Chap Stick containers?

[hqueen13]

Can you reuse store-bought chapstick containers?
Not quite sure how I would do this, or what I would use, but I figured I'd ask...
Might as well reuse it rather than tossing it if I can!

 

[Leta]

Yes. You empty it, crank it all the way down, and fill up the tube with liquid (warm) lip balm.

The way that I prefer is this: I got a large quantity of small pot-type containers from someone who sells mineral makeup. They look a lot like this.

http://www.specialtybottle.com/whitedoublewallplasticjarsmi.aspx

These came at the perfect price (free!) and they are easier to deal with than the tubes. I've reused them a dozen times at this point.

 

[the funny farm6]

How do you make lip balm? My daughters lips chap so bad they bleed. We constantly are buying chap stick!

 

[me&thegals]

A very basic recipe is 40% hard oils (think coconut, palm kernel), 40% soft oils (like olive, castor) and 20% beeswax. I move that up or down a little bit depending on if it is summer or winter. Very easy to make. And you definitely could just do beeswax and 1 oil if you wanted something quick, cheap and good enough.

You simple melt all ingredients (I use a pyrex liquid measuring cup), stir well and pour into tubes, let cool, then use.

 

[the funny farm6]

Where do you get coconut oil?

 

[me&thegals]

I get mine online from Columbus Foods, but that's 50-lb pails at a time. I would suggest your local grocery store for home lip balm.

 

[hqueen13]

Where do you get coconut oil?

I can answer that, I use coconut oil for a lot of things, it is great for lotion (but I am going to be making lotion bars next)

I get my coconut oil from www.vitacost.com The always have free shipping for orders over $49.00 and once you sign up with them they send you sales, and you can often get 10% off your entire order. I find that for a lot of basic supplements, and even basic 'natural' health stuff (like Dr. Bronner's soaps) they have REALLY good prices already.

 

[hqueen13]

Thanks for the recipe, that was going to be my next question!!
I'll just hold onto these tubes that I have and work on refilling them later. I like the idea of canisters, too, I have a couple, but at my mom pointed out, they aren't as sanitary as the tubes. That just depends on how paranoid you are about clean...

 

[the funny farm6]

Hate to be a pest but what section? I have only found coconut MILK in with the chinese food stuff.

 

[Wannabefree]

Hate to be a pest but what section? I have only found coconut MILK in with the chinese food stuff.

Look beside the shortening and lard. That's where it is in our stores.