DIY Foundation Recipe Powder and Liquid
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Earlier this week, I showed you how to make your own concealer. It uses foundation as a base, so you need to buy an organic foundation if you want an organic or natural product. There are many benefits to buying organic, but it can get pricey. Today, I will give you a DIY foundation recipe for liquid and for powder foundation. The best part? You can make it to match your skin tone perfectly!

I know that powder and liquid foundations work differently, so you may have a preference based on your skin tone, age, and skin concerns. I'll teach you how to make both kinds of foundation.
If you're not sure which formula to make, read more about the different types of foundation.
When you make your own foundation recipe, you know exactly what's in the product, and you can control the quality of ingredients.
It's also a lot cheaper to make your own foundation. Have you priced foundations lately? You can spend upwards of $30 to $40 on a few ounces!
If you make a lot of DIY recipes, then you probably already have all of the ingredients to make this. Even if you have to buy everything, you'll still spend less than one bottle of foundation, and you can make the recipe several times!
You might be tempted to just double or triple the recipe, but I don't suggest it. These recipes don't use preservatives. While there's no water in the recipes to grow creepy crawlies, you could introduce bacteria and germs when you use the product.
I recommend cleaning your makeup brushes weekly to prevent germs in your makeup. You can clean them with this DIY makeup brush cleaner or spray them with this DIY sanitizing makeup brush spray.
or corn starch and 1 tablespoon green clay in a bowl.
Add nutmeg, cinnamon, or cocoa powder until you get the desired shade.
Write down which ingredients you used and how much of each one.
That's it!
I like to use powder sifter jars because they are easier to use I think. I always get too much product on my brush if I just use a jar.
Green clay is optional, but it works very well to hide redness. You can omit it if desired.
If you have large pores or oily skin, I highly recommend adding the green clay to absorb oil.
Which is better? I get better results with arrowroot powder, but cornstarch does work. If you are going to make liquid foundation, I really recommend arrowroot powder. Cornstarch will work, but I do notice a bigger difference between the two when making liquid.
The processing methods are very different. If you are concerned about using chemicals on your body, read this article about the differences.
Read: Arrowroot benefits for beauty, hair, and skin.
OR
In a double boiler, melt coconut oil
while stirring.
If you are using the alternate recipe, melt the shea butter, argan oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E oil in a double boiler.
Add vitamin E oil if desired.
Place a tablespoon of powder foundation in a separate bowl.
Slowly add coconut oil or the other oil mixture and vitamin E oil
until you reach the desired consistency. Add more oil for a lighter foundation and less for a heavy foundation.
I like to use a small jar with a lid for my liquid foundation since I apply it with a brush. I like this set because they are in different sizes.
Making concealer? Just add a small amount of oil to the powder for a concentrated formula.
Another way to make a liquid foundation that's easier to make and just takes a few minutes is to start with your favorite moisturizer and add cocoa powder to get the right shade.
You'll want to start with a natural moisturizer. My favorite is Derma E Hydrating Day Cream. It's organic, natural, and works wonderfully. It's in a jar, so it's easy to add the powder and stir. I'd recommend dividing it and tinting half of it, but it's up to you.
If you want to protect yourself from the sun, you can add non nano zinc oxide. I would use about 2-3 teaspoons per 2 tablespoons of foundation.
You can also add a drop or two of essential oils to either recipe. I recommend:

I know that powder and liquid foundations work differently, so you may have a preference based on your skin tone, age, and skin concerns. I'll teach you how to make both kinds of foundation.
DIY FOUNDATION RECIPE
If you're not sure which formula to make, read more about the different types of foundation.
When you make your own foundation recipe, you know exactly what's in the product, and you can control the quality of ingredients.
It's also a lot cheaper to make your own foundation. Have you priced foundations lately? You can spend upwards of $30 to $40 on a few ounces!
