Making your own DIY mineral makeup, like powder foundation, is affordable, healthy … and simple!
Note from Erin Odom (aka “The Humbled Homemaker”) : If you aren’t in a season of life where you can DIY your own make-up or if you simply aren’t the DIY type, then I highly recommend checking out BeautyCounter’s make-up. In 2019, I slowly began transitioning my makeup and skincare over to this brand, as it uses extremely pure ingredients. My favorite products are their concealer and mascara, which enhance my very low-maintenance, natural look. You can save some money and qualify for free shipping by becoming a Band of Beauty member, or you can save even more (plus make money!) by becoming a consultant.
Guest post by Erin Josefchak
I don’t wear a lot of makeup but I really REALLY like mineral foundation powder.
It hides redness, blurs imperfections, removes shine, and has a naturally occurring UV-A and UV-B radiation blocking properties. It’s great for everyday wear because it’s lightweight, breathable, and very natural looking! And, I can easily increase coverage for a night-out by adding concealer underneath.
But it’s not cheap! Especially the highly-pigmented quality brands! The non-drugstore brand I used to buy is around $50 for half an ounce of powder!
Why Should I Make It Myself?
While most good quality store-bought mineral makeup doesn’t usually contain preservatives, synthetic silicones and waxes, fragrance, or pore-clogging oils, it can contain parabens, petroleum derivatives, mineral oil, talc, synthetic dyes, and bismuth oxychloride (heavy metal by-product).
By making your own you can avoid all synthetic ingredients, unnecessary fillers, and irritating chemicals! You also control the purity and quality of the ingredients used.
Finding the right color for your skin is a big issue for a lot of people – by making your own, you can create a custom color that matches your skin tone exactly. I usually make two batches during the year – a lighter color for the winter months and a slightly darker color for the summer months.
My biggest argument for making my own mineral powder was the cost. When I calculated how much it would cost to make my own, I discovered that I could buy all the ingredients I needed for a year for the cost of half an ounce of the commercial brand powder! That’s huge!
With the same base ingredients, I could also make blush, bronzer, sunscreen, diaper rash cream, and a ton of other beauty and personal products! That is VALUE for your money – frugality at its best!
About the Ingredients in the Recipe
Titanium Dioxide
Naturally occurring inorganic oxide used as mineral pigment. It reflects light, provides excellent coverage, and effectively absorbs UV-A and UV-B radiation.
Zinc Oxide
Naturally occurring inorganic oxide used as mineral pigment. It reflects light, provides excellent coverage, and effectively absorbs UV-A and UV-B radiation. In addition, zinc oxide has anti-inflammatory properties.
Sericite Mica
Naturally occurring inorganic mineral (aluminum potassium silicate). Reduces the appearance of fine lines and blurs imperfections. Scatters light to give skin a dewy glow. Absorbs skin oils.
Magnesium Stearate
Naturally occurring fatty acid – magnesium salt of stearic acid. Increases adhesion to the skin for all-day wear. Absorbs skin oils.
Allatoin
Botanical extract from Comfrey root. Has skin-smoothing, moisturizing, cell regeneration, and anti-aging properties.
Kaolin Clay
Naturally occurring inorganic mineral. Absorbs access oil.
Iron Oxides
Naturally occurring inorganic oxide used as mineral pigment. Used to give color to mineral makeup.
Broccoli Seed Oil
Most DIY mineral makeup recipes call for Jojoba oil, however, I use broccoli seed oil due to its high amount of vitamin A and unique composition of fatty acids including about 50% eruric acid. This fatty acid is a natural silicone which makes it the perfect makeup primer! Broccoli seed oil also contains another essential fatty acid, arachidonic acid, which combats inflammation!
Mineral Foundation Loose Powder
Adapted from the blog humblebeeandme
Ingredients
- 8 tsp. titanium dioxide
- 1 Tbsp. serecite mica
- 4 tsp. zinc oxide
- 1 tsp. magnesium stearate
- 1 tsp. allantoin for dry skin or kaolin
for oily skin
- 1 cc spoons yellow oxide
- 3 cc spoons brown oxide
- Pinch of red oxide
- ¼ tsp. broccoli seed oil
Instructions
Mix together the first five ingredients and then pass the mixture through a fine sieve over a coffee grinder (purchased exclusively for DIY makeup). Then, pulse for approximately two minutes. Then, add oxides*. Continue pulsing the mixture and adding pinches of each oxide until you get the desired color.
Once you’ve got the color you want, add the broccoli seed oil. Continue pulsing until fully incorporated. Then, transfer mineral loose powder foundation to glass container or jar.
Finally, adjust the color to fit your skin:
- If the color is too dark, add more titanium dioxide.
- The color is too yellow? Then add more red in very small quantities.
