Natural DIY Eyeliner (& Eyeshadow)
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DIY eyeliner recipe is a ridiculously tutorial on how to make your own natural eyeliner with two ingredients. If you love a good black eyeliner to make our eyes pop and lashes full that this recipe is for you. Follow my tips below on making homemade eyeliner.
You will need: activated charcoal, distilled water, and a small makeup brush.
This post was updated January 2019
I’m loving this makeup series! For one, I get to share with y’all natural and frugal makeup recipes. Secondly, I am so encouraged by everyone and your excitement about the recipes! So thank you!
This week I want to share with you how to make super simple DIY eyeliner, which you can also use at a smokey black eyeshadow!! It’s just two ingredients! I tested a few different versions of this.. I tried adding in a little coconut oil and aloe vera gel, just coconut oil, or just aloe. The version I’m going to share with you worked the best and stayed on the longest without getting sweaty and moving.
Why make your own homemade eyeliner?
I’ve been on a quest for a long time to switch all my makeup and skincare products to clean natural ones. The only problem is, we are on a tight budget and justifying really expensive natural makeup is difficult for me. Especially when they are so easy to DIY. Also, at the time of first publishing this article, there were very few natural options.
Now, doing a quick search on EWG’s website, it is amazing the amount of products that rank 1 or 2. Even some conventional brands. Goes to show that companies are listening.
Ok back to DIY eyeliner… have I mentioned how inexpensive it is. Truly, this is a really effective and cheap. It even does double duty, since this eyeliner can also be a eyeshadow. Bigger bang for your buck.
Tips for Making Homemade Eyeliner
- Used distilled water to help prevent bacteria.
- Use a very fine tip brush to apply homemade eyeliner
- Apply before putting in contacts to prevent the activated charcoal from getting on your contacts.
- For a really simple version, just take activated charcoal and dip your damp eyeliner brush in it.
How To Make DIY Eyeliner (& Eyeshadow) Recipe 2 Ways
DIY Eyeliner In a Pan
Ingredients:
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- 4 capsule activated charcoal
- A few drops of distilled water
- Empty eyeshadow tin
Step 1:
In a small container place 4 capsule of activated charcoal and dd a 2 drops of water and stir,
Step 2:
Continue to add water a drop or two at a time and stir until the charcoal starts to clump.
Step 3:
Slowly add the mixture to an empty and clean eyeshadow tin and press down with your fingers until smooth.
Step 5: (Optional)
If you the homemade eyeliner to be smooth in the eyeshadow container, take a spoon on and rubbed it against the top pressing down. I really only did this to take a nicer picture.
Really Easy DIY Eyeliner #2
Leave the charcoal loose and dip a damp brush in it. If you’re using it as eyeshadow make sure to tap off the extra charcoal well.
To use: Take a small brush like this one, dampen brush with water, wipe across pressed charcoal or dip into the loose charcoal, and use as you would normal eyeliner pencil! Of course try not to get it in your eyes!
For color variation: try cocoa powder for brown (I haven’t thoroughly tested this). For gray just use less activated charcoal.
Want more Homemade Makeup Recipes? Check these out!
- DIY Natural Foundation Powder – I’ve been using this recipe for 8 years now
- Homemade Natural Bronzer
- Homemade Natural Mascara
- Make your own Homemade Makeup Remover
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Ingredients
- 4 capsule activated charcoal
- few drops distilled water
Instructions
- n a small container place 4 capsule of activated charcoal. Add a 2 drops of water and stir, continue to add water a drop or two at a time and stir until the charcoal starts to clump. Slowly add the mixture to an empty and clean eyeshadow tin and press down with your fingers until smooth.
Notes
Have you tried to make your own homemade makeup before?
reminds me of ancient Egypt, eh?
Instead of water … for eye safety … use Visine type drops
Thank you, Amy! can’t wait to try it.
Hope you love it Caroline!
I am so in love with this recipe. I have been on the hunt for recipes for makeup. This is so easy and affordable! I can’t wait to make it.
I have always used Clinique eyeliner with a brush. The small thin brush makes it easier to apply. I can’t wait to try this. If line is to thick, try thinner brush.
