What Is Lip Gloss Made Of: Ingredients & Benefits

Many makeup fans out there want to know what lip gloss is made of. After using it hundreds of times it is good to know the ingredients you apply to the face regularly. Lip gloss makes the lips shine and keeps them moisturized for long lasting hours. There are a great many lip glosses that have natural ingredients and some not so natural. Here's a few lip gloss ingredients that are vegan and some that are basic. 

The base of most lip glosses is wax or petroleum jelly. Microcrystalline wax is used to create opacity, hardness, and flexibility. It makes cosmetics water resistant and binds ingredients together. Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is used in cosmetics as a skin conditioner. Tridecyl Trimellitate is a synthetic ingredient used as a skin -softening emollient, film forming agent, and texture-enhancing ingredient. 

Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate is an ester used as a skin conditioning agent and viscosity increasing agent in cosmetics and personal care products. Polyglyceryl-2 Diisostearate are hydroxy compounds used in lip gloss as an emollient and surfactants. Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate is a liquid emollient derived from isostearic acid that gives a rich, cushiony skin feel and unusually high levels of gloss. Menthone Glycerin Acetal is a menthol derivative used in lip gloss as a flavoring agent and fragrance ingredient for its cooling effect. 

Silica improves the feel and texture of lip gloss and is an anti-caking agent. Octyldodecanal is a fatty alcohol, so it can impart a fatty component to the skin and this is how it keeps the skin moisturized. Trimethylolpropane Triisostearate is a synthetic compound derived from fatty acids and helps with coloring and pigmentation. Calcium Sodium Borosilicate are shimmering powders composed of very tiny flakes and shiny glass-type compounds. 

Benzyl Nicotinate is used as a lip injection in lip glosses and helps achieve fuller lips (lip plumpers). And Tocopheryl Acetate is a skin conditioning agent and antioxidant. Sodium Hyaluronate is usually used for anti-aging and moisturizing. Retinyl Palmitate is Vitamin A. Lactic Acid helps improve and soften the skin, making it smooth to touch. Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 helps repair skin damage and strengthen the skin's underlying supportive elements. 

Ethylhexyl Palmitate is a mixture of fatty alcohol and palmitic acid that functions in lip gloss as an emollient. Tribehenin is used to condition the skin. Tin Oxide provides a dazzling lustre effect that comes from their dazzling properties. Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate is a mineral-derived thickening agent consisting of calcium, aluminum, and silicates of mineral boron. Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifier made by combining portions of fatty acid isostearic acid with the sugar ingredient sorbitol.

Silica Dimethyl Silylate is used as an anti-caking agent for lip gloss and improves the overall look and feel of the product. Butylene Glycol hydrates the skin and maintains the texture of the lip gloss. Caprylyl Glycol is a substance that helps the skin retain water and keeps the lips moisturized. Hexylene Glycol improves smooth spreadability and improves texture. 

Flavor Aroma produces the mask of a particular flavor. Sodium Saccharin is used in lip gloss as another flavoring agent. BHT is a stabilizer and works as an antioxidant that helps maintain the properties and performance of the lip gloss. Phenoxyethanol is used as a preservative in lip glosses to limit bacterial growth. Mica is a color additive. Titanium Dioxide is a sunscreen ingredient. Iron Oxides tints sunscreen, and creates complexion enhancing makeup shades.