Slime can be made from many ingredients using different recipes. However, the two active ingredients used in most slime recipes are borate ion and polyvinyl alcohol. When these two items are mixed, it results in a chemical reaction and the formation of slime. Most recipes call for the use of various types of activators, i.e., contact lens solution, borax solutions, liquid starch, and laundry detergent. The majority of slime is made up of polymers, which are large chains of molecules linked together to form a larger substance. Glue is the key ingredient in most types of slime. You have to mix glue with an activator to make slime.