By Cindy Lantier
Cold weather brings more than snow flurries and hot chocolate, but it also brings dry skin. Many of us exfoliate and moisturize our arms and legs to help combat the dryness, but most of us ignore the delicate skin of our lips. This can lead to dry, chapped lips – or worse, lips that are cracked and peeling. No expensive lipstick will cover up that!
This lip scrub/lip butter duo is the perfect way to cope with dry winter lips. It is full of ingredients that soothe lips and restore them to their soft and healthy-looking glory:
- Aloe butter blend is a great way to add the skin-loving, anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera to products that do not have a liquid component.
- Shea butter is legendary in Africa for its softening and soothing properties.
- Camelina oil is high in linoleic and Omega 3 fatty acids, which make it excellent for improving skin elasticity and hydration. I used it mostly because I had small amount to use up. If you do not have any, another light oil such as avocado oil, olive oil, or rice bran oil works well.
- The composition of jojoba oil (which is actually a soft wax) is close to that of your skin’s natural sebum, so it is an excellent addition to skin and lip care products.
- Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, common in self-care products to lengthen the shelf life of carrier oils.
- Sugar is a better option for many scrubs than salt, simply because it will not cause a painful burning sensation in small wounds. For a lip product, I suggest caster sugar, which is finer than regular granulated sugar, for extra gentleness. The process of whipping this scrub after the sugar has been added will reduce the size of the granules somewhat.
Let’s start making!
Lip Scrub
This lip scrub is the perfect way to cope with dry winter lips. It is full of ingredients that soothe lips and restore them to their soft and healthy-looking glory.
- 96 g Aloe Butter Blend ((37%). Aloe butter blend is a great way to add the skinloving, anti-inflammatory properties of aloe vera to products that do not have a liquid component.)
- 96 g Shea Butter ((37%))
- 47 g Camelina Oil ((18%))
- 13 g Vitamin E ((5%))
- 8 g Jojoba Oil ((3%))
- 286 g Granulated Sugar ((110%))
- 1-2 % Flavor Oil ((Of the total base amount, but check the IFRA guidelines and follow them))
- Lip Safe Mica ((optional))
Measure aloe butter blend and shea butter into a small glass mixing bowl. Set aside.
Measure liquid oils, including flavor oil, into a small glass bowl. Set aside.
Measure granulated sugar into a bowl. Set aside.
Using a hand mixer, cream the butters together as though making cookies. Scrape sides often to be certain the butters are well blended.
Add the liquid oils and continue mixing until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, approximately three minutes.
Add all of the sugar. Continue mixing until well blended.
Add a tiny amount of lip-safe mica (start with one micro scoop) to achieve the desired color. Be careful; too much mica may stain the lips! Mix until mica is fully incorporated.
With a butter knife, fill each glass jar. When full, use the edge of the knife to level the mixture with the jar. Wipe the mouth of the jar, if necessary.
Screw on the lid. Label the jars and sell or give to family and friends!
Equipment
• Digital scale
• 3 small glass mixing bowls
• Hand mixer
• Spatula
• Butter knife
• Micro scoop (15 mL)
• 18 1-ounce jars, with lids
First published in Making Soap Magazine, March/April 2018
Cindy Jones Lantier, of The Eclectic Soul and Soap’s On, is an experienced soap maker and educator. She loves creating products, teaching, and connecting with her customers. She lives in Southern California with her supportive husband and three kitties-kids.