I love makeup!
In fact, I find makeup to be pretty magical!
I can wake up in the morning, gulp graciously sip down my lemon water, coffee, green juice, eat breakfast, and dab a little makeup on and suddenly I go from “Who is that woman?” to “Wow! Who is that woman?”
Okay, maybe I’m not stopping traffic, but for a mom of two little kids, makeup somehow possesses the magical powers to make me feel “put together.” I can go from frumpy to polished, ready to hit the playground and looking half-way decent while doing so.
Who pays attention to the multiple stains from morning breakfast splattered on my shirt, the 5 dirty wipes stuffed in my pocket about to fall out, and the hair that hasn’t been washed in two days, when I have makeup on?
At least that’s what I am telling myself…please don’t burst my mommy bubble!
I love makeup, but I have a problem.
Makeup does NOT love me.
I have seriously sensitive skin.
The moment any foreign substance comes in contact with my skin, it attacks! Leaving behind some serious battle scars. In my late teen years I began to battle break outs here and there. I believe this was largely due to my poor diet and the amount of chemical-ridden “beauty” products I used. My face would always react poorly and I would turn to more chemicals which promised to help “beautify” my skin.
Real food has certainly helped my skin! The past few years I have seen huge improvements in the condition of my face in particular.
About 6 months ago (update as of September 2014: I’ve been making homemade products for two years), I decided food wasn’t enough and so I ventured down the world of “natural” beauty products: soaps, deodorant, and toothpaste.
I’m talking real, natural products.
I scoured the aisles in stores and was greatly disappointed to find all the “natural” products (Aveeno, Burt’s Bees, even Arbonne) were far from real ingredients. Since the skin absorbs anything that is placed on it within a mere 26 seconds, I wanted my products to contain ingredients I would feel safe floating around in my bloodstream. I wanted products made from ingredients I could eat.
I finally found what I was looking for. I use a local line of products which contain food-grade organic ingredients for soap, lip balm, and toothpaste. I purchase Primal Pit Paste for deodorant. Even after searching and searching I couldn’t find makeup products which suited my new requirements. Why not make my own?
My first concoction was homemade foundation powder makeup. I have fallen in love with this homemade mineral-like foundation powder. I have tweaked it a bit over the past few months, adding a few ingredients. I love the coverage this makeup gives me without drying my skin or leaving me looking like a pan of bacon grease at the end of the day. Homemade foundation powder is made with ingredients that are be safe to eat. In fact, many of these ingredients you may already be using in your real food kitchen.
Want more good news? This makeup is super inexpensive to make.
To think I used to pay $30 for a container of toxic makeup! The initial cost of purchasing ingredients may be pricey, but these products will last through dozens of batches of homemade foundation powder makeup and can be used in the kitchen, too. The true cost is significantly less expensive than many toxic makeup options.
Homemade Foundation Powder
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup arrowroot flour starch similar to corn starch (a thickening agent), but without the GMOs.
- 2 TB unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp bentonite clay or kaolin clay (very gentle), or French green clay
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.
To Use:
- Store your foundation powder in a small container and use a dry sponge or brush to apply. I use a liquid foundation (2017 Update: Here's a list of my favorite store-bought natural makeup products.) under this foundation powder. You can also use this foundation powder without a liquid foundation for light coverage.
Video
Notes
Store your foundation powder in a small container and use a dry sponge or brush to apply. I use a liquid foundation under this foundation powder on days when I want more coverage. You can also use this foundation powder without a liquid foundation for a lighter coverage.
Now you’re ready to face the day, Mom.
And I think making your own homemade foundation powder makeup might even give you a bit of bragging rights at the playground today.
Q & A
Q: What kind of coverage does this provide?
