How to Make Lip Gloss with Petroleum Jelly

Co-authored by Shara Strand

Last Updated: July 6, 2024 Approved

If you care about what you put on your skin and feel concerned about the ingredients of today's cosmetics, making your own may be the ideal solution! Perhaps you just want to save money, or you simply cannot find the ideal item to suit you. You can mix petroleum jelly with other simple ingredients, such as drink mix or eyeshadow, to make your very own lip gloss.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Shea Butter

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1
Assemble a double-boiler. Fill a medium-sized bowl with 1 to 2 inches (2.54 to 5.08 centimeters) of water, and place a heat-safe bowl on top. The bottom of the bowl should not be touching the water.
- Try to use a glass bowl. It will help things heat more evenly.
2
Add 2 tablespoons (30 grams) of petroleum jelly, 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of shea butter, and ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) of coconut oil to the bowl. The shea butter and coconut oil will moisturize your lips, while the petroleum jelly will hold everything together.
- If you can't find coconut oil, try some jojoba oil or almond oil instead. Both are very moisturizing.
- If you can't find or don't like shea butter, try cocoa butter or coconut butter instead. Both will give the lip gloss a subtle taste.
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Stir the ingredients often so that they melt evenly. The texture should be smooth, and there should be no lumps or clumps.
4
Take the melted mixture off heat, and stir in some color or flavor, if desired. Lift the bowl off of the saucepan and set it down onto a stable, heat-resistant surface. For extra flavor, stir in 3 to 5 drops of your favorite extract. For extra color, stir in some loose eyeshadow or powdered blush.
- You can also use some powdered drink mix to give you both color and flavor.
You can use an empty lip balm container or even a clean contact lens case. You can also use small containers meant for storing excess paint; you can find them in the painting section of an arts and crafts store.
If you are in a hurry, put it in the fridge for a few hours. As it cools, it will become solid again. You can apply it with your finger or a q-tip.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Lipstick

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You will need to melt the lip gloss before you pour it into its final container.
The more lipstick you use, the more opaque your lip gloss will be. For a shimmery lip gloss, use a lipstick that already has some sparkle to it.
This will help the lip stick mix into the petroleum jelly better.
The mixture should be smooth, and without any lumps. If it is not smooth after you stir it, microwave it for another 30 seconds and stir again.
5
Add a few drops of almond oil and 3 to 5 drops of flavoring. ^{[1]
X
Research source} The almond oil will leave your lips supple, and the flavoring will give it a nicer taste. You can use extract or candy-making flavoring.
- Use no more than ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) of almond oil, or your lip gloss may start to separate. ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- You can also use some essential oil instead of the flavoring. Essential oil is very potent. Start with one drop, stir, then add more if needed.
EXPERT TIP

Shara Strand
Makeup Artist
Shara Strand is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Shara Makeup Studio, a makeup and image consulting studio based in New York City. She has over 15 years of image and makeup consulting experience including working as a regional artist for Bare Escentuals and Estee Lauder, Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been featured in WNBC, Fox 5, Direct TV ABC morning news, and Hamptons Magazine. She is the creator of Shara Cosmetics and is a two time Billboard charted singer. She holds a BFA from New York University.

Shara Strand
Makeup Artist

Our Expert Agrees: If you want to add fragrance to a lip gloss, a fruity flavor like cherry is always a good option. However, it's also fine to skip the fragrance if you don't want the lip gloss to have a smell or taste.
There should be no lumps, clumps, streaks, or swirls.
7
Pour the mixture to a small container. Once you get the color you like, pour the mixture into a small container. Use a mini spatula, butter knife, or spoon to help guide it into the container, if needed.
- You can find small containers in the paint section of an art store.
- You can also use clean and empty lip gloss containers, contact lens cases, and pill boxes as well.
If you are in a rush, put it into the fridge for a few hours. As the lip gloss cools, it will become more solid. You can apply it using your finger or a q-tip.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Drink Powder

