Make up your own make up
DIY beauty for vegan eco warriors
Sometimes, simple is best: accessible, clean ingredients with minimal processing. One way that you can know for sure what goes into your make up, is to make it yourself! So, jump on the eco beauty wagon and try creating these easy homemade make up ideas.
Eyeshadow
Make your own all-natural eyeshadow by mixing a base of ¼-½ tsp arrowroot powder with different coloured spices, herbs and dried ingredients until you get the desired colour. The more arrowroot powder you use, the lighter the eyeshadow will be. To finish, mix in ¼-½ tsp shea butter. Make sure to mix or ‘cream’ it in thoroughly so that you get a soft, silky powder. Play around with different spices to discover new colours (just stay away from chilli powders!). Store in a clean tub in a cool, dry place.
Colour ideas:
• Pink: ½ tsp arrowroot powder, ½ tsp dried beet powder, pinch cacao powder, ½ tsp shea butter.
• Brown: ½ tsp arrowroot powder, 1 tsp cacao or cocoa powder, ½ tsp shea butter.
• Golden yellow/brown: ½ tsp arrowroot powder, ¼-½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp nutmeg, pinch cacao/cocoa powder, ½ tsp shea butter.
• Purple: ½ tsp arrowroot powder, ¼ tsp dried beet powder, ¾ tsp hibiscus powder, ½ tsp shea butter.
Eyeliner
With a few natural ingredients, you can have a homemade eyeliner that will effortlessly define your eyes. You will need one vegan vitamin E capsule (available at Holland and Barrett or on Amazon), three capsules of activated charcoal/1 tsp activated charcoal powder (available at Holland and Barret or on purearth.co.uk), ½ tsp aloe vera gel, toothpick, sterilised tub or clean eyeliner tub.
Start by breaking open the vitamin E capsule into the tub, then mix in the aloe vera gel. Next, add the charcoal powder and stir thoroughly with your toothpick. Voila! That’s it — a pure, vegan and natural eyeliner.
Cheek and lip stain
Probably the easiest recipe on this page is for this cheek and lip stain; you only need three ingredients! In a small glass measuring cup, mix 1 tsp shea butter with 1 tsp castor oil (from castor beans). Set the vessel in simmering water until the shea butter melts. Next, stir in 1 tsp dried beetroot powder, removing the cup from the water bath and allowing the mixture to cool. Pour into a clean container and there you have it — a long-lasting lip and cheek tint.
Loose bronzer powder
Give yourself a glow-up with a DIY bronzer! In a small bowl, simply mix together 2 tsp arrowroot powder, 1 tbsp cinnamon powder, 1 tsp nutmeg and
1 tsp cacao/cocoa powder. Change the shade of the powder by playing around with the amounts of the ingredients. Carefully spoon the bronzer into a clean, empty loose powder container and store in a cool, dry place.
If you prefer a compact powder to a loose one, add in 10-15 drops of rosemary or lavender essential oil, or your favourite variety, and pack down the powder into an empty compact container.