This homemade eye liner is as natural as you can get – just three ingredients, all non-toxic.
As an “all natural” mama I don’t tend to wear makeup on a daily basis. More like, weekly or even monthly. I have sensitive eyes that tend to get irritated easily by mascara and eye liner. I’ve tried a few natural brands of makeup that I liked a lot, but still found that my eyes were too sensitive for them.
Then I found this amazing tutorial on how to make homemade mascara from Robin at Thank Your Body! She is a genius I tell ya! Her mascara is made with coconut oil, aloe vera gel, bees-wax, and charcoal. All natural ingredients that, so far, have not irritated my eyes! Yay!
Robin has a cool e-book she wrote called, “Toxic Free: 70 Recipes for a Toxic Free Home.” This e-book was filled with cool recipes for making your own laundry detergent, all-purpose cleaner and even homemade cosmetics!
Robin was kind enough to let me share her recipe for homemade eye liner from her e-book. This eye liner is easy to make, just make sure to gently melt the coconut oil before mixing it with the other ingredients. You can order the activated charcoal online if you can’t find it at your local health food store.
Homemade non-toxic eye liner ingredients
Alright, let’s talk ingredients:
- Coconut oil (that’s a link to my explainer on finding the best storebought coconut oil; you can also make your own coconut oil at home with this easy recipe)
- Aloe vera
- Activated charcoal (try these if you don’t have a favorite brand)
Additionally, you’ll need a mixing bowl, a spoon, and an airtight container for storage. Simple and straightforward.
Homemade eyeliner FAQ
Yes, use cocoa powder to make brown eye liner, or other natural colored powders to make a variety of different colors of eye liner.
No, unfortunately this eye liner is not water proof.
Follow the instructions in the recipe card below to make this homemade eyeliner.
Homemade Non-Toxic Eye Liner
This homemade eye liner is as natural as you can get using only 3, non-toxic ingredients; coconut oil, aloe vera and activated charcoal.
- Category: Beauty
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 4 teaspoons aloe vera gel
- 1 – 2 capsules of activated charcoal (for black) OR 1/2 tsp cocoa powder (for Brown)
Instructions
- Thoroughly mix all ingredients.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Be sure to store this in a dark and cool place. Use a clean brush to ensure you don’t introduce any bacteria to the mixture.
great
★★★★★
Your dish is fantastic. I’ll give it a go.
Very Helpful and Informative post.
Nice tips. Used to put some lavender oil to my mascaras for years. Now using it in my Cherish Mascara which is nourishing itself, so the effect is double. Thanks!
★★★★★
I love everything from the coconut. Especially the coconut water.
Thankyou for sharing this with us!
I was cured of herpes simplex virus, The Doctor’s email Robinsonbuckler11@ {{ gmail }} com………
★★★★★
Very Helpful and Informative post.
Coconut oil and aloe vera make it more waterproof because it’s oily. I checked)) I either prepare it myself or use Cherish mascara with vitamins, nearly no chemicals there.
I would like to know how long this kind of make up lasts in the containers…? a traditional foundation, for example, would last 6 months since opened, but I have no clue how about this natural products… can’t wait to try them!!
Can you use Vitamin E capsule or Flaxseed Oil capsule instead of the coconut oil? Or a mix, thinking it would make it creamy and less clumpy.
What is the shelf life of this eyeliner?
Would powdered lapis work if I wanted ultramarine?
Hmm I haven’t tried it so I can’t say. Let me know how it works if you try it!
I wondered if I could use activated charcoal powder or it would be too drying for the skin. On a different notion, I recently noticed that aloe vera is listed as a cancer concern ingredient by skindeep, ewg.org, along with Tocopheril aka vit E. Is there anything safe nowadays?? ????????
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Aloe vera, as applied to the skin, was NOT studied, and is stated to be highly UNlikely to be carcinogenic. This was as related to excessive internal use.
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/aloe_vera_508.pdf
Not sure where you got that Vit E (tocopherol) is carcinogenic.
The article on EWG stated concern that without the inflammation from a sunburn, one might not know that they have received damage. “Sunburns mean that UVB rays have inflicted DNA damage. Anti-inflammatory ingredients can suppress a natural sunburn response for up to 6 hours.
Many sunscreens contain antioxidants that possess anti-inflammatory properties. Among them: vitamin E (often listed as tocopherol), vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or other antioxidant-rich extracts derived from fruits, nuts, roots, leaves or other parts of plants. The common sunscreen ingredients oxybenzone and homosalate suppress inflammation.”
https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2015/07/don-t-get-burned-high-spf-sunscreen#.Wph-5e7wYy4
You gave me hope . I made the liner with aloe , coconut oil & activated charcoal. But it is a little lumpy & does not go on evenly…any tips?
