I’ve been making natural lip balm, lipstick, and chapstick recipes for years, although it took me a while to actually get it to the point of a recipe. Typically I would just eyeball the ingredients, which shows you how easy this recipe is to make!
This homemade lipstick recipe mimics a creamy, full coverage lipstick and packs plenty of color. However, if you aren’t a fan of colored lipsticks, you can make this recipe without any added color options to achieve a basic natural lip chap.
That’s the beauty of making your makeup from scratch, like my DIY eye shadow, is you can make it exactly the way you like it!
Why Homemade Lipstick?
Wondering why you’d take the time and trouble to make your own natural makeup?
Surprisingly, conventional lipstick can be a source of harmful chemicals and since it is used on the skin (lips) and near the mouth, these chemicals can be easily absorbed. These homemade lipstick variations let you create a personalized lipstick color that is chemical-free and inexpensive to make.
Also, homemade just means more! Give these as an inexpensive but thoughtful gift at holidays or birthdays that friends and family are sure to enjoy.
Customizing Your Perfect Natural Lipstick Color
To get the hue in the picture above, I used a tiny pinch of beetroot powder (1/8 tsp or less), 1/4 tsp cocoa powder, 1/8 tsp bentonite clay, 1/8 tsp cinnamon, and a drop of peppermint essential oil (just because I like the smell). Jump to the recipe for other color customization options, all from natural colorants.
If you like a darker shade, just add a little more cocoa powder after mixing to darken slightly until you reach your preferred tone.
Now let’s get into the recipe!
Natural Tinted Lipstick Recipe
This recipe makes a moisturizing tube lipstick with a good amount of pigment and coverage. For a lighter, glossier look, try this tinted lip balm recipe.
Homemade Lipstick Recipe
Ingredients
Base Lipstick Recipe
- 1 tsp beeswax pellets
- 1 tsp shea butter or cocoa butter
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Optional Color Add-Ins
- For Red Hues: 1/8 teaspoon of beet root powder or 1 drop of natural red food coloring with no chemical additives. NOTE: Add these very slowly as a little goes a long way!
- For Brown/Tan Hues: 1/4 teaspoon or more for color of organic cocoa powder, a tiny pinch of cinnamon or turmeric to get the shade you want
- For a more matte texture: 1/4 teaspoon bentonite clay- I use this with a color so it doesn't leave a white tint on the lips.
- For scent: A drop of essential oil of choice optional
Instructions
Homemade Lipstick Instructions
- Melt the beeswax, shea butter/cocoa butter and coconut oil in a glass jar without a lid in a small pot of simmering (not boiling) water. It should melt quickly because so little of each ingredient is used.
- When melted, remove from heat and add any optional ingredients like color or scent.
- Once all ingredients are mixed well but still liquid, use a dropper to pour into the lip chap container. I used the glass dropper from an old tincture bottle. Fill just below the top as it will expand slightly as it cools. Leave to cool for at least half an hour.
Notes
More Natural Makeup Recipes
- Natural Mascara Recipe – Easier to make than you’d think! It took many tries to perfect this recipe, but now I finally have it down to a science. 🙂 Nutures healthy lashes too!
- DIY Natural Blush Make-up Tutorial – For a fresh, natural glow, try this homemade blush recipe. I also love this creme version.
- Natural Liquid Foundation Recipe – Natural foundation can be pricey! Make it for so much less (and even customize it to your own skin type.)
- Natural Concealer & Highlighter Recipe – We all need a little extra coverage sometimes. Make this natural concealer for undereye or acne prone areas.
Ever made your own cosmetics? How did it go? What hue would you make of this recipe? Share below!
Does anyone know where I can get the lipstick containers??
Thanks 🙂
Amazon has some and so does Mountain Rose Herbs
Bulk apothecary
I ask for my friends’ and relatives’ expired/stocked makeups and I just empty the containers up
What’s a good substitute for coconut oil? I’m very allergic to coconuts and cocoa.
shea butter worked as good placeholder for me. Also makes it a bit more solid. I used a slight bit of aloe vera gelly to compensate.
I know im three years late but you can use olive or almond oil.
Is there a way that I can use herbal vaseline instead of beeswax so it could become more shiny?Im really having trouble finding the other types of oils and i dont want to use petroleum jelly.
