The Road Home

The Road Home
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Friday, January 2, 2015

A Simple Lip Balm With a Rant

Now that I have a nice supply of beeswax, I have been looking into making a few more things I have thought about for years. Just like making reusable food wrap, making this simple lip balm took about 10 minutes
after the needed items were assembled. Ten minutes? Unbelievable to me. This type of endeavor is supposed to be difficult and complicated, that is why we depend on the store to provide all of our needs, right? Well, the more we learn, the more we realize that there are many things that we can now provide for ourselves, and not depend on them. This decreases our dependence and increases our independence, which is one of our goals, as our world spirals more and more out of
control each and every day, right before our eyes. I know you weren't expecting this commentary at the beginning of a lip balm article, but it's just another example of marketing and brainwashing. I can make a very simple lip balm with minimal ingredients that can be acquired locally. That is one more small measure of comfort I can provide when the SHTF. With that said, here is my first effort at making a very simple lip balm.

But, before I get to that, I want to show you how economical it is, and how manufacturers are continuing to decrease the amount of product we receive, while maintaining the prices, in a effort to disguise just how bad inflation has become. If you don't pay attention, you won't notice that you now put much less on your plate for the same amount of money than you could a year ago, or even six short months ago. I know the cost of gasoline at the pump has recently gone down, but it doesn't change the amount of food on your table.

Frank and I have used Carmex and Chapstick for years and years. Well, after we moved here six plus years ago, we started saving the empties. Yes, we are turning into our grandparents and saving all sorts of odd things, but I thought maybe someday I would learn how to make lip balm and refill them with our own stuff. One of the interesting, but irritating things we noticed a while back is how much less the containers are holding than they used to. We ran out much quicker than before. For example.

Older Carmex, current Carmex, our lip balm. Carmex used to be flat on the bottom.

Without further verbal wrangling, here is what I did to make lip balm. I found a great site, The Nerdy Farm Wife, that gave the basics of lip balm with recommended options, but without a lot of fluff. I also obtained a great little eBooklet recently from Leigh at 5 Acres and a Dream titled How To Make An Herbal Salve. It has some great simple recipes that I plan to try now that I've gotten my feet wet with this experiment. We bought a tub of lard recently for our first attempt at making soap. It is another project that is on the list of things to learn. There is some pig fat in the freezer waiting to be rendered, but, for now, we bought the lard. Farm Wife gave me the information I needed to make a very simple lip balm.

First, to gather the needed materials.

Beeswax
Olive oil
Lard
Measuring cup
Pan
Containers


These little containers have a short story. Our friend down the road, Grace, loves garage sales. A while back she found these little containers and brought them to me knowing I wanted to learn to make salves and such. I'm happy to finally be putting them to use, and the smaller ones are just the right size for lip balm. After I finalize my recipe, I will start filling up the old Carmex jars as well. After I gathered the needed ingredients and materials, it was very simple to complete this recipe. I am still amazed. So here goes.




3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. lard
1 heaping tbsp. beeswax 

That's it!
The lard has almost melted & the beeswax has just started.



Put about two inches of water in the pan, measure ingredients into the measuring cup and place it in the pan with medium heat,  and watch everything melt. This creates a type of simple double boiler. I used a plastic spoon this time because I wasn't sure how difficult it might be to wash off the wax. I have an extra measuring cup just in case I couldn't get this one clean enough, but I washed it immediately after use with hot water and Dawn and it came clean just fine.

After everything was melted and stirred well, I took the cup out of the pan and dried it so it wouldn't drip any water into the mix as I poured it into the containers. Warning, the handle on the measuring cup was hot and I needed to hold it with a towel. I was surprised that this small amount of ingredients filled up four of these small containers. That will last us quite a while.


 








It only took about 10 minutes for the liquid to totally solidify and be ready to use. The texture in the jar is very similar to Carmex, but feels more oily when applied. Frank and I are very pleased with the outcome, and will let you know how it goes as we use it over time. Now that I have tried this, I plan to infuse some olive oil with peppermint and lemon balm, which are growing out in the herb bed, to put in the next batch.