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I don’t know if its because i live in Texas, where coconut oil is liquid at room temp, but i have to omit the coconut oil for it to work. What else could i use to make it smoother?
You mentioned Beeswax earlier in your text but didn’t include it in the recipe. I’m confused.
Thanks for clarifying.
-Sally
I mentioned beeswax in the mascara recipe. The eye liner recipe doesn’t call for it. 🙂
Why is there a line through “activated charcoal” now? no longer recommended? Need something black for ridiculously sensitive skin. Thank you very much!
I can’t wait to try this! Do you have any suggestions for ingredients to make different color eyeliner?
★★★★★
I like to add beetroot to make a reddish -pink????
Hi.. is there an alternative to aloe vera gel please?
Is this eyeliner safe for the waterline?
Yes, this is safe for you’re waterline????
I was so excited to try this and finally find some natural liner, however it doesn’t go on thick to give you an actual real line, and by the end of the day it’s all gone. Do you know what I can do to actually get it to thicken and actually appear on the skin?
Love the idea of all natural. I’ve been looking for a natural chemical free root touch up to cover my gray hair, any ideas???? Something that’s not greasy or oily
Depends on the color of the rest of your hair. I have black hair so I may use charcoal powder or maybe even black tea mixed with arrowroot. If I had brown hair, I would use coffee ground powder. Blonde hair could use arrowroot powder mixed with some type of yellowish colored essential oil or a carrier oil possibly? I’m just brainstorming now 🙂
Hello
What is the shelf life of the eyeliner
Won’t it get sticky and smudged?
How long does it last on your face? Also, how long does it keep? I had a batch from a different get mold which was awful!
It grows mold because this doesn’t include that it needs a preservative thanks due to the aloe vera. Anything water based requires one.
How could I have an amazing eyeliner by only using petroleum and black eyeshadow
What kind of powder would you us to make a white eye liner. Any opinions? I have no problem making all the pretty colors, I just can not think what would be good for that bright white.
Arrowroot powder for white eyeliner.
Was the beeswax intended to be removed from this recipe?
This stuff works and I absolutly love it. I didn’t break out any more than the norm and I couldn’t believe how easy it was to remove
I tend to need waterproof eye makeup other wise I end up looking like a racoon by the end of the day. What is the staying power of this?.
Younneed tonadd an oil such as jojoba oil, argon oil, or almond oil may be the best.
I was wondering where you get your aloe vera gel, or what it is called.
Any alternatives for the aloe gel as i do not have any right now and are dying to try this recipe?
Please get back to me with any information!
What if i want to add color!. Like purple, pink etc
Coconut Mamma, do you think black tea would work to tint coconut oil black for the eye liner?
Can we use fresh natural aloe vera?
Yes 🙂
I tried the charcoal recipe for my daughter with the cocoa butter that a person in the thread recommended. it was really gritty and didn’t seem to have the consistency of what she had been using. A Maybeline, laquer something. (this is Dad trying to get her off the chemical stuff). Anyway to get something that is smoother?
Thanks
I am wondering if problem others are having is the recipe should be 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil and 1/4 teaspoon of aloe gel? I see other sites that listing that quantity with 2 capsules.
Hello, can we just use the aloe gel? Coconut oil makes my eyes burn and I think it will smear fast.
Thanks,
Yoli
Can i ise castor oil to make it more thicker and less clumpy ??
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Hey coconut mama!
What can I use instead of the charcoal?
Cocoa powder will make a dark brown eye liner.
Thank you for this idea! For brown eyeliner, and those of you having a tough time getting the powder to “unclump” and mix well, this is what I do..
Mix 1 part raw organic cocoa butter, 1/2 part coconut oil, melt the two oils together, add the cocoa powder and mix really well. Pour in your container and let the mixture set. Put it in the fridge to speed it up. This mixture worked well for me! I like that the cocoa butter makes the liner a bit more solid 🙂
Keep up the great natural make up recipes!!!
Thank you for this suggestion! I think I’ll try this recipe instead as I want a thicker consistency and something more shelf-stable.
HI I made this and it doesn’t seem to stick (if that makes sense). I am using an eyeliner wand from my old store bought L’oreal brand. I made the recipe exact. Can you assist maybe I need to add more activated charcoal?
I made mine a week ago and I super love it !!!!!!I did with cocoa (because I LIKE BROMW ) I feel good and better knowing a know whats going on my eye!!!!!!1
I tried the brown eyeliner and it takes a while to dry on my eyes. Is anyone else having this problem, and if you are do you know how to fix it?