A: This foundation powder will provide a light to moderate coverage. If you’re looking for heavy coverage, this powder isn’t for you, at least not as a solo makeup product. If you’re looking for heavier coverage (without the makeup looking heavy), I recommend using a liquid foundation underneath this powder foundation. My current favorite brand is Ilia. I use their True Skin Serum Foundation under my powder. I recently shared everything you’ll find in my (natural) makeup bag, here. You can also use this foundation powder without a liquid foundation for a lighter coverage.
Q: This doesn’t stick to my face. Help!
A: I guarantee I’ve made countless jars of the powder (around one jar a month), and I haven’t ever had this issue. Truthfully, I’m not sure why a few people have sticking issues. Listed above in the ingredients are the actual brands I use to make this powder. I’d recommend buying ingredients that are high quality and very fine. Since I’m not in your kitchen (or bathroom) making this with you, I simply don’t know why the powder didn’t stick. I’d recommend wiping your face with a damp cloth to see if any powder stuck to your face. It may be that you are experiencing the difference between heavy, cake-like, store-bought powder and homemade, light powder. A few other questions to ask: did you wash your face and then apply this powder? Did you moisturize before applying this powder (this is my recommendation)? What kind of application tool did you use-powder brush, finger, washcloth? (I recommend a powder brush.) It shouldn’t roll-off your face, there should be stick. You can find my video tutorial for making homemade foundation powder, here.
Q: Does the cinnamon irritate your skin?
A: No, it doesn’t. This recipe calls for very little cinnamon compared to the main ingredients. The ratio is very low. Cinnamon can cause skin irritation, if you are worried, leave it out, or test a small amount. I would not suggest applying cinnamon directly to your face without a mixture like this foundation. Cinnamon is actually beneficial for your skin and helps heal, particularly with blackheads. I feel more comfortable applying a small amount of cinnamon found in this powder than the chemicals in store-bought powder.
Q: If I don’t like it, did I waste my money?
A: No, you didn’t. I personally love this foundation powder. I literally use it daily and know many other readers and friends who do as well. I’ve bought countless foundation powders over the years and thrown many away. Talk about a waste of money! Everyone has different tastes. If you don’t like this powder, I’m not hurt, it’s just a difference in taste. Here’s the great news–when you buy powder and don’t like it at the store, you’ve lost $10-30. Ouch! When you buy the ingredients for this powder, you’ve gained kitchen and bathroom ingredients. The cocoa and arrowroot can be used in the kitchen. Arrowroot is basically corn starch without the GMOs. The clay makes a fantastic mask! Add a little with water and apply to the face. Your skin will thank you. The spices are common cooking spices.
Q: Can I skip the clay?
A: I don’t recommend skipping the clay. You can still make a great foundation without it, but if you are looking for corrective issues, like redness or mild acne to be resolved, the clay is needed. French clay or kaolin clay are also good choices.
Q: I want to turn this powder into a liquid foundation, can I just add coconut oil?
A: I’ve experimented with liquifying this recipe with zero success! Adding a liquid like coconut oil just darkens the cocoa and you end up with a nice edible chocolate. Freeze it and you’ll have a chocolate bar. I recommend purchasing a liquid foundation from a natural brand. My favorite brand is Ilia. I use their True Skin Serum Foundation under my powder.
Q: I love your recipe so much I want to feature it on my blog. Can I do that?
A. So glad you like the powder and I’m honored you’d like to feature Live Simply’s recipe on your blog. The content here at Live Simply is copyrighted so we don’t allow duplication. If you’d like to use a picture with a link back (recipe needs to stay here at Live Simply), please contact me here and we can talk. I love a good blogger shout-out and am happy to work with you so the recipe is properly featured with credit. Of course, feel free to share across social media or mention the recipe in a blog post with a link back.
Oh, this is a miracle! I am beyond excited that I found this! Make up can get so expensive when your skin is sensitive (though, I’m sure, not as much as yours), and not only that, it can be so full of chemicals! Yuck! So I am definitely going to try this (and perhaps tweak, I’m so pale), and share all around. Thank you!
