Super Simple DIY Lip Gloss Recipe

If you’re tired of store-bought lip glosses that are either too sticky, too shiny, or full of mystery ingredients—you’re not alone. The truth is, finding the perfect lip gloss with the right color, texture, and clean ingredients can feel impossible. That’s why making your own is such a game-changer! This super simple DIY lip gloss recipe is not only quick and fun to make, but it’s also 100% customizable and completely toxin-free.

I love lip gloss. I wear it daily and apply it consistently throughout the day. There is just something about soft, shiny lips that makes you feel beautiful, whether you have a full face of makeup on or you’re bare-faced.

I honestly own around 10-15 lip glosses. I carry several in my purse, some are in my car, and some are in my bathroom and makeup bag.

However, after making the wild berry kiss lip paint that was included in last month’s Simply Earth box, I was inspired to make my own DIY lip gloss.

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure statement here.)

I am not a doctor and the statements on this blog have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products mentioned here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your doctor before using essential oils on children under 5 or while pregnant or breastfeeding. Please do not ask me for medical advice. Click here to read my full disclaimer.

Why Make Your Own Lip Gloss?

There are several reasons why I decided to make my own lip gloss. As I just mentioned, I love lip gloss, and I thought it would be fun.

Also, I have a ridiculous number of lip glosses—only because I’ve yet to find the perfect one with the exact color and texture I love.

Homemade lip gloss is 100% customizable. You can adjust the texture and color until you get it just right.

And lastly, most of the lip glosses I own are far from non-toxic. I am usually pretty picky about my personal care and beauty products. I typically try my best to make sure they are toxin-free.

However, I will admit most of my lip glosses are not. Homemade lip gloss gives you total control over what goes in it—so you can skip the toxins and stick to clean, nourishing ingredients.

DIY Lip Gloss Ingredients

Container

The first thing you’ll need is a container to store your DIY lip gloss. The container should be around 10ml or enough to hold two teaspoons of product. You can use a 10ml roller bottle or an empty lip gloss container.

These are the lip gloss containers I used.

Double Boiler

A double boiler is helpful for melting the ingredients in this DIY lip gloss recipe. While it’s not absolutely necessary, it does make the process much easier and more efficient.

If you don’t have a double boiler, simply warm water in a saucepan and place a mason jar or heat-safe bowl inside to gently melt the ingredients instead.

Base

I really wanted this to be a true lip gloss, not a lip oil or a lip balm. I wanted it to be neither too oily nor too thick, so I chose to use a base of castor oil, shea butter, vegetable glycerin, and a small amount of beeswax.

Castor oil not only has many amazing skin benefits, but it’s also a very thick oil—it’s not super runny. It gives this lip gloss its super-glossy and smooth appearance.

Shea butter helps thicken the gloss slightly while also providing skin-nourishing benefits.

Vegetable glycerin adds a touch of tackiness to this lip gloss, while beeswax gives it a bit more hold and thickness.

These four ingredients give this lip gloss the absolute perfect consistency and texture.

If you’re going for a clear, unscented lip gloss, these are the only ingredients you’ll need. But if you’d like to add a hint of scent, color, or even a plumping boost, just include a few of the optional ingredients listed below.

Scents or Flavors

If you would like this DIY lip gloss to be scented or flavored, you can add a few drops of essential oil.

Some of my favorite essential oils to add to this lip gloss are orange, lavender, vanilla, and rose geranium.

I only recommend adding 1-2 drops of essential oil to the lip gloss, and be sure to avoid phototoxic essential oils such as lemon, grapefruit, lime, and bergamot.

Plumpers

For a natural plumping effect, try adding a small amount of peppermint or cinnamon leaf essential oil to your lip gloss. Cinnamon leaf essential oil can be slightly irritating, so use caution.

I recommend only adding 1-2 drops of essential oil.

