Chocolate Organic Vegan Lip Balm Paper Tube w/Skull & Crossbones Lid

Chocolate Scent & Flavor:

Theobroma cacao is native to the deep tropical regions of Mesoamerica, where it has been cultivated by humans for thousands of years. In the Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico, cacao beverage vessels have been found dating from 1750 BC.

The Maya believed Quetzalcoatl, the feather serpent god, gave kakaw  to humans and was outcast by the other gods for doing so. The Spanish and English names were derived from the Aztecs; who called it “chocolātl” in their Nahuatl language.

Cocoa contains phenolic antioxidants; flavonoids (including catechin, epicatechin, and procyandidins) which have favorable effects on heart health (vascular endothelium via upregulation of nitric oxide production). They also have beneficial cardiovascular effects through anti-inflammatory polyphenols and influence insulin resistance, thereby reducing risk of diabetes.

“Cocoa can protect nerves from injury and inflammation, protect the skin from oxidative damage from UV radiation in topical preparations, and have beneficial effects on satiety, cognitive function, and mood. As cocoa is predominantly consumed as energy-dense chocolate, potential detrimental effects of overconsumption exist, including increased risk of weight gain. Overall, research to date suggests that the benefits of moderate cocoa or dark chocolate consumption likely outweigh the risks. Antioxidants Redox Signaling. 2011 Nov 15; 15(10): 2779–2811. PMCID: PMC4696435”

(This is a lip balm to moisturize skin.  It is not a medicine and cannot diagnose, cure, nor treat any disease).

Our recipe uses both organic, natural, Chocolate Oil and raw, organic, non-GMO Cacao Powder for a real flavor and scent.

Plant Oil & Butter Moisturizers:

This balm also features an all star lineup of delicately hand-blended plant-origin skin protectants, including fast-absorbing Sunflower Seed Oil, creamy Cocoa Butter, silky Castor Oil, and long-lasting Candelilla Wax (vegan beeswax alternative) for a perfectly balanced moisturizing stick texture.

(This formula will also be available in reusable metal tins and glass pot containers coming soon.)

Agave Nectar Sweetener:

After much experimentation, we chose certified organic Raw Blue Agave Nectar as our ideal lip balm sweetener. I tried using stevia leaf powder, but there was no way to overcome the bitter taste.  Agave Nectar is a vegan honey alternative.  It is 25% sweeter than sugar, gluten-free, and has a low Glycemic Index of 32.

Our certified organic Raw Blue Agave Nectar comes from the Jalisco region of central Mexico.  It is hand-cut, heated to only 118°F (37°C), and the low heat is maintained for nearly twice as long as for regular agave nectar.

Natural Preservatives:

Agave has no bitterness, but it is water based, so I have added a tiny amount of Gluconolactone SB, which is a natural preservative from fermented corn, to protect the agave nectar from contamination.

The rest of the ingredients are oil-based, so they are naturally preserved with skin-healthy antioxidants Vitamin E and Rosemary Oleoresin Extract.

Compostable Plant Origin Packaging:

Less than 10% of plastic packaging gets recycled. That’s another greenwashing myth, like “sustainable palm oil.” Every plastic tube of lip balm that I buy is most likely to be on this Earth for longer than I am, unless we do something about that.

Our packaging is a paper push tube. (Lilikoi Lip Gold is also available in a glass pot with a metal screw top lid.) It is the closest option in size to a standard screw up plastic lip balm tube. This size is listed by the paper tube manufacturers as 6ml/0.2 oz, but that is probably for water. We weighed a bunch of empty tubes to get the average weight and weighed a bunch of full tubes of lip balm to get the average weight of them full. That was actually 7.3 grams or 0.26oz.

Please note that most people cannot push this tube all the way up with their fingers.  You may wish to use the blunt end of a pencil, chopstick, makeup brush, or similar tool to push the lip balm up.  You can press it back down with you lips or a fingertip.  There is a similar size that is short and wide, but it doesn’t sit as well in a front pants pocket; which is why we chose this more standard shape and size.

The labels are either recycled paper or sugarcane bagasse paper.  The tape and clear baggies are compostable wood cellophane bioplastic.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful, healing properties of pure peppermint essential oil in your every day lip balm.

Complete Ingredients:
Sunflower Oil,* Cocoa Butter,* Castor Oil,* Candelilla Wax,* Chocolate Essential Oil,* Raw Agave Nectar,* Raw Cocoa Powder,* Vitamin E, Gluconolactone SB (fermented Corn), and Rosemary Antioxidant Oleoresin Extract.*
*Certified Organic