FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LIP BALM CONTAINING ROSEMARY OIL AND TEA TREE OIL FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANGULAR CHEILITIS

Angular cheilitis is a painful inflammatory condition affecting the corners of the mouth, often characterized by cracking, redness, and discomfort. It is commonly associated with fungal or bacterial infections. In response to growing interest in natural therapies, this study explored the development of an herbal lip balm using beeswax and candelilla wax as the base, enriched with essential oils of rosemary and tea tree, both known for their antifungal, antibacterial, and anti- inflammatory properties. To verify the presence of active constituents, we employed thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and basic chemical tests. These confirmed the inclusion of 1,8-cineole from rosemary oil and terpinen-4-ol from tea tree oil—compounds recognized for their therapeutic potential. Various lip balm formulations were prepared by varying the ratios of waxes and essential oils. Each formulation was assessed for key attributes including appearance, colour, odour, pH, melting point, spreadability and washability. All formulations maintained a skin-compatible pH (approximately 5.5–6.5) and were suitable for lip care applications. Among the tested formulations, the formulation containing both beeswax and candelilla wax with rosemary oil (F5) showed optimum characteristics. The melting point close was to body temperature, it shows even spreadability and it remained stable and homogeneous throughout the study. These favourable characteristics are attributed to the balanced wax composition and rosemary oil. Overall, the findings suggest that this rosemary-infused herbal lip balm may offer a promising topical solution for managing angular cheilitis, providing both soothing relief and antifungal protection.