Zinc oxide, a chemical compound, serves as a whitener in cosmetic recipes. Sometimes referred to as Chinese white, it proves useful in paints, crafts, body products and even diaper rash creams and other topical ointments. Making homemade cosmetics with zinc oxide gives you the opportunity to give your custom formulas the clean, smooth color that many commercial products exhibit. A completely optional ingredient, it gives your products a professional appearance.

Add 1 tbsp. of beeswax to a glass bowl. Add 1/2 tsp. of vegetable oil to the wax. Vegetable oils such as soy, olive, hemp, avocado and others contain different benefits that condition your skin.

Stir in three drops of your choice of carrier oil. Coconut oil is a common choice in cosmetics and lotions.

Stir in 1 tsp. of zinc oxide. Zinc oxide isn't water soluble, so it dissolves well in oil and acidic mixtures. It will immediately turn the oil and wax mixture a bright opaque white.

Stir in 1 tbsp. of your choice of mica powder. If you'd like a deep crimson lipstick, use 2 tbsp. of carnelian mica. For other tones, experiment with a blend of micas.

Pour the liquid into a lipstick tube or gloss pot and let it cool to room temperature before placing a cap on it. It will harden into a creamy lipstick.

Add 1 tbsp. of zinc oxide powder to a glass bowl.

Drop 1 tsp. of beige-colored mica mineral powder into the zinc oxide.

Add 1 tbsp. of kaolin clay mixed with a 1/2 tsp. of silk peptide powder to the mixture.

Cover the bowl and shake it to sift the powdered materials together thoroughly.

Pour the contents of the bowl into a slotted shaker jar for mineral cosmetics. Cover the jar and shake it for an additional 30 seconds to further blend the powders together. The powder can be used immediately and applied with a kabuki brush.