Hey Kristin,
How you avoid contamination and for how long do you storage them? Do you keep it on the fridge or just in room temperature?
Thank you!
Hey Alba, I clean my makeup brush regularly with this recipe to avoid bacteria contamination (just like with a store-bought powder): https://livesimply.me/2015/06/21/homemade-natural-makeup-brush-cleaner/. The ingredients in this recipe are all shelf-table, so it will last for years at room temperature (the oils would break down faster than the food ingredients).
Hey, I’ve tried it out and it really works! I’m very impressed!
I believe it needs a thick layer than ordinary foundation but it feels and looks amazing! 🙂
And I also skipped the ginger, used white clay and switched the arrowroot powder (I couldn’t find some) for Sweet Potato powder and it worked just fine!
Oh, and my skin tone is like an olive one so I used a bit more cinnamon and cocoa.
Thanks for the recipe! Loved it!
Awesome, Lu! I’m so glad you’re loving it. Thank you so much for the tips.
Okay; thank you so much! Have a great day!
I really wanted to make this tonight as my other ingredients came from Amazon, so I picked up tapioca starch aka tapioca flour from Bob Mill. I’m not crazy about using the corn starch! Do you know anything about this starch or if it should not be used? Otherwise I will gladly whip up a batch! Sorry to bother you!!
Hey Tina, I’m not really sure about the tapioca startch/flour. I would recommend trying a very small amount mixed with the other ingredients and see how it goes/feels.
Hi Kristin, thanks for all your great info and inspiring recipes – I’m so glad to have come across your blog. Just FYI in response to a few queries you’ve received and replied to: arrowroot is actually the same thing as tapioca starch!:)
Thank you, Evelyn! I don’t have much experience with tapioca on the skin, so I’m so glad to hear it will work! Thanks for sharing!
My market doesn’t have arrowroot, but has coconut flour/starch and white flour (both Bob Mill). Would either of these work? They look rather fine, but I’ve never seen arrowroot, so I have nothing to compare it to… Thank you so much!
Hey Tina, I don’t think coconut flour or white flour will work, but cornstarch will work great. 🙂
They also have tapioca flour…
im allergic to chocolate especially cocoa powder and cinnammon. Will this powder work without these things or what else can replace them?
Hey devorah, The cinnamon can be left out, but the cocoa powder is essential for color. You may be able to use carob powder instead of the cocoa.
Your powder is amazing!!! It is perfect for me and now I like wearing makeup because it feels so good on my skin. I also love how it washes off without needing makeup remover. – do you know if I could make blush using rooibos powder??
Hi,
I made this up and am still tweaking because it came out a bit dark for me. I remembered to put it in a plastic bowl, but I think I forgot and mixed it with a metal spoon. What exactly is the reaction with the clay and metal? Should I throw that batch out and start over because I *may* have used a metal spoon?
Thanks!
Hey Cary, The metal deactivates the clay. I wouldn’t throw out the batch that may have touched a metal spoon :). The clay won’t hurt you, it’s just not as powerful.
I know you can repair a broken pressed powder by dousing it with alcohol and compacting it again. Would that method work with this recipe to create a pressed powder foundation?
Hey Leo, I’m not sure if the alcohol will work, but I think it’s an awesome idea! I may try it out.
Hello Kristin! I truly love the sound of this and because money is a bit of an issue over here I think this would be great to make and use 🙂 I have a couple of questions though and hope you don’t mind me asking……
I have a dark olive skin and was wondering how I could get a darker colour; would I need to add more nutmeg/cinnamon/cocoa powder? Will it smell kind of chocolately? I may want to eat it, lol 🙂 Also, I realise that this may sound strange but a few years ago I developed an allergy to lavender essential oil. I used to buy it from a reputable company here in the UK. Is there an alternative I can use to lavender essential oil? I’m in my 40s and I’m starting to get hormonal changes in my skin. I do not feel comfortable leaving my home without make-up on because of my skin. I hope this will help to improve my worries. Thank you so much for sharing and have a great day 🙂
Hey Fluffy Duckling,
For a darker color you’ll need to play around with the cocoa powder ratio. It’s definitely possible to create a darker foundation powder, it’s just a matter of finding a good ratio for your skin. It’s much easier to darken this powder than lighten it. The powder will smell like chocolate-lol. You may walk around craving chocolate all day ;).