The coconut mama replied in a comment above that she used the charcoal version and added some of the dried charcoal powder atop of her applied eyeliner to help dry it. Maybe if you tried that with the cocoa powder it would help it too?
What should I use to make a homemade white eyeliner?
Try using Arrowroot Powder, Ariana. 🙂
Hey so i tryed this out and i couldnt get the aloe vera gel and coconut oil to mix well, and also it didnt seem to be very pigmented and i used 2 capsules. Did i mix wrong? What exactly if ur making process for this? Thanks very much, hope u can help me(: also is this considered a gel liner? Or liquid?
Will the coconut oil not make it melt off your face and run?
I tried this recipe with the cocoa but it didn’t work for me at all. It ends up looking like pudding. I thought it had to do with the fact that my coconut oil was liquidy at room temperature for some reason, so I added beeswax to make it solid. It didn’t help and it still just looks like pudding and doesn’t work when I try it. What should I do to get it right?
I’ve never thought about making eyeliner before, let alone have it be natural! This is such a good idea! Thanks for sharing!!
Anxious to try this…I have had sensitive skin all my life to many products and hardly used makeup.
A few years ago when I started to wear contact lenses…it seemed I was sensitive to the products used to maintain then (cleansing solution and rinses) and made my eyes intolerant to almost all eye makeups.
But the reason I started to wear contacts, to lose the glasses for a special night out or event…would be the night I would also wear makeup (kind of ironic)
Any I just want to say…I think the little jar, whatever you did to it to put the word on it is gorgeous as well!
Can’t wait to try this!! I’ve been wanting to try natural makeup for a while now. Thanks for this post!
On a side note… With all the FDA comments… Our family’s experience with them is this: my husbands grandma tragically died due to an FDA approved medication prescribed by her Dr. She was a nurse. Many hundreds of others also died and they pulled the medication from the market. I have three different friends who have either lost their children, their child has had violent seizures or has had multiple brain surgeries because of reactions to FDA approved vaccinations. I’ve lost eyesight (non correctable) from an FDA approved eye medication prescribed by my optometrist. My faith in them has disappeared. I’d rather use common sense, do my own research and make my own decisions than have big brother (and big pharma) be my babysitter. Just my two cents, but thought I’d share. 🙂
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Guys I think beeswax or any other natural/vegan wax will make a great base with the aloe.
Any tips on getting the grainy clumpy powder feel out of it? I tried it with both charcoal and cocoa powder but both did not turn out well.
I am really excited to try this but unlike some of the other posts I have read, I am concerned about the aloe vera gel. That has such a “cooling” and sticky feel to it, it seems strange to add to something like eye makeup. I am very new to the all natural and DIY stuff and am really excited about it. I did look at the health food store and all of their Aloe had additives to it, so I wasn’t sure if there was a specific aloe recommended. Just wondering
I tried this yesterday and it is really terrible. While I was driving, bits of charcoal got under my contacts and I had to go home and wash it off! Not cool. I’m still picking bits out of my eyes this morning and the coconut oil has made a mess of my eyes. Terrible.
It seems very healthful indeed. Every lady should prefer that kind of non-toxic eye liner for protecting their eyes from getting harm. Homemade eyeliner and mascara are actually very fascinating beauty products and women should have start to using them.
@sue sawhill apito
You may as well quit while you’re ahead. There’s no reasoning with this. I hope for everyone who “swears by this” that in 5 to 10 years time you’ll still have your vision to read about more ludicrous ideas and ways to show that the FDA and all the chemists and whatnot don’t have a clue as to what they’re talking about. But hey… your eyes. Not mine. Good luck -_-
Funny you say that Aly Foit!! As a matter of fact, I am an FDA Chemist LOL! We dont make makeup or come up with procedures on how to make cosmetics. We are solely responsible for testing the cosmetics that companies VOLUNTARILY send to us (unless there is a recall on something they use in their cosmetic preparation) and we test the procedure that the cosmetic company has given us to verify that it is legit. We also run other assays to determine the chemical composition to see if these companies are putting additives in their products that are safe. They then get the FDA stamp of approval.
As a person who knows a bit about eye care because I have eye cancer – there is a REASON that the FDA regulates ingredients used as colorants in cosmetics. The reason is, historically colorants were known to cause illness or injury so the FDA required pre-market testing for colorants, and regularly removes ingredients from the approved list. Then there are sub-sets of which colorants are approved for which use – so colorants approved for general use are not all approved for cosmetics which come in contact with mucus membranes. The list of colorants approved for use near the eyes is even shorter.
No cocoa and no charcoal.
