11 Ways to Make Makeup at Home Naturally

Makeup is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it gives you the freedom to conceal your flaws, highlight your best features, and display your creativity with a few strokes of your favorite products. Not to mention it gives you an incredible confidence boost that nothing else can. For most women, makeup is worth every dime.

On the other hand, you can’t help but wonder if your favorite morning routine is exposing you to dangerous chemicals. The animal testing practices that go into producing most of these products can also make you reluctant to invest in some of your favorite brands. But what if you could enjoy makeup without worrying about dangerous chemicals and unethical animal testing practices?

How to Make Natural Foundation Makeup At Home

Foundation is the base of all your other products. If your foundation isn’t right, chances are the other products won’t look great either. Luckily, you can achieve the right shade right at the comfort of your home with just a few ingredients.

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need and the steps to follow:

Instructions

To make your foundation:

  1. Mix all the ingredients in the glass container to achieve your desired coverage and color.
  2. Keep adding the different ingredients, making sure to test the shade on your inner arm as you go to ensure you have the right shade.
  3. Once you’ve achieved your desired shade, store the mixture in a glass container and use as needed.

Important Considerations

If you prefer to use arrowroot powder only or white cosmetic clay, you can add cocoa powder or cinnamon powder to create a completely natural and edible foundation. However, you should know that this foundation won’t last as long as one containing zinc oxide and mica.

However, if you’re looking to make a foundation that’s close to a store-bought option, adding mica and zinc oxide helps you achieve these results. Zinc oxide acts as an excellent base for foundation, and mica gives you that effortless glow everyone looks for in a foundation.

Natural Blush/Bronzer

Like most makeup products, commercial bronzers and blushes also contain harmful chemicals you may not want to put on your skin. But with the recipe we’re about to share, you never have to worry about toxic chemicals in your bronzer.

What You’ll Need

To make a natural blush or bronzer, you’ll need:

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients, making sure to adjust the amount until you achieve your shade. Do it in small amounts to prevent clumping. Place the powder in a clean, empty compact glass container and pack it firmly.

Tips to Achieve the Best Color

For the best results consider the following:

  • Cinnamon will help you achieve an excellent glow: Add a small amount as you go and test the appearance to ensure you have the right amount – a little goes a long way.
  • Cocoa adds color. Therefore, don’t add this ingredient all at once. Add a little amount and test the shade as you go to ensure you get the perfect shade.
  • Cornstarch is excellent for spreading the product out and lightening it. Add a small amount until you achieve your desired consistency.
  • Nutmeg gives a sun-kissed look: Again, add a little and test it on your skin until you have your desired look.
  • Essential oils keep the product together and boost thickness: You can leave the essential oils out if you need a loose blush/bronzer.

Natural Eyeliner

You should be careful applying any product close to your eyes, even if it’s a natural homemade product. When it comes to eyeliner, you have two options. You can make a water-based (containing water only) or oil-based product (containing both water and oil).

What You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Lanolin
  • Castor oil
  • Waxes
  • Color – Can be activated charcoal or mineral pigments.
  • Distilled water
  • Mixing bowl
  • Storage container

Recipe 1

To make a water-based eyeliner, here’s what you should do.

  • Add ½ tablespoon of activated charcoal to a mixing bowl and add a few drops of distilled water.
  • Mix the ingredients. You may notice lumps forming, but don’t worry about that. It will work itself out.
  • Transfer the product to a small container and refrigerate. Do not use it for more than a few weeks.

Recipe 2

For an oil based eyeliner recipe, you’ll need:

Begin by melting the oil and wax. Next, add charcoal. Once everything is well mixed, add the water and use a small whisk or fork to combine everything further. If you notice any separation, add a small amount of lecithin to the mixture, preferably one capsule full. Add the product to a clean container and refrigerate. The eyeliner should be good to use for up to a month.

