DIY Cosmetics LLC

Rebecca Midkiff, Owner and Founder of DIY Cosmetics

I founded my first raw material business in New Zealand in 1998, Aromatics & More Ltd. This was a larger business and I sold many different raw materials including several emulsifiers, surfactants, preservatives and so on. When I first opened DIY Cosmetics in 2004, my vision was of a  small Green Boutique with a particular focus in high end raw materials for making the most natural cosmetics possible that create the end results of similar products one might pay a small fortune for in cosmetic stores. I also wanted a store that sold packaging and ingredients for color cosmetics which were in small supply at that time. 

Each ingredient is carefully chosen, and I have a strict criteria for what I sell. For this reason you may not find as many products as you might from larger web stores but you have the assurance that each raw material you might purchase from us is free from any ethoxylates, formaldyhyde or other harmful chemicals. Whenever possible I try to purchase products that are made in the US and Europe where the standards are very high.I do not look to China or India for cheaper alternatives. If I have a product that is purchased from these countries it is because they are the best and highest quality source for this particular product. 

When I look at a product I may want to carry I consider the following:

Source: Animal, Vegetable, Synthetic Petrochemical etc. I try to limit most ALL supplies to plant and renewable source ingredients. Some products such as Lecithin are by- products of another industry that would be wasted if not used. 

Environmental: What happens to the ingredient after it is disposed of. I source ingredients that are biodegradable and/or do not have an adverse effect on the environment and our water.

Safety: The ingredient should have a proven history of effectiveness and have been found to be SAFE. A lot of time has been spent on research and weeding out fact from fiction.

Transparent: I supply the chemical nomenclature and as much information as I can with our products and how they should be used. When I label a product or base I include everything that product has in it no matter how minute. You will not see terms such as "ewax" or "vegetable soap" on my labels. I feel our consumers should know exactly what they are using and how to use it. This also gives you the option of researching an ingredient on your own. 

Usefulness: Making your own cosmetics and body care products is not only functional, it is fun. I think that color and fragrance pamper the senses and encourage customers to have fun creating their own new formulas. The formulas that I supply are just a place to start at. The combinations that can be used are only as limited as ones imagination! Some of the ingredients such as fragrance (including essential oils) and colors should be tested on individuals with very sensitive skin.