2015-2016 NOTE: I can no longer source the beet powder (made by a small spice company), used to make this powder, which I was purchasing from my local health food store. The powder was very fine and worked perfectly in this blush. Since trying other beet products, I’ve experienced issues with the blush not sticking to my skin as many readers have voiced in the comments. At this time, I can’t recommend this powder anymore.
It’s Monday.
Mondays are usually when I love to share a delicious food recipe with you. Weekends bring out all sorts of goodness in my kitchen with the result being perfect recipes ready to share. We do lots of eating on the weekends, celebrating good food.
“Wait! Don’t eat that! Mommy, has to take a picture of it.”
Of course, it’s never just one picture.
I cooked this weekend. Trust me, I did lots of cooking. I can’t wait to share some delicious recipes with you. But today, I am breaking away from food. Well, sorta. Today, I am sharing a recipe that doesn’t belong in kitchen, but as all good things do, starts in the kitchen.
Homemade blush!
Say, what?
Blush is one of the last things I imagined making in the kitchen. At least that was until this year. See, this year I decided to go on a purge, a cleansing. A cleansing of all chemicals which come in contact with my skin. Deodorant, shampoo, lotion, body wash, toothpaste, and make-up have all been under careful scrutiny. My goal has been to be as chemical-free as possible when it comes to what is placed on my skin.
This task has been far from easy, but I am slowly making progress.
While I desire to ditch the chemicals, I still have a couple important criteria:
- I must smell good
- I must look good (you know, not in a vain way, but half-way presentable. In other words, no greasy hair, big underarm sweat marks, bad breath, or off-colored, pore-clogging make-up.) Presentable enough for two kiddos and a husband.
So far, I have been able to successfully switch over from chemical-ridden commercial products to more natural, even homemade versions of deodorant, toothpaste, face wash and moisturizer, body lotion, body wash, and foundation powder.
Not a bad start.
Since making my own homemade foundation powder and loving it, (what woman wouldn’t love smelling like chocolate and lavender all day?) I decided to move on to the next offender in my make-up bag, blush.
Take a look at the ingredients in my store-bought blush. The blush I have bought for a good 10 years and used nearly daily,
Talc, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated C6-14 Olefin Polymers, Diisostearyl Malate, Paraffinum Liquidum / Mineral Oil / Huile Minerale, Silica, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hexyl Laurate, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol,Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Tin Oxide. May Contain: Mica, CI 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499 / Iron Oxides, CI 77007 / Ultramarines, CI 15850 / Red 7, CI 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, CI 15850 / Red 6, CI 45410 / Red 28 Lake, CI 77120 / Barium Sulfate, CI 73360 / Red 30, CI 15850 / Red 7 Lake, CI 15985 / Yellow 6 Lake]
Scary isn’t it?
My homemade blush, which I proudly wear daily, knowing it is good for my skin and safe for my bloodstream is composed of 3-4 ingredients max! All ingredients I could eat if I desired. Ingredients found in my kitchen. No artificial dyes, foreign chemicals, or scientific experiments. I would really prefer my skin to not be a scientific experiment.
I’ll stop chatting and share…
I know you eager to make your own homemade blush.
What you will need:
- Beet Powder (ground very fine)
- Arrowroot Powder (where to buy)
- nutmeg, ground
- ginger, ground
- Essential oil (I use Lavender)
How To:
Start with the beet powder as the base. I use around 2 tablespoons of beet powder. Add in the arrowroot powder (I use around 1 tablespoon) depending on how dark or light you desire your blush. Add in a bit of shimmer by adding nutmeg and/or ginger. I usually add nutmeg if I want a darker blush (as pictured) and ginger for a lighter blush. Mix all the dry ingredients until well blended then add in the essential oil (I use 3-5 drops) to give it a bit of “stick”. I find this powder wears best when applied with a blush brush.
2015-2016 NOTE: I can no longer source the beet powder (made by a small spice company), used to make this powder, which I was purchasing from my local health food store. The powder was very fine and worked perfectly in this blush. Since trying other beet products, I’ve experienced issues with the blush not sticking to my skin as many readers have voiced in the comments. At this time, I can’t recommend this powder anymore.
If I would like a more pink (baby Pink or cotton Pink color) what powders do u suggest?
Thank you : ))
Hey Jen, I don’t have a lot of experience personally with hibiscus, but I’ve been told by other bloggers, ground hibiscus flowers will provide a very nice pink color for homemade blush.
I have yet to try this blush and I’m also very excited to try the foundation! But one question.. I have extremely oily skin and especially in the summer it is so hard to get makeup to stay put and not look like, as you have said, a pan of bacon grease. Does the homemade mineral powder you made leave your skin oily?
Hey Sarah, I find the foundation powder actually helps to keep the oil away. I have very oily skin too. Enjoy :).
