There are a variety of formulas online that you can try. Once you have all the numbers you need on hand, you can plug them into different formulas and compare those numbers with your competition’s pricing. Here’s one place to start:
(Base Production Cost x Markup)
+ Labor
+ Overhead
+ Seller Fees
= Product price
This number is what it costs to make a single product. Make a list of your lip gloss making supplies, labels, packaging, postage, tools, surgical gloves—whatever you have to buy for each product. Include the taxes on the materials and shipping. Then determine how much of that material you use for one product. That is your material cost per item. You can find templates online that will help you track inventory and costs per unit.
This number is up to your discretion, but you can try between 2 and 4. After you’ve finished calculating and researching the competition, you can tweak this.
How much do you want to make per hour? You can play with this number as you get more successful, but consider starting around $10 an hour. If it takes you half an hour to make each product, add $5 to your formula.
There are benefits to using your kitchen as your laboratory, but you’ll still have some overhead costs, including:
Websites such as Etsy or Shopify charge for hosting your product. Some marketplaces take a percentage of your profits as well. Don’t forget Paypal fees.
A final note: Many small businesses offer free shipping because it appeals to so many customers. If you plan to use that tactic, make sure you build those shipping costs somewhere into the formula.
Don’t undervalue your product to build your customer base. It’s not sustainable, and they won’t appreciate price increases. You’re running a business, not a hobby. Learning how to price your cosmetic products is about valuing yourself and your work. If you set your prices too low, buyers won’t think they’re worth more. Do your research on your competitors’ pricing to make sure yours stacks up.
Your products are handcrafted, which is one of your unique selling points. Don’t worry about sellers who are mass-producing their wares. Review your pricing every few months to find the sweet spot that your customers will respond to while still making enough to grow your business. You can depend on No Prob-Llama for supplies of the highest quality at the most reasonable prices. Here’s to your shiny financial future!
]]>The basic checklist is the same as any other handcrafted lip gloss. You’ll just add to your DIY lip gloss supplies with an ingredient that gives it more dimension. These are a few options that might work for you:
This is not the time to improvise with additives. While you shouldn’t be licking or ingesting lip gloss, you should still make sure you only use ingredients that are edible. That means you should never use:
Beware that “glitter” can be synonymous with “gritty” if you don’t choose a fine consistency. No one wants lips that feel like sandpaper, no matter how much they shine. Another drawback to the above additives is that they can add unwanted color or dilute a shade you’ve perfected. But you can avoid that with glitters that are specifically developed for lip products.
No Prob-Llama’s glitters combine color with an eye-catching finish in rose gold, purple, red, and gold. Our other shades add a holographic or pearlescent effect to heighten the impact. This can save you a step as you try to balance texture, tint, and shimmer.
Learning how to make a glitter lip gloss just takes a few steps:
With enough ingredients, you can create all kinds of variations. Experiment until you’ve made your dream lip gloss—the one you never could find in stores. Or keep experimenting until you’ve formulated an entire line of products. No Prob-Llama’s collection of DIY lip gloss supplies is a great place to start. Where you finish is up to you.
]]>Creating a distinctive label isn’t all that different from perfecting a cosmetics formula. The purpose of gloss is to make lips look irresistible, and the purpose of labels is to make your product look inviting. This is your chance to dress up your product in packaging that communicates your vision of beauty. And if that’s too intimidating, you can settle on something simple with your name on it. Just think of it as wrapping your gift to the world—a gift that people will pay for over and over again.
If you’ve been dreaming of starting your own cosmetics line, you’ve probably doodled some ideas for what your packaging will look like. You can polish your logo with a computer design program, look for free artwork online, or hire a freelance professional for a surprisingly low fee. If you’re not yet sure about your company’s identity, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. You can add borders and other graphics to your label, and channel a lot of your personality through the font you use.
Remember that the label needs to be easy to read. The most audacious, avant-garde design isn’t going to be effective if it doesn’t drive the name of your company home.
If you know what colors you want to use in your packaging, go with your gut. Only you can decide what your brand should look like. If you’re still playing with the possibilities, you can optimize your impact by delving into the psychology of color. Each color has a different effect on human behavior and can even influence purchases. Color combinations can invoke more complex feelings. Here’s an overview of the basics:
This go-to color for makeup is evocative of femininity, unconditional love, and playfulness.
Logo examples: Barbie, Victoria’s Secret
The vivid hue has strong associations with excitement, passion, energy, and action.
Logo examples: Coca-Cola, Target
This austere, classic choice is symbolic of sophistication, power, mystery, and elegance.
Logo examples: Chanel, Nike
Use the innocent appeal of white for a message of goodness, cleanliness, and trustworthiness.
Logo examples: ASOS, Adidas
A pop of orange invokes fun, creativity, adventure, and enthusiasm.
Logo examples: Home Depot, Nickelodeon
With sunshine on its side, yellow is all about happiness, positivity, optimism, and summer.
Logo examples: Ferrari, IKEA
With echoes of the sea and sky, blue brings up feelings of stability, harmony, trust, and peace.
Logo examples: Facebook, Walmart
This is a good choice for natural or healthy ingredients, and also invokes money and growth.
Logo examples: Starbucks, John Deere
You’ll have to be confident to use purple, as it has associations with power, luxury, wisdom, royalty, and spirituality.
Logo examples: Hallmark, Yahoo
If you’ve chosen novelty-shaped containers for your product, you’ll be more limited when it comes to the label. Look for a flat surface where you can attach a small round label or something similar. If you’re using standard clear lip gloss tubes, just measure the dimensions. You’ll find plenty of templates online that should fit your packaging perfectly.
Don’t go overboard and design a label that covers up too much of the tube. You want the color of your lip gloss to show through.
This is where you have a decision to make. Do you want to make your labels yourself? If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you can print your own with an inkjet or laser printer. The main downside is that paper stickers might smear if your product gets sticky or wet—and it will definitely get sticky at some point. If you’re more ambitious, you can even create vinyl labels on a Cricut machine with a video tutorial.
It’s very inexpensive to upload your design and order custom labels online. Check independent websites for the specifics. Most won’t require a minimum quantity, so you can order different variations to see which labels work best without breaking the bank.
If you want something with better quality and more durability, printing services can provide you with higher-grade permanent vinyl and UV coats for your labels.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates the cosmetics industry and has several requirements for labeling. Labels must include:
You may feel like your product is swimming with words, but make sure you include this information.
Your labels should also list the ingredients you use. It might be easier to print these on a box for your tubes or enclose an insert with more details. Start with the ingredient that makes up the highest percentage of your gloss, using its scientific and common name. Follow through until you get to any ingredients that add up to less than 1 percent of the lip gloss. You can group those in any order.
This is not the place to add words like “natural” or “organic”; the FDA wants the names, not any descriptors.