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This will be enough for one color/flavor. If you'd like to make more colors or flavors, you will need to make separate batches.
^{[3]
X
Research source} The petroleum jelly should be clear and smooth, with no lumps or clumps. If the petroleum jelly is not fully-melted, microwave it for another 15 to 30 seconds, and stir it again. Keep microwaving and stirring the petroleum jelly until it is completely melted. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
The more mix you use, the darker color you will get. The flavor will also be stronger. You can use any type of mix you like, but berry-flavored ones will give you the typical pink color. You can also try mixing different drinks together to create a "fruit punch" type flavor. Be mindful of the colors, however.
You can find empty containers in the paint section of an art store; they are used for storing extra paint, and make great lip gloss containers. You can also use empty lip gloss containers, clean contact lens cases, and pill boxes as well.
If you are in a hurry, you can put it into the fridge for a few hours. As it cools, it will harden and become more solid. You can apply it using your finger or a q-tip.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Eyeshadow or Blush

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You will be mixing the lip gloss in this, and then transferring it into another container later.
2
Find some powdered eyeshadow or blush. ^{[5]
X
Research source} If you can't find any, scrape some eyeshadow into a plastic. You can use a spoon, fork, or toothpick to get it out. Crush it into a fine powder using a spoon or fork. Make sure that there are no clumps or chunks, or your lip gloss will turn out grainy.
- For a shimmery lip gloss, use an eyeshadow or blush that already has some sparkle to it.
Use something thin, like a chopstick or toothpick. Keep stirring until everything is evenly combined. There should be no streaks, swirls, chunks, or clumps.
4
Transfer the mixture to a small container. Once you get the color and texture you like, scoop the mixture into a small container. Use a mini spatula, butter knife, or spoon to help you.
- You can find small containers in the paint section of an art store. They are meant for storing excess paint, but they make great lip gloss containers.
- You can also use empty lip gloss containers, clean contact lens cases, and pill boxes as well.
If you are in a rush, leave it in the fridge for a few hours until it hardens. You can apply it using your finger or a q-tip.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do you make lip balm using honey and Vaseline?

Community Answer

Mix 3 tablespoons of Vaseline and 1 tablespoon of honey. Microwave it for 30 seconds or so, then mix it again.

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Question

Can you use almond extract instead of almond oil in the lip balm?

Community Answer

No, you need oil to make the balm. You could use coconut or olive oil as a substitute for almond oil.

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Question

If I wanted it to be more of a gloss, could I put it in a lip gloss container?

Community Answer

Yes, and add a tablespoon of coconut oil to make it glossier.

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Tips

If you'd like to make your lip gloss sparkle, add in some cosmetic-grade glitter or mica. ^{[6]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
You can use food coloring to color your lip gloss, but some people find that this stains their lips for longer than they'd like.

Thanks
Helpful 61 Not Helpful 15
You can use vanilla extracts for scent.

Thanks
Helpful 23 Not Helpful 4

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Make sure to cool the lip gloss in the fridge for a little after you make it. It'll feel a lot better on your lips and you won't irritate your skin.
Be careful when you're adding dye. I spilled the tiniest drop of dye before I applied it and it took hours to get it off of the carpet.

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Warnings

Make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

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Do not eat the lip gloss.

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Things You'll Need

Using Drink Powder

Petroleum jelly
Microwave-safe bowl
Spoon
Powdered drink mix
Small, empty container

Using Eyeshadow or Blush

Petroleum jelly
Eyeshadow (or blush)
Small, empty container
Small spoon or stir stick

Using Lipstick

Double-boiler (saucepan and heat-safe bowl)
Petroleum jelly
Lipstick
Almond oil
Extract or flavor
Small, empty container
Small spoon or stir stick

Using Shea Butter

Double-boiler (saucepan and heat-safe bowl)
Petroleum jelly
Shea butter
Coconut oil
Extract or flavor (optional)
Blush or eyeshadow (optional)
Powdered drink mix (optional)
Small, empty container
Small spoon or stir stick

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How to Make Lip Gloss with Petroleum Jelly

Steps

Using Shea Butter

Using Lipstick

Using Drink Powder

Using Eyeshadow or Blush

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

Things You'll Need

Using Drink Powder

Using Eyeshadow or Blush

Using Lipstick

Using Shea Butter

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References

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