How to Make DIY Makeup You’ll Actually Use

I’ve experimented with plenty of DIY projects over the years. Everything from lotion bars to toothpaste to vanilla latte scrub. I get a lot of questions about natural makeup and what I use. So it’s probably no surprise that I’ve learned how to make a lot of my own DIY natural makeup!

Makeup was definitely one of the toughest things for me to find natural alternatives for. In college, I practically collected makeup, and had endless tubes, compacts, and brushes that never even got half used.

Here’s a collection of what I’ve made and had the best results with. 

Natural Makeup

While there are some good natural alternatives that you can buy (see list below), the cheapest and most natural way is to just make your own. You might have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already!

Want to Buy It?

Not into DIYing your own makeup or don’t want to purchase all of the ingredients? Here are my favorite places to buy natural, healthier makeup. You’ll find everything from foundation to blush to lipstick to eye makeup, and more. 

• Jane Iredale
• Toups and Co. Organics

Natural Skin Care

What you do to your skin before you use makeup is just as important as the makeup you use. Thankfully there are some great natural options for skin care. 

I absolutely love the oil cleansing method, which leaves skin soft and smooth by using natural oils to balance the skin. I typically use the oil cleansing method at night and wash my face with raw honey if needed in the morning. 

You can also use sugar scrubs and face masks to keep skin glowing. Find a ton of natural skincare recipes to customize your own skincare routine here. 

With proper skin care, the skin will be naturally healthy and you won’t even need to wear makeup most of the time. Most days, I skip the makeup altogether. When I do wear it, these are the recipes and products I use.

Natural Foundation

I’ve used cocoa powder for dry shampoo before, so why not try it for makeup too? A friend of mine recommended using cocoa for bronzer, so I experimented with my own natural foundation powder using it. The resulting recipe is similar to mineral makeup 

I start with arrowroot powder and zinc oxide, then slowly add in cocoa powder and finely ground cinnamon. I also add a pinch of white cosmetic clay, Fuller’s Earth Clay, French green clay, and a touch of gold mica powder. Just add a little at a time until you get the shade you want. The zinc offers more coverage, and the mica makes it smoother and my skin looks more radiant. 

Don’t have those ingredients? A simple mix of arrowroot and a small amount of cocoa powder and cinnamon works well. They won’t offer as much coverage (and be careful since cinnamon can irritate skin). 

Here are some more natural foundation options:

• Natural Liquid Foundation
• Tinted Face Lotion (like BB cream) 
• DIY Highlighter and Concealer

Natural Bronzer/Blush

For a simple homemade bronzer, use arrowroot, cocoa powder, and a pinch of cinnamon to get a darker shade. Some finely ground dried beet root or hibiscus flowers can also add a pink tone. They have to be very finely ground though to work! 

You can also add some zinc oxide powder to the base and red or pink mica powder for some extra sparkle. 

• DIY Cream Blush and Bronzer
• Powder Blush Tutorial

Natural Eye Makeup

Always be careful when using any products, even natural ones, near the eyes. Those who wear contact lenses may need to be extra careful to avoid any scratching. That said, here are some of my favorite DIY options for the eye area. 

• Colorful Natural Eyeshadow (my favorite is cocoa powder with a pinch of arrowroot)
• DIY Natural Mascara
• Coffee Under Eye Cream (to perk up tired eyes)
• Intensive Shea Butter Eye Cream
• Eyelash Growth Serum

Some days I’m just feeling lazy and want a quick mascara option. I’ll mix a few drops of natural aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, and a pinch of activated charcoal. Not very precise… I know. Use a mascara wand to apply. 

For eyeliner, I either use a tiny bit of cocoa powder mixed with coconut oil, or a tiny dab of activated charcoal and whipped shea butter. 

To make a smoother eyeliner, I mix equal parts of coconut oil and shea butter (about 1/2 ounce of each) and add about 1/2 tsp of activated charcoal to make a thicker black eyeliner. You can also do this with cocoa powder for a brown hue.

DIY Natural Lips

You probably don’t expect to find lead in your lipstick, yet there it is in small amounts. Plus other harmful ingredients that we end up absorbing and swallowing throughout the day. Here are some recipes to avoid the toxins and make your own!

• Natural Shimmer Lip Balm
• Natural Tinted Lip Balm
• Homemade Lipstick
• Natural Lip Gloss
• Homemade Lip Balm (if you want moisturizing without color)

Natural Makeup Remover

Skip the need for buying an extra product (probably full of less than ideal ingredients) and try one of these simple, natural makeup removers. You probably already have the ingredients around the house!

• DIY Face Wipes
• Natural Makeup Remover Ideas
• How to Naturally Clean Makeup Brushes (while you’re at it!)

Supplements for Skin Care

I’m firmly convinced that what we put in our bodies is just as important, if not more than what we put on it when it comes to skin health. I used to have terrible acne. Since changing my diet (removing dairy), healing my gut, and taking supplements, I don’t break out at all. And… my past scars have healed. The supplements that seemed to have made the biggest difference for me are:

• Fish Oil– For vitamins A, D, and K, omega-3s, and antioxidants, all of which are great for the skin.
• Gelatin – A precursor for collagen that’s made my hair, skin, and nails noticeably stronger and smoother (great for cellulite too).
• Magnesium– An anti-inflammatory (and most of us don’t get enough!). Topical Magnesium Oil seems to be the most effective for skin health.

Ever made your own makeup? What’s the toughest thing to find natural versions of for you? Let me know below!