Homemade Face Powder Foundation – All Natural

If I had known how easy it is to make your own homemade face powder foundation, I'd have done it a long time ago! It's also the cheapest and most natural thing you could put on your face – just cornstarch or arrowroot powder and spices. Yup, that's it!

Homemade All Natural Face Powder Recipe - Use ingredients found in your kitchen - from My Merry Messy Life

Does It Sound Funny to Put Cornstarch On Your Face? (LOL)

If you're already into making your own cosmetic and cleaning products like I am, this probably sounds like something fun you'd like to try. But, if you're new to the whole non-toxic way of life, you might be thinking, “why in the heck would I put cornstarch on my face?” I'm choosing to because commercial cosmetics are known for being full of chemicals I'd rather not be putting on the largest organ of my body – my skin. Many of those chemicals are toxic, even carcinogenic. So, one time exposure may not be a big deal, but everyday for your entire adult life? A big deal.

Natural Cosmetics are Expensive – this is an Affordable Alternative!

I do love to buy natural cosmetics, but they are expensive. I've had my eye on Coastal Classics makeup for awhile, but have yet to buy it because one container of foundation costs $29. That's not expensive compared to other big name brands, like MAC or Bare Minerals, but I have always had a hard time paying a lot for makeup. And guess what the number one ingredient in their face foundation is? Yup, cornstarch. So, let's make our own!

The performance and coverage is a little bit different than the loose mineral powder I've been using, but not a whole lot different. I am happy with the results.

Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder?

Now, cornstarch and arrowroot powder are very similar in texture and consistency, so you can use either one. I tried both of them and found that the cornstarch was thicker and sticker and stuck to all the little hairs on my face. Arrowroot blended in better with my skin, so I like it more for this powder.

Tinting the Powder

To tint your powder, you can use anything from cinnamon to nutmeg to cocoa powder. Start with a little and keep adding more until it is a similar tone for your skin. I have very fair skin, like Snow White but with red hair and no evil stepmother, so my recipe is a good starting point for most people. Unless you're as fair as me, you'll need more tint. I only used cinnamon because my skin has a pink undertone and cinnamon has a nice reddish tint. If you're more brown-toned, I'd use cocoa powder.


Want to Have Sunscreen In It?

I thought about adding non-nano zinc oxide to the powder to make it a sunscreen, but decided against it because there is a lot of concern of it being dangerous if inhaled. I would instead add some zinc oxide to your face lotion or oil (I do the oil cleansing method, so I'd add it to some oil). I buy my non-nano zinc oxide from Amazon (see it here).

Add Oils, Essential Oils and/or Glycerin

One thing I did find annoying about this powder is that it sticks to my eyelashes if I brush it on my eyelids. I was able to make it better by adding drops of my favorite essential oils to it and even some almond oil. UPDATE – I added some vegetable glycerine (where to buy) and now it's not bothering my eyes any more! Adding even more oil that I have in the recipe can make a pressed powder if you prefer that to loose powder.

Here are some essential oils that are good for skin (source – love this book! Neal Yard's Remedies – Essential Oils.). I've been using essential oils exclusively from Young Living since 2014 and haven't looked back! They are the best in the business, and believe me, I've used every oil out there. Learn more about getting oils from Young Living here.

Essential Oils for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin:

  • Cedarwood
  • Chamomile
  • Lemon
  • Tea Tree
  • Lavender
  • Patchouli
  • Palmarosa
  • Rosemary
  • Geranium

Essential Oils Good For Aging Skin, Fine Lines and Wrinkles:

  • Frankincense
  • Neroli
  • Lemon
  • Myrrh
  • Patchouli
  • Palmarosa (very hydrating)

Click here to buy high quality essential oils!

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Homemade Face Powder Foundation – All Natural

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3.8 from 5 reviews

A simple recipe for making loose face powder foundation.

  • Author: Sara – My Merry Messy Life

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
  2. Add more tint (cinnamon, nutmeg or cocoa powder) until you reach your desired color.

For more on natural skin care and cosmetics, check out my posts on The Oil Cleansing Method, Homemade Organic Lotion, Baking Soda Shampoo and Apple Cider Vinegar Conditioner, Homemade Natural Perfume and more!

Reader Tip from Chelle – Use a Coffee Grinder

Chelle writes,

I use a coffee grinder that is exclusive to mineral makeup-ing. It really blends everything together nicely when you pulse it a bit. They're pretty cheap (i actually bought a new one from amazon for like $10 {here is one that is $10}).

I use colored oxides and zinc with the arrowroot (as my main base powder), as my skin is very sensitive to cinnamon and cocoa powder wasn't really looking right (I'm wicked pale too). I add in a few drops of chamomile essential oil and a teensy bit of jojoba to help with adhesion (staying on my skin).

I haven't bought traditional make up in years! So love that people are getting the word out about diy makeup (in my opinion it also helps heal breakouts faster).

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31 Comments

  1. Hello, I have rubbing alcohol at home. These homemade face powder can be set as compact powder without any crack using your recipe.






    1. Try a yellow spice like powdered Turmeric or Ginger. Go slow and add in tiny toothpicks at a time (use a toothpick like a spoon and dip just the point in the spice) as yellow is a very strong color on skin. If it becomes too yellow, add in a touch of cinnamon and more of the base powder to rebalance.
      Hope this helps!! 🙂

      1. Don’t use the kitchen yellow turmeric but Kasturi Turmeric ( Wild turmeric) or White turmeric which has a beige tint as the kitchen yellow turmeric will cause your face to look too yellow and tan you very fast when you go out wearing the powder in the sun. Tip from one Indian to another.