Important Safety Considerations

Consider the following before applying your DIY eyeliner:

  • Because none of these natural recipes contain preservatives, bacteria and mold can grow in the product, especially if kept for a long time. For both recipes, don’t use the products beyond a month. They’re relatively cost-effective and easy to make. Therefore you can make a new batch every month.
  • Do not use pigments that are not used for cosmetic use. Remember that you’re applying this product close to your eyes.
  • Refrigeration discourages bacterial growth in homemade eyeliners.
  • Clean your brushes and give them time to dry before dipping them into the product to prevent mold and bacterial growth.
  • Do not use the eyeliners in your inner lid. Only apply the products to the outer part close to the lashes. While none of the ingredients can cause permanent damage, they can be quite irritating.

Natural Mascara

Thick lashes are all the rage these days, and mascara goes a long way in helping you achieve the best look. However, commercial products don’t have the best ingredients. Apart from exposing you to harmful chemicals, some mascara brands leave your lashes feeling dry and brittle – not a pretty look.

If you’re not ready to give up mascara, homemade options are an excellent alternative. Here’s how to make this product at the comfort of your home:

What You’ll Need

You’re going to need the following to make natural mascara:

Instructions

To make your DIY mascara:

  1. Mix ¼ tablespoon black mineral powder, ¼ tablespoon bentonite clay, 1/8 tablespoon vegetable glycerine (4 drops),¼ tablespoon aloe vera gel, and 5 drops of lavender essential oil to create a smooth paste
  2. Add aloe vera gel to smoothen the mixture and get a smoother consistency.
  3. Use the dropper to collect the mascara and transfer it to the mascara bottle. Alternatively, you can add the product directly into the container and mix it up with the mascara brush.
  4. Use as you would a store-bought mascara.
  5. To remove the product, use a damp washcloth.

Safety Precautions

Before applying DIY mascara to your eyes, understand the following precautions:

  • Because none of these natural recipes contain preservatives, bacteria and mold can grow in the product, especially if kept for a long time. Don’t use the product beyond a month. It’s relatively cost-effective and easy to make. Therefore you can make a new batch every month.
  • Do not use pigments that are not used for cosmetic use. Remember that you’re applying this product close to your eyes. The last thing you need is an infection, or worse, blindness because you used the wrong ingredients.
  • Refrigeration discourages bacterial growth in homemade mascaras.
  • Clean your mascara brush and allow them to dry before dipping them into the product to prevent mold and bacterial growth.
  • Do not use the mascara close to your inner lid. Only apply the mascara to the lashes a bit of distance away from your inner lid. While none of the ingredients can cause permanent damage, they can be quite irritating.

DIY Rainbow Highlight

Your makeup isn’t complete without a highlight. A good highlighter adds life to your face and can be the ultimate confidence boost. The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a store-bought product. With a few ingredients we bet you already have in your house, you can make a rainbow highlight in a few simple steps.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need the following to make a rainbow highlight.

  • Rainbow colored eye shadows (go for natural and cruelty-free products)
  • Toothpicks
  • 70% alcohol
  • Wax paper
  • Paper Towel
  • Droppers
  • A highlight. Depotted.

Instructions

To make the highlight:

  1. Begin by placing your different colored eye shadows into different containers.
  2. Use a toothpick to break down the highlight and divide it into six containers.
  3. Break down one of the colored eye shadows, then add it to the highlighter in small amounts until you’re satisfied with the color.
  4. Gradually add alcohol to the mixture to create a paste.
  5. Dump the mixture onto wax paper and add more alcohol as needed, and mix well.
  6. Use a toothpick to form the mixture into the pan.
  7. Repeat steps 1 to 6 with the other remaining colors.
  8. Place a paper towel on the formed colors on the pan to blot out the excess alcohol.
  9. Clean up the edges of the highlight container.
  10. Wait for 24 hours, and then use the highlighter as you would a store-bought one.

Treat Your Lips with a Natural Lip Scrub

No one wants to walk around with chapped lips. Dry and cracked lips can ruin even the best makeup look. Fortunately, you don’t have to invest in expensive lip scrubs with an endless list of ingredients that may not be safe for your health. Here’s how to make a natural lip scrub at home.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need the following ingredients to make a natural scrub.

