All Natural Homemade Face Powder Foundation

If you’ve never tried making your own face powder foundation, you’re missing out on a great way to save some money. Not only can you save some money, but making your own allows you to control the ingredients in the powder.

So you can make sure that no harsh chemicals end up in your foundation. This homemade face powder foundation only takes a few ingredients, including cornstarch and spices. It’s really that simple!

Not sure if you want to try making your own face powder foundation? Maybe you’re thinking that cornstarch goes in baked goods – not on your face.

However, take a look at the ingredients list on your cosmetics. How many unpronounceable chemicals do you see on that list? Many of those chemicals can do serious damage and you’re putting them on your skin.

Your skin absorbs what you put on it, so every time you use makeup full of chemicals, your skin is absorbing them.

Of course, buying all-natural skincare and cosmetic products is a great way to avoid those nasty chemicals. However, it can quickly get expensive to buy natural options. You could end up spending $30, $40 or more for just one product.

If you take a look at some of the all-natural face powders, you’ll actually find that cornstarch is one of the main ingredients use. Cornstarch is easy to buy and cheap, so why not use it to make your own natural DIY face powder foundation.

Keep in mind, if you make your own powder, expect to see a little difference in the coverage and performance of the product. However, you still should enjoy good results and the benefits of natural ingredients.

This homemade version . . .
We’ve talked about cornstarch, but you actually can choose your base. You can choose to use cornstarch, which is extremely cheap, or you can use arrowroot powder as your powder base.

You can try both and see which one works best for you. Some people find that the arrowroot blends better. Cornstarch is a thicker base and it may not provide the results you want, but try it.

After all, it will only cost you a few cents to try cornstarch first. If it doesn’t work well, then use the arrowroot powder.

Choosing the Base:

• 1 – 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (or cornstarch powder)
• 1 – 2 tablespoon cocoa powder

Optional Additions:

• Cinnamon, finely ground for warm skin tones*
• Bentonite clay for cool skin tones
• French green clay or a blend that minimizes redness
• * Mixed with honey, cinnamon has a long history of topical use for acne. However, large amount may irritate skin, which is why I recommend it as a subtle addition to this recipe rather than the main source of color.

• Blend 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and one tablespoon arrowroot, then check color intensity against your skin. I usually test on the inside of my wrist. Add additional arrowroot if a lighter color is desired, additional cocoa if a darker color is desired.
• To add warm tones to your powder foundation: Mix in 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add additional cinnamon in 1/4 teaspoon increments until the desired hue is reached. One thing to keep in mind is that the amount of cinnamon used should be small in comparison with the other ingredient because large amounts may irritate skin.
• To add cool tones to your powder foundation: Mix in 1 teaspoon bentonite clay. Add additional clay in 1/2 teaspoon increments until the desired hue is reached.

To reduce reddish undertones: Mix in 1 teaspoon French green clay. Add additional clay in 1/4 teaspoon increments, testing as you go. To test this formula, I recommend applying a little to the face and allowing it to sit for a few minutes. It may look a bit greenish initially, but as it absorbs a bit that will disappear.

To Apply:

Apply with a soft makeup brush.

Glycerin, Essential Oils and Other Additives
If you don’t add any type of oil or liquid additive to the powder, you may find that it likes to stick to eyelashes, which can be uncomfortable. Adding some oil to the mixture can help.

Consider adding a bit of almond oil or your favorite essential oils, such as lavender oil. You could also add some glycerin to the powder. If you want to make your own pressed powder, continue adding oil until you have a pressed powder, which some people may like more than a loose face powder foundation.

How can you decide what kind of oils to use in your powder foundation?
Well, it depends on your skin type. For example, if you have acne or oily skin, great oils include tea tree oil, rosemary oil, patchouli oil and lavender oil. If you want to enjoy some great anti-aging results, add oils like neroli, myrrh, frankincense or palmarosa oil to the DIY face powder foundation.

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
After you have your base, then you need something to tint your powder so it matches your skin tone. Great spices to use include cocoa powder, nutmeg, and cinnamon.

When mixing the powder, start with small amount of spices and mix. You can continue adding more little by little until your powder is the right tint for your skin tone.

If your skin has pink undertones, cinnamon works well. For those with yellow or brown tones, cocoa powder works great.

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.