Quite a few readers have experience similar lavender allergies. You could try a different skin-friendly oil. Maybe carrot seed or tea tree oil? You may also be able to skip the oil.
Can I add Zinc Oxide to your powder foundation to make it with sunscreen? How much? Have you tried that? Thanks.
Hey Norma, I haven’t tried adding zinc to this recipe, yet. I recommend a non-nano zinc powder and adding a few tablespoons (depending on the amount of foundation powder). You’ll need to play around with the ratio based on your skin tone.
Hello again, I tried to make this today but it didn’t work out to well for me. I bought the exact ingredients you use from amazon. i am going to give it a try agian tomorrow. I can’t get it to stick to well it seems to all fall right off the brush any ideas? I put about 23 drops of vitamin E oil in lol and it still wont stick.
Hey Sarah, I’m sorry the powder isn’t sticking for you. Make sure your face is nicely moisturized before applying the make-up.
Does it matter if I use regular cocoa or unsweetened cocoa?
Hey Sarah, Any cocoa will work. I prefer unsweetened cocoa since the powder is applied to my skin.
Thank you for posting this! I have been making bronzer with the same powder ingredients (minus the bentonite clay.) I love the idea of the lavender and Vitamin E added in. Going to give it a try! The arrow root gives such a smooth feeling, i love it so much! No more expensive mineral bronzers, and just too easy to make!!
You’re welcome, Cait. Enjoy!!
Awesoooome! I’m so happy I found this. I bet it smells good too. Where can I find the jars?
Hey Heaven, It smells great, in my opinion! 🙂 I found this jar at Target in the cooking section.
Hello! I love this recipe, but I am having a very hard time getting it to stick to my skin and offer a little, if any coverage. Please let me know if you have any ideas for how to remedy this!
Thank you!
Amy
Hey Amy, A couple of suggestions that may help:
1. Moisturize your face first before applying the powder. This can really help the powder to stick.
2. If the powder is too “coarse” to stick, then I recommend running it through a spice grinder (or even a blender) and then pressing it through a kitchen sieve to remove any particles.
The powder should be light to moderate in coverage. For more coverage, one option is to use a concealer (I love Pacifica brand) underneath the powder. Another option is to play around with the cocoa powder so the powder provides a bit more color coverage.
Let me know how it goes!
I just wanted to let you know how this little post led to relief for my husbands eczema. I was busy putting all of your recipes on my Pepperplate and I saw the ingredient for clay with a where to buy. So, I went to your where to buy link, and as I was following the links on the clay to see if there was help for complexions and a woman said she used cold sore cream for her eczema. I bought it and his skin is clearing up beautifully. So, I know you didn’t say it, but if it wasn’t for you …! Now I’m going to make that foundation for my daughter’s skin. Thanks!! Love your site.
Wow, Cindy! That’s so exciting!! I’m so glad the clay is helping his skin. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Can’t wait to try! The best recipe I’ve come across!
Thank you, Vanessa! Enjoy!!
Hi! Could almond oil be used in place of the vitamin E oil?
Hey Melissa, I’m not sure if almond oil can be subbed for the vitamin E. If you try it, I’d start with a very small amount.
Wonderful recipe! I also found that it doubles as a “dry shampoo” or oil absorbent for those days you don’t want to, or have time to wash your hair. (I’m a brunette, so I’m not sure how it would work on blonde or red hair.)
That’s awesome, Kam! Great idea.