How to Make Homemade Natural Lip Gloss

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average woman consumes from 6 to 10 pounds of lipstick during her lifetime. Couple that statistic with the recent Environmental Working Group's report of finding lead in commercial lipstick and lip gloss and you, too, may be interested in making homemade lip glosses using only pure essential oils and natural ingredients.

So if you want soft hydrated lips without all the chemical additives and lead, then try this economical and easy homemade lip gloss recipe.

The warm and pure, sweet fragrance of natural oils combined with soothing beeswax leaves your lips smooth and soft. And you get the added benefit of knowing exactly what your lip gloss is made of.

Natural Lip Gloss Ingredients

- 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
- 4 tablespoons of grated beeswax
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 6 capsules pure vitamin E oil
- 1/4 teaspoon cocoa butter
- Up to 10 drops essential oils (see below for suggestions)
- Powdered drink mix for coloring (optional)
- Oven proof container or microwave-safe glass bowl
- 1/2 oz tins or decorative containers

Directions for Making Natural Lip Gloss

To make homemade lip gloss, place sweet almond oil, grated beeswax, honey, vitamin E oil and cocoa butter in an oven proof container. Heat gently, stirring consistently, until the wax and oils are completely melted and well incorporated.

Alternatively, you can heat the lip gloss ingredients in a glass bowl or measuring cup in the microwave for approximately 10 seconds (stop and stir at 5-second intervals), or until completely melted. Remove from the microwave and stir again.

Drop in the select essential oils, one drop at a time, and blend well. Limit the total number drops to 10, to prevent an overpowering fragrance. If desired, sprinkle a bit of the powdered drink mix into the lip gloss and test the color saturation on your lips. Continue adding the colored powder until you reach the desired color depth.

Be creative when developing your own homemade lip gloss recipe; experiment with combining various essential oils to create your unique and delicious new flavor.

Pour the mixture into the clean 1/2 oz tins or decorative containers and allow the lip gloss to cool and solidify before using.

Essential oils to try:

- Oils of lemon, tangerine, grapefruit, lime
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sweet birch
- Cinnamon

Extracts to try:

- Vanilla
- Coffee
- Fruit

Benefits of Natural Lip Gloss:

These homemade lip gloss suggestions are free of synthetic fragrances and preservatives

Feel comfortable knowing these products were not tested on animals

Homemade lip glosses contain no mineral oils or petroleum based products

Use these natural lip glosses instead of commercial lipstick

Tips and Suggestions:

Since homemade natural lip gloss is preservative free, it is sensitive to direct sunlight and extreme temperatures. If the gloss smells or tastes different, discard it and make a new batch.

Clean and reuse previously used lip gloss containers.

Natural lip gloss ingredients are available at your local health food store.

Any flavor(s) and color(s) of powdered fruit drink mix (without sugar) may combined for a hint of personalized color.

For sore, cracked or chapped lips add a few drops of Chamomile oil, Calendula oil, Geranium oil and/or Lavender oil.

Sources:
Personal experimentation
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Website
Environmental Working Group Website

If you are curious about the ingredients in your favorite lipstick or lip gloss, check out this website: EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database