Lighten Up R&D

In the research that led to me my hair care solution, I found a number of very alarming studies on basic cosmetics. While some of the sources could be considered questionable, there were a wide variety of issues brought up - lead in lipstick, personal care items with chemical content like my former favorite lip balm (which scores pretty clean but has all KINDS of garbage in it!) or even, from the more balanced but still cautionary article at WebMD, the following quote on how the FDA regulates cosmetics.

"The act does not subject cosmetics to premarket approval," says FDA spokeswoman Stephanie Kwisnek. In addition, the companies are not required to substantiate performance claims or conduct safety testing. What it does require of companies is that cosmetics be "safe when used as directed in the labeling or under usual customary conditions of use."

The fact of the matter is that nobody really knows what is or isn't appropriate for everyone. But I can make some decisions about what is appropriate for me. Enter my current Research and Development project. I've decided that, since I can taste my lip glosses, I'm effectively ingesting their ingredients. And, if I'm doing that, then those ingredients better be things that I am OK with eating.

So, on a trip to one of my local "natural foods" store, I picked up some food grade items and mixed a few of them together in the bottle that you see to the right there. To be honest, this batch is more about seeing how the coconut oil (that solidifies at 78 degrees F) will do when mixed with other oils. Will it stay liquid on my counter? (2 days in, the answer is still yes.) Will it separate and get all funny looking? (Again, so far, so good.) As first attempts go, it is even an OK lip gloss.

For my next attempt, I'd like to make the gloss a little stickier, and therefore longer lasting (so I'm looking at how glycerin is made). And I have another oil to try as a base as well.

To be honest, though, there were really only 2 tricky parts to the whole thing. 1) Figuring out what ingredients worked with the oils - without separating or looking gross. 2) Finding the roll on bottles. I had to order them from Tucson.

Now I just need a formula that I really like (that actually DOES something for my lips), with a way to add color (I already have some ideas) and I'm good to go! Yes, I know, it probably won't be quite that simple. But at least I won't be wondering what the RDA for paraffin is or what chemicals that lipstick uses to make it's unidentifiable "Fragrance". Besides, it is vastly entertaining to wander the grocery store looking for items to make lip gloss. Trust me. It is definitely one way to lighten up!