A Balmy Adventure

Alright, I did it. I did make the DIY lip balm and since the base is the same, as a bonus, I also made some solid perfumes. It all started after weeks of whining to my husband about how much the new EOS balms I bought, just weren't working well enough. Since I did make my own balm last year, I thought I would make a new batch and use the EOS containers. The containers are one of the reasons why I wanted to buy the EOS containers in the first place. Cool design. Here are the many way you can reuse the EOS container videos that I compiled here. I realize that my chapped lips mean nothing in light of what really matters in life. So hey, consider this a diversion.  All I know is for the first time since I was a kid who over licked my lips to the chapped state, my lips have been actually stinging and burning for no reason! Must be a lot drier this season than ever before!! EOS just wasn't cutting it. Mind you I must say, the only brand that does work for me, no waxy feeling, is Blistex. But, I wanted to make my own again. It helped that I already had the supplies.
Watch The Details In My Balmy YT Video Below

Recipe Or NO Recipe?
Before,  I made my own last year, I did do a lot of research checking out the countless websites and YouTube tutorials regarding this topic. What appealed best to me, were recipes that contained coconut oil, shea and cocoa butter, vitamin e oil, and beeswax. No, I didn't reuse old balm containers, I bought some on Ebay. Just the normal long tube types. 

Never been a recipe follower, I don't even like following patterns when sewing, knitting or crocheting. Yes, all baked goods that involve rising, like birthday cakes, do force me to actually follow the measurements given. Unless I have a craving for a hockey puck cake. 

I know this is not an article about making art, but it is still about creating. Believe it or not, for me, making my own beauty/body products is a creative opportunity. Maybe it is because once I know the basic ingredients and learn how it all works together, that is when I create whatever it is, using my own ideas. It is why nothing I ever cook or make, ever has the same result twice. 
What I learned from making Balm Before? 
Flavour? Yes or no? This time I added a few drops of coconut extract. But I have to warn everyone, don't do what I did the first time. I added flavour last time by using some cinnamon. Big mistake. So, I proudly gave away a bunch of handmade lip balms. Nope, I hadn't even really tried it yet. After about ten people had A Bergie Creation lip balm, I happily swiped it onto my lips and then suddenly it hit me! Really, it did. Sure I tasted cinnamon, but cinnamon actually BURNS! Oh yah! 
Apparently cinnamon is what you can use to naturally plump up your lips. Frankly ladies, embrace the lips God gave you. It is never good to mess with His creation. And using hot cinnamon to make your lips swell, not a great idea. Trust me! Boy did I feel bad that I gave a bunch of people I care about, a lip balm that caused a burning sensation! Needless to say, this batch of balm, NO Cinnamon!
This Time Round
Reusing containers is a lot more difficult than I imagined. It is important to get them as clean and as dry as possible. I even tried boiling them in a pot of water assuming the oils would come right off. Nope, not so much. Since it already had taken me over two hours to make my little creations, I just decided I would wipe the containers out and just make sure they were bone dry. If not, I believe bacteria can grow. If you thought cinnamon hurts, bacterial infections - much worse!

The EOS containers had to be pried open with a utility knife. Not something I recommend for anyone who is unsteady or too young.

Utility knives are sharp! I struggled and struggled, even my husband couldn't pry off the supporting "wheel" par,t in the container. Eventually, I got it. No fingers were lost, but it wasn't worth the struggle. I learned about this from watching the tutorials on YouTube. I did see someone using cling film instead of prying the supporting "wheel" from the container. In the end, I messed it up anyway.


Ingredients:
Shea and Cocoa Butter
Beeswax
Coconut Oil
A pan of simmering water
A heat proof glass measuring cup
Disposable Pipette or Eye Dropper
For Solid Perfume: Scented oils of your choosing
cleaned and dried lip balm or other containers.

Get Melting
The details on what I did and how are in the video above. 
Is It Worth It?
For me, it is worth it because I like the results. I am particular about how a lip balm feels and softens. Do not like any waxy,

coated feeling. If you want to make handmade lip balm to save

money. Make sure you add up how much it will cost to purchase all of the butters, oils and containers. You do get a lot out of that but, any oil product, including butters like cocoa, can go rancid over time. Storing it in the freezer may preserve the freshness. So unless

you are lip balming the whole neighbourhood, it can take a while to use up those not so cheap ingredients before they are ruined from age.  I did conclude that since my EOS reusing experiment,  did not succeed, no, it didn't turn out right. It was

my fault for not bringing the top and bottom half together before the melted butters and wax mixture started to set. That I won't do again! Watch the video and you will see. At least I can still use the balm with my finger!

Hope this was at least entertaining and even better if you are inspired to create something!!