One day, your beauty company will demand an assembly line, but as you get started, it’s up to you to put on the labels. Clean your jars and bottles with a lint-free cloth and some alcohol for optimal adhesion. Then, line up your label with the lid or any lengthwise seams. Slowly apply pressure from the middle of the label out to prevent bubbling.
These tips for designing lip gloss labels should simplify the process so you can focus on creative and strategic decisions. No Prob-Llama can help you manage your beauty business with everything from the ingredients to the packaging. We’re a beauty enthusiast’s best friend, and we look forward to being a part of your success.
]]>Well, you’ll probably want to experiment with ingredients and variables until you perfect your product. You can add more colors and finishes to your line and wrap up some as gifts. If you get lots of positive responses, consider stocking up on enough inventory to sell online. And then you’ll need samples to send out to influencers and reviewers—in short, you’ll need a lot of tubes.
Guessing how much Versagel you’ll need isn’t a science. There are too many variables to be definitive, including tube size, brush size, and how many additives you want to include—pigment, essential oils, flavors, etc. These are estimates only, but for standard 10 ml tubes, here’s what you can expect:
If you’d rather use an all-inclusive No Prob-Llama Premium Lip Gloss Starter Kit, you’ll fill the included 12 squeezable tubes and 12 transparent tubes with brushes.
Don’t worry about making a mistake when you calculate how much gloss base you need. The shelf life for Versagel’s lip gloss base pouches and tubs is three years. If it comes to that, you can pace your lip gloss-making sessions or find other ways to use any leftovers. Versagel also works as an ideal moisturizer for other lotion and gel formulas.
When you decide what’s right for you, browse No Prob-Llama’s collections to shop for the ingredients you need. Start small or buy in bulk—whatever it takes to start your own unique cosmetics line.
]]>When people give gifts, they might be wary of investing in a color or product if they’re not sure the recipient will like it. Make it easy for them with an assortment of smaller items in different shades, or cover multiple interests with a combination of beauty and well-being gifts. Partner with another small company to add more variety in gift sets and to get twice the exposure.
There’s no better way to create interest in something than to tell consumers it’s only available for a limited time. Pump up the pink and red tones with more cosmetic pigments for lip gloss, offer new scents and flavors like red velvet and rose petals, or create eye shadow palettes with yummy themes like chocolate tones.
If you want to make a splash, heart-shaped cosmetic containers are eye-catching during the Valentine’s holiday. And they’re still cute afterward, too. Capitalize on the occasion with inexpensive measures like new labels.
At this time of year, something as simple as a tutorial on “How To Create a Valentine’s Day Look” is going to get clicks. Feature one product prominently or include information on all the products you use. Other topic ideas: “Long-Lasting Makeup for Make-out Sessions,” “Looking Great Up Close and Personal,” and “How To Conjure a Romantic Glow.”
One of the sexiest words for consumers is “free.” Sponsor a series of prizes on Twitter for those who follow your company or register on your website. Increase engagement by asking for responses to prompts like, “Tell us about your first kiss,” and, “What’s your best beauty weapon?” Cosmetics brands have gotten viral publicity with challenges on TikTok, so get creative with ideas like, “Recreate a look from your favorite rom-com.”
February can be a terrifying time for men who have no idea what to buy their women. Target them with some of your marketing, and give them ideas for gifts that pay homage to their sweethearts’ inner and outer beauty. With the male makeup trend gaining traction, you might even gain a new audience of guys treating themselves.
With these ideas on how to market your products for Valentine’s Day to inspire you, consider what feels authentic to your identity. Stay true to your brand by using your signature colors and logo prominently, even if you’re adding more dashes of red. No Prob-Llama has lip gloss kits, supplies, and packaging to give your cosmetics line a romantic makeover.
]]>Like lipstick, gloss is a mix of wax and oils. But lipstick relies more on the wax to give it a long-lasting, matte appearance. Gloss, instead, embraces the smooth, lustrous benefits of oils. In lip gloss, shine takes precedence over color, although it’s possible to have the best of both worlds with the right pigments.
Whether you’re going for high-impact, neon color or a natural, “just licked my lips” appeal, lip gloss is the most powerful weapon in your makeup kit. For DIY beauty enthusiasts, the shine comes from a Versagel gloss base, which is composed of three elements:
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene softens, moisturizes, and acts as a synthetic substitute for mineral oil. It’s also a component in many sunscreen products. This is the main source of the shine.
Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer is what gives lip gloss base its smooth, thick consistency. It helps the gloss stay put without smearing or bleeding. Or you can thin it out by adding more essential oils, coloring, and scents.
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer helps condition lips’ fragile skin layer and lock moisture in.
Of course, by understanding what makes lip gloss so shiny, you can amplify the effect with additives that create even more sparkle. Some different finishes to try:
With the right supplies, beauty gurus don’t have to be chemists. At No Prob-Llama, we’ve already optimized our ingredients for lips, so all you need to do is experiment with textures, colors, and flavors until you find the right balance for the perfect lip gloss formula. Browse our collections, and check our blog for ideas.
]]>When in-person shopping isn’t possible and computer screens aren’t convenient, buyers rely on their phones to find the next big thing. You don’t necessarily have to make your own app if you can optimize the shopping experience for your customers. Before anything else, make sure that your website or product pages load quickly and boast a wealth of quality visual content. Visitors should find it easy to navigate through the menu, and find it hard to resist the unmistakable “buy now” button. Completing payment should require the fewest number of steps possible. If you can add fun tools, they’ll want to come back; many beauty sites have shoppers upload their photos so they can virtually try on different colors. At the very least, encourage buyers to post reviews and pictures of how they use your products. An honest forum can create a community that beauty lovers trust.
Offer something to consumers before they buy your products. Straight-up advertising isn’t as effective as sincere efforts to connect with your audience. More and more, you can reach them via videos on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Here are a few ways to get their attention:
Beauty enthusiasts used to stop by makeup counters for free samples, recommendations, and makeovers. Now you can show them how to apply your cosmetics with a video tutorial. Explain your ingredients and what your label really means. Share tips and tricks to keep them engaged.
Show them what your company looks like, and tell them your origin story. Give them a sneak peek of future products. Show them how you use your lip gloss-making material or how you manufacture your products sustainably. Introduce them to the employees or a brand ambassador.
There’s no one way to use a beauty product. Today’s consumers want to make it their own and get creative. You can alert them to new makeup trends, have fun with special effects looks, or suggest ways to use your cosmetics for cosplay.
User-generated content is an authentic and organic way to get out the word about your line. Everyone’s opinion has value because everyone has their own philosophy about looking and feeling good. Encourage detailed reviews of your products and pay attention to the feedback for the future. On TikTok, you can involve anyone with a “challenge.” Sephora promoted an eye palette by challenging viewers to create a look to represent their city, and the response was overwhelming. You can recruit fans of your cosmetics as “brand advocates” and give them samples to model and review. The beauty community is collaborative and generous, and when they stumble on something they love, they want to tell the world.
