Science Project: How to Make Flavored Lip Gloss

You can make your own flavored lip gloss for a science project.

Students can pretend to be chemists as they work on creating their very own flavored lip gloss. Each lip gloss can then be tested to determine which one has the most pleasant flavor, which one is the shiniest, or which one lasts the longest when worn on the lips. The results can be recorded on a chart and presented in front of a class.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tbsp. vegetable shortening
• 1 tsp. honey
• Baby food jar
• 1/4 tsp. hot water
• Flavored powdered drink mix
• Small bowl
• 2.5 oz. beeswax
• 8 oz. almond oil
• Pot
• Hotplate
• Straight pin
• 1 vitamin E capsule
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• 2 tbsp. petroleum jelly
• 2 tbsp. aloe vera gel
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 5 drops cinnamon essential oil

Instructions

Vegetable Shortening Base Lip Gloss

1. Measure and place 1 tbsp. of vegetable shortening and 1 tsp. of honey in a baby food jar. Mix them together.

2. Stir 1/4 tsp. of flavored powdered drink mix at a time with a 1/4 tsp. hot water in a small bowl. Once the water can no longer absorb the powder, you can stop.

   Note: You can choose the flavor you want your lip gloss to be by choosing a powdered drink mix flavor that you like.

3. Add the flavored water to your baby food jar and stir.

Beeswax Base Lip GLoss

1. Melt 2.5 oz. of beeswax and 8 oz. of almond oil in a pot over a hot plate.

2. Poke a hole in a vitamin E capsule with a pin and squeeze the contents in the pot.

3. Add 5 drops of peppermint oil for flavoring and stir all of the ingredients together.

4. Transfer the ingredients from the pot to a baby food jar for storing.

Petroleum Jelly Base Lip Gloss

1. Place 2 tbsp. of petroleum jelly and 2 tbsp. of aloe vera gel in a small pot. Heat over a hotplate until melted.

2. Add 1/2 tsp. of vanilla, and 5 drops of cinnamon essential oil for flavor and a pleasant scent.

3. Mix the ingredients in a pot and transfer them to a baby food jar.

Tips & Warnings

• Provide children with safety goggles, gloves and a apron to wear while making the flavored lip glosses.

• You can substitute any of the oils for another flavor if you have one you like better.

• Younger students should be supervised while the hotplate is being used.

References

• * Creative Kids at Home: Kids Crafts-How to Make Lip Gloss
• North Carolina State University: Lip Balm Chemistry
• Science Buddies: Potions and Lotions: Lessons in Cosmetic Chemistry