Adding Vitamin E to Lip Balm

When adding Vitamin E, such as Tocopheryl Acetate or dl-alpha tocopherol, to a lip balm formulation, it is best to incorporate it during the oil phase. Since both types are oil-soluble, they will easily mix with the oils and waxes in your lip balm base.

It is recommended to add Vitamin E after the main heating phase, when the mixture has cooled down slightly but is still liquid, typically below 50°C. Avoid prolonged heating (more than 5 minutes) after adding Vitamin E, as excessive heat can degrade it.

Recommended Usage Rate

The typical usage rate for Vitamin E in cosmetic formulations, including lip balms, is between 0.1% and 1%.

• For Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate), the recommended rate is 0.1-1%. If primarily used as an antioxidant for the oils in the formula, 0.01% might suffice. If used for its benefits on the skin, 0.1-0.5% is suggested. Using more than 0.5% might result in a sticky feeling.
• For Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopherol), the general usage range is 0.1-2% in skin care cosmetics. This type is considered more active but also more expensive and less stable than Tocopheryl Acetate.

Choose a percentage within these ranges based on your desired effect (antioxidant for the formula, skin conditioning, or both) and consider the potential for stickiness at higher concentrations.