Berrywine Lip Gloss: A Recipe

Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

So, as promised, I have just gotten together my recipe for a lip gloss that I recently created.

This lip gloss features an ingredient called Versagel ME 750. Now, if you have never heard of Versagel, you should get over to TKB trading's website to find out all the item specifics. It's a fabulous clear gel used to provide that sticky, smooth glide to your lip glosses. Many people who have used it love using it in their lip products as an added moisture benefit. I have also seen people use it in their lipstick recipes, but I have not tried that yet.

What is it made of? Here's a list of the ingredients within Versagel ME 750 from TKB Trading I purchased:

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene (and) Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer (and) Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer

It is also labeled a vegan and gluten-free product.

So, this recipe features a Versagel base with added Castor Oil and Mica powders for colorants. Yep, there are no other ingredients added ingredients.

Equipment Needed:

Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

Now, to start out, you will need the following items:

• 2 or 3 heat-resistant plastic containers or stainless steel containers. I do not recommend metal containers as I'm not sure how the Versagel will react with metal. Do not risk it.
• A plastic  heat-resistant or silicone spatula for mixing and scraping.
• Nitrile gloves for safe handling and sanitary purposes.
• A plastic piping bag to use for putting the lip gloss inside the tubes or you can purchase a lip gloss injector. TKB trading has one. Amazon may have one, I'm not sure though.
• Lip gloss containers. In this case, I am using lip gloss tubes purchased from TKB. They come with the tube, the spout, and the twist cap. You can also use lip pots, lip pens with or with brushes, and lip containers with screw top applicators. You can find most of these at TKB trading.
• A mini mixer (not pictured) for mixing colorants with the Versagel. Really comes in handy. You can get these from Bramble Berry. However, I got mine from Amazon.
• A digital scale (not pictured) for measuring out Versagel.
• A plastic or stainless steel teaspoon (not pictured) for measuring your colorants. You can also used those little plastic medicine cups that come with liquid medicines with teaspoon measurements (pictured).

Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

Ingredients:

• Shimmer Raspberry Pop mica powder from TKB trading.
• Luster Black mica powder from Bramble Berry.
• Snowflake Sparkle mica powder from Bramble Berry.
• Versagel ME 750 from TKB trading.
• Castor Oil. You can get this from any soaping company that sells oils such as Bramble Berry and Nature's Garden. There are some other great companies as well if you search for them online.

Now, time to move on to our recipe and how to put these ingredients together to make lip gloss!

Recipe:

• 2 oz. Versagel
• 10-15 drops Castor Oil
• 1 1/2 tsp. Shimmer Raspberry Pop mica powder
• 1/2 tsp. Luster Black mica powder
• 1/2 tsp. Snowflake Sparkle mica powder

**Please note, you can adjust the colorants if you'd like. If you want more pink, add less Luster Black. If you want more coverage of color, increase the amount of all three micas. If you want a more transparent gloss, add less of all three micas. If you want more sparkle, add more Snowflake Sparkle mica powder. Please be sure if you are changing the shade of the lip gloss, make sure to go in increments of 1/2 tsp. You can always add more but once it's mixed in, you can't take it away!**

Steps:

1. First, before you get started making anything, you will want to sterilize all equipment, tools, contact surfaces, and lip gloss containers. 
1. What I like to do is first wash all of my equipment in regular dawn dish soap.
2. Then, in a clean bowl, make a sanitizing solution of 1 oz. Clorox to 1 gal distilled water. The water does not have to be heated. 
3. Soak your lip gloss tubes, tops, and spouts, spatulas, containers, bowls, measuring utensils, mini mixer attachment, and anything else that may come into contact with with the lip gloss that can be soaked in the solution. Also be sure to clean all surfaces as well.



Measuring out the Versagel on the scale
Photo taken by: Kristine with Earth N Moon

4. With gloved hands, remove and dry all soaked items. If you are having difficulty getting the solution out of the lip balm tubes or other items, allow them to air dry on a clean paper towel.
2. With gloved hands, measure out your 2 oz. of Versagel in your heat-resistant container. The 2 oz. of Versagel should be measured in weight, not volume. So, make sure your setting is on oz/lbs setting and not the fl oz setting. (Pictured right).
3. Place in the microwave for approximately 2-3 minutes. Times may vary depending on your microwave. You do not want to overheat the Versagel. If you want, you can use a double boiler system to heat the Versagel instead. Just make sure it is with stainless steel and not metal.
4. Remove the Versagel from heat and stir with your spatula.
5. Add 10-15 drops of Castor Oil and mix well. You may add more if you'd like. I do not recommend going above 20 drops as it will become thin. Also, the oil and gel may separate if you use too much oil with the Versagel (I found this out the hard way the first time I used Versagel!).
6. Measure your micas. You can either add these individually to your oil/gel mix (recommended for those altering the amounts of micas) or you can mix all three together and then add to your oil/gel mix (recommended for those staying to the recipe). 
7. This is where your mini mixer comes in handy! Using the blender attachment that came with your mixer,stir your micas in with your gel/oil mixture before turning the mixer on. If you don't, the micas might fly up and create dust since they are powder micas. It will get everywhere!
8. Keep blending until all micas are evenly mixed with the gel/oil mixture. It will be thick and may be hard to blend, but I've found that if you stir while you blend, it helps.
9. Fill your plastic piping bag or injector with lip gloss mixture. For those using a piping bag, cut the tip of our piping bag just enough to get the lip gloss flowing smoothly. Injectors may work better for thicker glosses.
10. Fill your lip gloss tubes to the bottom of the neck of the tub where the threads for the cap start. If you overfill your lip gloss tubes, it will come up the spout and out when you insert them. If you are using lip pots, fill your pots just under the rim.
11. For those using lip gloss tubes, once you are done filling, immediately insert the spout and screw the twist top on. For those using lip pots, twist the cap on.

Congratulations! You have just made lip gloss! These will last about a year as do store brand lip glosses. I hope you enjoyed this little recipe with steps. If you have questions, please comment below and I will try to answer any questions. 

**Remember, each person is different with lip gloss preferences. So, if you'd like your lip gloss a different way, please feel free to alter this recipe in a way that suits your preferences or come up with your own! Just make sure you are using lip-safe colorants and ingredients. If you are not sure if an ingredient is lip-safe, check with whom you are purchasing. If an item does not clearly state that it is safe for lips on the vendor site, always ask before buying to use in lip products.**

Check back with me in my next post when I talk about my favorite ingredients I like to use!

Cheers!

Kristine

*Note-I am in no way affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this blog. I am just a creator of Earth N Moon products who happens to purchase and use their products within the production of Earth N Moon products for sale and for personal use. The links and information provided in this blog is solely for informational and self-help purposes. All of the photos used within this post are photos that I have taken myself and remain the property of  Earth N Moon and myself, Kristine Denny. The links within this post are to respective companies for mention, reference, and information purposes.*