Any loyal customer can be a micro-influencer with recommendations, but more established influencers have a built-in audience. You don’t have to lay out big money for a mention from a supermodel because they’re not relatable to most buyers. Someone with an Instagram following between 10,000 and 100,000 is more effective because they’ve earned credibility in their niche.
You can do your own research, or use automated influencer tracking tools such as Pitchbox, HYPR, and Upfluence to find a “celebrity” that fits your brand. Their content may be more imaginative than yours if they’ve been doing this for a while. Images, videos, live streams, stories—they probably have a better sense of how to connect with an audience than you do. If they have great engagement with their followers, they can directly influence their purchasing decisions. And the association with your company will boost their profiles, as well.
When you’re still getting your business off the ground, make sure you don’t lose any customers because they don’t understand something or don’t feel heard. Provide plenty of transparent information about your products and be available for questions. You can interact with new consumers directly through messaging or responding to comments and reviews. The idea of “perfect” beauty went out with helmet hair, so don’t be afraid of criticism if it’s constructive. Be real, and customers will associate your brand with the person behind it.
Have you ever added something to a virtual shopping cart and clicked away, only to get an email or ad that urges you to go back and complete your purchase? Today, consumers like to shop by clicking around until they have enough information to make a decision. Those reminders can encourage visitors to visit your website or product pages once more. Those abandoned carts have a good chance of turning into sales.
Larger sites like Facebook and Instagram can target anyone who visits your online store or interacts you’re your social media posts. Just upload your products and information, and dynamic ads will automatically find potential shoppers.
You can retain consumers by alerting them to new deals and products via email. You may want to experiment with different kinds of emails to find out what gets the most clicks from your audience. Use their data to personalize their messages, and offer giveaways, tutorials, promotions, discounts, loyalty programs, and first looks. Don’t just fish for sales. Remember the big picture and create a community where you can be useful and really connect with your loyalists.
Although their model is always changing, you can take advantage of paid Google ads in two ways. Search ads can help you get closer to the top of the list when someone searches keywords related to your products. Shopping ads can showcase your offerings on a cost-per-click and cost-per-engagement basis. Rather than keywords, they use your product images and descriptions to determine the best opportunities for your ad.
It may sound like a lot, but don’t let yourself become overwhelmed by this era’s marketing practices. Look at it as a huge opportunity—there have never been so many ways to get the word out about your business. There is no wrong way to publicize your products, but if you can diversify your approach, you can quickly determine what’s effective for your brand. These tips for marketing your cosmetics work best when you make the effort to connect with your shoppers. Remember that you believe in your products. Communicate to consumers why they should, too. At No Prob-Llama, we want our supplies and collections to inspire you to define your own kind of beauty.
]]>Consumers can click through ads and product pages without registering what they’re seeing. Create show-stopping packaging that reflects your brand: a signature logo, color, shape—and most of all, attitude. The containers should not only look gorgeous but function well, too, or your cosmetics may not even make it onto faces.
Even if you’ve been building up inventory from your kitchen, you should be ready to manufacture en masse if your business takes off. Research manufacturers both here and abroad, but be aware that the closer to home they are, the more you can keep an eye on the products that boast your name.
A professional photo shoot should showcase your cosmetics against a clean, white background. Show your makeup shades on as many skin tones as you can. And words are as crucial as visuals. The right keywords will help customers find your products through search engine optimization. Give them all the information they need to make a wise buying choice. Have written descriptions ready about the cosmetic’s texture, application, finish, and usage. Include ingredients, warnings for allergies, and any details that set your line apart.
Many websites make it as painless as possible to set up your online store. All you have to do is decide which one makes you comfortable.
Companies like Shopify help you build your own website with a template that you can customize by dragging and dropping elements onto your layout. The main challenge is attracting customers to your site, and getting Google to help you out by raising your profile takes a lot of strategy.
The advantage of online marketplaces is that they have a built-in audience. Etsy.com, for instance, draws browsing shoppers in the same way a mall would—only virtually. You can get your products up for sale quickly without having to build your own site. The tradeoff is that the customer experience isn’t as unique as it would be with your own domain. Many sellers build a fan base on Etsy and then try to migrate them elsewhere, with varying levels of success.
No Prob-Llama loves watching DIY enthusiasts turn into beauty moguls. We want to help every step of the way, from your first bulk lip gloss base purchase to pigments and even packaging. This brief guide to selling makeup online is just the beginning of your journey to success. Look to our blog for more ideas and our collections for all the supplies you need.
]]>It sounds like a no-brainer, but be careful: The more ingredients you add, the more you have to compensate for texture. Add too much liquid dye tint, and the watery formula might end up looking like drool. Add too much powder pigment, and your lips will feel like sandpaper. Iron oxides are a good source of color, so they’re a good place to start if you want more intensity; try red, yellow, brown, black, and sienna. Warning: Make sure whatever you’re using is safe for lips. The three ingredients not approved for lips in the United States are chromium oxide, iron blue, and ferric ferrocyanide.
Beauty enthusiasts love titanium dioxide when they need to make a product opaquer. In fact, it’s the same ingredient that makes white paint opaque. It’s not a perfect solution, though. While your color will become less sheer, it will also get lighter. When you add more color to offset that, you’ll have the same problem with texture: too watery or too gritty.
If you find yourself going back and forth with botanical tints and mineral pigments, you might need a product that’s specifically for lip gloss. These powders have a larger percentage of pigment, so you’ll find it easier to control texture. When you start with colorants like No Problama’s lip gloss pigment powder, you don’t need to add as much as you would with other tints. In addition, you can choose a powder that has other built-in effects from the start—glittery, holographic, pearlescent, metallic, neon, and even duochrome, which can give your lip gloss a “color traveling” quality with two colors like red and violet.
The more cosmetics you make, the more you’ll discover your own tips for making lip products less sheer. Try as many colorants as you can in the beginning to see for yourself how they affect your formulas. No Prob-Llama has a large selection of additives, so you can experiment with endless possibilities. Check out our collections, and keep making the world a glossier place.
]]>Your recipe should fill in the details of this structure, adding ingredients, techniques, and steps to make it your own. Take plenty of notes, so you remember what works and what you should never attempt again.
If you don’t have at least some sort of focus, your recipes could get out of hand. For instance, creating “The Best Lip Gloss Ever” might require more time than you can spare before lunch. Do yourself a favor and limit your goals to something more attainable. You can find inspiration from other recipes online, putting your own twist on them. Or you can create your dream product, the one thing you can’t seem to find on the market. Maybe you want to make something that glows in the dark, or captures the exact shade of strawberry cheesecake melting under a Tucson sunset. Maybe you want lip gloss that tastes like peanut butter. We’re not here to judge, just to help get you started on your quest.
