How Much Color? Making Lipstick with Oil Soluble Lip Colors


Last week, I took a Technical Support phone call from a gal who wanted to know how much color she needed to use to get a lipstick instead of a lip balm or a lip tint. She said, “You always mention Q.S. on your blog for lip tints like the Deep Plum Lip Tint, but you never share how much color you really use!” I had to laugh and explain that Q.S. was used to note that we had an idea of how much color, but not the exact amount that we used.

Finished jar of Andee’s first lipstick.

When my caller asked how much more color was needed to make a lipstick, I had to tell there was a lot more color used to make a lipstick than I’d ever considered. I told her that in my experience and from my reading of cosmetic formulas, a lipstick is anywhere from 3% to 20% of coloring pigments and/or pearlescent and luster agents. Can you say wowza? That’s a lot of color! Today, I want to show you the exact minimum amount of our Oil Soluble Lip Balm Colors that I needed to turn a jar of our Lanolin Lip Solutions into a lipstick.

I only used just over 5.5% for this test batch, but you can definitely use more! I recommend using the Plate Test to check the color and firmness of your lipstick before you pour it into your containers.

Ingredients

Lanolin Lip Solutions
Blueberry Flavor Oil
Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
Silver Mica
Cool Red Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
Blue Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
Black Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
White Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color

Equipment

Scale
Microwave Safe Container
Spoons
0.15 cc Measuring Scoops
Pipettes
Slim Stick Lip Balm Tubes

Recipe:

Recipe in Grams (Fills 110 Slim Stick Lip Balm Tubes)

285 grams Lanolin Lip Solutions
5.9 grams Blueberry Flavor Oil
3.1 grams Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
1.1 grams Silver Mica
14.4 grams Cool Red Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.1 grams Blue Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.3 grams Black Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
1.7 grams White Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color

Recipe in Ounces (Fills 110 Slim Stick Lip Balm Tubes)

10.08 ounces Lanolin Lip Solutions
0.21 ounces Blueberry Flavor Oil
0.11 ounces Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
0.04 ounces Silver Mica
0.51 ounces Cool Red Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.005 ounces Blue Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.01 ounces Black Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.06 ounces White Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color

Recipe in Percentages

91.43% Lanolin Lip Solutions
1.90% Blueberry Flavor Oil
1.00% Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
0.36% Silver Mica
4.63% Cool Red Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.05% Blue Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.09% Black Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color
0.54% White Oil Soluble Lip Balm Color

To make this lipstick, the first step is to microwave your jar of Lip Solutions until it is completely melted. Once it is melted, the next step is to add the colors and mix well. Now the flavors can be added and mixed in. Make sure to use the Plate Test to test this lipstick on your lips and decide the color is right before you fill the containers! Once the color is perfect for you, then you can pour it into the container of your choice. Label and enjoy.

Notes:

While this lipstick does have excellent color, it does not have long-term staying power due to Lanolin Lip Solutions being a better moisturizer than color applicator. I hope that you take today’s post as inspiration for your own lipsticks and feel free to make a whole lipstick recipe that works for you and your target wearers!

Would you make lipsticks?

Andee

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About Andee

Director of Happiness. I'm a thirty-something soap snob. I've grown up with handmade soaps, and I love them! I really like making lotions, soaps, and perfumes. I adore mixing scents to come up with something new. My favorite scent is either Wicked or Cotton Candy. I tend to hoard fragrances, I even have an Earl Grey Tea from the MMS catalog. I won't tell you how old it is, but it sure is good!

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