Making Mineral Cosmetics

Making mineral cosmetics is quick, easy and fun!

All you need is a few basic ingredients and a few recipes to try out to see which works for you. These days they are all over the internet, or you can purchase one of my books.

Some people like to start with lip balms and lipsticks, others like to play with foundations or eyeshadows.

A lip balm, lipstick and lipgloss are made with a blend of waxes (beeswax, carnauba wax) and oils (apricot, jojoba, meadowfoam seed) with the ratio depending on the stiffness of the product required. Mica and oxides are blended to colour the blend, and essential oils can be added for flavour.

A foundation is made with a fine white powder (rice is the most common followed by arrowroot or corn flour), blended with clay and/or mica (sericite for a wee bit of glow, semi-matt or translucent for a sheer finish), a bit of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide (natural sunscreens) and some coloured oxides - yellow, brown, red, blue and green - sounds odd, I know. next you need some tools - a blender, scales or measuring spoons and a mini scoop.

Eyeshadows are a similar method to foundations... they can be made with oxides, micas or a combination of both.

BB Creams are a blend of a nourishing moisturiser and a light sunscreen. It is easy to create your own BB cream by creating a blend of vegetable and essential oils with properties to treat your skin. Combine this with your mineral powder foundation and package in an airless tube to minimise the bacterial contamination.

• For light coverage blend 1 1/2 Tbsp of oil to 1 tsp of powder
• For medium coverage blend 2 Tbsp of oil to 1 1/2 Tbsp of powder
• For maximum coverage blend 2 Tbsp of oil to 2 Tbsp of powder

Primers are used before you apply your makeup to create a smoother surface and prevent your makeup from lodging itself into any deep pores or scars/wrinkles. An easy primer to make uses a hydrosol and glycerin with witchhazel and essential oils, in a mist spray bottle. The ratios will depend on how dry your skin is. It can also be used as a finishing spray after you have applied your makeup for a dewy finish. Select a hydrosol and essential oil that works for your skin type.

Start with 1 Tbsp (15ml) each of hydrosol and witchhazel, add 2 tsp (10ml) of glycerin into a 50ml spray bottle. Blend by shaking, and add 1-2 drops of essential oil.

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