  • A few teaspoons of sugar
  • One or ½ teaspoons of salt
  • One teaspoon of olive oil
  • One teaspoon of a lip balm of your choice
  • An empty container
  • One teaspoon of Vaseline

Instructions

To make a natural DIY scrub:

  • Put the olive oil, lip balm, and Vaseline into a container and mix until you achieve a smooth and uniform consistency. A fork works best for this.
  • Now, gradually add the salt and sugar until you’ve achieved the right consistency. The goal is a granular mixture.
  • Place the mixture in a clean container.
  • Scoop a small amount with a clean spoon and use your fingers to work the mixture onto your lips for a soothing and effective scrub.

Tips

For the best results, consider the following tips.

  • Use a large mixing container to ensure hassle-free mixing.
  • Get a large storage container because there’s a high chance you’ll end up making more than you expect.
  • You can skip the lip balm. It’s there to add color and taste to your scrub.

DIY Cheek Stain and Lip Gloss

How many of your lip glosses are safe to eat? Most commercial lip glosses aren’t edible, which is surprising considering at the end of the day, you probably don’t have any lip gloss on your lips because you probably licked it all away.

With all the harmful ingredients present in makeup, this can be concerning, especially if you have a habit of licking your lips throughout the day. We have great news for you. You can create a lip gloss that also doubles as a cheek stain with all-natural ingredients. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about ingesting this homemade lip gloss.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need the following to make natural lip gloss:

Instructions

To make your DIY lip gloss:

  1. Give the cranberries a spin in a spice grinder.
  2. Melt the oils and mix in the cranberry and beetroot powder.
  3. Let the product cool before transferring it into a jar. As the mixture cools, the coconut oil and Shea butter solidify. Don’t be alarmed if the color separates a bit from the mixture. This is entirely normal. To prevent this, stir the mixture continuously to keep the color suspended as the mixture cools.
  4. Once the mixture has cooled and solidified, transfer it into a storage container.
  5. Use it as a lip tint or cheek stain, depending on what you need. The oils will melt at body temperature. So don’t worry about allowing the mixture to solidify.

Note: If you desire a more balm-like texture, you can add beeswax to the mix.

Natural Lipstick

Even if you don’t have a full face of makeup on, a dash of lipstick can make you look ten times better whether you’re going to work or on a date. Unfortunately, most of the brands on the market are made of a cocktail of harmful chemicals, and some even contain crushed beetles.

The thought of this may make you want to stop using lipstick altogether. But don’t give up yet. You can make lipstick right at the comfort of your home using ingredients you probably already have lying around.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need the following ingredients:

Instructions

To make natural lipstick at home:

  1. Mix Shea butter, castor oil, jojoba oil, and wax and melt them in the microwave. Alternatively, you can use a double boiler.
  2. Once melted, stir to mix the ingredients sufficiently. Next, add Vitamin E.
  3. Now it’s time to add the mica. Here’s where your creativity comes in. For this recipe, we’re making a red plum lipstick. Therefore, you need to use blue, red, and purple mica. Add these to the mixture, making sure to add small amounts at a time. Keep adding the mica until you achieve the shade you desire.
  4. Stir until the temperature reaches 60 degrees.
  5. Pour the mixture into the silicon mold and tie it together with a rubber band.
  6. Let the mixture harden on its own or put it in the freezer for 5 minutes.
  7. Once it has hardened, gently transfer it to a lipstick tube.

Make Your Own Nail Polish

Nail polish is probably the last thing you’d think of making at home because it seems way more complicated than other makeup products. But it’s not. You can make nail polish at home and add a personal touch by adding your favorite glitter and other add-ons you like.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need the following ingredients to make homemade nail polish.

  • Clear topcoat
  • Crushed Eye Shadow
  • Nail polish bottles
  • Funnel
  • White polish
  • Mica

Basics

Adding any eye shadow to a clear topcoat doesn’t always work out, especially if you’re using glitter eye shadow. You may find that the glitters separate from the topcoat, and the finish is a weird matte color that’s not appealing. Therefore, keep the following in mind when you’re creating your nail polish.

