Create your own make up (plus lip gloss recipe!)

The magic and wonderful ingredient you need to make gorgeous lip balms and lipsticks, eye shadows and blushers and shimmery bronzers and highlighters is… mica.

Mica powder is simply a purified and crushed mineral which is mined from the earth. Pure mica is white or colorless, but it can be coloured using mineral or organic pigments to create a rainbow of shades.

Available in loads of different colours it is so much fun to play with! Pure mica is white or colorless, but it can be coloured using mineral or organic pigments to create a rainbow of shades. You can blend and mix to achieve just the shade you want and add a little cosmetic grade glitter too if you want something with a bit more sparkle!

Mica can also be added to oils, balms and body butter to add a touch of shimmer. Try adding a little gold mica to the Heavenly Body Oil recipe for a gorgeous oil body oil with a touch of subtle shimmer. This would make the most AMAZING Christmas presents (if you’re starting to think ahead!).

Raspberry Shimmer Lip Gloss

So super simple to make! You’ll need:

1g beeswax
13g castor oil
0.5-1g pink mica (I used a pinch measure which is roughly equal to 0.5g. This creates quite a subtle pink shimmer. Use more for a bolder colour)
1 drop geranium essential oil (optional)
Lip gloss tube

1. Melt the beeswax together with the castor oil over a bain-marie.
2. Once it’s melted add the essential oil and the mica and stir in well.
3. While the mixture is still warm pour into your lip gloss tube (you can use a syringe to help you). If the mixture starts to set before it’s in the tube simply warm it up again. Leave some space at the top of the tube or it will overflow when you put the lid on.