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/VoluntaryCosmeticsRegistrationProgramVCRP/OnlineRegistration/ucm109084.htm
Your stomach acids will make quick work of most bacteria or mold lurking in cocoa powder…no so your eyes! Just because you “can” eat something does NOT mean it is safe for use in the eyes! Same for charcoal. The particle size in charcoal capsules is smaller than say, the charcoal you barbecue with, but it is NOT made for use near the eye and the particles could scratch the cornea.
http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137241.htm
And lastly, anyone in the business of making cosmetics either for sale or for DIY craft projects is risking the vision of her readers when recommending ingredients like this – or products with water such as aloe vera gel – and not educating about the risk of bacterial contamination. Bacteria is a problem in anything with water – such as aloe. But bacteria also grow in any product which has agricultural ingredients in it. I reported a company to the FDA because among other things, their products were not properly preserved. They ended up being investigated AND issued a recall of their brown “pure cocoa” eyeshadow because it was contaminated with very hazardous bacteria.
http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/ucm278022.htm
I can’t believe you are actually trying to use the corrupt FDA to support your comment! This is the same entity that is pushing GMO foods, with no scientific study or grounds to support their safety in our food chain. I am sorry to hear you have eye cancer, but the chemicals/substances used in commercial eye makeup are actually more likely to contribute to this, than cocoa powder or aloe vera.
There is a product made in the UK for vaginal use to stave off both bacterial and fungal infections. They don’t allow it here, because it actually works, and big pharmaceutical companies that make money exploiting women just can’t have that. It’s called Bio-Fem, and is incredibly effective. In fact, it is the only thing purported by long time chronic yeast sufferers, to work for a cure. Active ingredient? Aloe Vera Gel. That’s all. People who wish to use activated charcoal can always fill a tea bag, and immerse it in melted shea butter and a bit of beeswax to tint it black, and to avoid any risk of particles large enough to scratch the eye.
I don’t wear mascara, but I have tried activated charcoal, and I did get some in my eye once. I think it dissolved to be honest, but it certainly didn’t scratch it. I wouldn’t purposely put it in my eye, even though many people do and swear by it. You should not come on here with fear mongering due to lack of research and knowledge. Wouldn’t it be interesting if you applied a poultice to your cancerous eye, and it actually benefited from it? If you are getting proton treatment, or radiation, you may wish to think about using it now and then. It is wonderful for removing toxins. Also, intravenous Vit C. is widely used in Sweden to help eliminate side effects of radiation. We have to fight for it here, so look into making your own liposomal Vit C. In your case, therapeutic treatment with ascorbic acid is ok, even though natural Vit. C is preferred for day to day use. Just a bit of trivia for you, and I hope it helps, and I hope you get well and recover.
Charcoal is beneficial in such cases as infections on lips for cold sores & impetigo, in your mouth, (gingivitis or tooth abscesses), in your stomach, (heart burn, indigestion, food poisoning), Intestines, (for parasites, lumps, cancer), in your eyes, (for pink eye, any eye infection), skin, (bites from insects to snakes, sliver infections, mole or scab infections, hang nail or minor cut pain, rash or poison ivy or oak, feet (toe nail infections, sores that don’t heal on feet because of poor circulation), Scalp or hair, (for parasites, any sores on head), Flu symptoms (for stomach upset or food poisoning), On swellings to reduce inflammation and edema, On lumps to draw out & adsorb toxins.
You seem to have a lot of anger issues…take a deep breath! You clearly have no background in cosmetic formulation or cosmetic safety and being related to doctors or being pre-med really is pretty meaningless! Cosmetic safety is a very specialized area…and you really don’t seem to care a whole lot that the ingredients you are promoting for use around the eye could cause blindness…so I guess it really is a good thing you did not become a doctor, because the first rule of the practice of medicine – whether allopathic, complementary or alternative medicine – is do no harm. And your advice can cause serious harm.
You also seem to be doing a lot of attacking – I never expressed an opinion about the FDA, and yet you claim ” can’t believe you are actually trying to use the corrupt FDA to support your comment!” I stated facts about the pre-market testing of colorants and the FDA laws regarding them. Those are facts – not opinion. I report companies who sell unsafe products to the FDA simply because that is the only method to get them recalled.
If you want to continue to defend your advice for eyeliner ingredients – prove me wrong with science. PROVE a product contaminated with Pseudomonas Luteola would be killed by coconut oil or pure aloe vera (that was not itself preserved with ingredients for a safe shelf life). Did you ever have one of these formulations challenge tested in a cosmetics lab? I’m guessing no. But prove me wrong!! With science not stories of fungus in vaginas in the UK!
