DIY Lipstick from Crayons: Is It Actually Safe?

Co-authored by Alana Schober and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: October 27, 2021 References

If you enjoy wearing makeup, you can probably relate to how expensive lipstick can be. But for less than the cost of a single tube of lipstick, you can buy a pack of crayons with every color of the rainbow. There are plenty of videos on the internet that will show you how to make lipstick from crayons, but is it really safe? Here, we've collected answers to your most common questions about the safety of making lipstick from crayons.

Question 1 of 7:

Is it safe to use commercial crayons to make lipstick?

No, it isn't really safe to make lipstick from commercial crayons. Even manufacturers of "non-toxic" crayons, such as Crayola, advise against using their products to make lipstick.^{[1]
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- Since commercial crayons aren't tested for use as lipstick, you have no way of knowing what might happen if you use them this way. For this reason, Crayola advises against it.

Question 2 of 7:

Can crayon lipstick make you sick?

Yes, you could get sick or have an allergic reaction. While it might not be likely that crayon lipstick makes you sick, it's possible. The pigments used in crayons are not food-grade and are potentially toxic if ingested. The toxicity varies depending on the type of pigment and the amount used to make a particular color of crayon.^{[2]
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- Commercial crayon manufacturers, such as Crayola, aren't exactly transparent about the specific quantities of pigment they use in crayons.^{[3]
  X
  Research source} This means you don't really have any way of knowing how much pigment is in any particular crayon or whether you'll have a reaction to it.

Question 3 of 7:

Are crayons required to be food-grade?

No, ingredients in crayons aren't required to be food-grade. Government agencies, such as the FDA in the US, regulate food and drugs. Since crayons aren't classified as a food or a drug, they don't have to meet the stringent regulations required for a product to be considered "food-grade."^{[4]
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- Crayons also aren't designed to be applied to your face, so they don't undergo the same testing as cosmetics and other products meant to be put directly on your lips or skin.

Question 4 of 7:

Does melting crayons increase their toxicity?

No, but inhaling the fumes can be toxic depending on the pigment used. Some pigments are made with minerals that can be toxic to humans. It's not likely that you'd have a strong reaction, but it's still best to avoid directly inhaling the fumes while you're melting crayons for lipstick.^{[5]
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- Crayola includes projects using melted crayons on its website, so it's safe to assume that there's no risk specifically in melting crayons.^{[6]
  X
  Research source} However, it's still best to take precautions against directly inhaling the fumes.

Question 5 of 7:

Are the pigments used in commercial crayons toxic?

Yes, some pigments can be toxic if ingested in large amounts. The powder pigments used to give crayons their colors are typically created from minerals, including lead, cobalt, cadmium, and manganese. These minerals can be toxic if continually ingested, as they likely would be if you used them as lipstick.^{[7]
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- Even if crayons are advertised as "non-toxic," that applies to accidental ingestion of small quantities and doesn't mean there are literally no toxins present.^{[8]
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- Most commercial crayons have trace amounts of lead in them, which could lead to long-term health problems if ingested.^{[9]
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- Crayola maintains that their crayons do not have a high enough concentration of toxic materials, such as lead, to harm a human body.^{[10]
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  Research source} However, Crayola considers toxicity in the event of accidental ingestion. Crayons are not tested for the specific purpose of applying them to your lips.^{[11]
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Question 6 of 7:

What are the ingredients in commercial crayons?

Commercial crayons are made with paraffin wax and powder pigment. Although these ingredients might be advertised as "non-toxic," that doesn't mean they're food-grade or designed to be eaten.^{[12]
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Research source} Both paraffin wax and powder pigments exist in food-grade forms, but these forms are more expensive and aren't used for commercial crayons.

Question 7 of 7:

What types of crayons are safe for lipstick?

To be safe, use only food-grade beeswax crayons. With these crayons, you can guarantee that there aren't any chemicals that could make you sick or cause an allergic reaction.^{[13]
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Research source} While they'll likely be more expensive than commercial crayons, they're still cheaper than name-brand lipstick.
- If you want to support independent crafters, search a platform such as Etsy for handmade food-grade crayons.
- Make sure that not only the wax but also the color pigment is food-grade. Chemicals in the pigments are most likely to be toxic.