I used to LOVE getting lipstick for the store.  I’d slather that new shade on and feel like a new gal.  After catching the DIY bug last year (best bug ever!), I set out to make my own lipstick recipe that I could make in all sorts of different shades.  I’ve finally settled on a recipe that’s easy, less expensive than store bought versions, completely customizable to my skin tone, and makes my lips feel completely nourished.  So long boring, cracked lips!

As with all most recipes, it took a little bit of moolah upfront to get all the supplies but they have lasted me for over a year now and have saved me money in the long run.  I got most of my stuff at Saffire Blue,  Mountain Rose Herbs, or Amazon (those aren’t affiliate links…that’s just where I buy my stuff).

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tablespoon beeswax
• 1 1/2 teaspoon mango butter
• 1 teaspoon cocoa butter
• 1/2 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 1/2 tablespoon sweet almond oil
• 1/2 tsp magnesium stearate (this bad boy lets the lipstick glide over your lips like store bought version…strongly recommended but optional)
• 1 tsp carmine colorant (it works better on my skin tone than red oxide but you can substitute that if you don’t mind a darker color)
• 1/2-3/4 teaspoon yellow oxide (how much to use depends on what color coral–say that 10 times fast–you want)
• 1/2-3/4 teaspoon kaolin clay (or any other white clay…how much you use will make the color more or less sheer)

Note: since the mango butter, beeswax, and cocoa butter come in chunks, I just kind of break them up into small pieces and roughly measure out into the measuring spoons.  Honestly, the final result ends up being pretty similar if you get a little more or less of something so don’t stress out too much about measuring them out perfectly.  But also, variation is why it’s fun making something yourself, in my opinion!

Other things you’ll need:

• mixing jar/cup that will be easy to pour out of
• 2 empty chapstick containers
• spoons
• small pan to melt the butters/oil in

Note: I have a separate small pan, mixing bowl, and spoons that I use just for projects like this.

Steps:

1. Measure out the beeswax, mango butter, cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, and magnesium stearate into a small pan.  Melt everything over low heat without letting it smoke, stirring occasionally.  It’ll take about 7-10 minutes and the magnesium stearate will be the last thing to melt.

2. While your oils/butters and melting, stir together your carmine, yellow oxide, and kaolin clay in a small dish that will be easy to pour out of (notice mine has square corners that act like a spout).

3.  When the oils/butters are melted, pour them into the mixing container with your color powders.  Mix until everything is combined.  Now is when you can play with your color and make your final tweaks, stirring pretty much continuously. It’ll start to cool and become more viscous so if you need more time to play with the color, you can always place it in the microwave for a few seconds or place your mixing bowl in a pan of hot water to keep things warm.

4.  You’ll need to let the mixture cool enough that the color powders won’t settle to the bottle but not so cool that you can’t pour it.  If you’ve over-shot it in either direction, either warm your mixture up in the ways stated in #3 or just wait a few minutes until it cools a bit.

5. Pour your lipstick into chapstick  containers and let cool without disturbing for a while.  You can either keep them out on your countertop or stick them in the fridge for about half an hour.

Here’ s the end result after just one application.  You can build the color by adding more coats.