- If the color is too pink, add more yellow in very small quantities.
- The color is too light? Then add more brown iron oxide in very small quantities.
How To:
Dip the powder or kabuki brush into the powder, tap off excess, and sweep across the face.
What makeup products do you make yourself?
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, dentist, dermatologist, allergist, nurse, or licensed healthcare practitioner. Information obtained from this website is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by any health agency (FDA or Health Canada). Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your physician before making any health decisions for you and your family. Thank you!
Erin Josefchak is a wife to Marc, mommy to Tyler and Sierra, saved by Jesus Christ, DIYer, and aspiring herbalist living in rural Quebec, Canada. She is committed to leading a faith-filled, frugal, and chemical-free life. Erin’s passion is discovering the healing powers of God’s amazing creations – plants! She wants to bring glory to God and bless others with her knowledge of plants to increase their faith, improve their quality of life, and help them heal naturally with plants and prayer.
Zhade
I love that you spelled out exactly what all these ingredients are and why you need them! Very informative!
Azelia
Looking forward to trying out your recipe. What are CC spoons?
Erin
I’m not sure I understand the question?
Erin Sullivan
she means the cc (or ml) scoops. In the recipe you called them cc spoons
Louise Hughes
Where do you buy the ingredients for the makeup?
Kari Kampwerth
If you just click on the ingredients listed it takes you to amazon and the product she buys! Happy makeup making!
Rachel MacKay
I would like to know where the items listed for making my own foundation may be purchased.
Also, where do we find containers in which to put the foundation?
I also do not know what a 1 cc spoon or 3cc spoon is in American measurement?
I would love to try this. Thank you for taking the time to clarify some of the information.
Sincerely, Rachel
Kristen
Same. I don’t understand the measurement cc spoon. I can’t wait to try this! Thanks for all of the information.
Kristen
Haha! Ok I googled! 1/4 tsp is equal to 1.25 cc. 😁
Patrice
Thanks Kristen I was also wondering what a cc spoon is
Kari Kampwerth
Thank you so much for this post! I am soooooo excited to start making my own makeup! Love that you are a sister in Christ and share your story with the world!
Thank you again and I hope you have a blessed day!
Kristen
I made it today! It’s amazing! It was easy and it is a great recipe! Thank you so much for posting this. It will save me a ton of money!
lori
if i have mica powders instead of iron oxide powders, could i substitute them? i know the ratios will be different, but didn’t know if they were interchangeable. Thanks!
Erin Sullivan
My opinion is that mica will not be the same because of the shinyness of it. The oxides are a “matte” finish which is more soft and subtle than bright shiny micas. Just from my experience in mixing colors. Good luck =)
Erica
Hello-does anyone on this thread know if the Sericite Mica (Naturally occurring inorganic mineral) (aluminum potassium silicate) is the same as the aluminum that is found in antiperspirants and thought to be harmful or cause Alzeimers? If so, is there a good substitute I can use?
Erin
I’m sorry but I don’t. 🙁 That is definitely worth researching!!
Naveed
Is this powder foundation waterproof?
Michele Gasaway
Hi Erin! I have really enjoyed your blog. I am a fifty something year old woman who has similar interests and goals for the rest of my life so I am so glad I came across your blog, one thing–I am in dyer need of making money also since I am disabled and so is my husband of 40 years. (I guess life can throw some lemons at you). But nevertheless, I started out wanting to sell makeup for an unnamed company that I purchased products from. I liked the products a lot but I could not get a definitive response out of the company when I asked about selling their makeup so I thought about buying products from a wholesaler, but I did not like the idea of the origin and contents of unknown products to sell to customers so that is when I decided there must be a way to make these minerals myself if they are all natural products. But my question, Erin, is where do I buy these ingredients since you cannot just go to the local dollar store or Walmart and buy them?
Michele Gasaway
I just saw the post on buying the products above. Sorry I missed that. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for posting this mineral foundation recipe. This maybe the answer to my problem.
Michele Gasaway
Hi Erin,
Is there a way to make this mineral makeup less matte and give a bit of shine to it by adding any other mineral and what moisturizer do you use beneath it?
Thanks
Mel
Hi, thanks for your helpful post! Just wanted to let you know as of March 10, 2021 that the last 5 ingredients (Amazon) for the mineral makeup recipe are either inactive or unavailable. Any alternate links (if you have the time) would be appreciated! Thank you again!
Kerry Hayden
Hi there
I’ve started making this makeup and it is amazing. I understand the titanium dioxide and zinc oxide offer protection from the sun. What SPF would we be looking at? The product really sticks to your skin and with both of those ingredients I would think at least an SPF of 30, if not higher. Living in South Africa this is important for me. I still can’t source sericite mica so I’ve had to substitute it with another mica powder.