Natural DIY Foundation Powder
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This natural DIY foundation is a simple, inexpensive recipe, with results that last all day long. Homemade foundation is made with ingredients you probably have in your pantry, and you can create it to make the perfect match to your skin tone. Follow my tips below to make the best natural powder foundation.
To make this recipe, you will need: cornstarch (or arrowroot powder), cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, french green clay (optional), and bentonite clay (optional).
This post was updated January 2019
I’m so excited to be sharing this recipe with y’all today! I have been using this natural DIY foundation for a few years now, and I am loving it! My skin is much clearer, less dry, and I am happy that I know exactly what ingredients I am putting on my face. Plus, it is cheap frugal and all natural. You get to customize it to your own skin color, so it will match perfectly.
This homemade foundation lasts all day, and I don’t get that worn, greasy look by the end of the day, like I did when I was using the expensive mineral powder.
To be honest, I’ve been using this exclusively as a powder foundation since first creating it 6 years ago, and I have gotten pretty lazy with my ingredients. Nowadays, since my complexion has cleared a lot and my skin tone has become more consistent, I’ve been able to get away with just using cornstarch, cocoa powder, and bentonite clay. You just have to use what works for your skin and skin tone.
What is wrong with conventional powder foundation?
Sometimes they contain nanoparticles. These are super small particles of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which help block the sun. The problem isn’t necessarily the ingredients, but their size; when they are used as nanoparticles and not non-nanoparticles, they can increase skin’s aging, can penetrate the skin, and cause toxicity of the skin (source).
I always like to run any product or makeup through the EWG website to make sure it is safe and has a low score.
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When doing a quick search on their site, I found Covergirl had an overall score of 5. It contained parabens, quaternium-15 (which is a formaldehyde releaser), talc (which can be contaminated with asbestos), and a few other not so bad ingredients. But still, I definitely don’t want any of those chemicals on my face. Make this foundation instead, and you’ll know exactly what you’re putting on your skin.
Tips for making homemade foundation:
- If you have a lot of red in your skin tone, add french green clay. The green helps counteract the red.
- Test the color on the back of your hand, and then go outside in the sunlight to see if it is a good match.
- Make homemade foundation in a big batch to save you from constantly making it.
- Write down the recipe for the DIY foundation that matches your skin, so you are not always guessing.
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Natural DIY Foundation Ingredients
Ingredients depend on the color of your skin.
- Cornstarch (Like this one) or arrowroot powder (Like this one): this is the base of the foundation and it gives you that flawless look!
- Cocoa powder (Like this one): darkens and adds richness. I use a little bit of this even though I am super pasty white!
- Cinnamon (Like this one): darkens and adds richness
- Ginger: if you have yellow pigments in your skin like me
- French green clay (Like this one) (optional): this works great for those with more red pigments in the skin. Green cancels red!
- Bentonite clay (Like this kind): totally optional, but has great benefits for your skin.
I purchased most of the ingredients at our local co-op (it’s like Whole Foods) in the bulk section, but I included links for where you can find the ingredients online.
How To Make DIY Foundation
- In a small, nonmetallic bowl, add about 1 Tbs cornstarch.
- Depending on the color of your skin, start mixing in small amounts of the other ingredients until you get your perfect match.
- To figure out if you matched your skin tone, just dip your finger in the powder, rub on the back of your hand, and go outside to see if it blends. If it doesn’t, then add more ingredients and try again.
- Place in a clean jar.
To use homemade foundation: Gently tap a foundation brush in loose powder, tap off any extra powder back into the jar, and apply in a circular motion, just like any loose powder foundation.
Side note: don’t forget to write down how much of each ingredient that you add, that way you don’t have to play as much of a guessing game the next time around. Yes, I may have learned this one the hard way!
Want More Homemade Natural Products? Check these out!
- Homemade Natural Mascara
- Shea Butter And Aloe Face Cream is my go to.
- Natural Makeup You Don’t Have To DIY
- I use this Dry Shampoo everyday.
- This DIY Hair Spray is only 2-3 natural ingredients.
This makes me so excited! I have been wanting to make my own cosmetics for a long time, and I’m finally getting around to it! Just like this Homemade Face and Body Cream that is awesome. In the next few weeks, you will get to see a whole line-up of homemade beauty products that I have been itching to try!
