Switching and Ditching Part 2- Makeup!
Let’s talk makeup!!
A lot of popular “clean” makeup brands have many harmful toxins in them. I was always on the search for shadows and powders that don’t have talc powder in them, and unfortunately most of them do. Those of them that don’t are super expensive. So, with that being said, I decided to make my own makeup. I want to share these recipes with you for the sake of your health! Plus, it’s a fun project to do! Gather the gals together for a girls night, pour some wine (or don’t) and get crafty! I don’t know about you, but I love a good craft night with my girls.
I’ll start by telling you what products I use that I don’t make, in case you missed part 1 of the Switching and Ditching series (Switching and Ditching Part 1- Hygeine and Household Products):
Foundation and Concealer:
I love W3ll People makeup!
I use their concealer. For a clean product, it does not disappoint at all! Great coverage.
I also use their foundation. It’s a light coverage foundation and gives a natural finish. I love it!
Mascara:
Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Mascara
It’s natural, organic, and doesn’t flake or smear like many other natural mascaras!!
Eyeliner:
I use Beauty Counter liquid eyeliner when I’m feeling extra dramatic ;)
All other makeup I make at home! You guys, it’s so fun!! Something about making my own makeup, and having people compliment me, really thrills me. :)
So, a few things to know before you get started. When purchasing iron oxides, or mica colors, please be sure they are safe and approved for eyes, lips, and cosmetic use in general. I purchase my pigments from justpigments.com. Each pigment listing says what the pigment is intended for. Please read these. I also got my kaolin clay from their online shop. Iron oxides and mica are naturally occurring, but when sourced from natural resources they contain heavy metals, and can be toxic. Per FDA standards, iron oxides and mica powders in cosmetics are synthetically made using basic chemicals. They are the same compounds, just without the toxins! They are still considered natural to consumers.
The pressed powder recipe is only for pressing mica powders. This will give you shimmer eyeshadow. Pressing matte powders like iron oxide, and other pure pigments, is different. Using pure pigments in the pressed powder recipe will give you no color payout. However, you can use pure pigments in place of mica in the cream formulas and create cream eyeshadow!
All of the other ingredients that I used are organic for extra safety measures. Vitamin E oil has a long shelf life and helps to preserve your makeup. However, since this is all natural, your makeup should be replaced every 2-3 months (or the first sign of discoloration or foul smell). Wash and disinfect your brushes (and hands) frequently to help prevent germs from spreading.
Before starting, disinfect your tools and makeup containers with rubbing alcohol.
Store makeup in a cool dry place.
Here are links to all ingredients and supplies to get started:
- Arrowroot powder
- Beetroot powder
- Hibiscus powder
- Cinnamon
- Cacao powder
- Cocoa butter
- Shea butter
- Beeswax
- Vitamin E oil
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Pigments
- Kaolin Clay
- Makeup Jars for loose powders
- Magnetic case and tins for pressed powders
- Lipstick tubes for creams
Other supplies needed:
- Double boiler or glass mixing bowl and a pot for boiling water
- Spatula
- Toothpicks
- Disposable face mask (optional, but you should not inhale powders.)
Loose Powder Blush:
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder
- 1 tsp beetroot powder
I encourage you to play around with natural colors and see what shade fits you best! You can add things like cinnamon, cacao, turmeric, and hibiscus powder.
Mix together until fine powder forms and all colors are blended. Keep mixture in a jar.
Loose Powder Bronzer:
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder
- ½ - 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ - 1 tsp cacao powder
Again, play around with the colors to get the shade you like best! This is just what I rolled with.
Mix together until fine powder forms and all colors are blended. Keep mixture in a jar.
Face Powder:
Everyone’s formula will be different. Start with:
- 2 tbsp of arrowroot powder/clay powder
- 1/4 cinnamon
- 1/4 cacao powder
add more arrowroot to lighten and others to darken.
Mauve Cream:
- 1 pellet cocoa butter (about ½ tsp)
- 1 tsp Shea Butter
- 5 drops vitamin e oil (about 1/8 tsp)
- 1/4 tsp beeswax
- 1/2 tsp arrowroot powder
- 1/2 tsp beetroot powder
- 1/2 tsp hibiscus (children, pregnant or nursing women should not take hibiscus orally. Can skip this and add more beetroot)
- 1/8 cacao powder
Use a double boiler (or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water) to melt and mix together butters, wax, and oils. Remove glass bowl from the boiling pot and mix together remaining ingredients. Place the mixture into a makeup container or a clean, bpa free, lipstick tube. The warmth of your skin will melt the cream just enough to leave a smooth color that’s blendable and buildable. The great thing about this cream stick is that it can be applied as a cheek, eye, or lip stain!
