How to Make Your Own Cosmetic Products

Every woman’s desire is to look good and feel beautiful. One way to look good is by using cosmetic products. But do you know how safe are your cosmetic products? Many cosmetics consist of synthetic chemicals that are harmful to your skin and body. Additionally, many people suffer allergic reactions to these synthetic compounds used by the cosmetic companies. For a listing of some of the toxic chemicals found in cosmetic products, check out: Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics.

freestocks.org at Pexels

Sometimes the easiest way to ensure that you’re using the best, healthiest products from makeup to lipstick is to simply make your own. You can easily make safe, effective beauty products including lotion and deodorant at home, using simple, healthy ingredients. Making your own cosmetics can be fun!

Try your hand at one or all of these basic recipes and rest assured that your skin is getting the best care you can give it. You should be able to find the basic ingredients listed below at your local pharmacy or health food store.

Making Your Own Makeup

Blush on

Materials:

Two parts Bordeaux mica, One part Oriental beige mica, One-half part Splendid blue mica, Spoon, Coffee-grinder (optional)

Note: generally one part = one cup, two parts = 2 cups, etc., depending on how large you plan on making your supply.

Instructions:

1. You can break the mica into small pieces by using a coffee grinder.

2. Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl with the spoon. Remove all lumps of unblended colors.

3. Put in a small jar and label. You can use a cotton ball or brush to apply.

4. Different minerals can be added to make lighter/darker blush. Sienna fine mica replaces Bordeaux mica for a lighter color and Blackstar red mica replaces Splendid blue mica for a darker blush.

Powder

This powder can be used as blush or eye shadow. It can also be used with clear gloss to make nail polish, or even to color bath and body products.

Materials:

One part Splendid Red mica, One part Bordeaux mica, One-half part Gold Fine mica, Coffee grinder

Instructions:

1. Measure the mica into the coffee grinder and blend for one minute. You can shake the grinder to see if any pigments are stuck under the blades and then grind again for a minute.

2. When everything is blended put in a small container and label.

Eye-makeup Remover

Materials:

One part castor oil, One part light olive oil, Two parts canola oil

Instructions:

1. Blend ingredients together and store in a bottle.

2. Apply with a cotton ball or tissue.

Lipstick

Materials:

Beeswax or carnauba wax for base, Castor oil, Mica pigments for color, Grapefruit seed oil, Vitamin E acetate, Vaseline, Plant oil

Instructions:

1. Combine a tablespoon of Castor oil with a half-teaspoon of desired mica pigments in a heat-resistant container and stir.

2. Combine one-half teaspoon of white beeswax, one-half teaspoon of carnauba wax, one-fourth teaspoon of vitamin E acetate, and one-eighth teaspoon of Vaseline.

3. Combine the two mixtures together and heat to no higher than 170 degrees using hot water or the microwave.

4. Add a drop of grapefruit seed oil.

5. Pour mixture into lipstick molds coated with plant oil.

6. If the lipstick becomes sticky, melt again. Let the mixture harden for a minute and then store in the fridge for two hours.

7. You can make this into lip gloss by adding more Vaseline and sunflower oil. Let everything melt together and then store.

Basic Deodorant Powder Formula

(from Better Basics for the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
Antibacterial essential oils such as cinnamon, rose, birch or lavender, as preferred

Procedure:

Place the baking soda and cornstarch in a glass jar. Add the essential oils; stir and cover. Dampen a powder puff, cotton ball or sea sponge and dab into the mixture (or sprinkle the mixture on the sponge); pat underarms. Makes 1 cup.

Aloe Vera Moisturizer

Aloe Vera is popularly used as a soothing moisturizer for dry and chapped skin and features some antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Olive oil is a powerful moisturizer that doesn’t clog pores. It’s particularly good for hands, feet, and lips, but use it wherever you are dry or chapped. Get the best quality you can — extra virgin contains the most skin-protecting antioxidants, and a little goes a long way.

What you need:

1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (Nut oils make a wonderful substitute for the olive oil)
1 large leaf from an aloe vera plant

Note: You can adapt this recipe in thousands of different ways and for a variety of different skin types.

Instructions:

Extract aloe vera gel from the plant. Mix the gel with the extra virgin olive oil. Apply a light layer to the skin. You can keep unused potion in refrigerator for up to 3 days

Simple Mask for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

By Julyne Derrick, About.com

This recipe is adapted from Paula Begoun’s book, ‘The Beauty Bible‘. According to Begoun in her famous book, Milk of Magnesia is actually liquid magnesium. Like clay, it’s from the earth, but has disinfecting qualities and absorbs oil better than clay. A friend of mine tried this and said her skin never felt better. She loved the natural qualities of the mask, which she doesn’t find in store bought products.

Ingredients:

* 1 bottle Milk of Magnesia (Paula insists no flavors, please)

Preparation:

Apply the Milk of Magnesia to face. Wash with cool washcloth after 10-15 minutes.

Natural Exfoliant for all Skin Types

Mix a tiny amount of brown sugar with olive oil in your palm. Once it turns into a paste, massage into your face. Cure chapped lips by mixing brown sugar with honey and massaging into lips. (Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and makeup artist Jemima Kidd, in the July 2008 issue of Cosmo)

Homemade Face Mask for Aging Skin

By Julyne Derrick, About.com

Sugar is a preferred exfoliant to salt because it tends not to tear at the skin. When dead skin collects on the surface of skin, it’s important to slough it away. This helps clear up clogged pores. When skin isn’t exfoliated, it can appear ashy.

Ingredients:

* 2 tbsp sugar
* 3 tbsp warm water

Preparation:

Step 1. Stir sugar into warm water so that it melts.
Make sure granules are dissolved, otherwise they could tear your skin.
Step 2. Apply to the face.
Step 3. Gently massage around the skin.
Step 4. Rinse with warm water OR I like to take a warm washcloth that’s steamed in the microwave. Make sure the washcloth is not too hot.

If you are interested in more recipes and resources. Check out: Make Your Own Cosmetics.

Sources: greeniacs.com, beauty.about.com, skincareresourcecenter.com
Photo: jewocity.com