Hi Kristin, There are some great recipes here. I am looking for a natural hair dye and I notice in your picture that your hair is lightened. Do you use bleach or a natural alternative? I have bee trying lemon juice and calendula but progress is very slow. Best wishes Sam
Hi Sam, Than you. I haven’t tried natural hair dye yet, but I know many friends that use henna to color their hair with great success.
I noticed this a long with your powder foundation recipe has ginger in it… anyway I can skip it or swap it out for something else. I hate being allergic to such a commonly used item that I’ve never heard of anyone else being allergic too :'(
Hi Tylere, You can easily leave the ginger out. It won’t have a huge effect on the overall product.
So you used lavender oil so the blush can stick to your skin?
Hi Denise, The essential oil gives it the “stick”. You can also use Vitamin E or tea tree oil for the same stick.
I made the blush, but I’m having trouble getting it to stick to my skin. I put the essential oil in it, then in desperation I added coconut oil & ran it through my grinder. The color is beautiful, but its not sticking to my brush or my skin. Do you think I could add it to some vasoline to make a blush stick?
Hi Julie, You can try adding a bit more vitamin E to provide stick. I also have mixed it with a bit of coconut oil (just a little bit) to apply, if needed.
How do you make beet powder?
I purchase my powder from Frontier. But if you’d like to make it at home, you can dehydrate beets and then grind fine in a coffee grinder or high speed blender.
How long does this keep?
It will last months.
Kristin, in reading through the comments, I found it at nuts.com!! Thank you anyway 🙂
Perfect. Glad you found it. I also buy my powder from amazon.
Kristin, my daughter turned me on to your products! I have to try them now, they sound great!! However, where do you get beet powder? I live in Germany..so I will check Amazon, or try to find it when we are home for Christmas. Would love a response! Thanks, Miriam
Where can I find beet powder? Or do you have to make it?
I found it at nuts.com which also carries arrowroot powder and natural cocoa powder if you want to mix a different color or fragrance!
That’s fantastic! Thank you for the info! I will have to check them out.
Thank you Joy!
You can make it by dehydrating beets and then grinding them in a coffee grinder. I usually just purchase the powder. I buy mine from Frontier. Another reader had this suggestion too…”I found it at nuts.com which also carries arrowroot powder and natural cocoa powder if you want to mix a different color or fragrance!”
Thank you for the info! I look forward to making this and the foundation powder!
So glad I found this I have been looking for something I will not mind breathing in each day.
I tried the recipe and the beet powder I had wasn’t fine enough to actually work. Do you make yours or buy it? Is there an alternative to the beet powder? I LOVE your foundation recipe though!
My blush isn’t super fine. Not as fine as the foundation powder. When I use it with a blush brush it goes on smoothly though and works great on my skin.
Unfortunately mine just falls off the brush and won’t cover at all 🙁
Hmmm, did the oil help it bind together? Maybe the powder is a bit too coarse?
The oil did not. I think the beet just isn’t fine enough. I’ve seen a recipe for hibiscus blush, maybe that would be finer.
I use the hibiscus recipe in the summer when I am not as tan too. Both work great for me when applied with a brush, but it never works when applied with my fingers.
If your beet powder is too coarse you can also try grinding it. The one I use is fine.
Can you substitute the arrowroot powder for coconut flour?
I don’t think it’s fine enough to use. You can try.
I would love to see how this looks on. Do you have any photos?
In all the photos of myself, here on the blog, I am wearing the blush. You can find one pic here: https://livesimply.me/index.php/about/ and one on the sidebar. The best part about this blush is it’s customizable. You can make it as light or dark as you prefer.
I don’t wear blush as I have rosacea, but was wondering about a homemade bronzer with less burgundy tones and more coppery, bronze tones. Also my face condition has much improved with the use of Bare Minerals than liquid makeup. I know Bare Minerals has zinc oxide in it which is anti inflammatory. I wonder if it could be added to the make up.
I make a homemade foundation powder that I think would be perfect! It’s like a bronzer. https://livesimply.me/index.php/2013/06/27/homemade-foundation-powder/
Yes, that’s what I did… I had some Bare Minerals I hadn’t used called “Warmth” which is dark face color. I mixed a tiny bit with cornstarch and works beautifully! I love it!
Hi Alma, Wonderful, so glad that worked for you.
I just made your foundation and LOVED it!! I’ll be doing this blush next! Do you have any alternatives for mascara or eyeliner? I really use those the most.
hey jamie! grinded charcoal and vasseline will do the trick for mascara. Love it! I got it from another website
Hmmmm. Why didn’t I think of this? Oh yeah, because you did! 🙂
Wow! This is the BEST! Good for YOU and US ALL! My dear daughters and daughters in law will love this too, but I am TOO PALE and I will make this soon! THANK YOU! Now, I will search for the ingredients!
ooooo!! Love this idea! Thank you so much! 🙂