There are safety concerns involved when you’re pioneering a beauty product. For starters: will your recipe kill anyone? Do a little homework so you’re confident you don’t use any dangerous ingredients. Are they fine to ingest and apply to your skin? How much is too much? You’ll soon learn that words like “pure,” “natural,” and “organic” don’t really mean anything when it comes to cosmetics; there’s no legal standard for those labels.
You can’t create a recipe in your mind; you have to get a little sloppy in the “lab.” Your lab is simply a clean and sterilized surface, probably your kitchen table. You’ll need to have all your equipment at hand, because you don’t want to go rummaging through drawers with honey all over you. Start with these tools:
Then, lay out a selection of ingredients you’d like to try in your recipe. Even natural foods you find in your kitchen can be harmful if used incorrectly, so check with the FDA’s guidelines. Steer clear of anything water-based or be prepared to add preservatives to your product to keep it from expiring too quickly.
If you’re starting out, you can cut to the chase with an all-in-one balm or gloss kit that does most of the base work for you. A specially made base like Versagel can cut out several steps and ingredients in your pursuit of the right finish and texture. Otherwise, you can experiment with different waxes, butters, and plant oils to form your base. A few to try:
A few more ingredients can tailor your lip product to target certain problems; for instance, carrot oil has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also antifungal and prevents cracking at the corners of your mouth. Shea butter can provide protection from the sun up to 8 SPF, and emptying a capsule or two of vitamin E can generate new skin cells and soften your lips. You can remove some of the guesswork and maximize your product’s healing qualities with specially made mixtures like No Prob-Llama’s Premium Lip Oils Max for Lip Gloss.
You can keep your lip treatment transparent, or add pigmented ingredients for a more polished look. You have many natural options, including:
You could mix in a piece of your favorite lipstick, or experiment with unique ingredients like Kool-Aid powder. If you’re trying to achieve a more complicated color or sparkle, you can use lip-specific DIY products such as No Prob-Llama’s Glitters or Pigment Powders. Some even have a duo-chrome effect, with colors between red and blue or violet.
Don’t create a recipe that tastes too good, or you’ll end up licking it off—wasting your new product and drying out your lips. Rather, balm or gloss should have a “flavor” that leaves a hint of scent for a little aromatherapy. No Prob-Llama has a lip gloss flavoring oil for almost any scent imaginable, including a special candy-cane blend that’s perfect for the holidays. Or you can try a few drops of your favorite essential oil; popular choices include vanilla, rose, grapefruit, lemon, and orange.
If you’re making a recipe for balm, you should measure out ingredients for a consistency that will be hard enough for a jar. Even if your concoction gets thinner from oils, you can always pivot to a lip gloss. It just needs to be easy enough to apply, and pleasant enough to wear.
If you want to keep your recipe secret, you can trademark the name, brand, or logo—but not the mixture itself. It’s possible in some cases to patent it, but there are a lot of qualifications and it could take years. Better to add a little more beauty to the world, posting it on social media or online. After all, why learn how to create lip product recipes that no one else gets to make? No Prob-Llama is here to help you with equipment, ingredients, and ideas, so your creativity can take over.
]]>Identify gaps in the industry that other products aren’t addressing. Pinpoint what’s missing on the market. What do you hear your friends complain about not being able to find? What trends are creating a demand for specialized makeup? Find an angle to target consumers who have been looking for what you offer—or show them something they didn’t realize they needed. The possible niches are endless: video-optimizing makeup, special visual effects, men’s makeup, cosplay-friendly products, etc. If you can’t imagine life without your makeup, you need to make your potential customers feel that way, too.
Make sure you can distinguish your line from anyone else’s. Take a look at other brands’ pricing, packaging, social media presence, press coverage, reviews, special offers—anything that can inform how you built your brand. How are your values different? What do you stand for? You may even use what you’ve learned to tweak your concept, change it completely, or figure out what not to do.
You want to send the message that there’s nothing like your makeup out there. What experience are your cosmetics going to deliver—luxurious, natural, unfussy, playful, or dramatic? Do you have an unforgettable backstory that will inspire customers? Do you use cruelty-free lip gloss additives? Do you offer themed collections or limited editions? Your packaging should reflect this, with eye-catching colors and an unmistakable logo. A graphic designer can help fulfill your vision.
You’ll learn that the only way to rise to the top of searches is through advertising. Set your budget and strategy, experimenting with different approaches. Find out how your target demographic prefers to shop. You can develop your own media content, put together tutorials, offer free samples, or get more creative. The rules of the internet are always changing, and there’s no reason you can’t make your own. Keep an eye on trends, and be ready to jump on opportunities.
If you believe in what you’re doing, your enthusiasm will translate into sales, and the quality of your cosmetics will keep your customers coming back. The secret to cosmetics branding is a strong identity; learning how to build your brand may take some hit-and-miss experimentation. No Prob-Llama is here to help educate and supply you on your journey. You can rely on us for the best ingredients for your lip products—and for inspiration when you need it. We want to make the world a more beautiful place, too.
]]>Important to note: Your lip gloss should smell just like a candy cane, but it shouldn’t taste like it. Licking your lips just dries them, and you’ll have to reapply more gloss often. If you want just a taste of sweetness, we recommend adding a little Stevia.
It’s easy to decorate lip gloss tubes with custom labels, but Candy Cane gloss looks great with nothing more than a white sticker decorated with red stripes. If you plan to make a few gifts, you might want to try one of our lip gloss base pouches; a 12-ounce Versagel pouch will make about 40 lip glosses in 10 ml tubes or 50 in 8 ml tubes.
You can package the glosses in simple, sheer organza bags or tie them to tags for stocking stuffers. They’re great to include in gift baskets with wellness or beauty themes. For something more original, you can make a gift basket with a candy cane theme. Items you might include:
Another twist is to give the gloss with a bouquet of candy canes in weird flavors. The recipient will laugh but probably won’t eat them. You can find:
Once you know how to make your own candy cane lip balm, you can try our other lip flavor oils, such as Gingerbread Cookie and Sugar Cookie, for some variety. It’s great to have the ingredients on hand if you need a last-minute gift. You can make something thoughtful and useful within a few hours, and you’ll smell festively fresh as a bonus.
]]>You can put on lip gloss with your fingers, a brush, an applicator, or straight from the tube—you have endless options.
If you’re creating a formula that’s thicker and firmer, a small jar will reinforce your lip gloss as an alternative to balm.
The consistency of your lip gloss is most important here. With a thinner formula, a rollerball is an easy one-step application. But anything too thick could clog up the rollerball or get sticky.
Lancome’s Juicy Tubes took these from basic to chic, and then dropped the mic.
