5 DIY Zero Waste Cosmetics That Will Transform Your Look
Zero waste cosmetics are not only environmentally friendly because they don’t need packaging, but they’re also totally free of any of those nasty or unknown chemicals that are used in storebought cosmetics! Try out any of these recipes next time you need new makeup!
1. Blush
Add some colour to your cheeks with your own homemade blush! Skip the weird chemicals so you know exactly what’s going on your face and make this blush. Your cheeks will be rosy and gorgeous like never before!
Ingredients:
-arrowroot powder
-beetroot powder
Take your beetroot powder and mix it with arrowroot as desired to create a powder blush. Toss into an empty blush container or a container that will fit however much you decide to make!
You can buy beetroot powder online or in a store, but if you want to make your own, buy some beets, dehydrate them, and then grind into a powder with a food processor (if you’re making a lot), spice grinder, or coffee grinder.
If you don’t have easy access to beets or the colour is too intense for you, try using dehydrating and grinding strawberries into a powder!
2. Eyeliner/Mascara
This easy recipe requires few ingredients that are fairly common and easy to find. It’s also very simple to make and only takes 5 minutes! I recommend using a mortar and pestle to mix the ingredients together as it’s easier to work the oils into the charcoal and bentonite clay.
Ingredients:
-1/2 tsp shea butter
-1 tbsp activated charcoal
-2-3 drops olive oil
-1 tsp bentonite clay
Mix together using a mortar and pestle or just in a bowl. Transfer the powder to a tin or a small, shallow container. To use, dip eyeliner brush or mascara wand in water and cover in your powder. Apply to eyes. This recipe makes for a bit of a heavy mascara, so make sure to curl your lashes after you apply it!
3. Eyebrow Pigment and Gel
Sometimes, you just need to fill in and tame your unruly brows. This recipe is similar to the mascara/eyeliner one above, but you can use any shade of cocoa powder that matched your natural brows best. If you’re blond, mix some arrowroot powder with cocoa powder to create a lighter shade. For black hair, stick with activated charcoal!
Ingredients:
For the brow pigment:
-1/2 tsp shea butter
-1 tbsp pigment you decide to use
-2-3 drops olive oil
-1 tsp bentonite clay
For the brow gel:
-Aloe Vera gel
Style your brows with the gel and let it harden. Dip a line brush in water and then dip it in your brow pigment. Fill your brows as you normally would.
Bonus: to make a tinted brow gel, mix some of your brow pigment with Aloe Vera. Style as usual
4. Powder Foundation
For those of you who like a powder foundation to even out skin tone, this recipe is perfect for you! Just combine the ingredients until it’s an even colour all the way through and apply to your face with a powder brush!
Ingredients:
-2 tbsp arrowroot powder or cornstarch
-1/4 tsp bentonite clay
-1/4 – 1/2 tsp cocoa powder
-1/4 – 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
-pinch – 1/4 tsp ground cloves
-pinch – 1/4 tsp ground ginger (neutralizes blue undertones)
-pinch – 1/4 tsp ground sage (neutralizes red undertones)
-10 drops nourishing oil (jojoba oil, sweet almond oil or vitamin E oil)
Add the arrowroot powder and bentonite clay in a bowl and whisk well. Add the cocoa powder and the rest of the ingredients a bit at a time to find the best colour for you. The above recipe makes quite a pale foundation, so if you find yourself needing something a bit darker, start by adding more cocoa powder and go from there!
If you want to make a stick or creme foundation, experiment by adding the powder to melted shea butter and beeswax! Make sure it’s the right colour for your skin as it’s difficult to change the colour of creme!
5. Bronzer
This recipe is similar to the powder foundation, but it’s a bit darker to add shadows to the face. Apply like you would a normal bronzer or contour!
Ingredients:
-cocoa powder
-arrowroot powder or cornstarch
Like the blush, this recipe is super simple and requires only two ingredients! Mix arrowroot with cocoa powder to create the right shade for your face. You’ll want it to be a bit darker than your skin but not too dark! For more of a “bronzer” look, add some turmeric. For more of a “contour” pigment, stick with cocoa powder. A bulk store might carry more than one kind of cocoa powder and you can find ones that are darker, lighter, or reddish that might suit your skin tone better!
You can also make this one into a creme by adding the powder to melted shea butter and beeswax!
