I recommend wearing a dust mask when blending, and never lowering the added amounts of oil-they are there to weigh down the final powder so it is not as easily inhaled.Ĭalcium carbonate is a very common compound, found in everything from eggshells to rocks to calcium supplements. As with all fine powders, take care not to inhale boron nitride. It is more expensive than many of the ingredients we’ll work with, but we won’t need much to make a big difference. Eye shadows made with boron nitride are rich and creamy, and don’t crawl off into oily creases. It makes powdered cosmetics feel rich and luxurious.

I’ve found the lowest ratio you’ll generally want to work with is one part beeswax to three parts liquid oils by weight, though there are exceptions when you’re adding other ingredients.īoron nitride is an inorganic compound made from boron and nitrogen, and this slightly iridescent white powder is a miracle worker in cosmetics, both for adhesion and slip. It’ll be hard and sticky, and will skid across the skin instead of gliding. It melts around 145☏ (63☌), making it an effective solidifying ingredient, even in higher ambient temperatures (unlike cocoa butter, which, while brittle at room temperature, will begin to soften and melt in temperatures warmer than 85☏ ).Ī little beeswax goes a long way when it comes to making something solid, and too much beeswax will give you a final product that feels pretty terrible. I love the natural, golden variety for most projects, but I’ve found the refined version (usually available as little white pellets) gives more consistent results in cosmetics, where a small variation in the strength or purity of the wax can noticeably impact performance.īeeswax is a powerful thickener/hardener in lip balms, body butters, salves, and more.

Shelf life: indefinite if stored somewhere cool and dryīeeswax is the lovely, honey-scented wax that honeybees make. It’s easily my favorite carrier oil, though, for its amazing ability to heal and soften my skin. It’s also rich in vitamin E, so it encourages healing, and it has a mild, nutty smell.īecause argan oil is reasonably pricey, I tend to use it by itself more often than not, and sparingly in recipes. Argan oil absorbs into the skin quickly, and just a few drops will leave your skin smooth and hydrated.

Production is often still carried out by local women who earn a living thanks to growing demand for this awesome oil. Shelf life: up to two years if stored somewhere cool and dryĪrgan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world, and has been used in Morocco for hair and skin care for centuries.

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