done. you can as keith suggested  find a conversion table on the net........
i would just make life simple and purchase an inexpensive digital scale.  no measuring cups or syringes measure in grams, most of these measure in ccs, milleters, teaspoons, tablespoons and drams.  when it comes to mixing up lip balm, ya  have a little fudge room here and there, unless you are as anal retentive as i am........... :D :D :D

hope this helps everyone, and thanks bakers, ya all post your results!
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on August 22, 2016, 10:44:48 pm
i finally labelled 500 TUBES OF LIP BALM on saturday evening...........wow, what a chore!  (it rained all day)

the labels were not ordered and completed on time in june(someone else behind) before i left for vacation.  i received the labels when i returned last week.

i spent most of last saturday afternoon into late evening putting these labels on..........they are somewhat forgiving, but once figured out and you get in a 'jag', it goes pretty well.  i will upload some pix in the next few days.

my contact information is very prominent on the label.......very cool!

in all honesty, i don't think i want to tackle 500 tubes of lip balm too soon again in the near future.......

actually not sure i want to do any lip balm for awhile.......... :D :D :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 04, 2016, 12:36:53 pm
I completed my first batch of lip balm this week.  Riverbee, I used your recipe.  There is some skill required to pouring and then scraping to get a nice smooth finish.  I am not there yet.  I accidentally made the scent slightly stronger than the recipe.  Not much though and it was a bit over powering.  I think the scent will dissipate in time.   Over all, I think lip balm is not difficult if one has the proper tools.   Next time I will consider some labels.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on September 06, 2016, 11:32:32 pm
thanks bakers, 

lol, accidentally made it stronger?  i was asked to tone the peppermint down for the 500 tubes i made........... :D
how overpowering?  i personally like a little more zing of the peppermint, but some don't.  i really had to experiment to get it to a 'go' from a 'tester staff'.
did you like the recipe?  any changes you would make or suggestions?  (thanks in advance!)

there is some skill in pouring and finishing the tops.  did you use the tray designed to hold tubes?  i used them and did not flood the tray as recommended. i seated the tubes and poured directly into each tube quickly, overfilled, and would go back and top off if need be, and yes, there was some 'flooding'.  i did not use scrapers supplied or purchased.  there is no edge on these.  i found they messed up the tops sometimes.  i used regular paint scrapers (they have a beveled edge).........these left a great smooth top to each tube. and also, i let the tubes cool/harden completely before scraping off the excess. 
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 07, 2016, 08:55:44 am
riverbee, I used a little kitchen gadget I had on hand to scrape the excess off the top.  Yes, I bought a lip balm making tray.  I filled each tube to over flowing and then went back and topped off.  I waited 24 hours before scraping and capping.  I wore latex gloves and got the tubes a little greasy. 
Following the recipe for 37 tubes, I accidentally got 8 grams of peppermint EO so I added an extra gram of rosemary too.  Your recipe was flexible about amounts of EO.  I think it will dissipate.
The balm really stays on once applied.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on September 08, 2016, 02:09:02 am
thanks bakers! 
what was the kitchen gadget you used?
there is no need to wait 24 hours before you scrape and cap. i waited until the excess balm on top of the tray was cool/hardened, and tubes were cool......maybe 20 minutes, if that? scraped the excess off, turned the tray upside down, carefully pulled the tubes out and capped them.  also, i used oval tubes/tray.  i didn't wear gloves, just kept washing the beejeebers out of my hands. if your tubes were a little greasy, in the future just use a cotton ball swabbed in a little isopropyl alcohol......should take it right off.

8 grams of peppermint would probably be okay for 37 tubes? rosemary; instead of the extra gram to compensate, 1/2 gram?  what did you find more prevalent?  not sure it will dissipate bakers?

i had so much lip balm on my skin (back of my hand> consistency) and lips, trial runs, testing......... :D 

the balm stays on because of the amount of lanolin in it!

Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 08, 2016, 08:50:44 am
I took a handful of tubes to work and passed them out.  Before giving a tube, I asked if they liked chap stick or lip balm. Of course everyone tried it and made positive remarks.  I will see if anyone brings it up again.  Then I will know how they really felt.   ;)  One lady said it made her hungry.   :D
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: vvand111 on September 11, 2016, 10:46:44 pm
Thanks for this thread folks.  I have a lot of questions but for another day.  Good information

Vandy
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on September 11, 2016, 11:24:29 pm
vandy, just fire away, anytime! 
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: tedh on November 27, 2016, 11:09:33 am
I made 37 tubes of lip balm yesterday and have an observation or two (probably already discussed :eusa_wall:) and a question or two.  Oh before I forget, I used riverbees recipe and LOVE it!  Thanks river! 

Observation:  When pouring into tubes, the liquid cooled/congealed after about 10 tubes. 
Question: should I have put it back on the double boiler and remelted?  I was concerned it might not be good for the essential oils. 

Observation: I can tell you that using the scraper as a putty knife and squeezing the lip balm into the tube will get it in there but, after rolling the lip balm up, it doesn't want to roll back into the tube. 

