How to Make Lipstick

Last Updated: July 5, 2022 References Tested

Are you excited to try your hand at making your own lipstick? You probably already have the ingredients you need at home. Making lipstick yourself cuts down on makeup costs and allows you to create a rainbow of custom colors that you'll never see another person wearing. Learn how to make lipstick using natural materials, eyeshadow, or crayons to create the color you want.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Natural Materials

1
Get lipstick base supplies. The lipstick base makes up the majority of the substance, and you customize it by adding pigments. The ingredients you use to make your lipstick base can be tweaked to make the lipstick more glossy, matte, or balm-like. Here's what you need:^{[1]
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- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) beeswax or beeswax beads. You can find beeswax at craft supply stores.
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) shea butter, mango butter, almond butter, or avocado butter. This helps the lipstick roll on smoothly!
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) oil, such as almond oil, extra virgin olive oil, or jojoba oil or oil of soya
2
Choose a lipstick color. Now that you've got your base supplies, the next step is to pick out a color. There are many natural substances that can be used to create a variety of red, pink, brown, and orange hues. Remember that this lipstick recipe is natural, so the colors you'll look subtle and earth-toned.^{[2]
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- For a bright red lipstick, use beetroot powder or crushed beet chips.
- Cinnamon can be used to achieve a reddish-brown color.
- Turmeric can be mixed with other powders to make the shade more coppery.
- Cocoa powder gives lipstick a deep brown hue.
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3
Melt the base ingredients together. Put the lipstick base ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Place it in the microwave and heat the ingredients in 30-second increments until they are melted. Stir the ingredients well to make sure they are thoroughly incorporated.
- Note that you can also melt the ingredients in a double-boiler. Heat roughly 2 inches (5 cm) of water in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the ingredients to a smaller pan sitting inside the first. Stir and heat until everything melts and blends together.
4
Mix in the color. Now comes the fun part: add 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon of the natural powder you want to use. Mix in more powder for a more saturated result. Stir the powder into the base mixture, and continue adding more (in small increments) until you're satisfied with the color.^{[3]
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5
Pour the mixture into containers. You can use an old lipstick or chapstick tube, a small cosmetics pot, or any container with a lid as a container for your new lipstick. Let the lipstick harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator before you use it.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Eyeshadow

1
Get the eyeshadow ready. Find an old eyeshadow (or buy a cheap one) in the form of either loose or compacted powder, rather than a gel form. Scoop the eyeshadow into a bowl and use the back of a spoon to mash it up until you've got a fine, lump-free powder.
- To give the lipstick some shimmer, try adding a little shimmering eyeshadow to the main color you have chosen.
- Using eyeshadow is a great way to experiment with interesting lipstick colors. Eyeshadows are like color pigments so that's why we use it. Go for green, blue, black, and other colors that are difficult to find in lipstick shades.
- Note that some eyeshadows are not safe for use on your lips, however. Check the ingredients. If the eyeshadow includes ultramarines, ferric ferrocyanide, and/or chromium oxides, do not use it. Only use eyeshadows that contain safe iron oxides.
2
Mix the eyeshadow powder with petroleum jelly. Place about 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of petroleum jelly in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of eyeshadow powder. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it until it melts and becomes runny, then stir it up to distribute the color throughout the jelly.^{[5]
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- Add more powder if you want the eyeshadow to have a more saturated hue. (Darker/Opaque)
- Add less powder for a tinted lipgloss look. (Lighter/Translucent)
- Instead of petroleum jelly, you can substitute clear chapstick.
3
Pour the mixture into containers. Use an old lipstick or chapstick tube, a cosmetics pot, or any other container with a lid. Let the mixture harden before you use it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Crayons

1
Get a box of crayons. The beauty of this method is that you can make beautiful, brightly colored lipstick in just about any shade of the rainbow. Use broken crayons you already have lying around or buy a brand new box just for the purpose of making lipstick. You'll need one crayon per tube.
- Choose a crayon brand that is known to make crayons that are safe to ingest in small quantities. Since kids often put crayons in their mouths, many brands are tested to ensure they aren't toxic. Choose a box of crayons that is labeled as such. Do not use oil pastels or other professional art supplies, since these are not regulated in the same way as children's crayons.^{[6]
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- Sniff the crayons before you buy the box. You're going to be putting this on your lips, after all, so you want to make sure you get crayons that don't have a strong smell.
2
Melt the crayon in a double boiler. If you try to heat the crayon without using a double boiler, it will burn. Unwrap the paper label and discard it. Place the crayon in the top section of the double boiler and heat it over medium heat until it has melted.^{[7]
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- You can make your own double boiler with two saucepans, a large one and a smaller one. Place a few inches of water in the large saucepan and set the smaller pan inside, so that it's floating on the water. Put the crayon in the smaller saucepan, then place the contraption over medium heat and let the crayon melt.
- You might want to use an old pan to melt the crayon, since it can be difficult to clean off.
3
Stir in some oil. You can use olive oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil. Stir in a little less than 1 tsp (5 ml) with the melted wax until the ingredients are completely combined.
4
Add fragrance. A few drops of essential oil help mask the smell of the crayon. Try rose, peppermint, lavender, or another type of essential oil. Make sure the essential oil is safe to use on or around your lips.^{[8]
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5
Pour the mixture into containers. Use an old lipstick or chapstick tube, a small cosmetics pot, or any other container with a lid. After carefully pouring the hot liquid into the containers, put them in the refrigerator to let the lipstick harden.^{[9]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Old Lipsticks

1
Combine several old lipsticks on a microwave-safe bowl. This method is a good one to use if you have several old lipsticks you'd like to repurpose into a new color. You can use lipsticks of the same shade, or create a new color by choosing several different shades.
- Make sure that any lipstick you use has not expired. If it's older than two years, it's too old to use and should be discarded.
2
Microwave the lipsticks. Put the lipsticks in the microwave for 5 seconds on high. Allow them to melt, then mix them together with a plastic spoon or stirring rod to blend the colors.^{[10]
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- Continue microwaving in 5-second intervals until blended.
- Alternatively, you can melt the lipsticks together in a double-boiler instead of a microwave. Consider adding about 1 tsp (5 ml) of beeswax or petroleum jelly for every 4 inches (10 cm) of lipstick used, as doing so will add a moisturizing effect to the lipstick. Stir well until blended.^{[11]
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3
Pour the mixture into containers. When ready, pour the new shade of lipstick into a small cosmetic pot or tin. Allow the lipstick to cool and harden before use.
- Apply the new lipstick using your finger or an applicator brush.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I make it out of colored pencils as well?

Community Answer

Not a lipstick, but soaking a colored pencil in hot water for 5 - 10 minutes can make a great lip liner, as long as the pencils are non-toxic.
Question

How can I make lipstick using lip gloss?

Community Answer

You can combine lip gloss and eye shadow.
Question

How long should I leave the crayon mixture in the fridge for?

Community Answer

For about 5-10 minutes.

Warnings

However, if you do use crayons for makeup, it is best to stick with Crayola or other non-toxic children's crayons since "professional" level supplies are often toxic if ingested in any quantity.

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Be aware that the ingredients may be very hot when removed from the microwave or double boiler.

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Crayola says not to use crayons as lipstick because it may be contaminated. It also did not go through testing like makeup.

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