Wow, and I’m the one with anger issues? 😉 You do your own homework, and science projects sweetie. People who specialize in natural medicine already know enough. While you’re at it, prove that activated charcoal powder at 1.0 m particle size can scratch the eye as you tried to claim on this thread, or cause blindness when it is occasionally used for eye drops to cure infections. For the record, I never support or endorse any product online. You are seeminly having trouble understanding what you read throughout this blog. There is no need for long-term shelf life, as natural products are mainly mixed fresh daily, or weekly to keep them fresh. Sorry, but you’re weird, I really am done conversing with you now. I shouldn’t have even left this post, as you clearly can’t comprehend what you read correctly. Have a happy and fulfilling life. Bye
Yeah…. I think I’ll take the word of someone with a medical background against someone who has worked in cosmetics any day of the week. Several -approved- cosmetics are known to have ingredients linked to cancer. Some also have hazardous chemicals in them, but since they’re in such low doses have been approved. Hell, loose glitters or glitter mascaras can be extremely hazardous to the eyes, yet they’ve been approved. You run more of a risk from the glitter than you would charcoal, which dissolves rather quickly. The glitter, which has been known to be made from glass, plastics, minerals, and even insects; all of which will scratch your eye easily. Insects? Yuck! That can’t be sanitary…
On a side note/question, what would you suggest for eyeliner/mascara that one would want to use for a bit longer than a week?
Unfortunately, because there are no scientific long term studies done on making makeup using very natural ingredients, I can’t really say. That’s not to say they are unsafe either. However it does pay to do your homework. For example, Alkanet root and Hibiscus (both used for reddish pigments) have been linked to birth defects, and Alkanet root in particular should not be applied to broken skin. You should also avoid breathing in activated charcoal powder. As a rule of thumb, eye makeup, like eyeliner and mascara especially, ideally should be made fresh daily, the very least every 3 days (perhaps 6 days if you live in a very cold climate – or if you refrigerate). In addition, if you have any signs of infection (redness, discharge, swelling) you should throw everything away, including the applicator, and see your doctor.
I just read about Dr. Hauschka mascara being pretty good, and completely natural. May want to check it out. 🙂
So, if I use charcoal, coconut oil (or olive, jojoba…) and vit E, how long it does it go bad?
Please reply 🙂
Well said Sue!
What is mascara and eyeliner made of nowadays?
Is THAT safe around the eyes?
I would prefer to use natural products around my eyes than the products they sell in stores.
Was wandering where you got the cute jar? Also im a new college student and diy makeup sound so much easier and cheaper thanks 🙂
You said Robin used Coconut Oil, Aloe, Activated Charcoal, and Beeswax. But when you listed the ingredients and gave instructions Beeswax was not listed and there was no other mention of it. It seems lots of people are having trouble with this recipe. Maybe because they didn’t add Beeswax?? Also, I’m thinking the Aloe Vera Gel that should be used is this: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search/search.php?refine=y&keywords=aloe&x=0&y=0
The ones you can buy in the store for sunburn might contain 100% Aloe Vera Gel, but they also contain all sorts of other chemicals/preservatives that you might not want to be smearing around your eyes (or really, on your body). Some also contain dyes. The Aloe from Mountain Rose Herbs does also contain preservatives, but there are only THREE (compared to the 6 extra ingredients in the 100% Aloe Gel from Fruit of the Earth) and they are natural and only amount to .1%-.3% of the product. I’m just thinking a higher-quality Aloe without all the added extra crap chemicals might combine even better with the other ingredients in this recipe 🙂
If you read above, Coconut Mama said that the beeswax was used for mascara, this is eyeliner!
is it okay to use ground coffee powder or cinnamon powder instead of cocoa powder?
NOOOO cinnamon is an irritant, that would be very painful :(( idk about coffee…
I’d love to see a photo of this in use. I tried making it last night using the cocoa powder and the color looks good, but the coconut oil + aloe vera is a glumpy mess in the container. I left it in the fridge overnight and now it’s a separated glumpy mess. I followed the directions… maybe the charcoal one is more effective. I’d really love for this to work for me!
You could also just dip a firm flat brush into coconut oil, wipe most of it off, and then the tip of the brush into the charcoal powder. It will stay fresh this way for certain, and it works great. I do it with aloe vera gel, and juice.
You can get activated carbon for fish tanks. It should be the same…. I don’t know if it would be cheaper than wherever you get yours but felt I should share it! ^_^
Fish tank charcoal!! Well for that matter…the charcoal you use in the barbecue is technically the same too but do you really think ANY of these are safe to use near your eye? This will be like grinding sand into your eye and will scratch your cornea potentially leading to blindless. Losing your vision and needing a cornea transplant …that is not cheap either. Please people…use some common sense. All it takes is a small scratch to become infected and you are blind.
