Making slime just got a shiny upgrade! This glossy slime is smooth, stretchy, and oh-so-satisfying to squish. With its gorgeous sheen and beautiful texture, this slime recipe is perfect for kids — and adults! — who love sensory play and enjoy a hands-on creative moment.
Whether you’re a seasoned slime-maker or brand new to the trend, this DIY thick and glossy slime is super easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. We’ll walk you through all the steps (with tips to get that perfect glassy finish!) so you can whip up your own batch in no time. So get ready to mix, stretch, and shine!
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How to Make Glossy Slime
Materials:
- Borax
- Hot water
- Elmer’s Glue-All
- Glycerin
- Acrylic paint (colour of choice; or food colouring)
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Make the borax activator
- Add 2 teaspoons of borax to 1 cup of hot water.
- Stir well, to dissolve the borax, and set aside to cool.
Step 2: Mix the first ingredients
- Add 1/2 cup Elmer’s Glue-All to a bowl.
- Pour in 1 teaspoon glycerin and stir to combine.
- Then add a generous squeeze of acrylic paint and stir.
Step 3: Activate the slime and mix
- Pour in 1 Tablespoon of the cooled borax solution.
- Stir until the slime is thick and comes away from the sides of the bowl.
- Pick up the slime and knead it in your hands. Squish it and stretch it until the slime’s no longer sticky.It’s ok if the slime is a bit overactivated at this point.
Step 4: Leave the slime to sit
- Place the slime in an airtight container with a lid and allow to sit, covered, for 72 hours.
- Remove the slime from the container after waiting for a few days. It should be nice and thick and glossy!Your glossy slime is complete.
Helpful Tips:
- Store in an airtight container: Exposure to air will dry out slime and dull its surface. Store the slime in a plastic or glass container with a lid to retain the glossiness and keep it nice and soft.
- Let your slime rest before playing: Your glossy slime may feel a bit overactivated at first. Let the slime rest for at least 48 hours (72 hours or longer is recommended). This will remove bubbles and help it relax into a thick slime with a stretchy, glossy texture.
What’s the best activator for glossy slime?
Because we wanted thick and glossy slime, we reached for borax activator for this recipe. We used a strong solution of borax (2 teaspoons to 1 cup water), which allowed the slime to come together really nicely.
The borax mixture almost over-activates the slime at first, but then once it sits for a few days the slime becomes super soft and stretchy, while still staying nice and thick.
We usually use contact solution and baking soda to activate our slime, but for this recipe it wasn’t getting the slime thick enough. The slime was also quite sticky (probably because of the glycerin), even with a lot of contact lens solution added. You can use this activator, but keep those factors in mind.
Can I use regular school glue to make this glossy slime recipe?
Yes, you can use regular white glue, but the slime won’t be quite as thick and glossy. You can also try a mixture of 3/4 school glue and 1/4 clear glue.
However we do recommend using Glue-All to make your glossy slime. It’s a really shiny glue on its own, and it has a thicker consistency than regular glue, giving the slime the perfect texture.
Can I make thick and glossy slime without glycerin?
We loveee using glycerin to make glossy slime. It really adds to the glossiness and it makes the slime SO SOFT!
But if you don’t have glycerin you can also try these ingredients to make your slime glossy:
- Baby oil (most recommended replacement)
- Lotion (will definitely add to the softness of the slime)
How can I colour my glossy slime?
We like using acrylic paint to colour our slime since it gives a lot of colour depth. It’s inexpensive (the stuff from the dollar store is perfect for slime), and it comes in a lot of different colours.
You can also use food colouring, but we found it needed a lot of drops to get a bright colour in the Glue All. Liquid watercolor paint will also work.
Glossy slime is such a fun twist on classic slime — and it’s seriously satisfying to make and stretch! Whether you’re crafting with kids, hosting a playdate, or just in the mood for something creative and hands-on, this shiny slime is a total win. Try experimenting with different colours or even layering them together for a rainbow effect!
Here’s even more easy slime recipe ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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