These are popular because they turn the simple act of putting on lip gloss into a luxurious, feminine ritual.
Take a look at what you already have to get an idea of what you want. Tubes that are three ml might be better for samples and gifts. If you’re on the go, it might be difficult to slip anything bigger than 10 ml into your pocket. Bear in mind that there’s less lip gloss in a tube than you realize—that fuzzy “doe-foot” applicator takes up a lot of space.
If you want to set yourself apart, there are plenty of ways to do it. Online, you can find lip gloss containers in some startling forms: umbrellas, baby bottles, ice drinks, and lots more. Do you want novelty packaging, or something more classic? That depends on what you want to say.
Bright novelty tubes appeal to a younger demographic, and beauty enthusiasts open to experimentation. Lip Smackers found international success with irreverent, eye-catching containers: oversized tubes worn around the neck, and shapes including crayons, emojis, and unicorns.
On the other end of the spectrum, many consider Mac the gold standard, but they’ve never wandered far from their basic transparent tube and black cap. The price of their lip gloss may be high, but it’s not going toward design research. A clear tube signals timeless beauty, simple luxury, and a focus on the product, not the marketing.
At No Prob-Llama, we love clear lip gloss tubes because you can identify the color at a glance, and show off your shimmering creation even before it reaches your lips. You can get your bling on by adding metallics, rhinestones, glitter, and bright accents. There’s always room for a smile with tubes that look like pencils, too.
No Prob-Llama has all the ingredients and packaging you need, but if you’re still not sure how to choose the best lip gloss containers, you can always give your product the movie-makeover-montage treatment: try them all, until you find the one you’d want to take to the prom.
]]>Before you add any ingredient to your DIY formula, check it out. Adjectives like “pure,” “natural,” and “organic” have no legal standard and could mean anything. On the other hand, just because an ingredient has a suspiciously long and artificial-sounding name doesn’t mean it’s harmful. If you don’t do your homework, no one will do it for you. The beauty industry isn’t regulated, and not much is tested. Be sure that your research is specific to your purpose. Mayonnaise is yummy on your sandwich, but as a face mask, it’s an acne magnet.
Let’s say it together: Just because it’s on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true. You might find an irresistible recipe for an eye shadow made with colorful sidewalk chalk. It was probably created by a toddler who can type. Blogs may pass along recipes in good faith, or promote ingredients without knowing the updated research for them. Google a little more.
We’ve all gotten used to sanitizing our hands, but safely making cosmetics requires a little bit more. Your laboratory is wherever you work, but it should be up to the same standards. To prevent contamination, Good Manufacturing Practice lays out a routine for cleaning and disinfecting equipment, working surfaces, containers, and yourself. When in doubt, wear surgical gloves.
Start your DIY career one ingredient at a time, until you’re confident you know enough about your skin’s reactions and allergies to add more. Most homemade beauty products just need a few supplies at the core. You can save a ton by making your own lip gloss with two ingredients: Versagel and castor oil. Many experts recommend getting the hang of a product with an all-in-one kit.
There’s no expiration date for a DIY beauty product unless you give it one—and if you do, make sure it’s labeled. It’s safer to whip up cosmetics as you need them, for freshness and safety. It also gives you a chance to keep perfecting your creations as you go. Make sure you don’t use too much of one ingredient, either. Some essential oils, for instance, can be harmful beyond the recommended usage on skin.
Why not? The nose knows.
Innocent, all-natural ingredients can be healthy—to eat, that is. When we start putting them in our cosmetics, things get tricky. To err on the safe side, avoid recipes with these ingredients:
It’s often used as a whitener, but its pH is so acidic that it can damage skin, or make it more sensitive in the sun.
If you can’t eat raw eggs in cookie dough, you shouldn’t put them on your skin, either. It can contain salmonella bacteria, which is not good.
While it may be effective in many products, it can irritate skin around the eyes.
It’s a great homegrown blemish treatment, but alters the pH of skin, making it drier and itchy.
It’s touted in homemade masks as an exfoliant, but baking soda is alkaline. That can lead to bacteria, which can lead to skin infections.
If it’s in your recipe, use the product quickly. Bacteria can proliferate rapidly in this sweet spot.
It can speed the aging process, depleting the skin of the substances it needs, and worsening oily skin. Drinking alcohol is bad for beauty, too.
When it comes to makeup, this is the No. 1 substance to avoid. For amateur chemists, water in a recipe makes it potentially dangerous. Anything with water can spoil quickly, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. The more water, the more likely the product is contaminated. This category includes ingredients that are made up of a lot of water, like aloe vera. If you want to experiment with water-based formulas, research the best preservatives to keep them safe.
As long as your formula is anhydrous--without water--you should be safe. But if you experiment with more complicated concoctions, you should research preservatives, or your ingredient list might inadvertently expand to include bacteria, yeast, and mold. Among your options:
Natural antioxidants are preservatives that keep oil-based cosmetics fresh, especially fragile oils like avocado and sweet almond. Vitamin E and rosemary oil extract are great additions to lotions, scrubs, balms, and more.
You can destroy bacteria and give your products a longer shelf-life with natural ingredients such as coconut oil and grapefruit extract.
There are lots of ideas about creative, adorable packaging, but not that many mentions of the best containers for safety and stability. In general, dispensing bottles and air-tight containers are safer than open-mouth jars. If possible, use dark containers and keep them in dark cabinets, because direct sunlight and UV rays can harm your formula. It’s also important to avoid touching your product with your fingers, which can transfer heat, moisture, and bacteria. There’s less chance of contamination if DIY cosmetics have a dedicated applicator, or even a fresh Q-tip. Pumps, sprays, wands, droppers, spatulas—they’re all better than your fingers.
Educating yourself about homemade makeup shouldn’t discourage you from trying it. Why let expensive luxury brands have all the fun, or tell us how to look beautiful? Keep in mind the top tips for safer homemade cosmetics, and get started creating your own vision. No Prob-Llama can help with ideas, kits, packaging, and all the DIY lip gloss supplies you’ll need for shiny, healthy products.
]]>Botanicals are hues straight from the earth and can be less processed than artificial ingredients. The downside? Many cosmetic companies won’t use them because they can bleed easily and don’t often set well. Some to try:
These are considered best for makeup in terms of color control, texture, and durability. The downside? Even though minerals are natural, the earth also has toxic materials such as heavy metals. The FDA now requires them to be produced in labs. These minerals include:
Only a few botanicals are approved for use in cosmetics; you can learn more by checking with the FDA’s guidelines.
Beware of colors and dyes even when they are “FD&C Approved.” The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act weeds out some of the most toxic dyes, but the guidelines are loose. Some approved dyes still have heavy metals from petroleum and tar that our skin can absorb, leading to significant dangers over time.
