DIY Natural Foundation Powder

Cocoa powder is great for making (healthier) homemade Nutella, but it’s also great for adding an antioxidant boost to your skincare routine. Many years ago a friend of mine shared that she used cocoa powder as a natural bronzer. I started experimenting with it in makeup and came up with this DIY natural foundation powder.

This foundation powder is similar to the mineral make-up you find on many drugstore shelves. However, it skips some of the ingredients that aren’t so great for our health. 

How to Make Foundation Powder

I start with a base of arrowroot powder and zinc oxide. You can use non-gmo cornstarch, but I find arrowroot works better. It offers a nice slip and feels so silky on my skin. Next add cocoa powder for color and a little gold mica for sparkle. I discovered that adding gold mica powder gives it an even smoother texture and makes my skin radiant.

You can also mix in some cinnamon powder for a more brown hue. Be careful here though, since cinnamon powder has volatile oils that are irritating to sensitive skin. It took me a few tries of mixing to get the color correct for my skin tone.

There’s a lot of variation in this recipe… creating homemade makeup is more of an art than a science. Your exact color and base combinations will depend on the amount of coverage and color you want. Zinc oxide as a base will create a makeup very similar to store bought mineral makeups. Adding mica powder will give skin a natural “glow.”

I used a blend of three different natural clay powders in this recipe. They help to control shine, improve blemishes, and balance out the color. You can use what you have, but I would avoid anything with a grey or red tone since these would throw off the color too much. 

How to Use Natural Foundation Powder

Since this is a powder I find it usually works best when applied to (fairly) freshly moisturized skin, especially for those with drier skin types. When I was using the oil cleansing method my skin was very hydrated and I had no issues getting this to stick. You may need to apply primer, liquid foundation, lotion, or a thin layer of oil to your face before applying. Just make sure it has a few minutes to absorb or you’ll get streaks!

If you already have oily skin, then this should help balance things out. 

You can also use this as a setting or finishing powder for your makeup routine. I store mine in a repurposed glass jar or powder container and use a brush to apply. Most days a quick brush of this is all I need!

A Note On Mica

There’s been some controversy about mica powder and if it’s really natural or safe. Mica is a naturally occurring mineral that’s in the same family as quartz. It can also be made in a lab. 

There’s also been some discussion on the ethics behind its sourcing. Mica is often mined in dangerous conditions by child laborers. The mica I use avoids these issues and only sources from places where no child labor is used at any point of the process. If you’d rather not use it though, you’ll still have a great foundation powder without it. 

An Even Simpler Version

If you prefer, you can just use arrowroot powder (or kaolin clay), cocoa powder, and a pinch of (optional) cinnamon powder. This will create a great and completely natural foundation. The only downside is it won’t stay as long as a powder with zinc oxide and mica. I feel safe using zinc oxide on my skin (non-nano and uncoated) but if you don’t, try the arrowroot version.

Have you ever made your own makeup before? What’s worked (or hasn’t!) for you so far? Leave a comment and let us know!