Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balm

Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balm: a refreshing lip care balm made with a minty citrus essential oil blend.

Peppermint and lip balm are a classic combination. They always seem to go hand in hand. It’s partly because they do go together awfully well. The cool, tingling sensation that peppermint provides feels great on dry lips. The other reason you see peppermint used in lip balms so often, and particularly natural lip balms, is that the variety of lip-safe natural aromatics is somewhat limited.

While synthetic fragrance and flavor oils come in pretty much every scent possible, lip balm formulators must consider the safety and characteristics of potent ingredients like essential oils and co2 extracts before choosing one to work with. For example, many citrus-based essential oils smell delicious but contain photo-toxic components that make them unsafe for lip care products. We love our new FCF Organic Bergamot Essential Oil because it finally allows us to add the delightful scent of bergamot to lip balm. Free from furanocoumarin, our FCF Bergamot Essential Oil is not phototoxic.

We used the ingredients from our Lip Balm Base Kit to formulate our Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balm recipe. We offer the base oils, butter, and wax in a convenient bundle. The base recipe offers formulators an easy way to experiment with scents and colors while using a tried and true main recipe. We also offer the same base in a vegan variety, making it simple to switch your lip balms to a plant-based formula.

SHOP LIP BALM BASE KITS

You can try experimenting with the essential oil blend in our Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balm by swapping the mint oil for another variety. Peppermint Essential Oil will give your lip balms a much stronger, bolder mint scent. Andean Mint offers an even higher dose of menthol, making lip balms extra cooling. If you prefer a different type of citrus oil, look for cold-pressed essential oils that are listed as non-phototoxic. Some good choices are our Organic Mandarin, and Organic Sweet Orange.

About the Ingredients

Jojoba Clear

Despite typically being referred to as an oil, Jojoba is actually a liquid wax. It has a similar composition to human sebum, which is our skin’s natural hair and skin oil. Jojoba is non-greasy, deeply emollient, and shelf stable, making it a prized ingredient for skin care and cosmetic formulators.

Caprylic Capric Triglycerides (MCT Oil)

Another super stable carrier oil, MCT is an odorless and fully liquid oil derived from coconuts. MCT is a staple ingredient in commercial skin and hair care products but has numerous advantages for artisan formulators as well. MCT can be paired with any scent, tinted any color, and will remain fresh for extended periods of time.

Deodorized Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is a luscious moisturizing vegetable butter made from cacao. Cocoa butter typically has a strong chocolate aroma, but our Deodorized Cocoa Butter has been specially filtered to subdue its characteristic scent. This makes the butter far more versatile so that it can be paired with any scent you like.

White Beeswax

This natural wax is versatile in texture and color, available in white or yellow varieties. If you prefer to use a plant-based wax, try our Candelilla Wax instead. Candelilla is a bit harder than Beeswax so you will need to reduce it’s portion by about 10-20%.

Organic Bergamot Essential Oil, FCF

Our FCF Organic Bergamot Essential Oil offers the delightful aroma of bergamot without the phytotoxicity concerns typically associated with bergamot oils. Offering an essential oil free of furanocoumarin allows for a much wider range of uses for bergamot. The sweet, citrus and floral aroma of Bergamot Essential Oil blends very well with spices, woods, and herbs. In aromatherapy, bergamot is often considered uplifting, balancing, and rejuvenating.

Organic Spearmint Essential Oil

Spearmint Essential Oil  has a slightly sweeter and more mild aroma than peppermint, making it a great choice for complementing other oils in blends. We love how our Organic Spearmint Essential Oil blends with the tart and cheerful aroma of bergamot.

Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balms

Makes about 20 tubes

Ingredients

• 30 grams Jojoba Clear
• 30 grams Caprylic Capric Triglycerides (MCT Oil)
• 60 grams Deodorized Cocoa Butter
• 15 grams White Beeswax
• 2.5 ml Organic Bergamot Essential Oil, FCF
• 2.5 ml Organic Spearmint Essential Oil

Directions

1. Combine cocoa butter and beeswax in double boiler and heat until fully melted.
2. Add jojoba and MCT. Stir well, then remove from heat.
3. Let cool for about 2 minutes. Add essential oils, stir, and transfer carefully to lip balm tubes or jars.

Usage and Packaging

• We used our White Slim Lip Balm Tubes to package our Bergamot & Spearmint Lip Balms. These modern looking slim tubes are also available in a natural semi-transparent color.
• To use, simply apply to dry lips as often as needed.

Shelf Life & Stability: Please note that the formulations featured here on The Natural Beauty Workshop have not been challenge tested for stability or shelf life, and may not be suitable for commercial use as-is. For more information on shelf life, stability, and working with preservatives, check out the following article from our Information Library.