I’ve been experimenting with homemade makeup for years and have a powdered blush that I love and that works really well, but I’ve gotten several requests for a creme/liquid option. I was working on a liquid foundation recipe anyway so I decided to work on a creme blush as well.
Check out the original liquid foundation post for the specifics on how to customize this recipe to be thicker or thinner (or even oil free).
Crème Blush
The benefit of a Crème blush is that it stays longer and can be much bolder and more versatile than powdered blush. A little goes a really long way. I also use a small amount to darken my natural foundation if I need to during the summer.
I typically use a makeup brush to apply this foundation but you can also easily use your fingers. The basic ingredients are the same as the liquid foundation recipe and there are two options for this recipe: the simple way or the DIY way.
- For a simpler version, use a natural pre-made moisturizer for the base and add colors and pigments as needed.
- The DIY way takes a little more time and five ingredients but allows more customization since you’re making the base lotion yourself.
If you prefer the simple option, these two lotions are both are rated as safe by the Environmental Working Group and they make a great base:
For the DIY version, you’ll need these ingredients for the base:
And these ingredients to add to the base for color:
- organic cocoa powder
- OR natural mineral makeup in your color (in place of two ingredients above)
Creme Blush Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of shea butter
- 1/2 tsp emulsifying wax
- 1 tablespoon aloe gel
- OR 1 tablespoon of natural pre-made lotion (in place of first 3 ingredients)
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon mica powders of choice
- OR 1-2 teaspoons of all-natural mineral powder in color of choice
Creme Blush Instructions
- If making the simple version… just mix the organic lotion and mineral powder (or mica powder and cocoa powder) to get the desired color and consistency.
- For the complete DIY:
- Melt the shea butter,and emulsifying wax in a double boiler until completely melted.
- Add the aloe and whisk until completely incorporated and smooth.
- Turn heat off.
- Slowly, start adding colors.
- Add mica powders and cocoa powder a tiny pinch at a time until desired color is reached.
- Dip the tip of a spoon into the mixture and let cool for a few seconds. Test the color and coverage on your cheek to make sure you’ve achieved the right tone for your skin.
- Spoon the mixture into the desired container and let cool.
Additional Tips
- For a powdered version, check out this recipe and check out my other homemade makeup recipes here.
- Adding colors (mica powders and cocoa powder) to a pre-made lotion will create a very smooth blush/bronzer. Experiment with the colors until you get the desired shade. It will look much darker while making it that it will on skin.
- Making a homemade lotion as a base will give the most options for customizing but is also the most difficult. With the homemade one, adding more vegetable wax will make a thicker and longer lasting blush/bronzer while using more aloe will make a smoother and more subtle mix.
- Adding more reddish mica powders will give a more rose/pink hue like a blush while more cocoa powder or bronze mica will create a bronzer or more tan mixture.
- For your eyes, try my natural eye shadow recipe.
Ever made your own makeup?
I use my everyday moisturizer with some cocoa powder. It works ok…wish i had the ingredients for the other options!!! ;p Also, anything for a DIY bronzer?
Instead of using vegetable wax, could I use a beeswax in a pellet form?
I like the ones that don’t use animal’s for testing. Some in stores are harsh on the skin.
Can you substitute bees wax for the emulsifying wax?
No, since the emulsifying wax is necessary to get the aloe and the shea butter to mix. Beeswax simply won’t do that.
Will the aloe Vera gel cause the blush to go bad quickly? Do I need to have a preservative so it doesn’t go bad because of the aloe Vera. How long will this cream blush last I refrigerated due to the aloe Vera going bad?
Thanks
You could cook some beet root or red cabbage & use the coloring water.
juice from a pomegranate or orange gives fab colors.
Also purple head broccoli water.
cook some blackberries then use the coloring water.
Coffee or tea gives good color.
Carrot juice might be another one.
Then add some vitamin E as your preservative.
My daughter received a “play makeup kit” for Christmas one year, and its been sitting on a high shelf in my laundry room waiting for me to decide what to do about it. At first, I just thought she was too young do be putting on makeup, even “play makeup,” but now I don’t want to let her use it because God only knows what’s in it (there are no ingredients listed on the case).
I was looking at some of your recipes, thinking I might be able to come up with some replacement options based off of them, but are there any natural ingredients that could give me some of the more vibrant colors typical to a child’s makeup kit (blues, purples, etc.)?
And is there anything I could add to prevent spoilage? Im sure if I succeed in remaking this kit with natural options, its going to become the latest rage among my daughter and all her girl cousins, so there may end up being a lot of fingers touching these things. Will vitamin e oil, or maybe grapefruit seed extract help them not spoil?
I have food recipes from my Gramma that say to cook spinach in water and use the green water as food coloring. I’ve never done it yet. I suppose flower petals of whatever color you’d like could be dried and powderized in a blender or mortar and pestle. I think they would become perrishable again if made into a wet makeup. Maybe you could teach her how to carefully mix her own once you make the ingredients and mix bases, leaving final mixing for her to do as she uses.
I’ve been adding the right amounts of mica powder and when it solidifies I get no color when I apply it.
I’ve tried using different kinds of colorants , tea and grinding dried hibiscus into a powder but nothing is working?
They have color, lots of color, even when I open the jars after they set, but when I apply to my skin, no color at all. 🙁
I live in Myanmar. I am interested in a cosmetic online class.
I have found a terrific way of making a very moisturizing BB cream. I used an old moisturizing jar and added about a teaspoon of moisturizer and added about a half teaspoon on mineral powder scrapings into the jar. Mixing them together with a tooth pick, I have found a very good product. It moisturizes, covers and blends just as well as a store bought BB cream. I didn’t think it would work, but I was pleasantly surprised. I also made a lip gloss from cocoa butter and a slice of a lipstick that was too dark. Mixing them together in a smaller container makes a great lip gloss.
Can I substitute something for the aloe vera gel? I only have aloe vera juice.
Where do you get your various makeup brushes? Having trouble finding good ones..
woooooooooow!!!!!!!!!! 😀 thankzzz for all those great tips ^_^
Eco tools or real techniques! You can find them at Walmart. Eco tools is cruelty free and eco friendly. Both brands are very, very soft too.
Is this solid enough to put into a tube? Thank you for all the wonderful ideas and recipes by the way!
I LOVE all of your posts! Thanks for all your hard work?? As for the DIY make-up. Mica is generally a no-no when making healthy safe skin products!! Would love to see recipes without it!
what do you mean it’s a no-no??
why is it a no-no?
yes! i’d love to see recipes without it.
thanks!
Agreed. Mica it’s not considered “natural” and I can’t use it in my soaping if it’s to be considered natural. Micas are lab-created colorants.
I use beets! Or beet root powder for both cheek and lip stains
Any thoughts on what to add to eye shadow for the same shimmer effect that mica has?
I am a geologist. Actually, mica is a natural mineral found all over the earth. It is shiny and platy. The two most common are called muscovite (usually translucent-ish) and biotite (usually has a black sheen). Therefore, it is 100% natural. However, I do not know anything about the safety of applying it to your face. Remember, not everything that is natural is always safe, either. Women used to use cinnabar as rogue but it contains mercury. So not safe, but natural.
Exactly…Mica is toxic and not to be inhaled or used on skin.
Mica is actually a natural mineral. It is powdered in a lab, but it is not lab created.
Not too sure about that go on line look it up mica known to cause cancer.
I make a brilliant red with diy hibiscus flower extract!