If you want it shiny just use olive oil.
Any tips on getting the colors to mix with the oils? They seem to clump for me and not make a smooth color.
Do you think this might work as a natural cover up like the one from Amazon? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000URVDIG/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000URVDIG&linkCode=as2&tag=wellnessmama-20&linkId=XK45NQS3I6XCBEOF
It might… let me know if you try it how it works…
Tried this and the commenter below who said that they didn’t see how adding water-based food coloring to an oil mixture would work was totally right. I bought organic natural food coloring (made from beet root powder) that was $18 just to try this and it did not disperse in the oil/butter/beeswax mixture at all. Really disappointing. Had to add 10+ drops and mix like hell to get even the faintest hue.
I don’t think Wellness Mama tried the food coloring for this recipe.
Hi–
I actually tried the food coloring for this recipe.
I had to do it twice, though.
The first time was a complete, pinstrosity fail. Beads of water based color floating and burning in the mixture. Gross, lumpy, and all around EW!
The 2nd time I decided to try something new– it’s all about emulsion, and that means a longer process.
Basically, don’t add the food coloring until the mixture is cool and mushy, like a paste, or split pea soup that’s been refrigerated. You can then successfully whip it into the mixture. After waiting an hour or longer for it to cool into a paste, and then using my mini plastic fork to whip it into shape, I have a nice, dark red lip butter I use for evenings out. I think I added 5 or so drops of red because I wanted the color to transfer.
Directions: Make as Mama describes above. Let cool into a paste. Add food coloring and whip. Using a spatula like tool, spoon into a tube OR, into a little glass jar. (I’m a fan of the jar) I also use a lip brush so I don’t stain my fingers red.
Good luck!
I’m a pastry chef and when adding color to things in the candy world like white chocolate (which is entirely cocoa butter, sugar and milk solids) you never use regular liquid food colors specifically because they are water based and separate. However in the baking world when adding colorants to fats and oils we use powder food colors, oil based food colors or even some gel food colors will blend into oils. All three oil friendly food colorants i can usually find next to the cake decorating section of most Walmarts and specialty baking stores..
Its just my opinion, but if it’s any help maybe you could try using cake and candy food colorants in your lipsticks since they are designed for use with fats and oils.
OMG that is baking not cosmetics duh!
The melted oils to not leak through bottom of tube? I thought maybe to put a few droppers of oil in the bottom until they set,then fill rest of tube. Any thoughts?
My tubes were solid on the bottom so I didn’t have that issue, but depending on the tube, that might be a good idea…
Hi there – I don’t think you can add any water based ingredients to an oils/fats/waxes recipe, so I don’t see how adding “drops” of red food colouring would work.
Jane, of course you can add water to oil. In small quanties, it’s called suspending. But for more water-based liquids like teas, infusions and decoctions, you make an emulsion by warming both the oils and liquids to body temp, then drizzle in your oils whilst whisking or running a blender. It’s the way we make everything from blushes to body creams to mayonnaise.
Hi Miki, I’m assuming that you’re confirming that adding water into oil works when making lipsticks since we are discussing about Wellness Mama’s lipstick recipe here? I’m thinking it may work on blushes, body creams and mayonnaise but not on lipsticks?
Absolutely, Anna! In an oil suspension, which is basically what lipstick is, 1% or less of a water base will hold together perfectly. Same thing for balms, salves and glosses.
I was responding specifically to the statement above, “I don’t think you can add any water based ingredients to an oils/fats/waxes recipe,” and giving Jane examples of water-oil concoctions as illustration.
So don’t you have to add a preservative since water is added?
No preservatives are needed when water is less than 1%, or when beeswax and/or coconut oil are used, as both have antimicrobial properties of their own. But you can always add a few grains of potassium sorbate (bought in a 1 ounce bottle from the home brewer’s supply), if it concerns you.
Hi, I added water to my lipstick and after two weeks turned green and I had to throw it :S i will try to dissolve the beet powder with essential oils or almond oil and hopefully it will work 🙂
What if you like light pink? What would be a good natural color ingredient to make that with?
You could just add a tiny bit of the beet, or infuse some hibiscus into the oils for a lighter shade.
Thanks for the recipe! I love lipstick and I will be pinning this recipe for a reference! Blessings!