DIY Lip Balm Colorants

Here are the answers to your questions about using different colorants in your lip balm:

1. Which Lake type to use for lip balm?

   • If you don't have a blender, you should use the EasyMix™ Lake colors. These are designed to be easily dispersed by hand mixing.
   • Standard Lake pigments (non-EasyMix™) are more concentrated and can give a more intense color, but they require a high-speed blender for proper, even dispersion. Hand mixing with standard Lake pigments will likely result in uneven color.
   • EasyMix™ colors may appear less intense than standard pigments because they are pre-dispersed in a base, often mica.

2. Can Mica colors be mixed by hand?

   • Yes, Mica colors can generally be mixed by hand. They are lightweight and easily dispersed in formulations like lip balm.

3. Are Mica colors safe if ingested (licking lips)?

   • Yes, Mica colors are safe for use on all parts of the body, including the lips, where accidental ingestion is possible. Lake colors are also safe for lips but should not be used around the eyes.

4. Are Lake colors natural like Mica?

   • No, Lake colors are not considered natural. While Mica itself comes from nature, the coloring process applied to it is chemical. Lake colors are organic pigments (in the chemistry sense, not the natural farming sense) and are not natural.

5. Are Iron Oxide and Titanium Dioxide natural or chemical?

   • Based on the definition provided (natural origin + chemical process = chemical; natural origin + mechanical process = natural), Iron Oxides are considered chemical because they originate from nature but undergo chemical processing to achieve the desired color.
   • Titanium Dioxide also originates from nature, but the process used to create the powder for cosmetics (like grinding) is mechanical, not chemical. Therefore, Titanium Dioxide used for whitening is considered natural.

Hope this helps you with your lip balm making!