diy lip gloss

If there's one thing I like as much as clothes and shoes, it's make-up. Yes, call me a girl, but I do love playing w/all the different colors and textures and having fun w/creating different looks. My favorite thing of all are lip products, though. Lipsticks, lip balms, lip gloss...I'm obsessed. So much so that I make my own lip gloss.

When I get to the end of a lipstick, instead of chucking it out I scoop out the remainder and turn it into lip gloss. Here, let me show you...



You'll first need the following:
1. empty pot (I'm using a pot from a lotion sample I received from Sephora. I keep all those little pots and jars and empty lip gloss pots for this purpose)
2. a lip balm of some sort (Aquaphor, Vaseline, Kiehl's, etc.)
3. lipstick
4. bobby pin
5. and some shimmery powder (optional)

(Note: You can also use almost empty lip gloss/balm pots such as Carmex or Kiehl's tinted lip gloss posts or even buy the cheap kind at a drugstore that you like - a lot of them are scented so make sure you like it. Also, it takes the step out of adding your own lube)

Before you begin, make sure you clean your pot and the bobby pin thoroughly. I scrubbed mine w/dish soap and swirled some rubbing alcohol in it. I also cleaned the bobby pin w/the rubbing alcohol. Also, it's very important that the pot and the bobby pin are completely dried and there is no water or moisture.

Step one:



Scoop the lipstick out w/the bobby pin and put into pot. I'm using MAC Viva Glam V.


Step two:



Mix in your lip balm of choice (if needed). At this point, the contents inside won't look very pretty.


Step three:
**MAKE SURE POT IS NON-METALLIC***
Put pot in the microwave and nuke for about 30-40 SECONDS or until lip stick and lip balm liquify. It should look smooth and syrupy like this:



Then, take bobby pin and mix everything well.




Step four (optional):
Add the shimmering powder to the gloss. I use MAC Pigment Colour Powder in Vanilla. I want the gloss to be lighter and shimmery.



Mix well.




Step five:
Take a napkin or paper towel, wrap around your index finger, and clean the edges of the pot.


Step six:
Carefully transport pot to refrigerator, place on a shelf, and let it cool in there for about 10 minutes.


And VOILA, you have your own custom made gloss!



TIPS:
Play around by mixing different shades of lipsticks or shimmery powders. I usually use the MAC Pigments but make sure you ask a MAC sales associate if the pigment is ok to put on your lips. Some colors apparently aren't lip friendly.

Ooooh, and I'll be adding this to my pile of empty MAC containers so I can participate in their recycling program. For those that don't know...you bring in 6 empty MAC containers to either a MAC counter or store and you get a free tube of lipstick - any color of your choice. Btw, if you bring it into a store you also have a choice of free eyeshadow if lipstick isn't your thing.

Happy glossing!


Forever 21 burn out tee, Forever 21 cuff & spiked rings, random bracelets

P.S. I am wearing one of my absolute favorite nail polish colors - My Private Jet by OPI. It's a glittery, taupey, gunmetal color and I love it.