With the prevalence of ingredients in cosmetic products that can cause issues ranging from clogged pores to hormonal imbalances,it’s important to keep a wary eye on the contents of any product you put on your skin. But caring for your skin doesn’t have to mean going without makeup!
Starting with a mineral-rich base, this easy DIY mineral clay eye shadow allows you to experiment with your natural look, without using ingredients that could be harmful to your skin.
How to Make Mineral Clay Eye Shadow
Truly, the most beautiful feature of this wonderfully simple eye shadow recipe is the healing bentonite clay. While it clearly isn’t the star ingredient of your typical mineral makeup, this unassuming volcanic ash clay powder is well known for its ability to draw out and absorb toxins, plus it’s antimicrobial and full of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Because of these natural properties, bentonite clay is commonly used both internally and externally for detoxification and healing. It is often used to help remove excess oils and debris from the skin. Even though it hardens when it dries, bentonite clay is soothing and calming to the skin. And the additional mineral content it has to offer makes it a perfect starting place for our eyeshadow base.
Perhaps the most difficult part of making this eye shadow will be choosing what colors to try! For a super natural look at low cost, start by searching through your kitchen cupboards. Grab cocoa powder for a rich brown and spices such as cinnamon, ginger, paprika, nutmeg, and turmeric for fun variations on natural tones.
But you don’t have to stop there. If you want to lean toward a little darker shades, mix in some food grade activated charcoal, or branch out to wider variations of color with ingredients like s pirulina and beetroot powders. You can even spring for a bit of shimmer by adding in natural mica powders.
Let’s get started
Begin by mixing the arrowroot starch and bentonite clay to create your eyeshadow base. Since I was making several different colors and shades of mineral clay eye shadow, I divided the base into parts before the next step. Note that the more base you use, the lighter your shade will be, so you may want to start with a small amount first and add more as you go to formulate your various shadows.
Now the fun part-add in your colors! Experiment by building on them bit by bit until you have reached your desired tints. Then add a few drops of almond oil to the powder. Mash and mix the drops of oil into the mixture until they are completely combined. If you feel the powder is still too dusty, add 1-2 more drops of oil, and repeat until the eye shadow is soft and sticks together just a bit.
Before using around the eyes, test the eye shadow on a small patch of skin on the inner wrist, and always avoid using any known allergens.
And it’s ready! Simply apply your eye shadow powders to well-moisturized skin, and have fun with your new natural look.