Observation:  It's kind of messy. 
Question:  How do you clean utensils and the tray?   The utensils I used are pretty clean from dish water, but the tray?  Not so much.  The lip balm is stuck in the little holes!

Observation: I rolled the lip balm tubes all the way down hoping to fill them completely.  After I got them stuck into the tray and filled I noticed, the next morning when I removed them from the tray, that there was about a 1/4 inch of balm above the lip of the tube.  I just scraped it off, but wondered if there was some other thing I could have done initially to limit the "waste"?  Maybe unroll the tube a bit, fill and when cooled roll it back down?  If that makes sense.  Gotta go!  Dear sweet wife is here!  Thanks again for the recipe and tutorial river!  Ted
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on November 29, 2016, 07:38:47 pm
hi ted,
"Observation:  When pouring into tubes, the liquid cooled/congealed after about 10 tubes.
Question: should I have put it back on the double boiler and remelted?  I was concerned it might not be good for the essential oils." 


hmm, after 10 tubes?  did you keep the temp of the liquid at or just below 140 d F?
you must pour quickly, i could do 40 in a shot  ;D it was a learning curve, i would do 20 on one side, put the liquid back on the double boiler if i thought it was starting to set up.  so i am not sure why you found the liquid setting up after 10 tubes?

yes you can put the liquid back in the double boiler and remelt, if need be add additional drops of essential oils. 

"Observation: I can tell you that using the scraper as a putty knife and squeezing the lip balm into the tube will get it in there but, after rolling the lip balm up, it doesn't want to roll back into the tube."


if the lip balm is starting to set up or already set up, you are correct, it is not going to 'seat' at the base of the tube. 'smashing' it in there or forcing the balm down into the tube with the scraper as a putty knife isn't like filling a hole with spackle.  :) the liquid needs to reach the base of the tube. 
not sure i explained this well enough?  let me know~

"Observation:  It's kind of messy.
Question:  How do you clean utensils and the tray?   The utensils I used are pretty clean from dish water, but the tray?  Not so much.  The lip balm is stuck in the little holes!"


LOL, it can be a messy operation when you first start doing these, so another learning curve. 
cleaning the utensils and tray~wipe everything down with paper towel, throw utensils in hot soapy water.
the tray is the real challenge and will drive one to drinking before 5:00 p.m........... ;D
to clean the tray, the holes where the tubes are inserted~
if there was a bit of extra i would scrape out with a small swiss army knife, then go after it with paper towel, yup i know, one by one.....tests one's patience (drinking before 5:00 p.m.).
i also tried a piece of welding rod (nub on the end) with paper towel wrapped around it to run it through the holes
to get really clean? find a foam bottle brush, (i had one i used to clean out my hummingbird feeders). also a small diameter bottle brush (not made of foam).  throw the tray in hot soapy water and go after the holes with a small diameter brush.......the brushes will clean up the holes nicely.

"Observation: I rolled the lip balm tubes all the way down hoping to fill them completely.  After I got them stuck into the tray and filled I noticed, the next morning when I removed them from the tray, that there was about a 1/4 inch of balm above the lip of the tube.  I just scraped it off, but wondered if there was some other thing I could have done initially to limit the "waste"?  Maybe unroll the tube a bit, fill and when cooled roll it back down?  If that makes sense."

rolled the lip balm tubes all the way down?  empty lip balm tubes should already be in a rolled down position?
you don't need to wait overnight to pull the tubes out. just wait until the lip balm 'hardens' and the tubes are cool after filling, doesn't take long. i think i waited 30 minutes?
the 1/4" or less above the tube is standard with these trays.  this is not waste ted.  don't trim the extra off the tube unless when you pulled it from the tube,  you messed it up. (straight up and out, carefully). if you messed up the extra when pulling the tube out, use a small whatever, (i used a small swiss army knife) to cut it level with the top of the tube when i messed up. really, when the balm sets up, pulling the tubes out straight up and out should result in a nice tube of lip balm. 
think of this in terms of when you purchase a tube of lip balm~ there is about 1/8th or so of lip balm above the top of any tube of purchased lip balm.  looks great in a clear container. if you are not using a clear container, the little extra above looks great..........the way it should be! no rolling of the tube until that is gone. one note though, be careful when popping the cap on.......if you aren't careful putting the cap on, you can get a little balm on the side of the cap.......see drinking before 5:00 p.m............ :)  then some fixing of the cap (wipe it out) and smoothing off the extra of the top of the tube (small swiss army knife) , or just plain cut it off as you did. 

some tips on using these trays:

1~ when you order these trays, there will be a 'nub' in the center which WILL irritate you.  grind it down to the surface level of the tray. (the nub causes any scraper not to properly finish the top of lip balm, any scraper will catch on this causing a problem with the tops of your lip balm.

2~ do not buy/use the scrapers these companies send you/sell you. use plastic paint scrapers, these have a beveled edge. the scrapers sold from the companies online for these trays do not have a beveled edge.  the beveled edge gives you a cleaner top on your lip balm.

3~ unlike recommendations to 'flood' the tray with the lip balm liquid, i didn't. what i did was, i went down the tray pouring directly into and slightly overfilling each tube with excellent results.

