* Mixtures are combinations of two or more substances where each substance retains its own properties. Lip gloss contains things like oils, waxes, pigments, and sometimes even glitter. Each of these components keeps its individual characteristics within the gloss.
* Solutions are homogeneous mixtures where one substance (the solute) is dissolved evenly into another (the solvent). While some components of lip gloss might dissolve in others, the overall makeup of lip gloss is not a uniform solution. You can often see the different components, like glitter, suspended within the gloss.
Therefore, because lip gloss contains multiple components that can be visually distinguished, it's considered a mixture rather than a solution.