Collection: Make-up Ingredients

It’s important to ensure that your makeup ingredients stay in the best possible condition whilst they’re in your care - for functionality and safety reasons. Proper storage is one of the best possible ways to ensure both! 

Like most natural ingredients, it’s vital to store every element of your makeup formula before use. Most of the time, this involves a cool, dark space with a stable temperature (perfect for preventing melting and separation), and an airtight container designed to keep contaminants out.

Ingredients particularly sensitive to light and air - like essential oils - should be stored in a dark, opaque container for added protection, whilst some fresher elements may even need to be placed in a fridge! Be sure to double-check your supplier’s instructions regarding this.

Mica is a naturally occurring mineral used to add colour and shine to soap, cosmetics, resin, nail art, candles, and more. In terms of composition, it’s a silicate mineral with a unique crystal structure, resulting in a shimmery, iridescent final appearance regardless of pigment colour. Both natural and synthetic mica is available, with the former being mined from rock all over the world, and the latter carefully engineered in labs.

Its cosmetic form is a fine powder safe for use on the skin, making it the perfect addition to many forms of makeup, soap (both bar and liquid), hair care products and more.

When it comes to making your own makeup, it's important to know which ingredients can pose a problem if used in certain ways. Some, in particular, are known to block pores. We like to call them ‘comedogenic ingredients’. 

Though good for the skin in some contexts, if applied incorrectly or to a sensitive skin type, these ingredients can cause breakouts and leave you feeling less than fabulous. Common examples include heavy oils like coconut and cocoa butter, as well as waxes like beeswax and carnauba wax. That's not to say these ingredients are bad - they’re brilliant moisturisers, thickeners, and bases in their own right - they should just be added to formulas with care! 

There’s a long list of makeup making ingredient suppliers out there - meaning choosing the right one can be difficult! When shopping around, our experts recommend using the following checklist:

Does the makeup ingredients supplier offer the type of ingredient you need?

When it comes to makeup, there’s a near-endless list of ingredient categories, types, and options. Be sure to double-check for the exact option your recipe requires, alongside variations including refined/unrefined and quantities. 

Are the ingredients offered high-quality?

The quality of your ingredients will directly affect your finished makeup. Make sure your chosen product is up to scratch! 

How are the ingredients sourced? 

Makeup ingredients like mica powders and waxes are shipped in from all corners of the world - meaning some can be subject to unethical sourcing practices. Read up on your suppliers’ standards and commitments. 

What shipment costs are incurred?

Buying in bulk? Some cosmetic items can be heavy to ship. Avoid unexpected costs - ask your supplier about their delivery policies. 

Here at The Soapery, we offer a wide range of natural makeup ingredients perfect for making products including (but not limited to) lip balm, lipstick, mineral makeup, eyeshadows, powders, and more. 

Adding a splash of colour to your lip balm creations is the perfect way to get creative. But how exactly should you do it? Whilst there’s a huge range of colourant options out there, our team highly recommend going the natural route with mica or pigment powders. Simply choose your colours, mix up your desired hue, and add to your formula in its liquid stage before combining and moulding.

You can even try out different techniques like swirling or layering for added dimension - delivering a standout final product! 

Have a coloured lip balm formula you’d like to show off? Why not tag us in your creation on Instagram @TheSoaperyUK?

Making eyeshadow can be as simple as one, two, three depending on your chosen formula! If you’d like to keep things as easy as possible, you’ll need to start with a base - most of our customers use either mica (for a shimmering finish) or talc powder (for a matte look). With this weighed out to proportion, you’ll need a binding agent in order to ensure your chosen colour stays put. Cornstarch is a common go-to!

Now it's time to get creative and add colour! Our experts love going all-out with cosmetic 

mica pigments, both as standalone shades or mixed together for the perfect custom colour! 

Don't forget the finishing touches! A dash of allantoin or sprinkle of arrowroot powder will give your eyeshadow a smooth, silky feel.

With so much variation in the makeup world - from creamy foundations and plumping glosses to hard-packed shadows, loose powders, and beyond - it’s almost impossible to name one ‘main’ ingredient!

However, there is one ingredient type that appears in formulas time and time again, regardless of application type or area; pigments. 

These colourful little particles are what give makeup its vibrant hues and striking shades. Whether you're whipping up a batch of bold lipsticks or blending a custom foundation, they really are the secret to making your makeup pop. And the best part? There's a whole world of pigments to choose from, so you can mix and match to your heart's content. 

When creating makeup - whether following a recipe or formulating from scratch - you want to be sure to steer clear of any ingredients that could be harmful to skin, or cause issues like irritation, redness, and breakouts. Of course, everyone has different thresholds (which is why correct labelling is so important) meaning we can’t give precise advice for each and every ingredient and scenario - but can offer some general guidance. 

On the whole, our making team suggests keeping things mild and natural where possible and effective - helping avoid irritation upfront. This could mean replacing harsh synthetic fragrances with essential oils, or parabens with more gentle preservatives. 

For makeup products to be placed on the face, we also recommend keeping in mind that some heavier, oil-based ingredients can have comedogenic properties - meaning they’re more likely to block the pores and may not be best suited to some if not all skin types in this context. 

If you’re unsure about a new recipe or ingredient, be sure to do your research before purchasing, and patch test thoroughly before use! 

With so many different makeup types and recipes out there, there’s no one universal guide to making them! With this being said, our experts have some general top tips for makeup creation:

Processes: Depending on the type of makeup you want to make, the process can vary. For example, making lip gloss involves melting and mixing different oils and pigments together, while making eyeshadow requires blending pigments with a binding agent. Whatever you’re aiming to make, be sure to find a solid recipe and stick to it - or ensure your brand-new formulation has the research backing it needs to succeed.

Tools: Basic tools for makeup making at home include a double boiler or microwave-safe container for melting ingredients, spatulas and mixing bowls, droppers for measuring liquid ingredients, and small containers for storing your finished product - however, bigger operations or more specific products might require more specific options such as filling machines! Be sure you’re well enough equipped to make your makeup vision a reality.