Homemade Natural Makeup Recipes

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Homemade Natural Makeup Recipes

I get a lot of questions about natural makeup options, and this was definitely one of the tougher things for me to find natural alternatives for. In college, I practically collected makeup, and had endless tubes, compacts, and brushes that never even got half used.

Natural Makeup

While there are some good natural alternatives that you can buy (see list below), the cheapest, easiest and most natural way is to just make your own, and you might have all of the ingredients in your kitchen already!

Natural Skin Care

What you do to your skin before you use makeup is just as important as the makeup you use and there are some great natural options for skin care.

I absolutely love the oil cleansing method, which leaves skin very soft and smooth by using natural oils to balance the skin. I typically use the oil cleansing method at night and wash my face with raw honey if needed in the morning. You can also use a natural sugar scrub (equal parts sugar and natural oil) or natural microdermabrasion (baking soda) to make skin look younger.

With proper skin care, the skin will be naturally healthy and you won’t even need to wear makeup most of the time. Most days, I skip the makeup altogether, but  when I do wear it, these are the recipes I use:

Natural Foundation

Homemade Option: At the recommendation of a friend who had used cocoa powder for natural bronzer, I started experimenting with natural foundation options, and came up with a recipe similar to a mineral make-up.

I start with a base of arrowroot powder and zinc oxide (can also use cornstarch, but arrowroot works better) and then slowly add in cocoa powder and finely ground cinnamon powder until you get a shade close to your skin tone. You can then store in a jar or old powder container and use a brush to apply. It took me a few tries of mixing to get the color correct for my skin tone, but most days, a quick brush of this is all I need. I later discovered that adding gold mica powder gave it an even smoother texture and made skin radiant.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons zinc oxide (Can use arrowroot powder instead if desired, but it will not offer quite as much coverage)
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon gold mica dust
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp of desired natural clay powder (optional) I used a pinch of White cosmetic clay, Fuller’s Earth Clay and french green clay
  • up to 1 teaspoon finely ground cocoa powder to get desired color
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon of translucent mica powder can help for really oily skin

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients to get desired color and coverage.
  2. Zinc oxide will give coverage and matte finish.
  3. Colored mica powders, natural clays and cocoa powder will give color. Start slowly and add as needed, testing on inner-arm as you go to find your shade.
  4. Store in a small glass jar with a lid.

Note: If you prefer, just arrowroot powder (or white cosmetic clay), cocoa powder, and (optional) cinnamon powder can be used. This will create a great and completely natural/edible foundation but it will not stay as long as a powder containing zinc oxide and mica. I personally feel safe using zinc oxide on my skin (non nano and uncoated) but if you don’t, just stick to the arrowroot version.

There is a lot of variation in this recipe… creating homemade makeup is more of an art than a science and 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 and adding mica powder will give skin a natural “glow.”

If you don’t have or aren’t comfortable with those ingredients, a simple mix of arrowroot and a small amount of cocoa powder and cinnamon will work really well but won’t offer as much coverage.

If you prefer a liquid foundation, check out this tutorial.

Pre-made Options: If making makeup isn’t your thing but you still want some natural options, there are a few good choices. No commercial choice is as natural as the homemade options, but they are a tremendous improvement over any conventional options! Jane Iredale is the best brand I’ve found and they offer some great options for mineral powder, liquid foundation, pressed powder and more.

Natural Bronzer/Blush

Simplest Homemade Option: Similar to above, natural bronzer and blush can be easily made with a base of arrowroot and by adding more cocoa powder and cinnamon to get a darker shade. I’ve also tried powdering dried beet root (in the dehydrator) or dried hibiscus flowers to add a pink tone which works well as long as you can very finely powder them. Store in a shaker make-up container or an old compact.

Boutique Homemade Option: For a slightly more customizable and longer lasting homemade option, use zinc oxide powder (non nano and uncoated) as a base and add cocoa powder and a red or pink hued mica powder to get the desired color.

Commercial Options: For natural blush, I love Aubrey Organic Silken Blush or Jane Iredale blushes.

