Mineral Bronzer with tutuorial (tute *modified* slightly)

[tr3kkie9rl]

Here is another product I've made with my cheapo minerals - a nice warm shimmery bronzer! It's similar to Bare Minerals' "warmth" but with less intensity for my pale Irish freckled skin :-) and it's super soft and silky thanks to the cornstarch base!

What you will need:

measuring spoons - 1/16th teaspoon up to 1 tablespoon
mortar and pestle
1 small bowl
one clean makeup brush (optional)
coffee grinder (optional)
containers

"ingredients" you will need:
1 tbs cornstarch
1 tsp kaolin/white clay
1/8 tsp titanium dioxide
1/8 tsp zinc oxide
1/8 tsp yellow iron oxide
1/8 tsp red iron oxide
1/16 tsp brown iron oxide
1/8 tsp Jacquard Pearl-Ex Powdered Pigment in Sparkle Gold (optional, for shimmer)

Yields: about 2 tbs of makeup, enough for 1 standard sized mineral makeup container

Directions:
1. First combine the non-pigment items (kaolin and cornstarch) in one small bowl and stir gently.
2. *modified* Next, put all remaining pigments and about 1/4 of the non-pigment items (but not the Pearl-Ex) into the mortar.
3.With the pestle, grind everything together as thoroughly as possible, *gradually adding the remaining non-pigment base a little at a time*. This will be tedious and time-consuming as the pigments tend to stick to the sides of the mortar and you have to constantly scrape them off and re-mix. This combination will be very "fluffy" and light, even more so than the foundation (in my other post) so be careful while grinding that it doesn't fly all over the place. This step will help condense it into a slightly denser form.
4. You will know that the pigments are well mixed when you no longer see streaks of red as this is the most noticeable color in the mix.
5. Add the Pearl-Ex, and gently mix/grind them again. Not too hard as you don't want to crush the Pearl-Ex

Here is the finished product!



and next to foundation so you can see the difference:



It doesn't look a whole lot different, but the lighting is terrible for one, and those iron oxides are tricky things - they appear much lighter until applied to your skin! Always test before you add more color...



Again sorry about the lighting. I wish I could figure out a way to show off the shimmer effect as it is really nice.
happy crafting!

[tr3kkie9rl]

sorry that I'm tech-retarded, for reference here is my post about where/how to get mineral makeup supplies super cheap :-)

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=379910.0

[NavyBlue4Eight]

I'm so glad saw this!  I cannot use the Bare Mineral "warmth" either as I'm pasty-white, but love the idea of an alternative.
Thank you for sharing.  I'm off to check out your other tutorials. 

One question though - does this make up act more like Bare Minerals or the Loreal / Maybelline / Cover Girl versions?  I ask as I've had some issues with the later.

[tr3kkie9rl]

I'm so glad saw this!  I cannot use the Bare Mineral "warmth" either as I'm pasty-white, but love the idea of an alternative.
Thank you for sharing.  I'm off to check out your other tutorials. 

One question though - does this make up act more like Bare Minerals or the Loreal / Maybelline / Cover Girl versions?  I ask as I've had some issues with the later.

I'm glad you like it! The intensity and color totally depends on the amount of iron oxides you put it, so if you want more of a "golden" look, use more yellow less red. If you want more of a "pink/peach" look, use less brown and yellow and a little more Ti2O. And as always, adjust in teensy tiny amounts and grind really well before then test a swatch you change it again!

What you mean by "act more like" - in the sense of how it looks? how it feels? staying power? something else?

[MareMare]

Awesome! I've never had any luck with commercial mineral make-up (except for eyeshadow).

[tr3kkie9rl]

Awesome! I've never had any luck with commercial mineral make-up (except for eyeshadow).

Just curious, how so? Was it too drying? Were you not able to get a color match? Something else?

[MareMare]

It just didn't seem to provide any coverage. I tried Bare Minerals and another brand and was like "eh."

[tr3kkie9rl]

I know what you mean. I have very red skin (still working on some other issues like lactose intolerance and really really not wanting to go dairy-free because I love cheese and sour cream etc... argh) and lots of acne (which has gotten better since I stopped using a lot of commercial products!) and I have to formulate my makeup for heavier coverage. More Ti20 and ZnO as those are the ingredients that give the makeup more opacity as opposed to translucence, Ti2O more than ZnO, but they're both valuable additions.

Just keep in mind this means you need to up your iron oxides as well or you'll end up with very light colored powder! And the great thing about ZnO is that it's actually also a great skin protector and anti-inflammatory (that's why it's in most baby butt creams) so while you're covering the redness, you're also taming it. I love this stuff!!

Or if you want to go for even heavier coverage, you can blend a little powder with your daily moisturizer or a light oil like grapeseed, which is a non-comedogenic oil, and apply it as a liquid foundation. Dust a little cornstarch over it to set and give the oil a minute to absorb, then another very light application of the mineral powder and your face looks like the before and after pictures in advertisements for Proactiv (which incidentally, did NOT work for me).

It sounds like it would feel cakey and heavy but it really doesn't. I've been dealing with trying to cover hideous red, inflamed, acne-scarred skin for over 14 years and even though it's getting better now I still have days where I have to go to all lengths to look normal. But I've gotten really good at it, so I hope that helps!

[tr3kkie9rl]

Just a note - my previous comments to MareMare would NOT apply to this bronzer, but to the foundation powder in the other post. This bronzer is not meant for coverage but to add a little life back into your face after you have covered up all the redness. Or it's great to "fake" a tan if you have normal or at least less crazy skin than me!

[tr3kkie9rl]

here's a real-life before:



and after!



these are totally candid, unaltered photos. THIS is why I love my mineral makeup!!