LipStix ReMiX Shark Tank Update: What Happened to the Lipstick Recycling Kit?

Anyone who wears lipstick knows the frustration of reaching the bottom of the tube. Due to the way traditional lipstick bullets are manufactured, roughly one-third of the cosmetic is hidden deep inside the plastic base just to keep the lipstick anchored.

For decades, consumers simply threw this leftover product away, sending countless dollars and perfectly good makeup straight to the local landfill.

Back in 2010, an entrepreneur named Jill Quillin appeared on Season 1 of the hit show Shark Tank with a clever solution to this problem: LipStix ReMiX.

The product was a simple, at-home kit designed to help makeup lovers scoop out that wasted product, melt it down, and mold it into a brand-new lipstick.

While the idea was highly praised on national television, the business ultimately disappeared from the market. This complete update explores exactly what LipStix ReMiX was, what happened to the famous Shark Tank deal, why the business eventually closed, and how the modern beauty industry solves the cosmetic waste problem today.

What Was LipStix ReMiX?

LipStix ReMiX was created by Jill Quillin through her company, Divine Innovations. A busy mother and resourceful entrepreneur, Jill was tired of throwing away expensive cosmetics.

She realized she personally had over $250 worth of lipstick sitting in her bathroom drawer that could no longer be used simply because the twist-up mechanism could not reach the remaining color.

She developed a home kit that allowed users to repair broken lipsticks or combine the leftover ends of several old tubes to create entirely custom shades.

The LipStix ReMiX kit included several simple tools to make the process work at home:

• Small plastic spatulas for digging the makeup out of the base.
• A microwave-safe mixing cup.
• A patented “Magic Molder” shaping tool.
• Empty, reusable lipstick tubes.

The process was straightforward. A user would scoop out every last bit of lipstick from their old tubes, drop the pieces into the mixing cup, and melt the formula in a standard home microwave for about 45 seconds. Once melted, the liquid makeup was poured into the Magic Molder and placed in a home freezer for 10 minutes to harden.

Finally, the user would take the cap off the mold and pop the newly shaped bullet into a fresh tube. This resulted in a completely new, custom-colored lipstick for a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.

The Shark Tank Pitch: Did LipStix ReMiX Get a Deal?

Jill Quillin walked into the Shark Tank during Season 1, Episode 13, which originally aired in January 2010. She was seeking an investment of $105,000 in exchange for a 30% equity stake in her company, giving LipStix ReMiX an initial valuation of $350,000.

Her primary goal was to secure funding to film a television infomercial to market the product to women nationwide.

During the pitch, Jill confidently demonstrated how quickly and easily the product worked. She showed the Sharks exactly how the colors mixed together to form a beautiful new shade.

The panel of investors was impressed by the creativity, but they had serious questions about the business model.

Kevin Harrington, a pioneer of the infomercial industry, asked about her existing sales.

Jill explained that she had recently set up a small table at a local shopping mall for ten days during the holiday season. In that short time, she sold 254 kits and generated just over $6,000 in revenue.

Despite the clever design, Sharks Robert Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary decided to drop out.

Herjavec felt he did not understand the cosmetics market well enough and doubted the product could survive on traditional retail shelves without massive, expensive marketing budgets. He believed it was strictly a TV-only product.

However, real estate expert Barbara Corcoran saw the vision. She loved the thrill of creating a new lipstick shade and called the concept “clever.” She offered $110,000, but wanted to partner with other Sharks to share the financial risk.

Daymond John and Kevin Harrington both expressed interest, leading to a tense negotiation.

Ultimately, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington, and Daymond John agreed to team up.

They offered Jill the requested $105,000, but demanded a massive 50% stake in the company. After a brief consultation with her husband off-camera, Jill accepted the three-Shark deal.

The Aftermath: Why Did LipStix ReMiX Go Out of Business?

Television pitches often end with smiles and handshakes, but the real business begins when the cameras stop rolling. While millions of viewers saw LipStix ReMiX secure a deal on TV, the reality was much different.

During the standard due diligence process that follows every episode, the massive three-way deal with Corcoran, Harrington, and John quietly fell through.

The transaction never officially closed, leaving Jill Quillin to run the company without the promised $105,000 investment.

Despite losing the Shark Tank funds, LipStix ReMiX experienced a noticeable bump in sales simply from the national television exposure. The company successfully sold kits online for a few years. However, the momentum eventually slowed down.

In 2013, exactly three years after her television appearance, Jill Quillin posted a sad update on her company’s Facebook page.

She announced that she had to make a tough decision regarding the business and was officially discontinuing the kits. She thanked her fans for their support but did not provide a specific reason for the closure.

Today, LipStix ReMiX is completely out of business. Because the company ceased operations over a decade ago, the net worth of LipStix ReMiX is $0. Jill Quillin still owns the patent for the device, but she has since retired from the beauty industry.

The Core Problem: America’s Cosmetic Waste Crisis

While LipStix ReMiX did not survive as a business, the environmental problem Jill Quillin tried to solve has only grown more urgent. Currently, the global beauty industry produces approximately 120 billion units of packaging every single year.

The vast majority of cosmetic packaging, especially items like lipstick tubes, mascara wands, and compacts, is made from mixed plastics, metals, and mirrors.

Because these items are small and complex, standard American curbside recycling facilities simply cannot process them. As a result, a shocking 95% of all beauty packaging is thrown straight into the trash.

