Lip gloss is a mixture of waxes, oils, and pigments, but it contains fewer pigments than lipstick, and those used are often pale in color or diluted (<3%) . The principal components are lanolin, which feels good on the lips due to its moisturizing qualities and imparts gloss, and polybutene. Lip gloss formulas intersect two multidimensional systems: color cosmetics, which include pigments, pearls, waxes, and high-shine oil; and lip balm, with soothing, restoring, and emollient ingredients. Here are some of the most common lip gloss ingredients:
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Emollients: These are ingredients that make lips feel smooth and add shine. Most formulas use oil (either mineral- or vegetable-based), lanolin derivatives, or polybutene. Some natural emollients include cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter.
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Thickeners: These ingredients keep the gloss from dribbling down your chin when you apply it. Waxes (like ozokerite) and clays (like kaolin) are commonly used to make glosses thick and add texture.
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Colorants/Glitter: While you can make a colorless lip shine, most glosses do contain some kind of colorant. Typically, this is either an FD&C dye, iron oxide, or mica.
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Preservatives: Some lip glosses contain preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold. Parabens are a common synthetic preservative used in cosmetics.
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Moisturizing agents: Lip gloss formulations often contain emollients and moisturizing agents like shea butter, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients help keep the lips hydrated, preventing dryness and chapping, especially in dry or cold weather.
When choosing a lip gloss, its important to pay attention to the quality of the ingredients and raw materials used to make it, as this can impact the shelf life of the product. Many private label lip glosses contain natural ingredients that offer hydration, such as cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter. However, its also important to be aware of potentially harmful ingredients, such as parabens and phthalates, which are sometimes used in cosmetics.