Natural Eye Liner and Shadow

Homemade Options:Always be careful when using any products, even natural ones, near the eyes. I mix up several colors of eye shadow using cocoa powder (brown shades) Spirulina (green shades) and arrowroot (light shades). My favorite is just cocoa powder with a tiny bit of arrowroot mixed in for smoothness.

For eye-liner, I either use a tiny bit of cocoa powder mixed with coconut oil, or a tiny dab or activated charcoal and whipped shea butter. Be careful not to get either one in the eye. I store the eye shadow in an old powdered eye shadow container and apply with my finger or a very slightly damp brush.

To make a smoother eyeliner, I mix equal parts of coconut oil and shea butter (about 1/2 ounce of each) and add about 1/2 tsp of activated charcoal to make a black eyeliner that is thicker. You can also do this with cocoa powder for a brown hue.

Commercial Options: Jane Iredale offers a few options for natural eye-liner.

Natural Mascara

Homemade Option: I don’t wear mascara most days, but when I want a natural option, it is an easy one to make. In a small bowl, I just mix a few drops of Aloe Vera Gel from Mountain Rose Herbs, a couple drops of Vitamin E oil, and a pinch of activated charcoal (not very precise… I know). I mix it up as I use it, though you could also make and store in an old mascara container or in a small jar and just clean the mascara wand between uses. I brush it on with a clean mascara brush, or even a used Bass Toothbrush from OraWellness.

Boutique homemade option: If you want to take the time to make a fancier recipe, my homemade mascara uses black mineral powder for amazing thickness and length.

Commercial Options: The two natural ones I’ve tried and love are Organic Wear and Jane Iredale.

Natural Makeup Remover

Skip the need for buying an extra product (probably full of less than ideal ingredients) and try one of these simple natural makeup removers you probably already have around the house.

Supplements for Skin Care

I’m firmly convinced that what you put into your body is just as important, if not more so, than what you put on it when it comes to skin health. I used to have terrible acne and since changing my diet (removing dairy) and supplements, I don’t break out at all and my past scars have healed. The supplements that seemed to have made the biggest difference in skin health for me are:

  • Fermented Cod Liver Oil– for the Vitamins A, D and K, Omega-3s and Antioxidants, all which are great for the skin.
  • Gelatin – Which is a pre-cursor for collagen and has made my hair, skin and nails noticeably stronger and smoother (great for cellulite too).
  • Magnesium– An anti-inflammatory and lacking in many people’s diets. Topical Magnesium Oil seems to be the most effective for skin health.

Ever made any your own makeup? What is the toughest thing to find natural versions of for you? Let me know below! 

These DIY natural makeup recipes can be made at home to avoid the chemicals in conventional beauty products.

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

410 responses to “Homemade Natural Makeup Recipes”

  1. Tonya Avatar

    So… I made this makeup. One question. How much coverage is it supposed to have? I understand that a natural makeup would have a little less coverage than purchased makeup, but this makeup has NO coverage. I spent all night experimenting and mixing and layering and mixing, but it doesn’t even look like I am wearing anything, I can’t tell any difference…

  2. Sobela Avatar

    This is a good idea but have light skin and tend to get a little red sometimes.
    So far have been having trouble lol but I’m not used to wearing powdered makeup either.
    Can anyone please give me some good tips for making the makeup work with light skin and in a wet form?
    Thanks and will be working on this because this is a great idea. ^_^

  3. Wendy Avatar

    I tried making the foundation, but I definitely need some pink in there. The cinnamon and cocoa smell lovely, but it’s either too brown or too white. Since I don’t have a dehydrator, does anyone have any tips for adding a natural pink tone? And I would love to find a liquid foundation recipe!

  4. Kathryn Baird Avatar
    Kathryn Baird

    For lip shine and plump, you can mix avocado oil, a few drops of Vitamin E oil, 2 capsules of beet root powder, and three drops of cinnamon essential oil. Place in a small tube with a roller ball end and it makes a great lip gloss with a bit of a plumping effect. Your lips will love the ingredients too!

