Make your own makeup

It’s no secret that looking good can cost a fortune. With premium lipsticks costing around £40 a pop, and makeup brushes alone costing up to £100, the cost of makeup soon adds up. Add to this the list of unheard of chemicals in your cosmetics and it makes you wonder why you even bother to buy it at all! Luckily help is at hand - follow these easy steps and make your own! Transform basic ingredients you probably have lying around in your cupboard to awesome cosmetics in seconds for a fraction of the regular price.

Bronzer

This bronzer is 100% natural, meaning that unlike with the products bought from makeup stores, you know exactly what you’re putting on your face. Play with the ingredient amounts to find a shade that suits your skin colour - for darker skin, add more cocoa; for more glow, add a dash more cinnamon.

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tsp arrowroot powder
15 drops lavender or rosemary essential oil

Directions:

Adjust the levels of ingredients to your shade and mix well in a small bowl. Break up any clumps until smooth and pack firmly into a clean compact or tub.

Eye Shadow

Again made using all natural ingredients, this recipe can be the basis for a whole host of different coloured eye shadows. You could even combine different colours to make shades across the whole colour spectrum.

Ingredients:

¼ tsp arrowroot powder
⅛ tsp shea butter

Colourings:
Beetroot powder (pink)
Spirulina powder (green)
Nutmeg (beige)
Cocoa powder (brown)
Carbon powder (black)

Directions:

Combine the arrowroot powder with the chosen colouring until you get the desired shade. Add the shea butter for a creamy eye shadow. Pack tightly into an eyeshadow palette.

Lip Stain

Known for its bright pink pigment and staining quality, pomegranate makes the perfect lip stain - even better, it tastes delicious too! This lip stain can also double up as a cheek stain for a rosy looking glow.

Ingredients:

Handful of pomegranate seeds
½ tsp coconut oil

Directions:

Grind up the pomegranate seeds to extract the juice. Mix the juice with few drops of coconut oil and dab onto your lips and cheeks.

Mascara/ Eyeliner

Activated charcoal may not sound like something you have lying around at home, but it is essential for the black pigmentation, and can be picked up at pharmacies such as Boots.

Ingredients:

¾ tsp beeswax
½ tsp coconut oil
½ tsp shea butter
2 tsp aloe vera gel
1 capsule activated charcoal

Directions:

Place the beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter and aloe vera gel in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Heat gently over a low heat until all ingredients are combined. Break open a capsule of charcoal and add. Stir well, then funnel into a mascara tube, or put in a tub for use as eyeliner.

Lip Balm

Keep your lips kissable and moisturised with this all natural lip balm that takes just minutes to make.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
1 tablespoon beeswax
½ tablespoon honey
10 drops cinnamon or vanilla essential oil

Directions:

Place the coconut oil and beeswax in a bowl. Put the bowl over a small saucepan filled with simmering water and melt slowly. Once the coconut oil and beeswax is melted, add your honey and essential oil. Stir well. Quickly pour melted ingredients into your lip balm container. It will usually set up in about ten minutes.