Making your own eyeliner is super simple, and when you try it, you won't want to go back to store-bought stuff anymore. Homemade eyeliner doesn't hurt or irritate your skin, and most importantly, you can use it to embody all your favorite looks. Learn two different ways to make black eyeliner and how to experiment with different colors.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Activated Charcoal
Step 1. Buy some activated charcoal
Activated charcoal (also known as activated carbon) is available in pharmacies and health/natural medicine stores. Activated charcoal is commonly used as a remedy for indigestion, so it is usually available in capsule form. This pure, natural black material is great for creating your own eyeliner.
- This charcoal is not the same as the type of charcoal you burn to grill food on the grill. Look for a jar with a capsule that says "activated charcoal" in the "vitamins" section of the store.
- If you can't find it in your area, activated charcoal can be purchased online. One bottle of charcoal can make enough eyeliner for years.
Step 2. Break a few capsules into a small container
You can use an old eye shadow or lip balm container, a small can, or any other container you have. Break the activated charcoal capsules into the container.
Step 3. Dip the eyeliner brush in the charcoal
You can use regular activated charcoal as an eyeliner without mixing it with any other ingredients. This charcoal will mix with the oil on your skin by itself so that it sticks when you apply it. Dip your favorite eyeliner brush into the container and apply eyeliner in your favorite style.
Step 4. Experiment with different textures
If you want your eyeliner to have a thick or gel-like consistency, you can mix activated charcoal with water or oil to make it slightly moist. Start with a drop or two and keep mixing until the eyeliner reaches your desired consistency. Try mixing it with one of the ingredients below:
- Water
- Jojoba oil
- Almond oil
- Coconut oil
- Aloe vera gel
Method 2 of 3: Using Almond
Step 1. Gather the supplies you need
This method is a great alternative if you don't have activated charcoal ready. The soot from the burnt almonds makes for a thick, black eyeliner that looks just as good as store-bought eyeliner. The items you need are some household items:
- Raw almonds that have not been roasted or salted
- A pair of tweezers
- A lighter
- A small container or plate
- Butter knife
Step 2. Pinch the almonds with tweezers and burn them
Use tweezers to hold the almonds firmly (and protect your hands from burning them) and hold the lighter to set the almonds on fire. The almonds will burn slowly and smoky. Continue until about half of the almonds have turned to soot. The color of the almonds should be black and smoky.
- If the tweezers you are using are all metal, they may heat up and burn your hands if you use the old lighter for too long. Wear gloves to protect your hands.
- Try turning the almonds in a circle so they burn evenly on all sides.
Step 3. Scrape the soot into a plate
All that nice black soot is all you need to make eyeliner. Use a butter knife to scrape them off the almonds and place them in a plate. If you need more soot, keep burning your almonds or start roasting another almond so you can collect a nice pile of soot in the dish.
- As you scrape off the soot, make sure you don't scrape off any unburned almond chunks. You'll want your soot to have a nice, dusty texture and no big chips.
- After that, check the soot and remove any lumps that are larger than the soot powder.
Step 4. Dip your eyeliner brush into the almond soot
You can use regular soot as an eyeliner without mixing it with any other ingredients. This soot will mix with the oil on your skin on its own so it sticks when you apply it. Dip your favorite eyeliner brush into a container and apply eyeliner in your favorite style.
Step 5. Experiment with different textures
If you want your eyeliner to have a thick or gel-like consistency, you can mix the soot with water or oil to make it slightly moist. Start with a drop or two and keep mixing until the eyeliner reaches your desired consistency. Try mixing it with one of the ingredients below:
- Water
- Jojoba oil
- Almond oil
- Coconut oil
Method 3 of 3: Creating Different Colors
Step 1. Use cocoa to make chocolate eyeliner
Unsweetened cocoa powder creates a thick yet beautiful dark brown eyeliner. Spoon a small amount of powder into a small container. Mix the cocoa with a few drops of water, jojoba oil or almond oil until it has a gel-like consistency, then apply it using your eyeliner brush.
Step 2. Try using spirulina powder to make a green eyeliner
Spirulina powder is made from algae that is ground and dried, so spirulina has a beautiful dark green color. Pour the spirulina powder into a dish and use it right away or mix it with water or oil for a gel-like effect.
Step 3. Use beetroot powder for a rosy eyeliner color
While you may not want to use a bright red eyeliner, adding beetroot powder to activated charcoal or cocoa will create a pretty rosy tint that looks great on your warmer skin tones. Beetroot powder is available at most health stores.
Step 4. Purchase mica powder to make a colorful eyeliner
Mica powder is available in all colors of the rainbow. This powder is a product that is used in all types of makeup, from eye shadow to lipstick. Search the internet for mica powder to find the color you like best. Use the powder the same way you would with activated charcoal: mix it with water, aloe vera, or oil to make a gel that you can use instantly.
Step 5. Turn your used eye shadow into an eyeliner of various colors
Any eye shadow can be turned into an eyeliner. Take a used eye shadow, break it and then remove the contents into a small container. Use a knife to crush it into a fine powder. Mix it with a little water, aloe vera, or oil to make a gel, then apply this product using an eyeliner brush.