  5. Jennifer Walsh Avatar
    Jennifer Walsh

    I agree with many other posters about the foundation powder. I mixed up a batch with arrowroot powder, cocoa, and cinnamon. I tried to use the color of some leftover commercial foundation powder that I know matches my skin color well. At first when I applied it, I had a hard time getting it to stick to my skin even when using a circular motion. I rinsed my face and then applied a light layer of avocado oil (I do not put coconut oil on my face for acne reasons). I let the oil sink in for a few minutes. When I reapplied, I found that the darker components of the foundation like the cocoa and cinnamon blotched together into areas of my skin – leaving my skin looking patchy in areas. I decided to give it another go. Third time around it seemed to generally stick to my skin better and be less blotchy. I have noticed that the cinnamon does seem to be irritating my skin a bit and my cheeks still look quite red – which is usually what I use foundation to get rid of. My next experiment is to try to make up a batch without the cinnamon and see how it goes – but it does make it smell great!

    1. LisaD Avatar

      I had the same problem. The orange and brown tones are too harsh for many people. Never thought about hibisucus – I will play with that next. I did find (in a Turkish grocery store) an item called Rosa Damascena. It is organic powdered rose petals from Bulgaria. It is a perfect pink shade and smells wonderful. I tried posting a link to the company that sells it, but my post gets rejected. The company is Florida Herb House. You can Google them to find their website and enter “pink rose powder” in the search. It is fine enough to be used alone as light blush or you can add the other colors to it. Have fun! And thanks to the Wellness Mama for her invaluable posts!

  6. Tracy Avatar

    I always wear eyeliner on my waterline and am looking for a healthier alternative. Is it possible to use your recipe for the waterline? Thank you for helping people with your wonderful blog 🙂 I am loving all of your posts.

  7. Lajah Avatar

    Can potato starch be substituted for the arrowroot. I can’t seem to find that locally.

  8. Lauren Haney Avatar
    Lauren Haney

    Do you have any suggestions for blue shades or silver shades? Would bentonite clay work for silver or gray?

  9. Whit Avatar

    Thanks for all the great tips!! I use some homemade hair and body products. I hadn’t considered making my own makeup so am excited to see your post. I recently bit the expensive bullet and bought some “natural” makeup from the store. Luckily I haven’t opened it yet, so will be returning it.
    I saw some beetroot powder at the natural food store and thought that might be good to use in conjunction with the cocoa and arrowroot to add a red tint to my makeup. What do you think??

  10. medha chatterjee Avatar
    medha chatterjee

    hii im new here bt i love ur homemade lip balm tips bt u see i live in india and beeswax is nt available in the markets of the city i live in and im a vry busy person wid my daily work life… can u plz tell me if anythng else can be used as a subsidiary of beeswax?? plz hlp

  11. Laurie Avatar

    I have to say I am extremely happy with the recipes you’ve shared. The face powder works great and its the closest match to MY skin I’ve ever had. The eyeliner mixture of coconut oil and cocoa butter with activated charcoal is perfect. I keep it in a small jar and apply it with a toothpick. Gets the job done. Thanks a million for sharing!!

  12. Karla Avatar

    How long does the eyeshadow and eyeliner with coconut oil last on your skin? I think it would just melt away on me.

  13. leighton Avatar

    thanks for the tips! i need some research for science fair! i will put you in the refrences.i promise. no plagourism

  14. Kathryn Edmiston Avatar
    Kathryn Edmiston

    i just purchased the fermented cod liver oil capsules from your link. how many do you take a day? i also purchased magnesium spray and gelatin! i have been LOVING your website and have so many things on my to-make list! after spending thousands of dollars on store-bought kombucha, i finally got the motivation from your website to brew my own this week! its fermenting in my kitchen right now! any way … back to the original question: how many pills? thanks for all the awesome information!

  15. Nathan Avatar

    FYI – Gelatin is the product of boiled animal connective tissues, bones and hooves then further refined by an acid extraction. Up your intake of foods high in calcium and Vit C for same results.

    1. Donna Avatar

      Lol, I’m not a big fan of gelatin either, unless I am making natural glue, or hair gel. Never goes internally with me.

  16. Terri Avatar

    I tried the mascara recipe and it melted all over my face and I wasn’t doing anything active. I also did the eyeliner brown and black and they also melted on my face. So, I moved onto activated charcoal mixed with honey, melted it and poured into a repurposed mascara tube and it works WONDERFULLY! NO MELTING, NO EMBARRASSMENT!