If you make a lot of DIY recipes, then you probably already have all of the ingredients to make this. Even if you have to buy everything, you'll still spend less than one bottle of foundation, and you can make the recipe several times!
You might be tempted to just double or triple the recipe, but I don't suggest it. These recipes don't use preservatives. While there's no water in the recipes to grow creepy crawlies, you could introduce bacteria and germs when you use the product.
I recommend cleaning your makeup brushes weekly to prevent germs in your makeup. You can clean them with this DIY makeup brush cleaner or spray them with this DIY sanitizing makeup brush spray.
DIY Powder Foundation Recipe
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
Place 2 tablespoons arrowroot powderSTEP 2
Add nutmeg, cinnamon, or cocoa powder until you get the desired shade.
STEP 3
Write down which ingredients you used and how much of each one.
That's it!
I like to use powder sifter jars because they are easier to use I think. I always get too much product on my brush if I just use a jar.
Green clay is optional, but it works very well to hide redness. You can omit it if desired.
If you have large pores or oily skin, I highly recommend adding the green clay to absorb oil.
*Arrowroot powder vs corn starch?
Arrowroot is hard to find locally--I live in Amish country with bulk food stores on every street, and I still can't find it. UPDATE: I can now find it at a bulk food store! Cornstarch is found at any grocery store, so it may be an option for you.Which is better? I get better results with arrowroot powder, but cornstarch does work. If you are going to make liquid foundation, I really recommend arrowroot powder. Cornstarch will work, but I do notice a bigger difference between the two when making liquid.
The processing methods are very different. If you are concerned about using chemicals on your body, read this article about the differences.
Read: Arrowroot benefits for beauty, hair, and skin.
DIY Liquid Foundation Recipe
INGREDIENTS
- Powder foundation
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
OR
- Powder foundation
- 1 ounce shea butter
- 1.5 ounces argan oil
- .5 ounce cocoa butter
- .5 ounce beeswax pastilles
- a drop of vitamin E oil
DIRECTIONS
STEP 1
In a double boiler, melt coconut oil
If you are using the alternate recipe, melt the shea butter, argan oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E oil in a double boiler.
STEP 2
Add vitamin E oil if desired.
STEP 3
Place a tablespoon of powder foundation in a separate bowl.
STEP 4
Slowly add coconut oil or the other oil mixture and vitamin E oil
I like to use a small jar with a lid for my liquid foundation since I apply it with a brush. I like this set because they are in different sizes.
Making concealer? Just add a small amount of oil to the powder for a concentrated formula.
Another way to make a liquid foundation that's easier to make and just takes a few minutes is to start with your favorite moisturizer and add cocoa powder to get the right shade.
EASY DIY FOUNDATION
You'll want to start with a natural moisturizer. My favorite is Derma E Hydrating Day Cream. It's organic, natural, and works wonderfully. It's in a jar, so it's easy to add the powder and stir. I'd recommend dividing it and tinting half of it, but it's up to you.
FOUNDATION RECIPE WITH SPF
If you want to protect yourself from the sun, you can add non nano zinc oxide. I would use about 2-3 teaspoons per 2 tablespoons of foundation.
ADDING ESSENTIAL OILS
You can also add a drop or two of essential oils to either recipe. I recommend:
- Carrot seed oil
to smooth the skin and to promote cell regeneration.
- Frankincense
is anti-bacterial, so it's great for acne-prone skin. It acts as a toner to make pores appear smaller.
- Lavender essential oil
is said to help boost cellular turnover.
- Geranium essential oil
can help reduce oil production. It can also help soothe irritated skin.
- Myrrh essential oil
is said to help firm the skin and reduce the signs of aging.
- Rose essential oil
is a great oil for dry skin. It helps tone the skin and is said to promote healing.
- Tea tree oil
can help naturally kill germs, so use it if you have acne prone skin.
- Ylang ylang essential oil
can help reduce breakouts by controlling oil production. It's also help to boost skin elasticity.
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