Regardless of your gender, you may want to add a tube or two of lipstick to your stash or bugout bag. This everyday, unsuspecting item that has many more uses than just adding a splash of color to compliment your camo. Here are 15 survival uses for lipstick.
Why do preppers carry lipstick?
Check the label and if the main ingredient is petroleum then that lipstick is a good fire starter. I always get lipstick that has sunscreen in it. Additionally, you can use it to waterproof small items, use as emergency sunscreen, and it is a great way to write a waterproof message on just about any surface.
Those are some quick and clever lipstick uses, but that is only the beginning. Here are more ideas and survival uses for lipstick. Hopefully by the end of this, I can convince you to add a stick or two to your stash.
This is how preppers use lipstick
The survival uses for lipstick extend far beyond the most common use. It is cheap, lightweight, easy to acquire, and small enough to slip into the tightest packed bag. There really is no reason why you shouldn’t keep some lipstick in your BOB.
Below you will find some creative uses for lipstick that will help you get the most benefits out of this tiny item.
15 Survival Uses for Lipstick
1- Firestarter
Petroleum is typically the main ingredient in lipstick and petroleum burns easily. Cut off a small piece of lipstick and rub it into your dry tinder and kindling. Now light it. It’s easiest with a lighter, but don’t worry if you don’t have one. There are lots of ways to start a fire without a lighter or matches. The petroleum will quickly ignite and your fire will be roaring before you know it.
John Makes Fire With Lipstick | Dude, You’re Screwed
2- Sunscreen
I don’t wear lipstick as much as I used to, but when I do, I make it a point to get lipstick that has sunscreen. Even though lipstick is usually used to enhance the color of a person’s lips, it is also a decent sunblock. If it doesn’t officially contain sunscreen, it can still serve as a mechanical sunblock.
If you’re skiddish about slathering some cherry bomb red over your face then you should probably choose a darker color when you go shopping. I personally think that you should get over it. We are after function and survival not fashion! If anyone laughs at you, they will probably be sunburned to a crisp in a few days.
Enjoy your victory, Gorgeous!
3- Camouflage
Lipstick seriously comes in any color that you could possibly imagine. Including greens, browns, darker reds, and even black. If you grab a variety of shades, try to match the colors to your camo outfit and you’ll be good to go from head to toe!
They can’t laugh at you if they can’t see you coming!
4- Barter item
Every prepper knows how important it is to have high-value, lightweight, and small barter items on hand. Money will be useless when society collapses and we will have to barter to acquire supplies. Lipstick is the perfect barter item because it is initially cheap to stock, lightweight, and very useful in an emergency.
5- Waterproof Message
Lipstick is waterproof and often smudge proof too. This means that you can leave messages on just about any surface and they won’t wash away. The downside is that it can be removed if someone rubs hard enough or scrubs the message. In a pinch it can be a handy way to communicate.
6- Waterproof Small Items
In a matter of seconds, you can waterproof small items with lipstick. While, the items you cover up will be a little slippery and messy, at least they won’t get destroyed by the rain. I have used it on matches, but it works on just about anything. As long as you don’t mind a little color.
7- Lubricant
Are your gears stuck? Slap some lipstick on them! All lipstick is made with some kind of grease even if it’s not petroleum. It is designed to be slippery, easy to apply, and meant to cover something. You can use it to unstick gears. Better yet, take preventative measures and use it before things start to stick. This will save you time and energy because you won’t have to fix it in the future.
25 SHTF uses for ChapStick | SensiblePrepper
Clever Lipstick Container Uses
Lipstick comes in handy, doesn’t it? Now don’t toss out the empty lipstick container yet! The best survivalists know everything has a use and nothing is truly garbage. This goes for lipstick tubes too!
8- Secret Stash
That empty lipstick canister is a perfect place to stash emergency cash and medications. You can discreetly slip the tube into your pocket or pack and most thieves won’t even suspect its value.
Keep in mind if society collapses, paper money won’t be worth a damn. For shorter term survival, it is a good idea to keep some cash on hand.
9- Match Storage
Did you know that some lipstick containers are water resistant and can even lock shut? Not every tube can do that, but most can twist lock or snap together. This is a clever way to store and keep your matches dry.
10- Stash Messages
If you need to leave a message for another prepper, you can tuck paper notes into a lipstick tube. Since these containers are typically water resistant, the note should be safe even if the tube is exposed to rain. Also, when you bury your stash (you should do this, folks), lipstick containers will not degrade over time and they can keep bugs and dirt out.
Pro-tip: If someone does dig up your stash, it’s unlikely that they will open and look inside of a tube of lipstick. They’ll probably just think it’s trash and leave it behind.
11- Wound Care
Why not roll up a few adhesive bandages and a small tube of antibiotic treatment and stick it in your vacant lipstick tube? You never know when it will come in handy!
12- Soap Storage
It’s the end of the world and the bars of soap have melted. How on earth are you going to wash your hands after gutting that bunny?
Hopefully you planned ahead and filled a lipstick tube with soap and stuck it in your pocket. You can use collected fragments of multiple soaps, soap granules, or liquid soap. Isn’t it nice to have options?
Again, this is a killer bartering item so start collecting your soap fragments and slap them in lipstick tubes! You can thank me later.
13- Flashlight
This is on my to-do list of projects, but a good friend of mine has done this. At first I thought he was kidding when I asked him for a flashlight and he handed me a tube of lipstick. You can apparently make a flashlight out of an empty lip balm or lipstick container and a dead battery.
Keep your eye open for these items and you can create a small flashlight of your own! It works well for personal use or as another stellar bartering item!
Click on this LINK to learn how to make a flashlight with a lipstick or chapstick tube!
14- Spice Storage
This probably sounds sort of odd, but clean / empty lipstick containers are are perfect for storing spices and flavor enhancers. We all know that MRE’s aren’t exactly bursting with flavor and it is lame to eat bland food during an emergency.
Use some empty lipstick containers to safely store your spices and protect them from the elements! Since lipstick is used on the lips it is “safe and non-toxic” and you won’t have to worry about contaminating your food.
You can fill lipstick tubes with salt, pepper, sugar, etc. and bring them to your bartering meet-up. Hide your main stash and only dole out small portions.
15- Bobby Pin Storage
Whether you are a man or a woman, you gotta have some bobby pins! They are not just for holding your fancy updo hairstyle in place. Bobby pins have a ton of survival uses: lock pick, money clip, impromptu zipper head, zip-tie unlocker, helpful for sewing and hemming, and a lot more! If your store your bobby pin stash in a lipstick container, it will be easy to find it in an emergency and easy to carry!
Just for fun!
Melting 100 Lipsticks from Amazon | TKOR
Conclusion
What do you think? Have I convinced to you add a few tubes of lipstick to your stash? Or are you already super clever and prepared and well-equipped with your salt, and pepper, and flashlight? There aren’t many lightweight, small, and cheap items that have as many uses as lipstick does!
I hope you learned something new today. See you soon!
? Alana