 













When I finished this little project, Frank asked me how much it cost to make this much lip balm. I didn't know so I went and looked up the prices and did some figuring. Here are the approximate prices.
  • beeswax $0.40
  • olive oil $0.44
  • lard $0.09
  • TOTAL $0.93 = approximately 6 oz.
Carmex at the store: $0.98 = 0.25 oz.

The recipe I used made approximately 6 oz. of lip balm compared to 0.25 oz. of Carmex. That would be 24 times as much for a few cents less. So, the equivalent amount of my lip balm would cost about $0.04 compared to $0.98 + tax for Carmex. Amazing!

 And while I was at it and had the beeswax out, I needed some smaller reusable food wraps. So while the lard and beeswax were melting for the lip balm, I cut out a few more pieces of fabric, sprinkled on some wax and popped them in the oven. Another new item for us that takes very little time once you have the needed items on hand.

 

 













You see, if I am going to make lip balm or bread or a meal, I'm going to use simple plain ingredients that I hope to be able to produce here on our farm. If I am really serious about being self-reliant and being able to manage when, when not if, the end of the world as we know it arrives, then I have to be realistic about how I learn and do new things and not play head games with myself.

I know we will not be able to produce olive oil in a survival situation, but we plan to be able to produce lard. We don't have
them yet, and don't really like to read about what people are going to do, but we will be adding American Guinea Hogs and bees to our homestead come spring. This will provide us with a source of lard and beeswax which can be used for so many things besides a food source. And if for some reason those plans don't work out, there are other folks around that have bees and hogs that we can barter with. We have been homesteading for many, many years and know from the school of hard knocks that things don't come together overnight, and sometimes don't work out at all. But with gumption and perseverance, they can and do come together. 

Learn something important today. Obtain, or begin to research the knowledge and skills you need to do something useful for your family that will make life better when all of the chips are down. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It may be one of the most important things you have ever done. Time is wasting, and may run out before we know it. Work with fervor and a prayer in your heart.

Until next time - Fern

24 comments:

  1. Wow! I didn't realize how easy it was to make lip balm. I have ALL those already. I'm gonna have to find me some containers.

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    1. Let me know how it turns out, SFG. It is very interesting what you can make out of things you have on hand. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  2. Store purchased products always contain lanolin, and there's nothing worse. Burt's Bees makes my lips sting, so I know there's something in there I won't be using on my own. I make my own lotions, creams, salves and lip balms, and after reading everything I could about herbs and tinctures, I now make a body butter that is being used at the local nursing home, because it heals wounds quickly, producing nearly new skin! And all it contains is calendula oil and oregano oil in with the beeswax, almond oil, and coconut oil. But there's a LOT of high speed mixing to whip it into a gentle foamy cream for older skin.

    (I use coconut oil because I don't know where I'd get lard, and is there a problem with it going rancid?)

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    1. I have always been very limited with what I can use on my skin, Lotta Joy, so I am looking forward to making soap and lotion as well. I plan to use my own herbs whenever I can. Your contributions to the nursing home sound great. Do you produce your own essential oils? I haven't even looked into that yet. I think I'll stick to infusions and decoctions.

      You can find lard in many grocery stores. Our local one carries it. Here are several sites that discuss the advantages of using lard or tallow, and some of them address the issue of rancidity.

      http://www.integrativenutritionaltherapies.com/super-hydrating-nourishing-lip-body-balm/

      http://www.mommypotamus.com/tallow-for-skin-care/

      http://www.nwedible.com/2012/06/would-you-rub-pork-fat-on-your-face.html

      Thank you for sharing!

