I’ve spent over six years helping people build real businesses online, from affiliate marketing to eCommerce. One question I get a lot is: “What’s a product people actually want, that I can start making without a factory?” If you love beauty and are looking for a tangible business, making lip gloss is a brilliant place to start.

The demand is constant, the startup cost is relatively low, and Nigeria’s vibrant beauty community is always seeking quality, locally-made products.

This isn’t about a cute hobby. It’s about building a brand and a revenue stream. I’ll walk you through the exact, practical steps I’d take if I were starting this business tomorrow. No fluff, just a clear path from idea to first sale.

Step 1: Find Your Angle Before You Mix a Thing

Don’t just make “lip gloss.” The market is crowded. Your job is to find a specific corner of it. This is your niche, and it will guide every other decision.

Ask yourself: Who are you making this for? Is it for the professional woman who wants sheer, moisturizing gloss for the office? Is it for the Gen Z customer who loves bold colors and glitter?

Maybe it’s for people with sensitive skin, so you focus on all-natural, vegan ingredients.

Your niche could be based on a unique finish (like a glass-like shine), a theme (like naming glosses after Nigerian cities), or a specific ingredient (like shea butter or coconut oil).

Pick one focus. It makes branding, marketing, and talking to your customers infinitely easier.

Step 2: Source Your Supplies Smartly

You don’t need a chemistry lab. You need safe, quality ingredients and packaging. This is where your product’s reputation is built.

The Base: You’ll need a lip gloss base (available in pots or tubes), carrier oils (like castor oil for shine, jojoba oil for moisture), and butters (like shea or cocoa butter). For shimmer, you’ll use cosmetic-grade mica powders. For scent and flavor, only use lip-safe flavor oils. Never use essential oils or fragrance oils not meant for lips.
Where to Buy: Start by searching on Jumia and Konga. For bulk and more variety, look into local chemical and cosmetic raw material suppliers in Lagos or online. Importing from sites like Alibaba is an option for larger orders, but factor in shipping and customs. Start small and local to test.
Packaging: This is your silent salesman. Source empty lip gloss tubes or pots, labels, and sealing stickers. Cleanliness is non-negotiable. You’ll need tools like a small digital scale, a double boiler (a bowl over a pot of hot water works), mixing spatulas, and disposable pipettes.

Step 3: Master Your Formula & Process

Practice makes profit. Before you sell, make batches for yourself and friends. Get feedback.

The basic process is simple: gently melt your butters and waxes, mix in your oils and color, then add flavor last before pouring into containers. But consistency is key.

Write down every measurement. 2 grams more of an oil can change the whole texture. Your goal is to make the same perfect gloss every single time.

Step 4: Branding That Connects

Your brand is the feeling people get when they see your product. It starts with a great name—something memorable and relevant to your niche. Get a simple, clean logo designed (platforms like Fiverr can help).

Your label needs your brand name, product name, net weight, and a list of ingredients (in descending order of weight).

This is crucial for trust and compliance. Make it visually appealing. A phone with a good camera and a clean, bright backdrop is all you need for stunning product photos.

Step 5: Handle The Legal Side

This is often overlooked. Protect yourself and your customers.

Register Your Business: As a sole proprietorship first, with the CAC. It’s straightforward.
Get NAFDAC Approval: This is vital for credibility. For cosmetics produced in small quantities, the “NAFDAC Cosmetic Notification” portal is your starting point. It’s a process of submitting your product details and ingredient list. Do your research on their website. Having this notification builds immense trust.
Maintain Hygiene: Have a dedicated, clean space for production. Consider getting a basic health certificate.

Step 6: Price for Profit

This is where many passion projects fail. Your price isn’t just the cost of ingredients.
Add up: Cost of materials per gloss + cost of packaging/label + a portion of your overhead (electricity, data, transport). Then, multiply that by at least 2.5 or 3. This is your wholesale price. Multiply that by 2 to get your retail price.

If your materials cost ₦200 per gloss, your retail price should be around ₦1,000 – ₦1,200. This accounts for your time, marketing, and profit. Never undervalue your work.

Step 7: Market & Sell Where Your Customers Are

You don’t need a website on day one. Start where the attention already is.

Instagram & TikTok: These are your main shops. Post captivating videos of the making process (the “satisfying” mix, the pour). Show swatches on different skin tones. Share customer testimonials.
Leverage WhatsApp: Use it for direct sales, order confirmations, and building a broadcast list for announcements.
Start with Pre-orders: This tests demand and funds your production. Post a “Coming Soon” teaser, then open a form for orders.
Engage Micro-Influencers: Find small beauty pages with engaged followers (1k-10k) and offer them a free gloss for an honest review. This is powerful social proof.

FAQs

How much money do I really need to start?

You can realistically start a test batch with ₦20,000 – ₦30,000 for initial ingredients, a few dozen packaging units, and basic tools. Scale up from there as you get sales.

Is NAFDAC registration mandatory from day one?

Legally, yes for notification. For your very first test batch among friends, you can learn. But for any serious, public sales, it is not optional. It’s the foundation of your business’s legitimacy.

How do I handle delivery?

Start locally using dispatch riders. Nationwide, partner with reliable courier services (like GIG, Max, or Gokada) and factor the cost into your product price or charge it separately to the customer.

My first batch wasn’t perfect. Is that normal?

Absolutely. My first online ventures had plenty of flaws. Iteration is part of the journey. Note what went wrong—was it too sticky, not enough color?

Adjust your formula and try again. Every entrepreneur has an “early version” of their product they look back on and cringe. It means you’re growing.

Building a lip gloss brand is more than making a product. It’s about understanding a need, crafting a solution with care, and connecting with people who value what you create.

The Nigerian beauty market is loyal to brands that offer quality, authenticity, and consistent engagement.

The steps are clear. The opportunity is there. Your unique perspective is what will make your brand stand out.

What’s the first question about starting this business that’s still holding you back?

How To Make Lip Gloss For Business In Nigeria