Homemade waterproof eyeliner made with beeswax, oil, and activated charcoal. With just 3 ingredients, it is super easy to make and use.
Anytime we “put” something on our skin, especially in sensitive areas such as around the eyes, it is necessary to be aware of the ingredients and the potential effects they will have on the skin.
Conventional eyeliners are often filled with ingredients that can irritate the eyes. Over time, using eyeliner on the inner eyelid can be harmful to your eyes.
Most women use eyeliner daily to enhance their eyes and give them a more “defined look.”
Thankfully, learning how to make eyeliner is very simple and it works great! I am going to share with you a brown and black eyeliner recipe with natural ingredients you can most likely find in your pantry.
Just as it is important to be aware of the food that we put in our bodies, it is important to consider the products we are putting on our skin.
Most women are exposed to hundreds of chemicals daily and don’t even realize it.
From shampoo to makeup, we are smearing toxic ingredients all over our bodies every single day.
Most conventional eyeliners contain parabens, formaldehyde, preservatives, synthetics, and butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole, or BHT and BHA.
These ingredients are highly toxic and can cause irritations. In fact, some of these are not even allowed to be used in certain countries.
Making your own makeup is not hard to do and you can be confident that you are not applying harmful ingredients to your face.
To make eyeliner, you will need wax, oil, and something to color it.
To make black eyeliner, you can use activated charcoal and to make brown eyeliner, you can use cocoa powder. Cocoa powder will come in handy to make dry shampoo, setting powder and foundation too!
Making your own eyeliner will save you so much money as it is very cost-effective to make.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
Beeswax has a way of making its way into many of my makeup recipes, most recently in my smudge-free mascara and matte lipstick recipes.
For good reasons, though, beeswax has wonderful properties for the skin and is naturally anti-bacterial. In addition, the beeswax will give the eyeliner the perfect texture and it will make it waterproof.
You can use coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, or any other carrier oil for this recipe. The oil will give the eyeliner a smooth texture making it easy to apply.
I used coconut oil because it has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties and can help to keep your skin healthy.
You will need a little water in this recipe to get the perfect consistency. Use distilled water to prevent bacteria and extend the shelf life of the eyeliner
Vitamin E oil has incredible benefits for the skin and can help reduce signs of aging and dark circles under the eyes.
It has a thick consistency and can add the perfect texture to your homemade eyeliner. This recipe can be made without it, but the vitamin E oil will add lots of benefits for your skin.
Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from bone char, bamboo, wood, coconut husk, peat, petroleum pitch, coal, olive pits, or sawdust.
It can be used to absorb toxins and gently detoxify the skin. I love using an activated charcoal mask to keep my skin healthy.
Cocoa powder is the perfect powder to use to make brown eyeliner. Cocoa powder is used in my homemade eyeshadow and has great properties for the skin and can soften, clear, and reduce signs of aging.
For a dark brown color, mix equal parts activated charcoal and cocoa powder.
This recipe makes a liquid eyeliner that can be applied with a small eyeliner brush. If you have shaky hands, do this sitting down with your elbow resting on the table to steady your hands.
To apply, start at the inside and move toward the temples.
Do not get the eyeliner in the eyes!
You can apply your eyeliner to the top lid and lower eyelid.
And that’s it! It is becoming increasingly popular to follow up any makeup with a setting spray. The setting spray will help keep the eyeliner in place and really define the color.
This eyeliner will last up to one month. With the added water in this recipe, I suggest throwing it out after one month to prevent spoiling.
Activated charcoal can be very messy and stain almost everything. I learned this the hard way when I had a child with an unknown rash and I made a draw salve.
If you want to make eyeliner without charcoal you can use cocoa powder to color your liner. Cocoa powder makes a pretty brown color and is less messy than charcoal.
Beeswax forms a barrier on the skin, making water run right off. It is high in vitamin A and can support cell regeneration. The beeswax in this recipe is what will make this eyeliner waterproof.
To make this recipe vegan, substitute beeswax for soy wax. The ingredients are very similar and require no measurement adjustments.
Store this eyeliner in an airtight container to make a perfect on-the-go makeup.
