How to Make Cream Eyeshadow

Co-authored by Shara Strand

Ever wanted a certain color or cream eyeshadow but couldn't find it no matter how hard you looked? Fortunately, it is possible to make your own cream eyeshadow using plain old eyeshadow and a few extra ingredients. You can also use cosmetic pigment powders instead of eyeshadow. This article will show you a few ways of making your own cream eyeshadow.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Lotion

1
Find a small jar with a tight fitting lid. The jar needs to be small enough to fit ½ to 1 teaspoon of fluid. You don't want the jar to be so large that your eyeshadow sits in a small heap at the bottom. If the jar is too big, your cream eyeshadow may dry out. Here are some options to give you ideas:
- Clean contact lens cases
- Tiny, plastic paint jars (found at an arts and crafts shop)
- Makeup jars (found online or at a beauty supply shop)
2
Make sure all of your tools and jars are clean. Wash everything with soap and water, then dry it off using a paper towel. If your tools are not clean, you risk contaminating your eyeshadow. Contaminated eyeshadow can lead to serious infections.

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3
Scrape the eyeshadow into the jar with a spoon. Try to get about ¼ teaspoon of eyeshadow. You can use all one color, or mix two or more colors together to create a custom shade.
- You can also use cosmetic pigment powders, which you can find in a beauty shop or online.
- Alternatively, some spices and other natural products also create beautiful shades. For instance, you can use turmeric to make yellow eyeshadow.
4
Grind the eyeshadow into a fine powder. Use a toothpick or the base of a spoon to do this. Make sure that the powder is very fine and that there are not lumps or chunks. If you leave any lumps or chunks, the eyeshadow will turn out grainy.
5
Add about ¼ teaspoon of white, unscented lotion. Make sure that you are using a lotion that is safe for use around eyes. If you are not sure, check the ingredient label against an eye cream. If you see something there that is not in your eye cream, avoid using it.
- You can also use Vaseline or lip balm.
6
Stir the two together using a toothpick. There should be no lumps or clumps. The color should be even, with no streaks of color.
7
Adjust the consistency, if needed. If the eyeshadow is too dry, add some more lotion. If the lotion is too creamy, add some more eyeshadow.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Shea Butter

1
Make sure all of your tools and jars are clean. If your tools are not clean, you risk contaminating your eyeshadow. This can lead to irritations and infections. Wash everything with soap and water, then dry it off using a paper towel.
2
Add 8 beeswax pastilles and 1 teaspoon of shea butter into a glass measuring cup. This will create the base for your eyeshadow. The measuring cup must be made out of glass, as you will be putting it into the microwave. The spout part will help you pour the fluid into a jar later on.
3
Heat the beeswax and shea butter in the microwave until they are completely melted. After every 10 seconds, take the measuring cup out of the microwave and stir the ingredients. This will help them melt more evenly. Put the cup back into the microwave, and cook it for another 10 seconds. It will take 1 to 1½ minutes for the was and butter to melt completely.
4
Stir in 1 teaspoon of glycerin and ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E oil. You can also use 24 drops of jojoba oil and 12 drops of vitamin E oil ^{[1]
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Research source}instead of the ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E oil.
5
Grind up 2 to 2¼ teaspoons of eyeshadow. Scrape enough eyeshadow into a small dish to fill 2 to 2¼ teaspoons. Grind the eyeshadow into a fine powder using a toothpick or the end of a spoon. Make sure that there are no clumps or chunks, or the eyeshadow will end up lumpy and grainy. You can use all one color, or combine different colors to create a custom shade.
- Some people find that the eyeshadow darkens once it sets. Consider using a lighter shade.
- If you can't find an eyeshadow color you like, use 2 to 2¼ teaspoons of cosmetic pigment powder instead.^{[2]
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  Research source} You can buy it online or in a beauty supply shop.
6
Add the eyeshadow into the base mixture, and stir until everything is evenly blended. There should be no lumps, clumps, or chunks; the consistency should be smooth. Also, make sure that the color is even. There should be no streaks or swirls of color.
7
Pour the eyeshadow to a small jar with a tight-fitting lid. The jar should be small enough for the eyeshadow to fill it completely (about 5 grams). You don't want the eyeshadow to be sitting at the bottom of the jar in a small lump. If needed, use a spoon to help guide the eyeshadow into the jar.
- Contact cases and tiny paint jars make great containers.
- You can also buy makeup jars online and from beauty supply shops.
8
Let the eyeshadow to set. The eyeshadow will be mostly liquid at first, because of the melted beeswax and shea butter. It will take about one day for everything to harden into a creamy consistency.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Rubbing Alcohol

