Proponents of natural lip gloss favor it over commercial versions because many store-bought glosses contain paraffin, alcohol, menthol, or petroleum jelly. While these ingredients aren’t necessarily harmful, some say that they can actually make lips drier by pulling moisture out of the lips. Natural lip gloss usually contains beeswax, naturally-derived oils, and soothing essential oils designed to heal lips and keep them moisturized. Supporters of natural lip gloss can make it from several different kinds of bases with a myriad of ingredients. A few of these bases include beeswax, coconut oil, and palm oil.
All natural lip gloss recipes require some kind of emulsifier that hardens into a soft-but-solid emollient. Otherwise, using the lip gloss could be very difficult. In addition to the bases mentioned above, those making their own natural lip gloss may also use shea or cocoa butter as a base. Which base the maker chooses is largely dependent on preference. Beeswax usually makes a relatively hard gloss that works well in twist tubes. The oils and butters usually create softer glosses that are more easily carried in small, screw-cap pots.
Those with extremely dry lips may want to choose a butter or oil base over beeswax. Beeswax will soften and protect lips, but may not provide quite as much hydration as coconut oil or shea butter. Once the base is chosen, the maker needs to choose what other natural ingredients he or she wishes to include. Hydrating oils, like jojoba, grapeseed and olive oil, are all options. Most essential oils may also be included in these recipes. Some people also like to add things like honey, aloe vera gel, and vitamin E oil.
When creating different kinds of natural lip gloss, it is usually best to choose flavors based on a theme. For instance, a rejuvenating gloss might include cocoa butter, jojoba oil, peppermint essential oil, and vanilla extract. A soothing gloss recipe could feature beeswax, honey, rose oil, and lavender essential oil. A tropical lip gloss might have a coconut oil base mixed with grapeseed oil, vanilla extract, and jasmine essential oil.
Most natural lip gloss recipes come together in a double boiler. About 1 part of the base is added first, followed by .5 part of the chosen hydrating oil. Approximately 10 drops of each essential oil are added after that. When all of the ingredients are thoroughly warmed and mixed together, the maker usually pours them into individual lip gloss pots or tubes to cool overnight. After that, they may be carried in a pocket or purse, just like commercial varieties.