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Check wholesale supplies plus for a product called dryly, it is ultra fine cornstarch. Very smooth application instead of the slight gritty feel. Even if you add half and half to your regular cornstarch or arrowroot it makes a huge difference.
Dry flo. Not dryly sorry was autocorrect.
OOO great tip thanks Steph!
I’ve been making my own deodorant for years now. Will definitely be trying this! Thanks for the recipe, Amy!
Please add me to your email mailing list. I LOVE your blog !
Wow, would never have thought you could do this at home. Thanks so much for sharing. the recipe. I’m visiting from the Craft-O-Maniac link party.
Christy @ Creating a Beautiful Life
Thanks for visiting Christy! Hope to see you again!
Would this would for mature, dry skin? Thanks.
I use at 45 over my foundation as a loose finishing powder. It is not drying at all. I’ve also used it with just moisturizer on the weekends, and it looks great, too.
That’s awesome Tami! Thanks for sharing. I’m so glad it works for you!
All of the ingredients in this homemade foundation sound great. Thanks for sharing this recipe, I am definitely going to give it a try. ;o)
Amazing! I have been wanting to start wearing make up again and can’t wait to make this. I won’t have to feel bad about what’s in it and I already have all the ingredients! 🙂
I love this. I’ve been wanting to try making my own foundation for awhile. Right now I use everyday minerals and like it, but I have a hard time matching my skin tone. It would be so nice just to make it myself!
What?! Are you kidding me? I am trying this tomorrow!! Thanks so much for sharing this!!
What a fantastic idea! I’m really trying to decrease our exposure to chemicals (esp in beauty/body-contact products), but the brands I’ve tried thus far have been disappointing. I can’t wait to give this a try. Thanks for sharing!
How would this recipe be for acne prone skin?
I think it should work pretty well for acne skin! My skin is pretty finicky/breaks out a lot and haven’t had any issues with it thus far. I actually think my skin has cleared up since starting to wear this! Hope it works for you!
Thank you
This might just be the thing for taking the shine off my nose: the one CelloDad is always trying to use as a mirror…. (Love arrowroot powder for baking and puddings, too!)
I think so! It works great to get rid of shine!
Thanks for supplying the links to the ingredients..can’t wait to try this out..perfect timing..I’m really low on foundation
Love this! I need to make some of my own 🙂
My only concern would be that the cornstarch be organic. With all of the scary Genetically Modified Foods on the main stream markets, I would make sure that I am using a non-GMO product from an organic source. I will try this as I love products that are all natural. Thanks for sharing!
Agreed! Thanks for pointing that out Sandra! I try as best as I can to stay away from GMOs too!
I had no idea this was even possible 🙂 I may have to try it!
This is amazing! I never thought to make my own powder foundatation! This would be make at a girls night or a spa party too! Very cool! You may just end up with your own cosmetics line one day! Feel free to share this at Party In Polka Dots too!
Shelley
http://www.piggyinpolkadots.com/2013/06/party-in-polka-dots-27-linky-sweet.html
Hope it works great for you! That would be amazing… Maybe one day! It’s funny because my mom is a sales rep assistant to someone who sells makeup to spas. Keep it in the family lol.
I hate wearing foundation…something about it makes me feel closed in. This recipe looks so cool that I want to try it. I won’t because I know I would never use it. Good info to share though!
Wow, that’s a great idea! But I’m super pale so i think I would be scared I would end up with just cornstarch on my face.. I think for now I’ll stick to store bought foundation (if anyone is looking for the right one I love this site: , it’s really helpful). But I might give your recipe a try maybe on a day when I’m staying at home.. what kind of coverage and lasting power do you get out of this? Do you think it would differ for different skin tones with different proportions of ingredients?
Trust me Sammy I am super duper pale too! If you look at the color of the foundation I made it was super pale! It lasts all day too and I don’t get that gross greasy look my the end of the day like I usually do!
Hi, I actually made this powder foundation recipe yesterday, without the clay, (I will make some with, just can’t get it near me, so am ordering it online, and was so pleasantly surprised. It was so sheer and light, but controlled my very oily skin all day. I looked fresh and flawless all day long! I spent so much money over the years on “oil control” foundations, and not one of them worked. Thanks so much for the recipe Amy! Love it!
Brett Bowman