Make Your Own Crayon Lipstick

by Jané Jacobs 

Crayon lipstick is a tried-and-true recipe in the DIY makeup world. Not only are crayons cheap, they’re specifically made so that kids can eat them by the handful without any negative side effects – meaning that they’re safe to use. What’s more, there are so many colours in the crayon world that the possibilities are almost endless. And the whole process takes less than 10 minutes.
The ingredient list is short and easy. You’ll need:

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​•    1 crayon
•    ½ teaspoon shea butter
•    ¼ teaspoon coconut oil

The exact type of oil that you use is optional, as long as you use only food-grade oils like coconut, almond, and olive. If you don’t have shea butter, then you can substitute olive oil – this will make the lipstick’s colour less intense, but it will still work.
You’ll also need the following supplies:

•    A container (for the lipstick)
•    Paper towel or newspaper
•    A clean, heat-safe glass bowl or a tin can
•    A small pot
•    A disposable stirrer (kebab stick, chopstick, toothpick, etc.) 
•    Oven mitts

I would personally recommend that you use a tin can instead of a bowl for mixing the lipstick ingredients, because wax cools fast and cleaning it up takes forever. That’s the same reason why you should work over paper towels and use a disposable stirrer – so that in the end you can get rid of the mess without any of the waxy stress.


1. Prepare your container. Empty lip balm tubes, contact cases, or pill boxes are the most convenient. Be sure to clean them thoroughly with soap and warm water. Make sure that your container is open, within reach, and placed on a paper towel before you start making the lipstick.

2. Prepare the crayon. Place the crayon under running water for about 10 seconds, and then peel off the paper. Make sure that the crayon is clean.

3. Prepare the double broiler. All that you need to do here is put your tin can or heat-safe bowl in the small pot, and put the pot on the stove. Fill the pot with water - being careful to not let water into the bowl - and then heat the water until it starts to simmer. You can turn off the stove at this point, as long as the pot stays over heat.

4. Making the lipstick. Put the crayon in the bowl. It should start to melt almost immediately. Add the shea butter and the food-grade oil, and stir until everything is mixed well. 

5. Pouring the lipstick. Using oven mitts so you don’t burn yourself, remove the bowl from the pot, and carefully pour the lipstick mixture into the prepared container. If the mixture in the bowl starts to cool and harden, return it to the pot for a few seconds to melt it again.


Once you’re finished, leave the lipstick to cool and harden for a few minutes. That’s it! Now you’re free to experiment with your brand-new, one-of-a-kind shade. I would recommend experimentation here, because the intensity of the colour depends on the ratio of ingredients and the colour itself, so take this time to figure out how to wear it best.

Tip
I’ve found that if you apply it and the colour looks too thin, applying concealer to your lips beforehand gives the lipstick something to cling on to. This will either lighten or darken the lipstick’s colour, depending on the colour of the foundation, so experimentation is key.
 
​Lipstick is expensive – that much is sure. And while wearing $30 lipstick can make you feel like a million bucks, that price tag really doesn’t leave a lot of room for experimentation. So instead of sticking with the shades that you have, why not just make your own?