I do hope you enjoyed this simple makeup recipe. If you enjoy DIYing it, consider this all-natural lip liner recipe next.
All-natural toxic-free eyeliner made with beeswax, oil, and activated charcoal. Super simple recipe!
from votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Recipe Saved!Create Mode
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time
2
minutes
mins
Active Time
5
minutes
mins
Additional Time
5
minutes
mins
Total Time
12
minutes
mins
saucepan
Small container for storage
1/16
teaspoon
beeswax
½
teaspoon
oil
¼
teaspoon
water
½
teaspoon
activated charcoal or cocoa powder
more or less depending on preference
2-3
drops vitamin E oil
optional
Measure out the beeswax and oil and place in a small saucepan.
Melt the ingredients over medium heat.
Once melted, remove from heat and pour into a small container.
Let it cool slightly, then add in vitamin E oil.
Add in activated charcoal or cocoa powder, depending on your color choice, and stir to combine.
If it needs to be thinned out, add a few drops of water at a time and stir in well.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was and mention us on Instagram @ouroilyhouse
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.
Do you know what’s in that store-bought eyeliner you’re using? Chances are it's loaded with toxins and packaged in plastic. And no matter how much you love your favorite eyeliner, it’s just not worth the risk to your well-being or the environment. With homemade eyeliner, you can skip the harmful ingredients and opt for a clean, green alternative.
If you’re not exactly sure how to make cosmetics from scratch, check out the easy-to-follow recipes below to get started. With rich, all-natural ingredients, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been treating your eyelids to these bold liners sooner.
Why Make Your Own Homemade Eyeliner?
Still not convinced? Here are eight reasons to try homemade eyeliner:
Waste Reduction
Cosmetics are notorious for their disposable packaging, containers, and applicators. And where does all that plastic wind up? Sadly, an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic make their way to the ocean each year.
While a few companies are leading the way on sustainable packaging and zero-waste, you can avoid any unwanted disposables by making your own eyeliner and storing it in a reusable container.
Clean Ingredients
Eyeliner in ancient Egypt often contained harmful amounts of lead. Centuries later, today’s most popular brands aren’t much better.
With homemade eyeliner, you’ll avoid the parabens, D&C Black No. 2, and formaldehyde releaser found in many products.
Customizable Colors
Instead of relying on color palettes provided by cosmetics manufacturers, you can customize your DIY eyeliner to fit your preferences.
Using charcoal as an ingredient will give you a classic black smokey eye look, while cocoa powder offers a more natural-looking appearance. If you’d like to mix it up, try beetroot powder for a reddish pink pop or arrowroot powder for a creamy white liner.
Cruelty Free Cosmetics
Despite some progress in recent years, the sad truth is that animal testing remains a reality for many big-name cosmetics brands. By choosing your own vegan and cruelty free ingredients, you can ensure that your DIY mascara doesn’t involve any inhumane treatment.
Skin-Friendly Oils
Coconut oil, almond oil, avocado oil, and grapeseed oil can all be used as a primary ingredient in your eyeliner. No matter which skin-friendly oil you choose, it will help your liner glide on smoothly and keep your skin hydrated.
Water-Resistant
The dreaded post-swim smudging can easily be avoided with the addition of beeswax to your homemade eyeliner. Beeswax naturally repels water, leaving you with beautifully applied eyeliner—even after you get caught in an unexpected rain shower.
Affordable Beauty
Even drugstore eyeliner can cost you $10 a pop. But with these DIY eyeliner recipes, you’ll be using small quantities of multipurpose ingredients that you likely already have at home. There’s no doubt that it’s more cost-effective to make your own.
Easy Application
Homemade eyeliner means you’re not limited to a dull pencil or cheap applicator. Creamy DIY eyeliners glide on smoothly, and you can easily use a small angled brush that you already own and love. Just be sure to regularly clean your makeup brushes to eliminate unwanted oils and bacteria.
You can store your homemade eyeliner in any reusable small container, such as an old lip balm tin or individual eyeshadow pot—just make sure it has been thoroughly cleaned and sterilized.
The eyeliner should be stored in a dark, cool place. A refrigerator is ideal.