How to Make Lip Gloss Base

If you’re as passionate about makeup as I am, you’ll appreciate the magic of subtle lip gloss. It’s a simple yet transformative product that can elevate your entire look. While you could easily purchase a lip gloss base, where’s the fun in that? Instead, let’s embark on a creative journey together and craft our own. In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the process step by step.

Making your own lip gloss can be a delightful and novel experience. Whether you’re a novice in the world of DIY makeup or a seasoned pro, you can use your lip gloss base to enhance your lipstick or simply create a clear gloss that lets your natural lip color shine through. Alternatively, you can take it up a notch by customizing your gloss with different colors.

How to Make a Lip Gloss Base: A Quick Overview

1. Choose between Vaseline or Versagel, both of which are common bases for lip gloss.
2. For an organic lip gloss base, consider ingredients like beeswax, coconut oil, castor oil, or essential oils like Vitamin E.
3. Making lip gloss base is simpler than you might think; all you need is your chosen base and optional color.
4. You can easily create this at home using a double boiler or two pots, a syringe, and lip gloss pots for storage. Adding color or glitter is entirely optional.

What Is Lip Gloss Base?

Before diving into the process, let’s clarify what I mean by lip gloss base. In essence, it’s the foundation of a lip gloss—a colorless, odorless gel with a slightly sticky texture, much like the lip glosses you find in beauty or drug stores.

What Is Lip Gloss Base Made From?

The composition of a lip gloss base can vary. You have the option to create an organic version using natural ingredients (we’ll delve into this shortly) or use Vaseline, sometimes referred to as Versagel.

What’s in Versagel?

Versagel primarily contains hydrogen polyisobutene, an emollient combined or gelled with a mixture of butylene/ethylene/styrene copolymer or ethylene/propylene/styrene copolymer. Chances are, you already have a jar of Vaseline in your medicine cabinet.

Interestingly, Versagel finds its way into numerous products:

• Cosmetics like mascara, fragrances, and perfumes
• Skincare items such as moisturizers and sun lotion
• Haircare products, including serums, hair color, conditioners, and styling products
• Pharmaceutical products like ointments, powders, and baby oil

If you’ve never encountered it, you can typically find it in most drug stores. It’s colorless, boasts a shelf life of up to three years, and is waterproof.

Is There Just One Type of Versagel?

When it comes to creating your own lip gloss base, there are two primary types of Versagel you can use:

Versagel M500

This variant is a thick, cosmetics-grade mineral oil. It’s a popular choice due to its safety, suitability for sensitive skin, and moisturizing properties. Versagel M500 effectively locks in moisture, making it an excellent option for dry skin. Notably, it is not overly greasy and can be easily wiped off.

Versagel M750

In contrast, Versagel M750 is thicker than M500 but still spreads well. It tends to be greasier than Versagel M500. Many lip glosses, including some premium brands, incorporate Versagel M750 into their formulas.

Now that you have a better understanding of these two types of lip gloss bases, let’s delve into the ingredients and considerations for making your own organic or Versagel/Vaseline-based lip gloss.

What’s in Organic Lip Gloss Base?

Organic lip gloss is crafted from natural ingredients, omitting Versagel or Vaseline, and is typically vegan-friendly. Organic lip gloss bases are known for their glossy finish. Here are the typical ingredients found in organic lip gloss bases:

• Beeswax: Please note that while beeswax is considered vegetarian, it’s not vegan as it involves bees in its production. Some vegans may choose to avoid it due to ethical considerations.
• Base oil: This could be coconut oil or castor oil, providing a moisturizing base.
• Essential oil: Such as Vitamin E oil, offering additional skin benefits.
• Color: Often derived from plant-based lip gloss pigments, although this is optional.
• Glitter: Also optional, to add a touch of sparkle.

Making Organic Lip Gloss Base

While making your own organic lip gloss base, it’s advisable to organize your ingredients much like you would when baking. Lay them out and ensure everything is measured and ready to go. Here’s a shopping list for making your organic lip gloss base:

• Three parts of your chosen base oil (e.g., coconut oil).
• One part beeswax.
• Optional color and glitter.
• Ten drops of essential oil, like Vitamin E oil.

