Forget expensive store-bought foundation powder when you can make your own at home with ingredients in your kitchen.

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My journey to simplicity started with food. Little did I know ditching the processed food and learning to use my oven would ignite a fire within my soul for getting back to simple living.

Now, I’m not talking about throwing out the washing machine and bathing in the creek (all power to you if you want to go that route), rather slowly making changes to take back the food we eat and products used with clean, real ingredients.   Companies daily fill our heads with the idea that we need to buy lotion, granola bars, and make-up. Trust me friends, I used to buy into this mentality too, until my “aha” simplicity moment. The moment I realized I don’t need a company feeding my body toxins disguised as food or body products loaded with ingredients my skin (and body) can’t recognize.

One of my first DIYs was a simple foundation powder. With a bit of cocoa powder, healing clay, arrowroot starch, and a handful of spices, I whipped up a homemade foundation powder that quickly replaced my favorite store-bought powder. Over time as I switched out more products for homemade versions like: toothpaste, laundry soap, body wash, and lotion, I realized making my own products saves money.

Forget expensive store-bought foundation powder when you can make your own at home with ingredients in your kitchen.

Since publishing my first DIY (homemade foundation powder), I’ve received many questions: Does this actually work? How do you mix it? How does this look on your skin? I try my very best to answer each question, but without a visual, words can only explain so much.

I finally braved-up and faced the camera without any make-up to bring you a video tutorial on how to make this wonderful homemade version of foundation powder. This video is designed to demonstrate making foundation powder start to finish, including what the powder looks like when applied to the skin. You can find the original recipe (and lots of comments, questions, and answers) here. I’ve also provided the recipe (unaltered from the original) below.

homemade-foundation-powder-recipe-video
5 from 15 votes

Homemade Foundation Powder

An easy homemade foundation powder made with simple kitchen ingredients. Customize this face powder based on your skin. 
Kristin Marr
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course DIY
Cuisine Beauty
Servings 1 cup

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Gather your ingredients and a non-metallic bowl (Bentonite Clay should not come in contact with metal). The amount you use of each ingredient will greatly depend on your skin complexion.
  • Mix all your ingredients in the bowl, starting with the arrowroot as your base. Add each ingredient, adding the cocoa powder slowly, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired shade. Whisk together.
  • Test the color by placing a small amount on your face (or arm) with your finger or a brush. It may take a little tweaking the first time to make the perfect shade for your complexion.

Video

Notes

My original recipe called for adding a few drops of vitamin E oil and lavender oil. Since this post was originally published, I’ve decided to remove these ingredients to keep this DIY budget-friendly. If you’d like to add a scent, feel free to add a few drops of your favorite skin-friendly essential oil. If you want to add a few drops of vitamin E oil as well, you’re welcome to do so. 
Bentonite clay is very detoxifying and absorbs excess oils on the skin. If you have sensitive or mature skin, kaolin clay is the best option. 
 
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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107 Comments

  1. This sounds amazing. I would definitely try it but one more question. Could I use instead of arrowroot flour cornstarch ? But again thanks for the recipe.

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve been making this for 2 years now. I’m 62 and honestly, finally have blemish free skin! Easy to make – sooo inexpensive too. Thank you ?

  3. I made my powder this afternoon. I used 2 T. non-nano zinc oxide powder instead of the the arrowroot powder. I also added 8 capsules of beet root powder to give it a warmer tone. I mixed the entire mixture in my blade style coffee/spice grinder. Not only did it break up any lumps but it ground it a little bit finer. I think the shade I ended up with is really nice! Translucent with a warm tone. 😉

  4. This recipe looks very interesting. I would add 1 more important ingredient: non-nano zinc oxide powder for sun protection. I’m definitely trying this with the zinc oxide. I used to wear makeup all the time and gradually stopped due to all the chemicals, etc. in them as well as the cruel animal testing. I’ve been looking for a recipe like this for some time that doesn’t require purchasing extra mineral pigment powders. 🙂

  5. I have been using this for a few months now and love it! It was a little darker than I needed so I had to lighten it up a little.

  6. I can’t get the powder to stay on my face very well. I bought the Redmond Bentonite Clay for facials and I notice that you use the Aztec Clay. Could this make a difference? Also, I am a bit concerned about the lead in the bentonite clay. Help!! I was trying to go all natural because I have health issues.

    1. Hey Dawn, I don’t know if the clay will make a difference. I’m honestly not sure about what may be causing the powder to not stay on the face. It is a very light powder. Is the powder falling off the face upon application?

      Here’s a great article about the lead issue. It’s not something I’m personally concerned about since it is a 100% natural ingredient that contains various elements from the ground, just like some of our food is grown in the ground (where trace amounts of lead will be naturally found): https://wellnessmama.com/59694/lead-in-bentonite-clay/.

  7. Hi. I am unable to do the vit e oil or any essential oil. Most I could do is jojoba. But can I just omit altogether? Or just use jojoba?