Even some of the “safe” minerals can be hazardous for those who mine them. Mica, for instance, is a popular ingredient for its shimmery effect—but if it’s from India or Madagascar, it could be the result of child labor and unsafe conditions.
If you want to experiment with makeup you already own, you can add a smidge of a go-to lipstick, blush, or eye shadow to your lip gloss base.
Additives developed specifically for cosmetics don’t dry or irritate lips, they don’t morph or bleed after application, and they deliver the most control over color intensity. You can also research a lip gloss pigment powder to find out if it’s safe—for you, the environment, and the workers who source it.
No Prob-Llama only uses responsibly sourced ingredients. We offer an array of pigments with hard-to-achieve effects, like traveling colors and metallics, including:
Take these tips for selecting a cosmetic pigment into account, and you can use it to tint homemade soaps, shampoos, eye shadow, lipsticks, lotions, creams, and mineral makeup. Take a look at No Prob-Llama’s collections for pigments and all you need for a lip gloss that’s custom-created for you.
]]>The secret to DIY lip gloss with high shine and texture is simple—Versagel base. Once you heat up about 13 mg in the microwave, you can customize it with your own original flavor. You may remember licking your Skittles-flavored lips as a kid, but you don’t want it to taste too good. You’ll just end up licking it all off, reapplying, and wishing you had those calories back. The best lip gloss has just a hint of flavor, derived from the delectable fragrance that wafts up to your nose.
Creating your own lip gloss is about experimenting until you find your one-of-a-kind formula, and there are endless possible ingredients to try. You might want to start with flavoring specially created for lip gloss to ensure the right intensity so it won’t make the product too runny. No Prob-Llama’s Premium Lip Flavor Oils come with a glass dropper—try a drop at a time; you won’t need more than four. Flavors include:
As long as it’s an edible oil, almost anything will work. Water-soluble flavors aren’t effective, and essential oils are better than extracts. Add some of these ingredients to your lip gloss making supplies and make your own beauty blend:
You can add some yummy to your lip gloss with honey, which has healing properties, too. Powdered Stevia is sweet, but be careful the texture doesn’t turn into a scrub. You can even try stirring in some chocolate, although we doubt you can resist the temptation to nibble it.
Once you’ve learned how to add flavor to lip gloss, try different combinations to set your product apart. Most of the best things in life have secret ingredients, but you can visit No Prob-Llama for all the rest.
]]>5,000 years ago: The invention of lipstick beat lip gloss to the punch.
1930: Hollywood’s black-and-white films were captivating the world, but starlets didn’t really shine onscreen. A Polish immigrant, Maksymilian Faktorowicz, had the solution: “Lip pomade,” formulated by the newly-named Max Factor, added a new dimension to beauty.
1932: Max Factor’s “X-Rated” lip gloss became available to consumers.
1973: Bonne Bell introduced Lip Smackers, which appealed to pre-teens and teens transitioning to full makeup. The small tubes fit into pockets, while teens proudly displayed the jumbo versions around their necks. Fruity “flavors” for first kisses sealed the deal.
1976: “Charlie’s Angels” popularized thick, glossy hair—and lips to match. Somehow, at-home audiences never saw the hair getting stuck to the gloss.
1977: The first Victoria’s Secret catalog hit mailboxes. Within the decade, the company forever linked sex appeal with colorful push-up bras and glossy lips.
1983: Madonna’s hit “Lucky Star” revealed her penchant for trendy neon lip gloss in shocking shades of pink, red, and orange.
The late ’90s: Plastic surgery techniques evolved for plumping lips, just as Angelina Jolie’s emo pout became more famous than her acting. Those with smaller budgets made do by amplifying their natural assets with transparent gloss.
2000: Lancôme’s Juicy Tubes caught the attention of celebrities like Britney Spears. Glass-like gloss was the ultimate way to complement pink Juicy Couture sweats.
2003: Procter and Gamble finally retired Max Factor’s original lip gloss formula.
2005: DuWop’s Lip Venom sold out on QVC in under three minutes. Its combination of cinnamon, wintergreen, and ginger promised to rush blood to the lips for a bee-stung effect.
2010: Instagram increased demand for makeup that photographed well.
2017: Google identified “do-it-yourself” as one of the year’s biggest trends, and DIYers learned to customize their own cosmetics.
Today: Lip gloss has survived all of fashion’s twists and turns, earning a permanent place in makeup bags. Bases such as Versagel have removed any trace of the gluey, sticky texture of years past. Premium lip oils such as jojoba, argan, sweet almond, and apricot kernel add healing properties that make lip gloss a must for self-care.
It’s never been easier to craft your own cosmetics, and No Prob-Llama offers everything from ingredients to packaging. With lip gloss additives, you can customize your lip gloss’s scent and tint and give it a metallic finish, a splash of shimmer, or a more holographic effect.
Lip gloss has its origins in the glamor of Hollywood stars, but today, lip gloss makes it possible for everyone to shine. It’s all led to this: Easy access to the best ingredients for creating your own brand of beauty. So stock up, and get out there. Create some more history.
]]>…your work surface and have paper towels at the ready.
…about 13 ml or 13 grams of Versagel gloss base into a microwave-safe mixing bowl. If you want to add more moisturizing elements, adjust the amount of base accordingly. A little oil goes a long way, so keep an eye on texture.
…the Versagel in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Beware: the bowl will get hot.
…color. If you prefer transparent lip gloss, you can skip this step. Depending on how intense you want the gloss to be, start with two drops of color or two scoops of powder, adding as many as six. Stir together with your mixing utensil until consistent, and then reheat for 20-30 seconds.
…with two to four drops of flavor oil and stir.
…the lip gloss tube container with plastic wrap to keep extra gloss out of packaging design details and to avoid finger smudges. Remove the wand and the plastic ring at the top (the “wiper”).
…the syringe by cutting the bulb off one pipette and placing it over the syringe tip. Spatula the product into the syringe and insert the tip all the way to the bottom of the lip gloss tube.
…slowly to fill, until it’s about a half inch from the top of the tube. This will leave plenty of room for the wiper and the wand. Replace the wiper and the top of the tube.
…and appraise the results in the mirror. Admire. Congratulate yourself on your artistic vision. Rest and repeat.
There’s no limit to the natural moisturizers you can try, although you’ll find that some work better than others. Before heating, you can add to the Versagel base oils such as castor, coconut, olive, and sesame seed. Vitamin E has a rejuvenating effect, and carrot seed oil is a sunscreen. No Prob-Llama has combined several oils in one product, Premium Lip Oils Max for Lip Gloss, to take the guesswork out of creating the perfect healing mixture. It’s composed of equal parts argan, jojoba, sweet almond, and apricot kernel oils.
