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Healthy beauty products are not just for the earthy "flower child." With certain cosmetics containing synthetic ingredients that can alter your health, it only makes sense to choose a more natural route to beauty. Organic products are all the rage in Hollywood, yet they're hard on the wallet. Why not retrain you brain to look beyond the cosmetic counter and into your garden? You can craft organic makeup that rivals expensive department store brands by harvesting and scavenging what naturally occurs on the earth.
Lip Gloss
The prized root veggies that stain your cutting boards and clothing also can create glamorous hues on your lips. You might not equate beets with makeup when you first pull them from the ground and they are laden with dirt. Yet, as a resourceful earth goddess, you can easily muster up a concoction suitable for a night on the town. Wash, chop and quickly microwave the beets to produce an ample amount of juice (in lieu of this, use a juicer). Melt one-fourth cup of beeswax and combine it with one-fourth cup of castor oil, 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and the desired amount of beet juice. Store your new gloss in a glass container.
Bronzer
Mica, a sheet mineral found in many rock formations, produces a glimmer in direct light. This sheen is comparable to the synthetic sources used to make powders and blushes. Available in many tints, mica is a suitable bronzer for different complexions. You don't need to mine it out of a quarry to make your own makeup. Simply, melt 2 tablespoons of beeswax with 4 of tablespoons jojoba oil and 1 tablespoon of evening primrose oil. Remove the mixture from the heat and add 8 tablespoons of distilled water and 3 tablespoons of emulsifying wax. Allow it to cool and gradually sift in the mica. Go slowly. You always can add more, but you can't remove it once it's in.
Eye Shadow
Similar to the bronzer, mica also is used to make eyeshadow. Those with sensitive eyes will benefit from the natural nature of this accentuating powder. Formulated from ingredients you'd traditionally find in the baking aisle, homemade eyeshadows are safe for even allergy-prone ladies. Slowly add your desired shade of mica to one-half teaspoon of arrowroot powder, one-fourth teaspoon of magnesium stearate and one-half teaspoon of jojoba or coconut oil. Make a sampling of different colors for a professional presentation. This homespun mixture, when applied to the skin, blends just as well as expensive pressed shadows.
Face Powder
Homemade face powders can tone down redness or achieve a more uniform skin tone. Better yet, they last forever and are preservative-free. To concoct a loose powder, combine equal amounts of cornstarch and green clay powder (no, you will not look like the Incredible Hulk). Apply the powder to your face with a quality brush. When used as makeup, the clay powder provides an even base for your bronzer or homemade blush.