This sounds great, but I’m curious, how long does it last once applied? I can’t imagine that coconut oil, which melts at a very low heat would last at all, and not smear and wear off quickly with normal wear. What has your experience been with that?
yes, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
Applying with water is actually best. The oil does make it wear off. Maybe if you use a firm grease like shea butter, and add a tiny bit of beeswax you might get a more durable stain for all day wear, but I haven’t tried it. Just use a flat firm brush, and wet it a bit with distilled water. I’ve even used aloe vera gel to moisten, and it works very good.
Absolutely must try this! I love pot eyeliner. I have the activated charcoal and the coconut oil. Just need to grab some aloe vera gel. Hmmmm….I have an aloe vera plant. Can I just use that?
I think so!
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Aloe-Vera-Gel
Great description on how to harvest your aloe, remember to avoid the yellow by the skin, as that is the latex. Enjoy. 🙂
Aloin is the yellow resinous sap that the aloe plant makes in order to heal it’s own wounds (like cuts or broken leaves). It was also used as a laxative ingredient in over-the-counter drug products, until banned in 2002 by the FDA. The (unprocessed) translucent inner pulp and the aloin are used externally to relieve skin discomforts in alternative medicine and first aid.
So I tried this…and it’s not working. I had a lot of issues getting the oil and aloe gel to mix. I gently heated the oil and emulsified them, added coco powder, but the coco powder stayed suspended in the middle with a thick layer of oil on the top. I kept shaking the jar to mix, but it would always separate. So I added 4 times the amount of cocoa powder and that seemed to balance it out better. BUT, it only produced an oily smear with bits of cocoa when I made a line on my hand with the brush. I let it sit, added MORE cocoa powder, poured off some oil, and found it reacted better with DRY skin. I was able to produce a good line on my cheek and hand, but every time I tried on my eye lid (even after washing and drying it), only oil would come off and the cocoa would stick in my eye lashes.I’ve let it sit over-night, but that didn’t make it work. Do you have any suggestions? I use coconut oil to take off my makesup, so maybe there’s something better than coconut-oil as a base? Maybe aloe gel?
Hmm. Let me first say that I’m sorry you are having trouble with this recipe! I used the charcoal rather than cocoa powder. I did add more charcoal to mine as well to make it more darker and I also have been using the charcoal powder over the top of the eye liner to dry it. I didn’t have any trouble getting the aloe and coconut oil to mix. I wonder if it depends on what type of aloe you use?
You hear about cocoa powder a lot online, but it doesn’t give good even results. Something they don’t tell you. It’s acceptable results, but not great. The best method of application for cocoa powder I have seen yet it just by putting a bit of oil (lighter oils are better for around the eyes – ie jojoba) on the back of your clean hand, and then rubbing the cocoa powder into this a bit, then use a finger to put on eye lid. Cocoa powder has an acid content in it, and it burns my eyelids to be honest. I was thinking carob powder might work better, but I haven’t tried it yet, and it may even have a higher acid content? I watched a girl use blueberry juice as an eye shadow, and beet juice as a strong lip stain ( I would mix this with strawberry juice for flavor), and the results were impressive. She did the cocoa powder the way I described above. I would imagine you should experiment a bit with the cocoa powder.
So I tried this…and it’s not working. I had a lot of issues getting the oil and aloe gel to mix. I gently heated the oil and emulsified them, added coco powder, but the coco powder stayed suspended in the middle with a thick layer of oil on the top. I kept shaking the jar to mix, but it would always separate.
So I added 4 times the amount of cocoa powder and that seemed to balance it out better. BUT, it only produced an oily smear with bits of cocoa when I made a line on my hand with the brush.
I let it sit, added MORE cocoa powder, poured off some oil, and found it reacted better with DRY skin. I was able to produce a good line on my cheek and hand, but every time I tried on my eye lid (even after washing and drying it), only oil would come off and the cocoa would stick in my eye lashes.
I’ve let it sit over-night, so maybe that will help? Do you have any suggestions? I use coconut oil to take off my makesup, so maybe there’s something better than coconut-oil as a base?
Sounds great, just one question….wouldnt this run down your face since the coconut oil will be liquidy?
I just made it and I can NOT get the aloe and coconut oil mix at all. Should have I melted the C.O first.
I mentioned above that the coconut oil should be melted.
“This eye liner is easy to make, just make sure to gently melt the coconut oil before mixing it with the other ingredients.”
You can gently melt the aloe and coconut oil to help mix it.