I too have always used Clinique eyeliner with a brush (for approx. 15 years). Love it – controls so much better than any other I’ve used. I’ve always used plain tap water and have never had a problem or infection. I’m going to try this – sounds great and so much more economical!!!
This would not work for someone who tends to have oily lids. There’s no ingredient to protect from migration or creasing. This would be a mess for me! Do you have regular to dry skin?? Maybe that’s why it works for you.
I moisturize with coconut oil and put dry powder (natural) on my face before applying. That helps with creasing and smudging.
activated charcoal is used to filter aquariums and drinking water (in some cases)
i have a bottle of distilled water on hand for things like this.. i would never use tap water.. i won’t drink it unless it is filtered..
Also, I’ve heard of using coconut oil instead if water. Haven’t tried it though. I would think water would possibly introduce bacteria. Although, maybe the dip your brush in water/coconut oil and then in the charcoal would be the safest.
adding oil would be great, this is similar to what the indian make, my greatgrandparents are from india and they taught my grandparents how to make kajol, with ghee and deyas, very easy. so that is why i said coconut oil would be good to use.
I think coconut oil would melt and run.
Steve: Charcoal briquettes frequently contain fillers, chemicals and other additives that would make them unsuitable (and potentially lethal) to use in a water filter.
Activated charcoal is regular (pure) charcoal that has been specially treated to have gazillions of tiny pores, which increases the surface area enormously, which makes it much better at adsorbing undesirable substances than regular charcoal.
Activated charcoal is what they give to overdose patients.
Cleopatra used something similar to this as well as other ladies in that time period.
Could you post a different link to show us the brush you used??? I followed the link and it wouldn’t show and i would love to try this. How long does it last on your eyelids?? Just wondering 🙂 Betcha it does beautiful smoky look… Thanks for posting!!!
Question here.Not that I use eye lines,hehehe…but a question on safety.How safe is charcoal? Are there any cancer risks? Years ago,they (science community) warned against using a grill for cooking out doors as it posed a cancer risk with the charcoal as fuel. So,when I saw this,I wanted to inquire about its safety,and were there any tests done;by whom;and what results? Thanks.
Activated charcoal is different than the charcoal on burnt foods such as barbq and burnt toast. It is know to be harmless and is used in hospitals in casses of poisoning. This article should give you some info to quell your concerns. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/dict.aspx?rd=1&word=activated+charcoal Personaly I think it is a must have in a natural medicine cabinet.
I use activated charcoal by Nature Made for an upset stomach. It works fast! Pepto doesn’t work for me and it’s junky. And yes, used in hospital for overdoses. It absorbs toxins.
What is your recipe for using activated charcoal for an upset stomach? Thank you.
I’ve actually never done it. I know many people do. I bet wellness mama has something
http://www.ehow.com/info_8271219_difference-activated-charcoal-charcoal-briquettes.html
Great idea! I will definitely try this. One consideration though, perhaps boiling the water first and letting it cool… to destroy any bacteria that may be present, since this is used around the eye area.
I think I would use sterile saline or multi-purpose contact solution for sanitation.
Another neat recipe! I haven’t used the brush eyeliner yet, but Carmandy on TLC always does:)
It was a little different for me too, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly!
Just curious, how well does it stick? I mean does it stay in place for awhile or does it run after a bit? For me that isn’t a deal killer since even commercial eyeliners seem to smudge under my eyes in the summer (perhaps b/c it is about 1000 degrees and 100 percent humidity lately)
How cool is this?! Thanks for sharing with us this week at Monday Funday!
Take care,
Trish
Any suggestions on how to make brown eyeliner?
If you want brown, try using cocoa power as opposed to activated charcoal.
oh eye liner….if you keep this up I will never have to buy makeup again 🙂
Thank You Amy!
Hahah I hope you don’t have too!
This looks like such a great money saver! The more you post about homemade makeup, the more I’m wanting to try it! I’m stopping by from Inspire Me Please (#2 Budget Bathroom Makeover and 11 Inspiring Ideas) Have a great weekend!
You totally should Carrie! It’s all super easy!!!