Zero waste makeup
Bee Sustainable, Columns
Bee Sustainable, Columns

Bee Sustainable: How to make your own zero-waste makeup

Written by Julia Gralki

Makeup products might be some of the hardest to replace by zero waste alternatives. Most makeup products come in plastic containers and don’t last much longer than a few months. So, how can you make your own sustainable makeup at home?  

Mascara and eyeliner

For this recipe, you will need activated charcoal, shea butter, bentonite clay and olive oil. To mix it all together, you will need a mortar and pestle. The end result works both as mascara and eyeliner. The following recipe was borrowed from the blog Going Zero Waste.

Mix 1 tablespoon of activated charcoal, ½ teaspoon of shea butter, 1 teaspoon of bentonite clay and 3 drops of olive oil using a mortar and pestle. Make sure to smoothly combine the oils with the powder.

If you want to use the mixture as an eyeliner, dip a line brush into water and then into the mixture. If you want to use it as mascara, you will need a used mascara wand. Also, dip it in water and then in the mix. Shake off any excess powder and apply it to your eyelashes. If you want to curl your lashes, do that after applying the mascara.

Foundation powder

For this foundation powder recipe, you will need arrowroot powder, cocoa powder, ginger powder and bentonite clay. The recipe is also borrowed from the blog Going Zero Waste.

Arrowroot powder is actually great for the skin as it helps clear acne. Organic cocoa powder fights wrinkles and skin damage, while bentonite clay removes toxins and helps with acne as well.

To make your own foundation powder, mix 1 large teaspoon of cocoa powder, 1 large teaspoon of arrowroot powder, ½ teaspoon of ginger and ½ teaspoon of bentonite clay together and combine well. Then, all you have to do is dip a powder brush into the mixture, dust off the excess and apply it to your face.

You can store the powder in a used tin or jar, where it will last for 9 months or more.

Cream Concealer

This recipe for a zero-waste cream concealer is one of the more challenging DIY makeup recipes because you will have to use a sensitive scale to measure the weight of the ingredients. The recipe includes beeswax, cupuacu butter and cocoa butter, which give the concealer a creamy texture. The recipe was borrowed from Treehugger.

Here’s what you need:

  • 4 grams beeswax
  • 7 grams cupuacu butter
  • 5 grams cocoa butter
  • 4 grams sea-buckthorn seed oil
  • 4 grams rosehip oil
  • 1 gram vitamin E oil
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon non-nano titanium dioxide
  • 1/2 teaspoon sericite mica
  • 1 teaspoon bentonite clay
  • 2 1/4 multani mitti clay
  • 1/4 teaspoon cocoa powder

Here’s what to do:

  • Melt the beeswax, cupuacu butter, cocoa butter, sea-buckthorn seed oil, rosehip oil and vitamin E oil in a hot water bath.
  • Take off the heat and mix it with titanium dioxide, sericite mica and the clays.
  • Add as much cocoa powder as needed to reach the desired shade.
  • Add into a container and let it cool down before using.

Final thoughts

While making your own makeup doesn’t only save plastic waste, it’s also a fun experiment. Also, homemade makeup is better for your skin and helps combat acne.

You likely won’t have most of the ingredients at home needed to make DIY makeup, but you can easily get them in online zero-waste stores that will send your order in plastic-free and compostable packaging.

,
TOP