    1. Donna Avatar

      Oh wow, I have never thought of that, but I do use raw honey for a great lip gloss (you need the firmer RAW honey for this). You should probably make daily fresh batches or at least every three days to be on the safe side for your eyes. I add dust like beetroot powder to my honey gloss for a tint. It is less sticky and gooky than some of the gross mineral oil based ones I used years ago, and it’s healthy for the skin! The industry sure does take advantage of we ladies.

      1. Terri Avatar

        Have you ever used Alkanet Root as a dye for your makeup? It shouldn’t be digested but you can put it on your lips and use it for blush. You want to powder it in a your mortar and pestle but you don’t have to. Then you put it in the oil of choice(remember this may go on your skin), if you don’t like the color just let it soak in the oil for a couple of days for a darker color. Add to your lipgloss after it has melted pop in the fridge to cool fast or let it sit for a couple of hours to cool. Then I just make a ton of it so I can use it for blush too. I like this because my dehydrator died so I can’t dehydrate my beets. Yes, they most certainly do take advantage and they put nasty ingredients in everything marketed to us! Yuck, no thank you!

        1. Donna Avatar

          I love the color Alkanet gives off, but I read it can cause birth defects, and can’t be applied to broken skin. Since I have chapped lips, and I occasionally pick a pimple I shy away from this particular pigment. If you are trying to get pregnant you should avoid using it, and hibiscus as well. Same issue – birth defects. Although I think hibiscus doesn’t tell you that you can’t put it on broken skin.
          I gave your honey and AC powder mascara a try this morning. Gave pretty good results, but it shockingly made my eyes feel sensitive, like they were near fumes or something. ??? Go figure. Natural mascara is the only cosmetic I have not been able to use thus far. I tried several recipes, and I think I might be sensitive to the AC powder itself. I still use commercial mascara made for sensitive eyes, but I just put it on the tips of my eyelashes, and so it never comes near my skin. I guess I can’t win-natural them all!!! Lol. Ho hum… :o)

          1. Terri Avatar

            You are rude and disrespectful. All of your interactions with me have been mean spirited. I no longer will accept your comments. Peace be with you.

          2. Donna Avatar

            Well, that came as a shock! None of my comments were meant rude or disrespectful. Ho hum….. 🙁

        2. Donna Avatar

          Be careful with Alkanet root and Hibiscus for that matter, since both are linked to birth defects if you are pregnant, or trying to become so. I love the color of Alkanet, but this one also warns about not applying to broken skin, and since I have chapped lips, and the occasional breakout…..not an option for lip balms or blush.

  17. Lye Avatar

    Hello. I’m new to making my own homemade products. On the skin care products are you suppose to use just one of the ingredients that’s listed?

  18. Sylvie Avatar

    I use Cover FX liquid foundation because they don’t use testing on animals nor animal product. I’ve never tried any powdered one. Have you thought of putting on either a little video or pictures of the steps and how it should look like? It would also be nice to see what it looks like on YOUR face.

    I’m also interested in making my mascara because none animal tested and animal product (including beewax, lanoline, etc.) mascara is not that easy to find and when you find you can only buy it online which doesn’t come cheap with the shipping fees. – Does it smuge or run easily (I never put some on the lower eye lashes)?

    – Pictures or video of the recipe (for texture, storage, etc) would be nice (as you can see I am very visual).
    – When you say to put it in the mascara container, is it like a paste (I remember my cousins using one they had to put a little water on the brush before rubbing it in the mascara to apply it) or it’s more liquid and you put it in a mascara tube (how?)

    Thanks 🙂

    1. Donna Avatar

      Check out making natural mascara by Colorful Canary on YouTube. She has a good recipe, and she shows a before and after result.

  19. Carissa Siordia Vasile Avatar
    Carissa Siordia Vasile

    How well do these work? Can you post pictures as an example of how they turned out for you?

  20. shubham banekar Avatar
    shubham banekar

    as i am in 10 std i want pressed powdered, lipstick and any other 3 cosmetics makeup requirements, preparation and method , uses for my project so if you can please send me it to :- shubhambanekar@gmail.com
    as fast as you can

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