1
Make sure all of your tools and jars are clean. Wash everything with soap and water. Next, dry everything off with paper towels. If your tools are dirty, you risk contaminating your eyeshadow. This can lead to serious infections.
2
Choose a small jar for your eyeshadow. You can use just about anything, so long as it is small enough and has a tight fitting lid. The jar should be able to hold ½ to 1 teaspoon of fluid. You don't want the jar to be so large that the eyeshadow sits at the bottom in a small lump.
- Contact cases make great eyeshadow containers.
- You can also use tiny jars meant for storing paint. You can get them at art supply stores.
- You can also buy makeup containers online and in beauty supply shops.
3
Scrape some eyeshadow into the jar. You will need enough to fill ¼ teaspoon. You can use all one color. You can also use multiple colors to create your own shade. If you can't find an eye shadow color you like, use cosmetic pigment powder. You can find it online or in beauty supply shops.
4
Grind the eyeshadow into a fine powder. Make sure that there are no clumps or chunks. If there are any, your eyeshadow will be too clumpy at the end.
5
Pour in some rubbing alcohol. Add just enough so that the eyeshadow is suspended in it. If you can, try to use 91% rubbing alcohol.^{[3]
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Research source}
6
Stir in the vitamin E oil. Keep adding and stirring the oil until you get a nice, creamy texture. You can also use argan, jojoba, or sweet almond oil instead.^{[4]
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Research source}
7
Stir until the mixture until it begins to separate. It will look lumpy. This is just the excess rubbing alcohol rising to the top.
8
Let the mixture sit for a few minutes. This will give the excess rubbing alcohol enough time to float to the top. The rest of the rubbing alcohol will have bound the oil and eyeshadow together.
9
Use a tissue to soak up the excess alcohol. Fold the tissue into a square and dip a corner into the mixture. Once it soaks up some of the alcohol, rotate the square and dip another corner. Keep doing this until all of the excess alcohol is gone. If needed, use a fresh tissue if your old one gets too dirty.
10
Leave the eyeshadow uncovered for thee to four hours so that it can dry. It may look grainy once it is set, but it will go on smoothly. Once it is set, you can put the lid back on to the jar.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you mix cream and powder eyeshadow?

Shara Strand
Makeup Artist
Shara Strand is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Shara Makeup Studio, a makeup and image consulting studio based in New York City. She has over 15 years of image and makeup consulting experience including working as a regional artist for Bare Escentuals and Estee Lauder, Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been featured in WNBC, Fox 5, Direct TV ABC morning news, and Hamptons Magazine. She is the creator of Shara Cosmetics and is a two time Billboard charted singer. She holds a BFA from New York University.

Shara Strand

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Cream eyeshadow works great as a base for powder eyeshadow. Apply a layer of your cream eyeshadow, then apply powder eyeshadow on top. The cream base will help the powder stay on longer.
Question

Can I use the cream blush method to make cream eyeshadow?

Community Answer

Yes, it works great for eyeshadows too!
Question

Could I use a white concealer instead of lotion?

Community Answer

Yes, but using concealer instead of lotion may make the result a bit thicker.

Warnings

Consider doing a patch-test before using your eyeshadow. Place a small dab on the inside of your elbow and wait several hours. If no irritation or reactions occur, the eyeshadow is safe to use.

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Be wary of using lotions, lip balm, and Vaseline are your eyeshadow base. These items are not usually meant to go on your eyes and can cause irritations. If your eyes are sensitive, you might want to use another base instead.

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Cream eyeshadows tend to crease after a while, especially on a hot day. To keep your cream eyeshadow looking fresh longer, consider dusting it with some translucent setting powder.

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All of your jars and tools must be clean. Wash everything before you use it, even if it looks clean. Even store-bought, pre-packaged jars need to be washed. This prevents contamination.

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