How to create highlighting stick formulas in 5 simple steps

Amber Carli 08.2026

Looking to create your own highlighting stick formulas and achieve glimmering, soft, silky spread without the need for advanced formulation knowledge? Our Create Cosmetic Formulas guide simplifies the process! 

Follow our comprehensive 5-step guide to start crafting your own highlighting stick formulas today. Read on to learn how!

Start by logging into your Create Cosmetic Formulas subscription then…

 

How to create highlighting stick formulas in 5 simple steps

1. Select Makeup, Highlighter - stick, as the type of formula you would like to create today, then click Create 

Highlighter - stick: Our Create Cosmetic Formulas program uses Dicaprylyl carbonate (Cetiol CC) or Dermofeel Sensolv (Isoamyl Laurate) lipid as the default base ingredient in highlighting stick formulas and Caprylic/capric triglycerides (Myritol 318) as the oil solvent so you don’t need to select anything here. The program will automatically adjust the base content as you select other materials. 

 

2. Choose your lipids 

The first selection you need to make is which lipids you want to add to your product. The lipids you choose determine the traits your stick will have (hardness, emolliency, skin feel, etc.) as well as contribute to your product story.

I’ve chosen a 5% input of C13-15 Alkane (Hemisqualane) and a 2% input of Dimethicone 100cps for my lipid selections due to their combined elegant light to medium skin feel and high spreading characteristics – with a higher portion of C13-15 Alkane (Hemisqualane) due to its elegant skin feel. I have also incorporated Grapeseed oil at 1% to promote even coverage in my product. (High spreading characteristics are good for this type of product so it doesn’t get stuck in the creases of the skin.)

I have been careful not to add too many oils to avoid a greasy skin feel and avoid any heat sensitive oils such as many essential oils as sticks are ‘hot-fill’ products. The problem this causes is that all ingredients need to be added while product is still hot making these materials incompatible to use. High amounts of butters should also not be added as these have low melting points meaning stick may melt easily in slightly warmer climates.

Not sure which materials to select? That’s okay, read our go-to guide on cosmetic ingredients here for more information.
 

3. Choose your consistency factor

Consistency factors enhance skin feel and hardness of your formula. 


For my consistency factors I have chosen equal portions of Myrica fruit wax and Cera bellina wax (Polyglyceryl-3 beeswax) at the midpoint to give my product a soft, silky skin feel and increase hardness.

 

4. Choose your mica & colourants and effect pigments

Our Create Cosmetic Formulas program only has the default option of Mica to choose from for your first selection at a set input of 5% so that you can investigate which specific colourant you would like to use later. The effect pigments impart colour and glimmer/shine/sparkle aspects to your highlighting stick.

I have chosen Mica beige at its maximum input for my effect pigment to provide a golden beige shimmer as that is the general colour used for a large amount of highlighting sticks on the market currently.


5. Choose the antioxidant and fragrance

During the hot fill process used to make stick products, much of the antioxidant is used up protecting the product in its hot liquid state before being poured off meaning these products require a higher antioxidant portion. Fragrance adds to your product story.

 

I have added mixed tocopherols at the maximum input to ensure best possible antioxidant protection. I have also added a fragrance at the midpoint to add to my product story.

 

Then… click generate method:
 

Then here is my formula, and here is the method!  

 

Now all you need to do is find your nearest cosmetic ingredient suppliers, order the materials, and get making your fantastic organic body lotion formulas!

Once you’ve made one formula, you’ll be keen to make more! With Create Cosmetic Formulas, you have almost limitless formulation creation, and just one low annual subscription.

It really is that simple.

Happy formulating!

 

Take our quiz: should you use a program to create cosmetic formulas or learn cosmetic science?
Find out which solution is best for you with our simple quiz!
 

Try the create cosmetic formulas program today! We’re so confident you’ll love how it helps you create cosmetic formulas, it comes with a 24-hour money back guarantee.

See how easy it is to: