Most of us swipe on lipstick without thinking about the ingredient list. Then you read it. Parabens? Synthetic dyes? You start wondering what is actually sitting on your lips all day.
It’s a valid worry.
The easiest fix is buying brands that use organic, natural, or vegan ingredients. The problem? They cost more. And they often have a limited color range. You want a specific shade, and the natural option just isn’t quite it.
Making your own lipstick solves the ingredient mystery. You control what goes in.
Why Make Your Own Lipstick?
If you are vegan, you skip beeswax and lanolin. That leaves soy wax. You have plenty of other natural butters to work with. Olive oil. Cocoa butter. Shea butter. Mango butter.
Color is the tricky part. Deep shades are hard to get right from scratch. But it is possible. You can add mica flakes for shimmer. You can use natural powders.
There are kits available online. They come with waxes, oils, and colorings. Or you can just buy the raw ingredients. Here are three simple ways to start.
Beetroot Lipstick Recipe
This is a quick, no-cook option.
Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon beetroot powder
* 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin (check your label. Regular glycerin can be animal-derived.)
* 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil or olive oil
How to make it:
Mix the beetroot powder and vegetable glycerin in a small saucer. Stir until it is smooth. Add the vitamin E oil.
Apply it directly. It’s not long-wearing. It’s a stain. It’s fresh. It’s simple.
Very Berry Lip Gloss
Jessica Pallingston wrote a book on lipstick. She suggests this for a quick gloss.
Ingredients:
* One cup of berries (cranberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry)
* Aloe vera gel or petroleum oil (measure by liquid dropper)
How to make it:
Take one teaspoon at a time. Smash the berries into a paste. If the berries have seeds, push the paste through cheesecloth or a sieve.
Add aloe vera gel or oil one drop at a time. You want a smooth consistency.
Add too much gel? Drop in more berry paste. It’s forgiving.
Basic Neutral Lipstick
Want something solid? A classic neutral shade?
Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup grated beeswax (use soy wax for a vegan version)
* 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
* 1 tablespoon almond oil
* 3 tablespoons cocoa butter
How to make it:
Mix everything in an ovenproof container. Heat it in the microwave. One to two minutes on high.
Wait until it is completely melted.
Pour the liquid into a pan or box lined with foil and grease. The dimensions don’t have to be exact, but about 5-by-3 inches works.
Let it cool. Cut it into sticks. Put those sticks into empty lipstick tubes. You can buy those tubes from cosmetics suppliers.
Application Matters
You probably know how to apply lipstick. Twist up the tube. Press it to your lips. Move it around.
It’s not that simple.
The way you apply it changes how it looks. It changes how long it lasts. We will look at application techniques next.
For now, try the beetroot one. It stains. It’s fun. It’s something you made.