Wow, great recipe! But won’t the coconut oil have problems mixing with aloe vera? I think the aloe vera would attract fungal and bacterial growth too. 🙁
Coconut oil is very anti fungal and bacterial 🙂
I am very much interested in chemical free products. I was wondering if olive oil can be used instead of coconut oil? While coconut itself is antifungal – store bought processed coconut oil is very high in mold. It has something to do with the processing of the oil. It’s unfortunate that this happens with coconut oils.
If I have an aloe plant can I use gel from it?
I can’t wait to try this, I am trying to make all my make-up and this one I am definitely trying!
Thanks,
Katie
girlmeetsnourishment.com
Lovely.
Just one concern – especially with the cacao version. Coconut oil is a fat base and aloe gel is a watery base. Apart from if they will mix properly – together they’re also a great recipe for bacterial and fungal growth… the coconut won’t be strong enough to keep the bugs away. I wouldn’t use this for more than a week at a time (especially in summertime).
Coconut oil in and of itself is actually antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal. So I personally wouldn’t have any concerns using it.
Both coconut oil and aloe vera are antibacterial, and antifungal. The biggest concern for you would be using a clean brush. Make sure you clean with alcohol before each use if you are worried, and rinse well.
“Both coconut oil and aloe vera are antibacterial, and antifungal” That is completely untrue. While coconut oil has a very long shelf life, meaning it will not go bad quickly (bacteria, mold, viruses are what make a food go bad/dangerous, oils will also go rancid and coconut oil is chemically stable as far as going rancid quickly, too) but that is a HUGE difference from “being” antibacterial and antifungal when added to other ingredients for cosmetic use. As for aloe – it should be refridgerated BECAUSE it will go bad quickly once opened.
Please Google your facts before you reply to me, or anyone rudely. It is NOT completely untrue at all. It is a well known fact if you read down this thread, that natural makeups do not have long shelf life (more than 3 days), unless you purposely add some kind of natural preservative such as Vit. E or grapefruit seed extract. For the time period recommended (3 days), what I wrote stands COMPLETELY true. Ideally, you should make things for around the eyes fresh everyday when using natural products. Also, food products that normally go rancid or moldy gain increased shelf-life when added to “other ingredients for cosmetic use”. Again, if you had read what I wrote, then in addition to aloe’s and coconut’s antibacterial/antifungal nature, activated charcoal has “been shown to neutralize many types of pathogens which can directly or indirectly promote infection.” So it is likely that the 3 day recommendation is far too conservative, not the other way around. Unfortunately, no tests have been done to confirm this.
As a person who spent years working in the natural cosmetics industry – I used professional resources – not google. Vitamin E is not a preservative and will have no effect on bacteria, viruses or mold – it is an anti-oxidant, it will work to retard rancidity. I read what you wrote and you offered no scientific basis for your claim that aloe or coconut are “antibacterial/antifungal” and will actually prevent bacteria that can lead to blindness, from growing in a product with cocoa powder. So…you’ve never had your product tested so you really have no idea whether it is safe for any amount of time…you really have no idea the particle size which is safe for use near the eyes, obviously. And while I appreciate your kind wishes for my eye cancer – your advice shows a complete and total lack of knowledge about human anatomy.
All I can say at this point is that you need to spend more time in in the cosmetic aisle of health food stores reading the ingredients used in natural makeup, as well as reading the books on health foods, and their abilities. Unfortunately, your knowledge is in the wrong area of science. Allopathic vs. naturopathic, modern science vs. natural medicine. If the entire premise for your argument is based on preventing “bacteria that can lead to blindness”, than not even the chemical mascara’s and eyeliners with their host of preservatives can promise to deliver this. That’s why they tell you to throw away your mascara after a month, and to never share makeup. If you are looking to measure up both of our stances regarding who is a better representative, than I win. I don’t usually mention my background, as I don’t think that should weigh in. However, since you continue to mention your background in an effort to gain credibility, I suppose I will now too. Both my father and brother are doctors of medicine, and my brother now owns a biotech lab for which he receives millions every year for his research on a cure for cancer. In addition, I was pre-med for the first 4 years of university, until switching to natural medicine, and garnering a teaching credential. I am not here to enlighten you further. Do some more research on coconut oil and aloe. I stand by what I said. Please keep in mind, just as NOTHING can promise to completely prevent bacteria from growing, certain foods do have powerful chemical, and biological compounds to retard it’s growth. Also keep in mind, that nearly every drug and pharmaceutical is derived either from plants, herbs, and or foods. Obviously, they have special abilities you are seemingly unaware of. For example, Valium comes from valerian root, and ginger has long been hailed for it’s ability to quell nausea, and intestinal gas better than simethicone. You would be surprised just how well adding a bit of lemon juice to your guacamole prevents it from oxidizing and going rancid. It is the Vit. C that does this, just as Vit. E preserves food. When you are in health food store, pick up a box of dry cereal. You will see that the only preservative in there to prolong shelf life, is Vit. E. Take care.