  2. Hi, I’m out of setting powder and have somewhere to be really soon!! I usually make my own setting Powder, I use the cornstarch, baby powder, cocoa powder & such Buttt IM OUT of cornstarch so I was curious if there is something else to replace cornstarch??
    Can anyone Help?!?!? Thanks in advance.

    1. By the way the homemade setting powder works just as great as what ya buy in stores but ALOT cheaper






  3. Using natural ingredients cosmetic is by far the WAY TO GO!

    But once again we have an ill-advised DIY beauty blogger giving terrible uneducated advice.

    Pantry based ingredients should not be used to formulate skin products. ESPECIALLY when purchased from the notoriously unreliable Amazon sellers.

    Botanicals intended for cosmetic purposes need to be purchased from all natural botanical suppliers. Food grade ingredients are not naturally preserved and will grow molds and bacterias that you do not want on your face. Cosmetic grade cornstarch is naturally treated so that it can be an effective organic ingredient used in skin care.
    Putting molds and bacterias on your face is not safe.
    THIS IS ONLY ONE PROBLEM WITH USING FOOD GRADE INGREDIENTS.

    If your interested in using botanical ingredients safely so that you can get the most value from their benefiting properties, look to places like Essential Wholesale, New Directions Aromatics, Natures Gift and more. They have educated formulators for advice. The ingredients are cost effective and simple to work with.

    Last- Young Living is one of the most unreliable, price inflated, scams. They have been outed by several third-party labs as having diluted, poor quality, unpure and adulterated oils.

    For pure quality oils go to a transparent responsible sourcing company such as Lotus Garden, Eden’s Botanicals, Stillpoint Aromatics, Aromatics International, and Appalachian Valley.






    1. Great advice. You’re not wrong, but you are rude, and also uneducated in some areas.

      Ingredients like cloves are anti-fungal and anti-bacterial – I guess that’s why they’re added to the mix.
      Tea-Tree oil is also anti-bacterial; a great addition.

      Certain oils do go rancid, so after 6 Months everything should be discarded, and started again.

      As long as we all share everything we know – without feeling the need to be unnecessarily rude – we’ll all be better and wiser.

      Organic ingredients are ultimately the best choice, all around.

      Anyone who supports Amazon is responsible for making Jeff Bezos the richest man on earth.
      Pyramid schemes like YL and Doterra are just as exploitative and manipulative.
      Support independent, organic, and local, where possible; it’s just as important to be a conscious consumer as it is to become personally health conscious!

      1. I agree. Kindness goes a long ways. Also, these ingredients sit on the shelf for a long time. If dry and protected and used within a reasonable time, I would think they would be fine. Maybe some beet powder for pink color. I can’t remember if you included that or not.

      2. Kinda wrong. I have been making products for over 10 years … No preservatives. No complain from customers. I use coconut oil . Never a problem. Once there is NO WATER in your ingredients. It lasts

    1. Hi Vey! Yes, you can add jojoba oil to it. The amount depends on the consistency you would like to have. I would add just a few drops at a time and stir it and continue that process until you like the texture and consistency.

  4. Getting away from toxic chemicals included in modern day makeup is a wonderful idea. Lead was used in cosmetics during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, which did terrible damage to skin. Maybe women would be better off with just the use of oil; a friend used Crisco vegetable oil for face cream after watching a truck load of the product going into a cosmetic factory. She had beautiful skin up until her 80th year.

    Thanks for your journal. Very inspiring.

  5. I’ve purchased concealer powders (that don’t contain titanium dioxide) and decanted them into a small glass containers.

    I tip a tiny amount onto the back of my hand and add a drop or two of jojoba oil, then mix it in and apply with my finger tips and blend. It works amazingly well, but the powders are so overpriced that I’m considering making my own.

    I plan to make a mixture of zinc oxide, yellow iron oxide and pink kaolin clay (I have very pale skin).

    My concern is mold and bacterial growth, so I wonder how people deal with this issue. Are essential oils the answer?

  6. u can use finely grinded rice powder instead of cornstarch and if u want rose tint, add some hisbiscus podwer as per ur rosey requirement. rice powder absorbs oil and gives matt finish and keep the makeup intact for whole day without needing touchups.
    btw way thankyou so very much for the receipe to make my own powder. thankyou again!!!

  7. Cinnamon!? Cocoa!? Nutmeg!? These don’t seem like very well tinting ingredients. Cinnamon and nutmeg would sting and irritate your face! There are plenty of products out there that are made from all natural ingredients, many are vegan friendly as well, that will not irritate, burn your skin, clog your pores, and make a sticky mess by the end of the day. Some things are just better to shell out the cash and buy. I think makeup is one of them. I mean do you honestly want to go around smelling like a chocolate snickerdoodle Christmas cookie!? lol

  8. I added a ts. of shea butter and a few drops of e oil to mine. I love how smooth it is on my skin. Love healthy nsturr skin. 😊

  9. Open your minds everyone. Its beneficial for your skin to try different products as you have different climates and skin. Thank you all for your suggestions.
    I keep my powder in my refrigerator, take out enough to last a month then mix it with oil. My favorite carrier oil is jojoba with a couple drops of frankincense or tea tree for preventing bacteria.
    Frankincense is extremely beneficial for your skin. Best to you all!

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