DIY Beauty: Create your own nail polish (page 2)

DIY Beauty: Create your own nail polish

Posted by Alexandra C. | Wednesday January 18, 2012

I have a secret: I am a huge make up hoarder. I have buckets of lipsticks, powders and eyeliners from years past (which I am fairly certain means they are expired). For reasons beyond me, I also keep every single eyeshadow I have ever been given or bought, whether I use them or not. Whether it's the unwearable glitter shadow I bought on a whim or the multiple crushed shadows I dropped on my bathroom floor, I still have them all.

Needless to say, my hoarded stash was getting to be ridiculous which is why I was thrilled to find a DIY that used all those old eyeshadows to create something new!

So maybe you aren't brave enough to rock that intense shade of lime green on your eyes, but wouldn't it make a fabulous polish shade?

Here's what you'll need:

Clear polish (or top coat)
Eyeshadow (solid colours and pigments work best)
White and/or black polish (to lighten or darken a colour)
Nail polish thinner (use acetone in a pinch)
Container for polish
Orange stick or tool for mixing

Before you start:

Pour your clear polish into a small container or old, clean nail polish container. I'm using a bottle lid for a small amount.

If it isn't already, crush your eyeshadow into small pieces- the smaller the better.

Step 1: Add shadow to polish

Add the eyeshadow to the clear shadow, to start, only add a small amount. You can add more pigment later on until you get the shade you want.

Step 2: Mix together

Play around with colour, feel free to mix whatever colours you like best together to create something totally unexpected. Be sure to mix well.

Step 3: Perfect your colour

Mixing blue and purple shadows together, I got this indigo colour. I wanted to lighten it up though so I added a drop of white polish and mixed together. Because you are adding quite a lot of thick material to the polish, you will want to thin it out to make it easier to work with on your nail. Add a drop (not a lot!) of thinner or pure acetone (or nail polish remover with acetone) to your mixture to thin it out.

I wasn't a huge fan of my first colour so I decided to try again. I mixed a light pink shadow and purple pigment together and created a dark mauve shade.

The Final Look

Depending on how thin your polish is, you may need to paint up to three coats. I love that you can create pretty much any colour you want and it's going to be totally original!

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31 Comments

	on January 20, 2012 Aliza 14,011 said: This is a great idea! Makes me think why/how I never thought of this before!! Can't wait to try it out!! AMAZING!
	on January 19, 2012 ellstar 5,069 said: This is a great use of all this powder eyeshadow I've got kicking around. I love mini-projects!
	on January 19, 2012 kspencer1 1,759 said: As a fellow make up hoarder, I am very excited to find a use for these shadows I've been stockpiling! Also, those intriguing shades at the pharmacy on sale, that are too bold for eyes will now be a steal seeing as they can be used for something like nails! Thanks for sharing!!
	on January 19, 2012 AlexJC 50 said: @missylee Because I only made a small amount (just enough for both hands) and I added only a drop of acetone, it was ok- but if you are creating an entire bottle, definitely invest in some thinner. You can find it at most beauty supply stores. Good luck!
	on January 19, 2012 MissyLee 1,610 said: I have a secret too! Your first paragraph is ME!! I try to thin out the stash, but then after going through it all, it ends up just going back into THE Drawer... This is an awesome idea; did you make it up? The only thing I would be concerned about would be with putting the nail polish remover, or acetone, into the mix, it will effect your nails, and could wear them away. To be safest, definitely get this 'thinner' you mentioned. (I didn't even know there WAS a nail polish thinner - I'm even happier now that I can save some of the ends of my fave colours!)
	on January 19, 2012 Starmist1 941 said: Oh :) I'm very excited to try this with my girls :) I find even in small palettes there are shadow colors that don't get used. This will make for a fun crafty beauty night! Thanks
	on January 18, 2012 Charmheart16 3,985 said: This is such a wonderful idea and a great way to recycle old eyeshadows.
	on January 18, 2012 amyknows 2,352 said: I really like the first colour your created actually. :) Great idea! Thanks! xo
	on January 18, 2012 AlexJC 50 said: @Raeven13 You are definitely right- acetone and nail polish remover does ruin nail polish but with the small amount that you will probably be creating and with the small drop you will be putting in the polish (and only your mixture btw- NOT the polish bottle) you will be fine!
	on January 18, 2012 shellsbells85 3,580 said: Ive done this with eyeshadows for quite some time now (thanks to Pinterest!)..I love it cuz you can make so many pretty colours and save a lot of $$$!!!