If you’d like to add lip-softening ingredients such as mango butter, you can adjust the recipe. For instance, you can use 1.5 parts of base oil and 1.5 parts of mango butter instead of three parts of base oil. This will result in a thicker lip gloss base. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can reduce the base oil to two parts or even use a 1:1 ratio of base oil and mango butter. The key is to customize the recipe to achieve your desired texture and feel for your homemade lip gloss.

Tools Needed to Make an Organic Lip Gloss Base:

To craft your organic lip gloss base, you’ll require the following tools:

• A stovetop for heating your ingredients.
• A double boiler pan (two pots that stack on top of each other) to create a gentle heating process by allowing steam from the lower pan to rise to the upper pan where your ingredients are placed. This helps melt and blend your ingredients effectively.
• A spoon (metal or wooden) for stirring.
• A syringe or pipette for precise pouring.
• Lip gloss containers, which can be pots or tubes.
• An apron and paper towels for managing potential messes during the process.

Now that you have your ingredients and tools ready, let’s walk through the steps of creating your organic lip gloss base.

How to Make Organic Lip Gloss Base:

Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting your own natural lip gloss base. Keep in mind that many ingredients, such as glitter, color, and essential oils, are optional, allowing you to tailor your lip gloss to your preferences.

1. Start by placing the beeswax into your double pan.
2. Set the double pan on the stovetop over gentle heat.
3. Stir the beeswax continuously as it melts.
4. Once the beeswax is fully melted, add your chosen base oil to the double pan and mix thoroughly.
5. Turn off the heat after a few minutes of thorough mixing.
6. Incorporate your essential oils into the mixture and stir well.
7. Allow the mixture to cool down and thicken.
8. Once it has cooled and reached your desired consistency, you can add color and/or glitter.
9. Finally, pour the mixture into your lip gloss pots or use a syringe or pipette to fill lip gloss tubes.

Pro Tip: If you’re in a hurry to cool and thicken your lip gloss, place it in the freezer for around 20 minutes. If your mixture isn’t as thick as desired, you can add more base oil to adjust the consistency.

Ingredients for Lip Gloss Base With Versagel:

To create a lip gloss base with Versagel, the quantities you use will depend on whether you prefer a thicker or more liquid consistency. The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference, with a thicker base often providing longer-lasting wear.

For a thicker lip gloss base, you’ll need:

• Two parts of Versagel
• Three parts of base oils (e.g., coconut oil)
• Optional color (you can still use plant-based options)
• Optional glitter
• Essential oils (similar to making an organic lip gloss base)

If you prefer a looser consistency, simply reduce the Versagel to one part.

What Tools Do I Need to Make Lip Gloss Base With Versagel?

Creating lip gloss base with Versagel requires a different set of tools compared to an organic base. Importantly, it doesn’t involve direct heat. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A spatula or spoon for mixing.
• A microwave for melting the ingredients.
• A microwave-proof bowl (e.g., Pyrex) for mixing.
• A thermometer to monitor temperatures.
• A syringe or pipette for precise pouring.
• Lip gloss pots or tubes for storing the finished product.
• Paper towels and an apron to manage any potential spills or messes.

How to Make Lip Gloss Base With Versagel:

Follow these steps to create lip gloss base with Versagel, which yields a less glossy and thicker consistency:

1. Add your Versagel/Vaseline and base oil to the microwave-proof bowl.
2. Place the bowl in the microwave and melt and mix the ingredients in 30-second bursts until thoroughly blended.
3. Incorporate your chosen essential oils and mix well.
4. Add any desired color or glitter and mix thoroughly.
5. Pour the finished mixture into lip gloss pots or tubes.

This method avoids the use of direct heat and provides a convenient way to create a lip gloss base with Versagel.

A Guide to Lip Gloss Color:

For those looking to add a touch of color to their lip gloss, natural powders can be used. Here are some examples:

• Beetroot powder for a red tint.
• Cocoa powder for a brown hue.
• Raspberry powder for a deep pink shade.
• Hibiscus powder for a pink tint.
• Ginger powder for a yellow lip gloss.
• Non-spicy paprika for an orange tone.

These powders are readily available at many health stores and can be added to food products as well.