      Fern

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  3. I have been making lip balm for years and also a concoction called "massage bar" that heals up those painful heel cracks in a couple days. Keeps my feet soft as a baby's bottom....and I walk barefoot as much as I can. Am about to make some laundry soap bars to use instead of Fels Naptha for my 5 gal laundry soap. Wait until you see how cheap to make hand lotion is, though a little more involved than lip balm.

    Those hogs are the perfect size for me. DH will not have hogs or pigs, so showed him these and his eyebrows went up. So, maybe there is hope yet.

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    1. Well, Tewshooz, if it's any consolation, tell your DH that I hate pigs. I know that sounds odd since we are planning on getting some and it was my idea. The last feeder pigs we got (after we moved here), we took to the butcher when they were too small to make bacon out of because I was just finished messing with them. The butcher actually laughed out loud because they were so small.

      I ran across these pigs a 5 Acres and a Dream. Leigh and her husband got started with American Guinea Hogs this year and I had never heard of them. Once I started reading about how small they stay, 200 pounds full grown, I researched them more. Then Frank started researching them. They fit into our scheme of raising animals with a small butchering carcass. If we are ever without refrigeration long term, then animals with a small carcass will allow us time to preserve the meat before it spoils. Regular large feeder pigs don't fit that requirement. Guinea Hogs also do much better on pasture than on grains, another plus. So, even though I don't like pigs, I am going to give this a serious effort. I think it will be well worth our while.

      I appreciate the information you shared about your lip balm and massage bar. I know there are folks out there that have made stuff like this for years, I am just grateful it's my turn. Blessings.

      Fern

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  4. Fern and Frank - another great post that will hopefully show people how easy and cheap it is to make things by yourself! Fern, i have a terrible problem with chapped lips in the winter and i have learned to just use things as they are - for example, i will put straight coconut oil on my lips a few times a day, then i will just put straight olive oil on them for a few times, or unpasteurized honey, then move to comfrey salve and another day use heal-all-salve (the comfrey and heal-all salve i make myself)...i just rotate through those things and don't even bother making lip balm anymore. i do the same with dried elbows, feet and hands. however, if SHTF and i ran out of those things, i would use any kind of lard rendered from a moose, deer, rabbit, etc. i would also render lard or oil from fresh-caught fish. it is not hard to render your own lard from whatever animal/fish that you hunted or caught...and although it may not be as pretty as some people prefer...it works! again...another great post that will hopefully teach others to follow your trail!

    your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Great information, Kymber, and another example of how simple things work. I experimented with making a lotion yesterday made from herbal tea, beeswax and olive oil. I got the receipe from 5 Acres and a Dream new eBooklet mentioned in the article. Again, a very easy recipe. Your examples of different kinds of lard is very interesting. I hadn't thought of fish lard, it may be stinky, but I bet it works! (-: Your cat would love you! Thank you for sharing, Kymber. Blessings.

      Fern

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  5. Great post.
    Home rendered lard is best to use because the store lard has chemicals added to preserve it.
    I laughed when I read you were saving little jars and turning into your grandparents. I've been saving little jars, dark bottles, and all sorts of containers for the day I can start making lib balms, wines, tinctures, and all sorts of things. ;-)

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    1. You're right about the store bought lard, MissV, but it's what I have to learn with for now. I hope to learn how to render my own soon. I have been saving it up from the last couple of pigs we bought from a family at church. The butcher saves the fat and organs for us. And I sure am glad to know I'm not the only one with a plethora of strange empty things stuck here and there! Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  6. I appreciate small details, (which can be oftentimes big.) For example, when using a ruler, or a penny so readers can relate to the size of an item. Thank you

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    1. I read many things, Lemontreelane, but, for me, a picture tells a great deal. Using the ruler to show size was an after thought, but I realized it would be be hard to figure out how small those containers were. It's like the weeds I took pictures of. Some of them are much smaller than others, so I just stuck my foot in there. Then I realized I had all these pictures of my dirty old barn shoes. Oh well. Thank you very much for letting me know things like this help.

