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.

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