Hooked on Science: Homemade lip gloss

Have you ever wanted to make your own lip gloss? You can and all you need are a few materials from around the house.

Materials

* Crisco shortening

* Kool-Aid powdered drink mix

* Bowl

* Small container with lid

Instructions

STEP 1: Mix 1 tablespoon of the Kool-Aid powdered drink mix with 2 tablespoons of Crisco shortening in a microwave safe bowl.

STEP 2: Place the bowl into the microwave for 30 seconds.

STEP 3: Pour the mixture into the small container, place the lid on the container, and then allow the container to sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Explanation

The Crisco helps thicken the lip gloss and gives your lips that shiny look. The Kool-Aid powdered drink mix helps the lip gloss taste good. Lip glosses are made of oils, which provide a shine. The oils also make the lip gloss feel slippery and smooth on the lips. Lipsticks use a blend of waxes and oils. The wax causes the lipstick to stick to the lips. Since lip glosses do not have wax, it is harder for lip glosses to stay on your lips.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.