      Fern

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  7. I LOVE mommypotamus! She is who got me started and helped me along the way. I make my own soap with the same ingredients I use for body healing salve, but in different amounts. And since Christmas, it is now being used at the nursing home after a friend took hers there to try on her husband's head. All his "medically prescribed" cortisone hit the garbage! I also started making my own anti-bacterial spray out of cheap vodka (not for drinking) and tee tree oil. I also use alcohol at 70% if vodka isn't available. Good Lord, it stinks to high heaven! But when sprayed on grocery cart handles, my hands, or anything I don't want to touch bare handed, there's no bacterial OR VIRUS left alive. Plus the smell alone keeps people away. lol

    Calendula oil is just what we call Marigold petals. I steep mine in (you guessed it) vodka if I want it as a tincture, or sweet almond oil if I want it as a salve.

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    1. It sounds like you are miles ahead of me in the lip balm, salve, lotion making ventures, Lotta Joy. I made my first infused oil yesterday with olive oil and fresh peppermint and lemon balm from my herb bed. There isn't a lot growing out there this time of year, but I had enough for a cup of oil. Very interesting and lots of fun learning.

      We don't use any anti-bacterial anything. They tend to kill off the good, protective bacteria as well as the bad, leaving skin vulnerable to the next thing that comes along. We prefer just plain old soap and water without any antibacterial additives. Just a thought.

      Thank you very much for sharing.

      Fern

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  8. It continues to amaze me how easy and inexpensive it is to make things ourselves. Thank you for the tutorial on lip balm; I have all the items on hand but haven't tried making it yet. I've been saving little glass jars that specialty mustard comes in, in those cheese and sausage packages. They are the perfect size for my concoctions.

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    1. You will enjoy this once you have made it, Kathi. Then, if you're like me, you will start thinking of what you can make next, or how you can do it a little differently next time. Enjoy.

      Fern

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  9. Something on my to do list...but have not yet tried. Maybe in 2015! :)

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    1. There is always something on the list, Sandra. And they just seem to get longer and longer. I really enjoy reading about your sheep, wool and spinning. And I always think, good for you. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  10. I agree with your sentiments, Fern. We need to learn as much as possible before the SHTF, because when it does, there won't be any second chances. We are also planning to get bees this spring. We found a really nice plan on building top bar (Kenyan) hives with dimensions, tools needed, etc., on Mother Earth News, and plan to start building our hives this next month. Thanks for your lip balm recipe. I would be interested to see how your next batch works out with the infused olive oil. I will stay tuned! :)

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    1. Have fun building your hives, Vickie. I always like trying something new that will pay off, like bees. You will enjoy the honey and beeswax. I hope we are able to get some started this spring as well.

      It may take us forever to use up this first batch of lip balm, but I'll let you know how the next batch goes. Thank you for sharing.

      Fern

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  11. I noticed about the new container bottoms as well. It's getting so some things aren't worth buying anymore. Great post Fern! Lots of good information and encouragement here.

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    1. It is interesting how things are marketed to look the same, but actually contain less than they used to, Leigh. Thank you for your kind words.

      Fern

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  12. Did I miss your post on how to make reusable food wraps? I would like to know how you made these and how they stay on your container. This sounds perfect for me (no sewing) and could certainly replace all that nasty plastic wrap. I have a lot of plastic wrap stored in the pantry and would like to use your reusable food wraps when my supply runs out. Anything I can do to replace store-bought-items is perfect. Like your lip balm recipe too - it's on my list and I hope to make it soon.
    Many Thanks to you and Frank for all that you share with us. Not only are you encouraging and uplifting, but always so honest and thoughtful. I greatly appreciate all that you do.
    Bobbie

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    1. Hi, Bobbie. The food wrap article is here. I think you will like the simplicity of them.

      http://thoughtsfromfrankandfern.blogspot.com/2014/12/reusable-food-wrap.html

      Thank you for reading.

      Fern

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