Note: beetroot has a tendency to form clumps. Break these up well before mixing with other ingredients to avoid “crumbles” in the final product. Even still, you might get some crumbles that you find hard to get along with (I just blend with finger and I’m happy with the stain it leaves behind), if so, you may prefer the texture of a mica/iron oxide cream.
Tips to apply: dab the product on lightly, then blend with beauty blender sponge or your finger.
Bronze Cream:
- 1 pellet (½ tsp) cocoa butter
- 1 tsp Shea Butter
- 1/4-1/2 tsp beeswax
- 5 drops vitamin e oil (about 1/8 tsp)
- 1/2 tsp arrowroot powder
- 1/2 tsp cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
Use a double boiler (or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water) to melt and mix together butters, wax, and oils. Remove glass bowl from the boiling pot and mix together remaining ingredients. Place the mixture into a makeup container or a clean, bpa free, lipstick tube. The warmth of your skin will melt the cream just enough to leave a smooth color that’s blendable and buildable. The great thing about this cream stick is that it can be applied as a cheek, eye, or lip stain!
Highlighter Cream:
- 1 pellet (½ tsp cocoa butter)
- 1 tsp Shea Butter
- 1/2 tsp beeswax
- 5 drops vitamin e oil
- 1/2 tsp arrowroot powder/clay
- 1/4-1/2 tsp mica powder until desired color intensity
Use a double boiler (or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water) to melt and mix together butters, wax, and oils. Remove glass bowl from the boiling pot and mix together remaining ingredients. Place the mixture into a makeup container or a clean, bpa free, lipstick tube. The warmth of your skin will melt the cream just enough to leave a smooth color that’s blendable and buildable.
This formula works with any mica/iron oxide. You can make your favorite colors into cream shadows, blush, and lipstick!
Brow Cream:
- 1/2 tsp beeswax pellets
- 1/2 tsp fractionated coconut oil
- 4 drops vitamin e oil
- 1/4 arrowroot powder
- 1/2 tsp color (or more for desired color)
For dark blonde color use ½ tsp cacao powder.
For dark brown color use ¼ tsp cacao powder and ⅛ tsp black iron oxide.
Use a double boiler (or glass bowl over a pot of boiling water) to melt and mix together beeswax and oils. Remove glass bowl from the boiling pot and mix together remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into makeup container and let cool. It’s very important to stir the mixture with a toothpick as it dries so that the pigment does not sink to the bottom. Smooth out the mixture with your fingers or press down with a clean paper towel once it’s dry. Apply this makeup with a small, fine makeup brush and use a brush (similar to mascara wand) to blend and shape brows. 
Pressed Powder
- 1/4 tsp arrowroot
- 1/4 tsp kaolin Clay
- 1/4-1/2 tsp mica
- drops of vitamin e oil (about 10 drops)
- rubbing alcohol (10-15 drops)
Mix all ingredients together until the mixture resembles wet, crumbly sand.
Fill up your makeup tin container with the mixture and lay a paper towel over the mixture. Then press down firmly with the backside of another makeup tin. You may have to press down a few times to make room for the remainder of the mixture. This formula fits into one makeup tin.
I purchased magnetic makeup tins on amazon and a magnetic makeup case to hold them!
You can even get fancy with your labels and give them as gifts! I just used loose leaf paper and packing tape for a quick gift, but you can totally do better than that! Ha!
There you go! Now you have a full face of safe makeup! Thank me later. ;)
Oh! And I personally love the look of false lashes. I’m extra sometimes. Instead of using scary glue that isn’t safe, makes a mess, burns your eyes, and can damage your lashes, I use these fabulous magnetic lashes! Don’t listen to the reviews. I promise it is not hard! Not to mention, I’m using the same ole’ faithful pair going on a year now. They give you some effortless boost. The key is to not getting the full strip, but the accents. I purchased mine from target, but can’t seem to find the 002 online anymore. I personally like the fuller look and prefer the 002 over the 001, so I found them at Walmart and linked them above!
Share with your friends and tag @leeleeandmeco on social media! I’d love to see your shades :)
Happy switching and ditching! Do better, look better, feel better.