Tips for Filling Lip Balm Tubes Without Making a Big Mess
Those lip balm tubes are stupid skinny aren’t they? They’re a great size once the lip balm is inside them, but getting it into them is definitely the trickiest part of this thing.
Fortunately, we’ve done this a whole bunch of times and we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves.
Setup tips
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t poured lip balm the precarious way about a million times, pouring into those tiny, freestanding little tubes. And honestly, it mostly worked for me. Sometimes I would knock over a tube or two, mutter “damnit”, and procrastinate cleaning up the mess. If you are a cocky know-it-all and your grip is rock-steady and you won’t be bothered by maybe losing a tube or two, go for it. Then again, if that describes you, you probably aren’t even reading this article so I don’t know why I’m talking to you.
Tip #1: The cup trick. Put your tubes together in a small cup or jar. For this to really be fool-proof, it needs to be the right cup. Your goal is for the tubes to fit snugly so they won’t be knocked over accidentally. My cup in the picture above is a bit too big. I should probably use Tip #2, also…
Tip #2: You don’t have a cup that fits right. WHAT TO DO?! Get yourself a rubber band, band the tubes together and place them on/in a cup, jar, small plate or really anything flat and appropriately sized to ensure the tubes in the middle don’t do a disappearing act when you pick up your hot bundle.
Tip #3: This tip isn’t really for our kit, but if our kit got you amped about making lip balm and you want to make 50 or more tubes of lip balm next time, go get yourself a lip balm pouring tray. They make all this pouring crap basically fool-proof, but they fit 50 tubes of lip balm, so you’re gonna need to do something with all that lip balm. Make sure you get the tray from the same company you order tubes from, too. I found out the hard way that not all lip balm tubes are exactly the same dimensions, even if they look basically the same.
FILLING TUBES WITH pipettes
Tip #1: Temperature is key. Break out a kitchen thermometer, keep your cup of balm in the warm water and check it every time you fill up your pipette. You want it between 155-160F. Cooler and it will harden inside the pipette. Hotter and it will melt the pipette. Keep it in the sweet spot and you’ll be golden.
Tip #2: Okay, so maybe you didn’t follow tip #1 perfectly and now you have a pipette full of hardened lip balm. Put the pipette under a stream of hot tap water, opening face down, or wrap it up in a hot-water-drenched rag. This should loosen it enough squeeze it out, starting at the bulb end of the pipette, moving down the tube, and slowly push the mixture out.
Tip #3: If tips 1 & 2 didn’t help you, I’m sorry. You are probably cursing my name right now, and I’m guessing both the pipettes that came in your kit are shot. If you happen to have a bulb dropper from a tincture bottle or medicine of some kind, you could use that. I’ve never tried using a turkey baster, but…. maybe? Otherwise, it’s time to move on to pouring.
filling tubes by pouring
This is an old, pre-cup-trick photo. Silly me, precariously balancing single tubes. And what a phony! There is definitely not actually anything in that cup. Who did I think I was fooling?
Tip #1: Not all spouts were created equal. You know how some spouted things pour beautifully and some just dribble back on themselves? For the love of beeswax, get a cup with a good spout. I use a classic Pyrex measuring cup and it works wonders.
Tip #2: Wipe up the dribble. After you pour one tube, if the lip balm starts to dribble down the front of the cup, more will follow next time you pour. Liquid likes to follow the path made by the liquid before it, so keep a trusty paper towel at your side and wipe it up.
Tip #3: Slow and steady. Don’t rush. Don’t fill them all the way to the top. I’ve done it a million times. I’m cruising along, pouring beautifully, then I get a little cocky. I think I got it in the bag, and all of a sudden my tubes runneth over. Keep it in your pants, okay? It’s only 10 tubes. Fill all the tubes most of the way, leaving some space, then go back and top them off. It will keep you in check. It will also keep them from hardening in the shape of a tiny bowl, if you care about that.
Tip #4: In case you missed it, pop them babies in the fridge or freezer when you’re done pouring! When shea butter cools slowly it gets grainy. Make sure your lip balm cools quickly for silky smooth lip balm. This trick is good for accidental meltings, too. If your lip balm gets all hot and bothered in a parked car on a 100 degree day, or in the dryer, or your pocket, or whatever. Pop it in the freezer ASAP.