  • Clear base coats are not the best for glitter or colored polishes.
  • If you’re using glitters or colors, use a different base.
  • Not all glitter is equal. Some melt in the polish base. The best option is Polyester Color Fast.

Instructions

Follow the steps below to achieve an incredible product.

  1. Fill your empty bottle ½ full of an appropriate base coat. TKB base polishes are the best for this. Use Luster for solid base colors and Glamour for glitter.
  2. Use a funnel to add a small amount of your pigment or glitter to the bottle. If you’re going for colored glitter polish, add both.
  3. Fill the bottle 25% again so that it’s 75% full and shake.
  4. If the color still doesn’t match your shade, add a bit more until you’ve achieved your desired pigment and shake.
  5. Leave the nail polish for a few minutes, then try it.

Homemade Eyebrow Filler

Well done eyebrows are a priority for most people, and understandably so. The right eyebrow filler can take your face from drab to fab in an instance. If you’re tired of using the store-bought options packed with toxic chemicals, consider this DIY eyebrow filler.

What You’ll Need

For an eyebrow filler, you’ll need the following ingredients.

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients, making sure to get rid of all the lumps if there are any for an even and smooth consistency. Next, pick a small amount of the product using a small eyebrow brush and test it on your hand.

The color will depend on your skin color and the color of your eyebrows. If you have darker eyebrows, you’ll need to add more activated charcoal. Adjust the ingredients until you get your desired color.

When you’re applying the filler, it helps to remove the excess from the brush using the back of your hand for a clean finish. Also, be sure to stir the product occasionally to ensure consistent color. Most importantly, avoid using this eyebrow filler for more than a month. Because the product lacks preservatives, there’s an increased risk of mold and bacterial growth if the product is stored for a long time.

Natural Makeup Remover

Your makeup collection isn’t complete without a trusty makeup remover you can rely on at the end of a day of undeniable glam. Fortunately, you can use plenty of ingredients as makeup removers, and they’re quite pocket-friendly.

Oil Cleansing Recipes

As the name suggests, this is where you cleanse your face using oil. Natural oils are not only excellent makeup removers but also do wonders for your skin. Oil dissolves the excess oils in your pores, and it’s a great way to balance out your natural oils. This method works for all skin types.

Some of the oils you can use for different skin types include:

  • Oily skin: 1/3 castor oil or hazelnut oil combined with 2/3 olive oil, sunflower, or any other oil
  • Dry skin: Any nourishing oil like olive oil. You can add a bit of hazelnut oil or castor oil.
  • Combination skin: ¼ castor oil or hazelnut oil combined with ¾ sunflower oil or other oil.

To use the oils:

  1. Massage the oil mix into your skin for about 2 minutes (you don’t have to cleanse your face before the oil cleanses).
  2. Place a clean piece of cloth in hot water and wring it.
  3. Allow it to cool for a few minutes before putting it on your face.
  4. Keep the cloth on your face to steam it for a few minutes.
  5. Use the other side of the towel to wipe your face and leave the remaining oil on your face to soak into your pores.

Time to Get Creative

As you can see, making makeup at home is relatively easy. With the right ingredients, you only need to spare a few minutes of your time, and you can create any product you want in the comfort of your home.

However, make sure the ingredients you’re using are not only natural but also approved for cosmetic use. And if you’re making an eye product, be careful not to get too close to the inner lid or the eye. While some of these ingredients won’t cause permanent damage, they can be quite irritating if they get into the eye.

Most importantly, feel free to give these recipes a personal twist. Add unique flavors, tweak the ingredient amounts to achieve your preferred thickness, and don’t be afraid to mix up other ingredients to create your own product. Who knows, you may create the next line of natural products! It’s possible to make makeup at home naturally. We’ve provided a detailed guide on how to go about it. Let’s dive right in. Shall we?