You can try just about anything, as long as it adheres to the FDA’s strict guidelines for usage. You can start with a touch of your favorite cosmetics for a tint you know you’ll love. Scrapings of lipstick, leftover lip gloss, blush, or eye shadow—they’re all candidates for customization and may add a touch of glitter to your product. Organic food coloring can be effective, too. If you want to try natural ingredients for more subtle coloring, alkanet or beetroot can result in a hint of pink, annatto seed powder adds orange, chlorella has a green tint, and unsweetened cocoa is good for earth tones.
No Prob-Llama’s lip pigments are the easiest additives to work with, offering the intensity you want and consistent texture. They also boast attention-getting luster and even color-traveling effects. We use mica, a mineral used in many cosmetics, which lends a shimmery finish. Our mica is responsibly sourced in the US and is used in our more popular shades:
These aren’t actually flavors to make the lip gloss tasty; licking your lips too much will just dry them, and Versagel is no substitute for lunch. “Flavor” in cosmetics means adding fragrance, a yummy impression of your product that lingers in the air and soothes your senses. You can try essential oils for orange, peppermint, cinnamon, rose, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, or your favorite scent.
Versagel is most easily cleaned by wiping off the excess with a towel. Use this method to clean out the melting bowl between colors and as the first step in cleaning your syringe between colors. To remove the previous color out of the tip, remove the disposable pipette and squeeze some colorless Versagel into the syringe. Push it through and eject the leftover color into a container so you can use it to start another lip gloss shade. If the tip is still colored, use a Q-tip or a toothpick to reach inside. Any remaining Versagel can be thinned with an oil such as coconut, mineral, or castor. Wipe again with a paper towel and follow up with soap and warm water when you’re done.
You’ll want to objectively assess your lip gloss’s effectiveness with an unbiased test group. You can survey as many people as you like, although we do recommend seeking respondents outside your home or posting a photo to social media for a larger demographic sampling. The opinion of your significant other should be prioritized or discounted altogether—use your best judgment. The kind of feedback you’re looking for includes:
Use what you’ve learned during the production process and incorporate any feedback to tweak your formula or try new ones. Learning how to create your own lip gloss is a continuing education as you explore new techniques, colors, finishes, scents, textures, and healing elements. You may just have discovered your signature lip look. You may be inspired to begin a cosmetics empire. Consult No Prob-Llama’s website for ideas and tips and to stock up on the best ingredients. We’re happy that you’re making the world a glossier place.
]]>Once you learn the easy way to fill lip gloss tubes with a syringe and a pipette, you can tuck your product into your makeup kit or take it with you anywhere. Touch up your shine when you’re out and about, or use the attention-getting tubes to give others a sneak preview of your future cosmetics line. Here’s how to get started. Warning: it can get messy.
If you need to clean the syringe for different lip gloss colors, start with paper towels to get rid of any excess you can reach. Remove the disposable pipette and squeeze some colorless Versagel into the syringe so you can push it through and eject the leftover color. (Use a container so that you can use this mixture as the start of another color.) Wipe again with a paper towel.
To more effectively clear out the tip, you can use a cotton swab or toothpick and small bits of cotton balls to reach inside. Any remaining Versagel can be thinned with an oil such as coconut, mineral, or castor. Follow up with soap and warm water.
If you are filling multiple lip glosses, you can use a filling tray with holes that can fit up to 50 tubes at once. It will stabilize them while you use a larger syringe to speed up the process.
No Prob-Llama offers supplies, kits, and tools so you can fill lip gloss tubes the easy way. Then you’ll dazzle the world with your smile and with your cosmetic packaging.
]]>Some people start by just adding a bit of the cosmetics they already have: a favorite lipstick, blush, or eye shadow. It can be a shortcut to the tint you want, but make sure the makeup is safe to use on lips. The FDA has strict guidelines for usage.
If you love working with natural ingredients, you can try alkanet root for a hint of pink, annatto seed powder for orange, chrorella for green, or unsweetened cocoa for brown. Most DIY beauty gurus move on from these, though; it can be difficult to get any significant opacity or intensity with these ingredients, and it’s hard to predict how their various textures will interact with your lip gloss base.
If you’re more serious about creating professional-grade lip gloss, you’ll want to use additives specifically created for that purpose. They won’t irritate or dry out your lips, and you can achieve just the right level of color by using more or less. Be aware, though, that most lip colorants include mica, an uncolored, naturally occurring mineral that can have a shimmery effect when purified or crushed. Micas have a finer texture that’s easy and fun to work with, and they don’t morph or bleed. But if you don’t know where that mica came from, it might have been mined in India and Madagascar—notorious locations for child labor and unsafe conditions.
At No Prob-Llama, we’ve ensured that our cosmetics pigments for lip gloss are responsibly sourced in the USA. Our mica comes from Hartwell, Georgia, where it’s mined with an eye toward preserving the environment. We know it’s responsibly sourced because we can track the mica from source to supply. This domestic mica is an important ingredient in some of the best tints we’ve created:
All No Prob-Llama pigments are luminous and shimmering, and some even have color-traveling effects that add extra dimension. As you familiarize yourself with lip product additives, you’ll learn how to color your products with ingredients that are easy to work with and that deliver consistent quality and give your lip gloss the right intensity. You can also use these tints in homemade soaps, shampoos, eye shadows, lipsticks, lotions, creams, and mineral makeup. Take a look at our collections to formulate the perfect lip gloss.
]]>The “flavor” of a lip gloss, though, doesn’t mean its taste—it means its scent. You can improve the taste of lip gloss by adding a sweetener to the mix, such as Stevia, but if it’s too yummy, you’ll end up licking your lips too much and drying them out. You want your lip gloss to stay put on your lips, not in your stomach.
You can add another dimension to your lip gloss by adding aromas, which can be anything from crisp and fruity to spicy and luscious. Putting on lip gloss can be a more rejuvenating experience when you engage your sense of smell, or it can have a calming effect. Experiment with different formulas to see which ones you gravitate to most.
Many DIYers like to try flavors from eclectic sources, including honey, cocoa butter, vanilla, or even Kool-Aid powder. Through trial and error, you may find that it’s too unpredictable to account for unwanted changes in texture or even ingredients separating. Different materials have different weights and can complicate the process.
No ProbLlama has simplified the process with a selection of lip gloss flavoring oils that may actually make you hungry. At $9.49 for a 1-ounce vial of our food-grade Premium Lip Flavor Oils, you can use the accompanying glass dropper to play around with these flavors:
A little goes a long way with these oils, so start with just a drop at a time. Once you choose the best flavors to add to your lip gloss, combine them with No ProbLlama’s Versagel base and Premium Lip Oils Max, and you’re on our way to that elusive dream product you never could find in stores. Visit us for everything you’ll need to create your own lip gloss—and maybe, eventually, a beauty empire.