4~ i used oval lip balm trays for 40 tubes.  20 slots on one side, 20 slots on the other. i used a 2" plastic beveled edge scraper. i went down one side, and then the other after the balm had cooled and set. once cooled a bit on top, i took the putty knife down one side, then the other, threw the extra back into the double boiler for the next batch. after scraping off the top of the tray, let set more until the tubes have cooled and lip balm set, then pulled the tubes out....... nice finished tops.
you can use a heat gun to 'smooth' out the top of the lip balm after scraping off the extra from the tray. i tried with mixed results. what worked best for me is scrape off the tray shortly after pouring (before the liquid sets hard), throw that back in the double boiler.  let the balm set in the tray/tubes. once tubes are cooled, pull the tubes out.  cap.

hope this helps ted and anyone else, any questions or if someone needs clarification, please ask!






Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: tedh on December 05, 2016, 03:31:50 pm
Thanks riverbee!  I made another 46 tubes this past weekend and they turned out great!  The little bit of balm that sticks up past the tube?  Fits perfectly in the cap.  Didn't even think of that the first time around.  Thanks for pointing it out!  Oh, it wasn't near as messy this time either.  Apparently one shouldn't sip 6/8 ounces of espresso while watching stuff melt! It does NOTHING to steady your hands while pouring  :eusa_wall:   Ted
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on December 05, 2016, 11:17:52 pm
you are welcome ted, the tubes are made for that extra bit at the top......happy to hear the 2nd round went well for you!


Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 12, 2017, 11:26:10 pm
an update to this thread.......
i made 500 and some odd number (526 or so ?) tubes of lip balm for my husband's law firm as a promotional item; primarily for advertising, giveaways at sponsored events, other events,  for clients and employees. it was quite the learning experience and adventure.  the label was awesome, very attractive, very professional and my contact info included.  i had never made 500 tubes of lip balm all at once and in a short period of time.  my kitchen was a total mess and discombobulation for about two weeks and i had wax and lip balm ingredients dripped/dropped and slopped on my kitchen floor and counters, not to mention my stove top.  :D

not sure i would ever tackle this project again.  the lip balm for their firm was a great 'hit' for them. i have had many compliments, and the firm has many clients asking for or coming in just to get the lip balm......... :D

one of the partners sent me an email that said:

"I just wanted to say thank you while I'm thinking about it and that multiple people have told me that they love the lip balm and want more. Whatever formula you  used is like crack, and people want it. I know because I have a pile of lip balms and keep going back to yours. We need to do it again next year. Flood the market. Thanks for all your hard work to make us shine!"

i didn't care for the 'crack' analogy; he's a young partner and speaks sometimes 'outside of the box' of mannerisms of 'traditional' attorneys............ :D
i did appreciate the compliment and the thanks. his wife keeps calling me for more.......... :D

anyway here is what i started with (pix posted earlier in the thread, thought i would repost):


(https://s2.postimg.cc/4qbw200vp/Lip_Balm_Tubes_1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/4qbw200vp/)

(https://s2.postimg.cc/mhnigggad/Lip_Balm_Tubes_2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/mhnigggad/)

this is what 500 and some tubes of finished lip balm look like.........and i hand labeled all 500 tubes.........
a beverage or two all in one night, trying to line up the label and safety tab to the tube, oh well they all went on straight............ :D

(https://s18.postimg.cc/b8d64cul1/lip_balm_tubes_4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/b8d64cul1/)
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Wandering Man on February 12, 2017, 11:42:11 pm
Fantastic!

Sounds like you just as well not bother cleaning up your kitchen.  It's just going to get messy again in a few months.

Just think, leaving a dab here and there around the kitchen, and you've got instant moisturizer.  Wife is always looking for her hand cream.  In your situation, she wouldn't need to look for the bottle anymore.  She could just rub her hands along the counter.

Maybe you've just invented the self-softening kitchen!
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Bakersdozen on February 13, 2017, 08:07:57 am
Knowing you, riverbee, you will get the wheels turning and figure out a way to mass produce the next batch with less effort.  You may have to purchase some new equipment?  If it's profitable.  :yes:
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 13, 2017, 11:47:39 am
it would probably go quicker this time. part of the learning curve was development of the recipe, and in such a large amount, labeling, design and what requirements were. i had two trays and could fill 100 tubes at a time, although i found it best to do a tray at a time. it was more efficient, than trying to fill two trays at once, the recipe starts to harden if you are not moving quickly. also, there was a bit of a 'trick' to getting the labels on. once i had it down, it went rather quickly, next time, IF there is a next time, i will have someone help me label.

lol, i don't need anymore equipment! 
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: Zweefer on February 16, 2017, 05:51:16 am
...next time, IF there is a next time, i will have someone help me label.

Does Mr. River know he is being conscripted?  :laugh:

Glad to hear it went well.
Title: Re: 500 tubes of lip balm
Post by: riverbee on February 16, 2017, 10:58:15 am
uhm..........yes!

actually, he's the one that figured the trick to get them centered and placed on properly.