How to Make Lip Gloss in 6 Steps

Lip gloss is a cosmetic product that gives lips a plump, high-shine look. This product may also have moisturizing or nourishing properties (like lip balm). Cosmetic grade lip gloss recipes often share the same basic ingredients, including emollients (like lanolin, jojoba, or coconut oil, which help the skin trap moisture), pigments (for color), and wax (such as beeswax or candelilla wax, which helps the gloss stick).

Like many skincare products, certain types of lip gloss contain sunscreen for SPF protection, anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid, or flavoring oils for fragrance.

It’s easy to make your own lip gloss at home with all-natural ingredients and the colors and scents of your choice. Here is a list of what you’ll need to make your own:

• Base ingredients: You’ll need a selection of a few different types of oil to achieve that signature high-shine lip gloss, including castor oil (for shine), olive oil (for moisture—grapeseed oil also works), coconut oil (which stretches the lip gloss base—sweet almond oil also works), vitamin E oil (an antioxidant), and shea butter or beeswax (which are thickeners that help the gloss stick to your lips).
• Cooking tools: You’ll need cooking tools to melt your lipgloss base ingredients together to create the finished product. Use measuring spoons to measure out your ingredients precisely. Use a double boiler to melt the beeswax and other ingredients together, but a small glass bowl and a pan will work in a pinch. A whisk will work for mixing the ingredients. Make sure you also have a pipette on hand to add the lip gloss to the small containers.
• Fragrance oils: Three to six drops of essential oils—like peppermint, rose, or lavender—will add a pleasant fragrance to your lip gloss. Peppermint oil is a lightly plumping lip ingredient.
• Lip gloss containers: Tubes or tins make the perfect pocket-sized vessels for your homemade lip gloss. If you opt for a tube, be sure it comes with an applicator.
• Natural lip color: You can add natural coloring agents and tints to your concoction unless you want a clear lip gloss base. Mica powder—a natural stone-based shimmer powder—adds sparkle to lip gloss and comes in various shades. Beetroot powder adds a natural red tint to the gloss.

A homemade lip balm recipe is similar to the recipe for a lip gloss base, even if the purpose of these beauty products differs slightly (the former hydrates, while the latter adds shine.) Luckily, making natural lip gloss is an easy project to try at home. Follow these steps to make your own additive-free DIY lip gloss:

1. 1. Set up your workspace. Prepare a workspace near your stovetop with ample counter space so that you can mix your gloss and melt the ingredients in the same area. Lay out all of your ingredients and tools on the countertop.
2. 2. Set out the containers. Open the lip gloss tubes and place them on your workspace so they are ready to fill.
3. 3. Melt the ingredients. Melt the wax in the double boiler. Stir in three-quarters of a tablespoon of olive oil, one-half tablespoon of coconut oil, and one-and-a-quarter tablespoons of castor oil until fully combined. If you don’t have a double boiler, recreate the same effect by heating one to two inches of water underneath a heat-resistant glass bowl.
4. 4. Remove the bowl from heat. Take the mixture off of the heat and continue to stir it as it cools.
5. 5. Add vitamin E. Add vitamin E, essential oils, mica powder, and beetroot powder to the melted mixture. Add the powders gradually until you are happy with the shade.
6. 6. Can your lipgloss. Use your pipette to distribute the liquid gloss base into your containers. Allow the gloss to cool with the top off to room temperature until it is solid, and then it is ready to use.

Individuals experience different levels of sensitivity to ingredients found in various skincare products. Consult a dermatologist before applying a new product to your skin to prevent adverse reactions. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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