]]>It’s never been easier to create customized makeup at home, but the question is whether there’s a market for it. According to the “Lipstick Effect,” your chances are good. The Lipstick Effect theorizes that, in times of economic crisis, consumers will cut back on higher-priced luxury items, but continue to treat themselves to smaller indulgences, such as lipstick, because they make them feel better. With that in mind, take a look at what you need to start your own cosmetics business.
If you can develop a signature product that proves to be a hit, you’ll be able to build a reputation and a foundation to expand your line. Because you’re new to selling your own cosmetics and these are uncertain times, you probably don’t want to commit all your savings by going all-in on an elaborate company. Experts will tell you to stay lean and build authority within your niche first.
Ask yourself what you’d like your marquee product to be and do some market research to ensure it’s worth investing any time or money. To lure customers away from brands they are already loyal to, make sure that your cosmetics offer something unique that doesn’t just add to the beauty industry, but expands upon it.
If you want to sell something like lip gloss, make sure you are familiar with the FDA regulations that govern what ingredients you can use, and what claims you can or cannot make on labeling. There are many compliance issues involved when it comes to labeling cosmetic products, including the accuracy of ingredient lists, medical claims, and medical risks. You are responsible for the safety of your products, so brush up on legal consequences in the event something goes wrong. Consulting both national and local guidelines will ensure nothing is contaminated along the way.
Look into any licenses you need to apply for as well. Regulations can vary by location. Depending on the scope of your plans, you may need licenses for a home business and permits for a manufacturing space. Your city’s business development department can tell you more.
You’ll need to create a prototype of the product you want to sell to ensure you can duplicate its quality and appearance. Stock up on the ingredients you need to perfect the beauty aid you want to introduce to the world. If the Lipstick Effect has inspired you, put a twist on the idea by offering a lip gloss that will appeal to consumers as an irresistible impulse buy or the perfect gift for someone else. In that case, the only ingredients you’ll need are bulk lip gloss base Versagel, a base oil such as castor oil or coconut oil, a tint, an essential oil for aroma, something to flavor the concoction, and some sparkly packaging.
Keep things simple when you’re just starting out, as there will be fewer ways to make a mistake. Some other foolproof homemade spa items include body scrubs, solid perfume, and bath bombs. These items don’t require many ingredients and happen to be reliably solid sellers, too.
At the very least, you need to ensure the price you’re charging will result in enough profit to make it worth your time and effort. Ingredients add up, distinctive packaging comes at a price, and professional photographs might be worth the investment, as they can have a significant effect on your product’s online appeal. You can look into the pros and cons of different suppliers if you plan to buy ingredients in bulk.
You’ll want to compare different marketing strategies that will target your ideal demographic and diversify awareness of your product. You can look into sending your product to internet influencers for review and exposure or opening social media accounts on platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest. You can also opt for more traditional marketing methods, such as starting a blog that can attract browser searches with keywords, establishing an email marketing campaign, and buying straight-up ads. You’ll have to prioritize the best ways to maximize your budget. You may want to set a date with a financial goal you must meet before you commit to moving forward.
You’ll enjoy brainstorming for your brand more than writing a business plan, guaranteed. Your product needs to catch consumer’s eyes, be distinctive from competitors, and have a mystique and purpose that makes it a must-buy. Once you’ve created a story that explains what your cosmetics are about, you can consult a graphic designer or try your hand at creating a name, logo, color combination, and design that will convey your message with one glance. It’s a lot to take on, but it’s a fun challenge. Your goal is to sell a product that will add to consumers’ lives, even if only in a small way. You need shoppers to have an emotional response to your product. As such, it’s a good idea to research your competition to learn from what’s worked for them and determine how you can set yourself apart.
Currently, the future of brick-and-mortar shops is too uncertain to delve into those waters. That’s good news, though, as it will lessen your financial risks and simplify the process. You can still start your business by taking advantage of sales tools such as Etsy to build your consumer base. While Etsy does take a percentage of sales, it can be worth it in the beginning, as you will not have to focus on the technicalities of building a website, the intricacies of search engine optimization, or come up with an advertising strategy on your own. When many small business owners feel growing pains because of Etsy’s limitations, they turn their focus toward migrating those customers to their own websites. You can look to a service such as Shopify to set up a transactional space with minimal fuss.
Again, unless you have a lot of retail experience or in-depth knowledge of the beauty industry, you should start small, focus on a single marquee product, and build from there. A larger portion of sales have moved online during this health crisis, so there will be plenty of opportunities to catch the attention of new customers. After all, this is exactly when customers will be looking for new pampering products that will give them the Lipstick Effect.
If you’re looking for a way to break into the beauty market, you can increase your chances for success with a lip gloss that will appeal to the new work-from-home demographic who no longer has a need for more elaborate makeup. Consider what you need to start your own cosmetics business and find the no-fuss supplies you need at No Prob-Llama. Visit us to stock up on proven ingredients and to gain inspiration to begin your journey to success.
]]>As you learn the process, you’ll soon realize that Versagel is at the center of all things lip gloss, and No Prob-Llama sells it in quantities from 12 ounces to bulk. We have found there’s no better base for developing your own custom cosmetics. But before you put it on anyone’s lips, you should understand what Versagel lip gloss base is made out of.
The short answer: Versagel is known as a cosmetic stabilizer, a very safe hydrocarbon gel with professional-quality effects that soften lips and lock in moisture. It’s the closest texture you can get to a store-bought lip gloss and an excellent medium for experimentation.
This is a synthetic oil moisturizer that ensures smooth application, especially for rough or dry lips. It’s used as a mineral oil substitute in the cosmetics industry, and it can also be found in many SPF sunscreen products. It’s used by brands such as Bare Minerals, Laneige, Marc Jacobs, Laura Mercier, and more.
This is what makes up the thick, gel-like consistency of Versagel lip gloss base, in tandem with its sibling (below). It’s used by Mario Badescue, Becca, ColourPop, and more.
This teams up with the above ingredient to form a gelling agent that conditions skin. It’s a tool for controlling viscosity. It’s used by Glossier, L’Oreal, Too Faced, Fresh Sugar, and more.
For starters, Versagel is vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, and it provides excellent skin benefits. DIYers keep coming back to Versagel because it’s clear, water-repellant, and odorless and because it doesn’t discolor with age. It’s easier and safer to work with than other gels that use metal stearates or fumed silica—and it’s made in the USA. If you’re open to expanding your projects, you can also use Versagel in hair gel, lotion, and other body cosmetics.
As you assemble your lip gloss-making materials, explore No Prob-Llama for supplies ranging from decorative, glittery lip gloss tubes to cosmetics-safe flavoring and oils. Once you understand what Versagel lip gloss base is made out of, you’ll want to make it the foundation of all your products. Contact us to take advantage of our next-day business shipping and rewards program—and thank you for making the world a glossier place.
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