Color

You can choose a natural colorant to add to this homemade lip gloss to give it a bit of pigment. My favorite natural colorants are mica powder, beetroot powder, hibiscus powder, rose clay, and red iron oxide.

Always start with a small amount and gradually build up until you reach your desired color. You can also mix different natural colorants to create custom shades.

The more natural colorant you add, the more pigmented your lip gloss will be. Just keep in mind that using too much can also make the gloss thicker in texture.

Be cautious when handling powdered natural colorants, as the fine particles can easily become airborne and irritate your lungs. It’s a good idea to wear a mask while working with them, especially if you’re using larger amounts.

How to Make DIY Lip Gloss

To make this DIY lip gloss, combine 1¼ teaspoons of castor oil, ¼ teaspoon of vegetable glycerin, ⅛ teaspoon of beeswax, and ½ teaspoon of shea butter in a double boiler.

Turn on the heat and melt thoroughly.

Once everything is fully melted, turn off the heat and add 1-2 drops of essential oil if you would like to add scent or a plumping effect.

Then add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon of natural colorant if you would like to add color.

Stir everything together well and pour carefully into your lip gloss container.

Below are all the lip glosses I made, along with the exact essential oils and natural colorants I used.

This one contains just a teeny tiny pinch of fuchsia mica powder. It doesn’t contain any essential oils. It is a very light pink color.

This one might look similar to the gloss above in photos, but in person, it has a richer reddish tone. It includes ¼ teaspoon of red mica powder and two drops of peppermint essential oil.

It’s one of my favorites—super pigmented and gives your lips a little plump, thanks to the peppermint!

This is another one of my favorites—it’s made with ¼ teaspoon of pink mica powder and two drops of rose geranium essential oil. It smells amazing and gives your lips a gorgeous, shimmery pink tint.

I wanted to keep this one simple. It doesn’t include any color, but it does include two drops of orange essential oil.

This one turned out absolutely beautiful. It’s made with ¼ teaspoon of red iron oxide, two drops of vanilla essential oil, and one drop of cinnamon leaf essential oil.

It’s incredibly pigmented, and the cinnamon leaf oil gives a noticeable plumping effect to the lips.

How to Use Homemade Lip Gloss

Homemade lip gloss is simple to use and no different than using store-bought lip gloss. Make sure your lips are clean. You can use my homemade lip scrub to clean and exfoliate your lips, removing dry flakes gently.

Then, smooth the lip gloss over your lips, starting at the center and blending outward. You can reapply as needed. You may find that homemade lip glosses may wear off faster than store-bought versions, so keep them handy for touch-ups.

How to Store DIY Lip Gloss

Always keep the lid tightly secured when not in use, and store the lip gloss in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

When Does Homemade Lip Gloss Expire

This homemade lip gloss should stay good for at least 6 months.

Keep in mind that this assumes all the ingredients used are fresh. If they are not, this DIY lip gloss will expire when the ingredients you used reach their expiration date.

That said, essential oils and carrier oils, such as castor oil, have very long shelf lives. However, their shelf lives are dependent on how they are stored.

Carrier oils and essential oils should be stored in a cool, dark place—if not, they can spoil more quickly.

I hope that makes sense. When making homemade beauty products, it’s best to use fresh ingredients whenever possible. That way, you can ensure a long shelf life.

Final Thoughts

These homemade lip glosses turned out amazing. In my opinion, the consistency and texture are absolutely perfect. I love that this lip gloss not only gives your lips gorgeous color and shine, but it’s also good for your lips!

This lip gloss is rich in vitamin E, vitamin A, essential fatty acids, and is 100% toxin-free. It leaves your lips soft and moisturized.

I hope you love this DIY lip gloss as much as I do. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Other Posts You May Like:

• Easy DIY Lip Scrub for Soft Lips
• Homemade Mango Honey Lip Balm Recipe
• Easy DIY Scalp Scrub for Healthy Hair
• Homemade Bath Oil Recipe
• DIY Pumpkin Spice Lip Scrub