DIY Makeup products you should be making instead of buying

This post is so overdue but it’s here and I’m so excited! 

My post 15 things to start making instead of buying went viral and you guys loved it so much! So I wanted to make a follow-up post all about the DIY makeup products I’ve gotten into the habit of making instead of buying.

The cost of making your own products:

These DIY makeup recipes are super easy and simple and most of them can be made using a combination of the same ingredients! 

When I first decided to start making my own DIY makeup I found recipe after recipe with ingredients I hadn’t even heard of. I wanted these products to be clean, natural, and simple. Not more complicated and more expensive than just buying it.

Of course, there is an initial price to purchase the ingredients you’ll need. But you only need small quantities for each recipe so these ingredients should last you for a very long!

In the long run, it’s a lot cheaper when you divide the cost of the ingredient by the amount you use. Each recipe will only cost you a few dollars as opposed to buying a natural, clean product for upwards of $30.

Of course, I still love purchasing and supporting clean and sustainable brands as well. SO if you’re not into making your own products you can check out my list of zero waste makeup brands here. 

Why non-toxic makeup is so important:

The problem with drugstore and even most high-end makeup is that their ingredient list is a mile long and most of them are chemicals, fragrances, artificial colors, and just really nasty stuff. 

The Environmental Working Group estimates that the average woman applies 168 chemicals to their skin daily. 

It only takes a few seconds for the products we apply to our skin to soak into our bloodstream. And those chemicals can cause a plethora of complications and health issues including the disruption of hormones, infertility, and in the worst-case scenarios, cancer. 

This is why it’s so important to be conscious of what we’re putting on our bodies from makeup, lotions, sunscreens, and deodorants. And learning to make your own DIY makeup products can be extra liberating knowing exactly what ingredients are going into your products!

It is worth noting that you should try each of these products on the back of your hand first to ensure that you don’t have an allergic reaction! Just because it’s natural and good for you, doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. Always be cautious when making your own products!

*This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase using these links. I only recommend products I love and trust. See our full disclosure here.

DIY Makeup you should be making instead of buying:

1. Creme blush/lip tint

This is my favorite multi-purpose product!

What you’ll need:

• 2 tsp shea butter
• 1/4 tsp jojoba oil
• Beetroot powder or mica powder

The method:

1. Mix shea butter and jojoba oil together until well combined.
2. Add in the beetroot or mica powder until you reach your desired shade.
3. Transfer to a container (these are the ones I use for all my DIYs) and it’sr ready to use!

A few notes:

Mica powder and beetroot powder are both natural sources of pigment. The more powder you add the darker the shade will be. You want to make sure if using beetroot powder that it is incredibly fine so you don’t end up with a gritty blush.

2. Powdered blush

For a more mineral, light coverage blush, try out this powdered version!

What you’ll need:

• Arrowroot powder
• Beetroot powder
• Cocoa powder

The method:

There are no measurements because it’s really a guessing game!

1. In a container, start off with some arrowroot powder as a base.
2. Slowly add in some beetroot powder. This will give it a pink shade.
3. To give more of a brown tone add in some cocoa powder until you reach your desired shade.
4. If you find that it’s too dark, add in a little more arrowroot powder.
5. Continue mixing until it’s to your liking!

3. Eyeshadow/Highlighter 

The method for making both creme eyeshadow and highlighter is the same! The only difference is the pigmentation you use!

What you’ll need:

• 1 tbsp shea butter
• 1/2 tsp jojoba oil
• 1/8 tsp beeswax
• Mica powder

The method:

The amount of mica powder depends on how light/dark you want your eyeshadow. For the highlight, you’ll want to use white mica powder or a very light/shimmer mica powder such as gold or silver.

1. Melt the shea butter, jojoba oil and beeswax on a double boiler on the stove.
2. Once melted, remove from heat and transfer to a container.
3. Working quickly, add the mica powder and stir. The beeswax works to solidify the product so you’ll want to work fast so it doesn’t set.
4. Once it’s cooled and set it’s ready to use!

4. Eyeliner/Mascara 

This concoction doubles as both eyeliner and mascara! This is a thicker substance so it’s more of a gel eyeliner. I have no problem with the thicker mascara but some find it too thick so you can always divide the recipe into separate containers and dilute the mascara with water.

What you’ll need:

• 1 tbsp activated charcoal
• 1 tsp shea butter
• 1/8 tsp beeswax

The method:

1. Melt the shea butter and beeswax using a double boiler on the stove.
2. Remove from heat and add in the charcoal. Again, beeswax works quickly as a thickener so you’ll need to add the charcoal quickly and transfer it into a container.
3. Once it’s set it’s good to go! You can upcycle and old mascara wand and eyeliner brush for application or if you don’t have those, I actually like this eyebrow brush which has a spoolie end perfect for mascara and an angled brush on the other side that works super well for eyeliner!

5. Tinted brow pomade 

This pomade is so simple and works so well! And because of the ingredients it always leaves me smelling so good!

What you’ll need:

• 1 tbsp coconut oil (softened, not melted)
• Cocoa powder (amount varies based on desired shade)

The method:

1. Slowly add cocoa powder to the coconut oil. For light hair, I suggest starting with 1/8 or 1/4 of a tsp and working your way up until you reach your shade. As a brunette, I added 1 tbsp of cocoa powder and it was perfect.
2. Transfer to a container with a lid. These are the containers I used for all the DIYs.

6. Bronzer

Another really fun recipe that leaves me smelling oh so lovely! That’s the beauty of using baking ingredients right?

What you’ll need:

• 2 tsp arrowroot powder
• 1 tsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• Essential oil of choice (up to 10 drops, I used lavender)
• Witch hazel

The method:

1. In a container, combine the arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, and nutmeg.
2. You can add more cocoa powder and nutmeg until you reach your desired shade.
3. Add in the essential oils and mix again.
4. Using a dropper, slowly add in the witch hazel drop by drop until you can pack down the mixture and it stays solid.  You don’t want this mixture to be wet but just firm enough to combine and stay in place.

Notes:

Alternatively, you could use rubbing alcohol instead of witch hazel as that’s the method beauty gurus use when fixing a broken compact. I tried that on a broken compact and it didn’t work for me. I also know that witch hazel is a lot better or your skin and rubbing alcohol can be quite drying. But you can always try it out and let me know how it goes!

7. Setting spray

What would a makeup routine be without a good setting spray? I’ll be honest I don’t use setting spray very often but it is nice on those extra hot summer days to help keep things in place! You can also reapply this throughout the day for a cooling, refreshing effect!

What you’ll need:

• 1 tbsp witch hazel
• 1/2 tsp vegetable glycerin
• Water

The method:

1. Add the witch hazel and glycerin to a small spray bottle. (These are the ones I use)
2. Then fill the rest up with filtered or distilled water. If you don’t have access you can boil tap water and let it cool completely before adding it. Don’t use straight-up tap water because it can be really harsh on the skin. 
3. Shake before use as the mixture may separate and spray away!

Shop the post

Related reading: 

DIY dandelion lotion

DIY non-toxic micellar water

The ultimate list of natural cleaning recipes

See? These DIY makeup products don’t require any extensive or weird ingredients to make! Plus they’re so simple and take a minimal amount of time and effort! And they’re so much better for your health and for the planet.

I hope you get the chance to try these recipes out! If you do, please tag me on Instagram (@littlerosedust) so I can see them! 

As always, please don’t forget to share this post if you like it and follow me on Instagram for daily non-toxic DIYs and low waste living tips!