VERY good info Donna! Thanks! 🙂
Right on chicka!
Oh that’s such a better idea! Thanks!
Oh that’s such a better idea! Thanks!
kk how did it turn out? and answer my phone message!
Hi! I have monolids and most eyeliners smudge terribly when I wear them. Is this formula pretty smear-resistant or will I turn into a raccoon over time? 🙂 Thanks!
coconut oil in eyes burns – or is it only me?
I don’t have a problem with it. I use coconut oil to take off my eye makeup.
I can’t use heavy oils around my eyes either. Some people use Vasoline to remove makeup, and don’t even blink. It has always amazed me! Jojoba oil is the closed oil to your skin’s natural oil content. I think the best approach is to wet a flat firm brush with a bit of this, wipe off any excess, and dip the tip into the charcoal powder, or the cocoa powder, and carefully line the eye area. Taking care to tap any excess powder off the brush as well.
Yes, it burns if it’s anywhere near my eyes, too. 🙁
any ideas on different colours? I like funky colours — like blue or green!!
Hmm. I’ll have to think about that one. Maybe some natural beet or chlorella powder?
Spirulina is great for green colours 🙂
Well if you are making your own cosmetics to get away from things like lead – there is lead in beet powder. And beet powder has not been tested as safe for use near the eyes. http://gogreenct.wordpress.com/2012/02/18/lead-in-beet-powder-yes/
I use spirulina tablets. I just wet and apply with a brush. Thinking of adding some charcoal to the mix also.
Erika Billips you can use cocoa powder 🙂
I’m curious about the staying power of the eyeliner given it is made with coconut oil. I’d love to try this but worry it would just smudge into the creases of my eyelids…
I’ve worn it twice with no problems.
I made it and I find that it basically smears off with the brush I’m using to apply it. It’s a thin brush for applying eyeliner. Did I do something wrong? It’s very very light once it’s on my eyelid. It’s pretty much translucent.
This is great, thank you! I don’t wear makeup very often, and when I do, it irritates my eyes to the point that I have to take it off asap. I will give this a try when I wear makeup again!
I really like brown eyeliner too, so I’m going to experiment with coffee grounds!
Awesome! Thanks a lot!
Awesome! I wasn’t successful with the mascara, my problem is that it didn’t mix well enough and it was hard to get into the tube, but I need to try that again as I have all the ingredients, and I can try this as well. Mainly all I wear is black eyeliner and black mascara, besides the lip gloss or lip balm that I can make easier than eye makeup 🙂 But I HAVE to have my eye makeup or you can’t see my eyelashes, which are too blond!
Go to a pet store and pick up a medicine syringe. Check out the different sizes and get the one for puppies and smaller dogs. It works great for getting the mascara in your tube.
Also, if the mascara tube has a stopper at the opening you need remove it in order to easily add the mascara. Then just pop it back in before putting the brush in.
I can’t believe the complaints. If you only knew what ingredients are in your commercial cosmetics you may not make such comments.
EXACTLY!! Not to mention how many innocent animals have been hurt or even killed just to get the ingredients right….you are so awesome, Jane!!
If it’s safe ingredients, made at home and controlled by the individual, why not try it?? Cut the “recipe” in half and give it a go… 🙂
When I click on the above it takes me to your site for a few seconds and then it switches to (still your site) 2 ads and no other information. When I click on tabs the ads just change but there is no way to access any of your info.dissappointing.
It seems to me that this would smear very easily & possibly cause clogged pores because of the oil content. Anytime I try coconut oil on my face it breaks out even worse then usual. Has anyone tried it with success ?
I have used this for years except I eventually added a little beeswax to my recipe. It can smear but as for poor clogging, I have always had good experiences so this works for me. However if the oil doesn’t mix with your skin right, just an aloe based make up cal work too
Coconut oil makes my eyes burn so how is this going to work?! Anyone actually tried it?!
Good point! I was excited to read this but when I use coconut oil on my face and it gets anywhere near my eyes it makes them burn a lot too. Curious if that’s the norm????
ooh awesome! I don’t wear make-up because it irritates me. I’d love it if I could make natural stuff 🙂
GAH!!!!!!! Thank You Thank You THANK YOU!!!
Unfortunately, I tried this stuff and it absolutely would not dry down on my skin at all. I tried to set it with eyeshadow. Nope. Still smudge city! What am I doing wrong?
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