Furthermore, research from Duke University indicates that the social and environmental costs of plastic use in the United States amount to nearly $1.1 trillion annually. This has driven a massive push toward what industry experts call “circular beauty.”

Consumers are no longer satisfied with throwing away half-empty tubes, and major retailers have been forced to step in to provide sustainable solutions.

The Best Lipstick Customization Alternatives

Consumers today have far more advanced options than microwaving plastic cups. The beauty industry has responded with high-tech customization tools that make analog kits look like ancient history.

If you are looking to create custom lipstick shades, here are the top alternatives to LipStix ReMiX.

1. GoPlay Cosmetics LipsKit 2.0 (The High-Tech Customizer)

For those who loved the idea of creating custom shades, the GoPlay Cosmetics LipsKit 2.0 is the ultimate modern replacement. Instead of melting old solid lipsticks, this reusable physical device uses heavily pigmented liquid base colors.

Users download a smartphone app to discover their ideal seasonal color profile (such as Warm Spring or Deep Winter). The app provides a specific “recipe” of colors.

The user then presses the corresponding color buttons on the LipsKit device, which dispenses the exact liquid mixture into a reusable pot with a built-in brush.

It is completely vegan, cruelty-free, and eliminates the messy heating and freezing process entirely. While some customer reviews mention unexpected shipping fees, the overall system is highly rated for its creativity.

2. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Sur Mesure (The AI Luxury Option)

At the very top of the market, the luxury brand YSL has introduced the Rouge Sur Mesure device. It is a smart device that pairs with an artificial intelligence (AI) app on your phone.

You load color cartridges into the machine, and you can use your phone’s camera to scan an outfit or a handbag.

The device will then automatically mix and dispense a liquid lipstick shade that perfectly matches what you are wearing. It even features a virtual try-on mode so you can see the color on your lips before you print it.

Top Sustainable and Zero-Waste Lip Products

If your primary goal is to save the planet rather than mix custom colors, 2026 offers incredible zero-waste beauty options.

Zero-Waste Refillable Lipsticks

Instead of buying a new plastic tube every time, the 2026 standard for luxury makeup is refillable hardware. A prime example is the Lisa Eldridge Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick, which won the 2026 ELLE Lip Service Award for Best Refillable Lipstick.

The outer case is a gorgeous, heavy piece of art inspired by vintage Hollywood glamour. When you run out of lipstick, you simply purchase a color refill made entirely of aluminum.

Because the refill is a “mono-material” (meaning it is 100% aluminum with no mixed plastics), it can be easily tossed into any standard recycling bin when empty.

The Shift to Peptide Balms and Lip Tints

It is also worth noting that the way Americans wear makeup has changed. Heavy, solid matte lipsticks are far less popular. Instead, consumers are flocking to hybrid products that combine skincare with a wash of color.

Products like the viral Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment ($20) have exploded in popularity because they hydrate the delicate skin on the lips while providing a glossy tint.

For a more affordable option, drugstore brands like the Milani Color Fetish Balm ($7) offer similar glossy finishes.

Because these products come in squeezable tubes or liquid wands, the old problem of the “lipstick anchor” stuck at the bottom of a bullet tube is slowly fading away.

How to Recycle Your Empty Makeup Tubes Today

If you still have a drawer full of empty or broken lipsticks, you do not need to throw them in the trash. Nationwide recycling programs have finally made it easy to dispose of them responsibly.

Sephora recently partnered with the nonprofit Pact Collective to launch the Beauty (Re)Purposed program. Consumers can drop off any brand of clean, empty cosmetic packaging at designated collection bins inside participating US and Canadian Sephora stores.

Since the program launched, they have successfully collected over 100,000 pounds of empty beauty packaging. Pact Collective then sorts the materials so they can be upcycled into new packaging, turned into warehouse pallets, or converted into energy, ensuring zero waste goes to the landfill.

Feature Comparison: LipStix ReMiX vs. Modern Solutions

The table below breaks down exactly how the original Shark Tank product compares to the top 2026 market alternatives.

Feature	LipStix ReMiX (2010)	GoPlay LipsKit 2.0 (2026)	Sephora / Pact Collective (2026)
Primary Purpose	Melt and combine old solid lipsticks.	Mix liquid pigments into exact custom shades.	Nationwide drop-off for empty cosmetics.
Customization Method	Manual mixing, microwave, and freezer.	Push-button dispenser and smartphone app.	N/A (Focuses entirely on recycling).
Waste Reduction	Reused the bottom 1/3 of lipstick tubes.	Creates exact quantities needed in reusable pots.	Diverts 100% of collected packaging from landfills.
Price Point	Under $30.	Approximately $70.	Free to use (Drop-off program).
Business Status	Out of Business (Closed 2013).	Active and highly popular online.	Active in over 600 retail locations.

Final Thoughts: The Legacy of LipStix ReMiX

Jill Quillin was undoubtedly ahead of her time. Back in 2010, the conversation around cosmetic waste was barely mainstream, yet she clearly recognized the financial and environmental flaws of traditional lipstick packaging.

While the LipStix ReMiX kit ultimately failed to secure its Shark Tank funding and closed its doors in 2013, the core philosophy behind the product successfully predicted the massive “circular beauty” movement of the 2020s.

Today, through advanced mixing apps, gorgeous refillable luxury cases, and massive nationwide recycling efforts, the beauty industry is finally catching up to the idea that no lipstick should ever go to waste.