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multiple photos including holding a finished rainbow highlighter, a makeup brush with rainbow makeup on it, and daniela, ab crafty founder with rainbow makeup on her cheekbone with red hair

DIY Rainbow Highlighter

Get ready for Pride! Learn how to make a vibrant DIY rainbow highlighter by upcycling eyeshadows you already own. Easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for Pride makeup looks.
Yield 1 Rainbow Highlighter
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Prep Time 2 minutes
Project Time 15 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes

Materials
  

  • Eyeshadows in rainbow colors For a true highlighter, make sure to use shimmer eyeshadows
  • Makeup tin
  • Rubbing Alcohol

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Paper Towel
  • Mixing Palette

Instructions
 

Prepare the Makeup Tin

  • Remove the eyeshadow from the original palette.
    Eyeshadows in rainbow colors
    using a knife to remove purple shimmer eyeshadow from an eyeshadow tin
  • Empty each color into a mixing palette.
    using a knife to scrape purple eyeshadow out of an eyeshadow palette
  • Clean the tin using rubbing alcohol and a paper towel.
    Rubbing Alcohol, Makeup tin
    cleaning an eyeshadow tin with a paper towel

Create the Rainbow Highlighter

  • Smash the makeup into a powder, one color at a time.
    using a knife to smash pink eyeshadows in a mixing tray
  • Add in a few drops of rubbing alcohol so it forms a paste
    adding rubbing alcohol to pink eyeshadow in a mixing tray
  • Spread it into one side of the clean makeup tin.
    spreading a wet mixture of pink eyeshadow and rubbing alcohol into a clean eyeshadow tin
  • Repeat with each color (orange, then yellow, then green, then blue, then purple)
    mixing orange eyeshadow with rubbing alcohol in a mixing tray with other rainbow eyeshadow colors around it
  • Place a paper towel on top and carefully press down to compress the powder
  • Let it dry overnight so that the alcohol evaporates. Then you're left with a gorgeous rainbow highlighter!
    holding a finished diy rainbow highlighter that's in the shape of a square

Video

Notes

Tip: To prevent blended colors when they're brushed on, use a wider tin to create distinct colors.
Keyword Eyeshadow, Highlighter, Makeup, Pride, Pride Makeup, Pride Month, Rainbow, Rainbow Makeup