Homemade Bronzer: All natural and so easy.
2013
Ready for a super simple and awesome homemade bronzer? This one of the easiest recipes that you will find in my book, Toxic Free, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not cool. Using only natural ingredients that you probably already have on hand, you can create your own homemade bronzer that’s the perfect shade for you.
Why homemade bronzer?
Well, like so many other commercial beauty products, store-bought bronzer is usually full of stuff that I don’t want to put on my skin. I mean, check out this ingredient list of one brand:
Mica, Talc, synthetic fluorphlogopite, dimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride, magnesium stearate, phenocyethanol, coconut oil, caprylyl clycol, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Iron oxides, titanium dioxide…
Um… gross.
Minus the coconut oil and the aloe there’s a whole lot of stuff I DON’T want on my face.
And homemade bronzer is SO EASY!!!
Sorry, didn’t mean to yell… but seriously. There’s no need for all this toxic stuff. Not when you can have a sun-kissed glow in a couple of minutes.
Ready?
All Natural Homemade Bronzer
Ingredients:
1 Tbs. cinnamon powder
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
2 tsp arrowroot powder (like this)
15 drops lavender or rosemary essential oil
*If you prefer a loose powder, leave out the essential oils.
Directions:
1. Adjust the levels of ingredients to your shade and mix well in a small bowl, and break up any clumps until it’s smooth. Place the powder in a clean, empty compact and pack it in firmly.
A few tips on the color:
Cinnamon provides glow.
Cocoa gives depth and darkness .
Nutmeg will give a sun-kissed brown.
Cornstarch spreads it all out and lightens it.
Essential oil keeps it together and thickens it.
Oh yeah… and it makes your face smell awesome!
Want more great all natural recipes? Check out my book Toxic Free for 70 recipes for home and personal care.
What do you think? Want to give it a try?
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Awesome,
I never buy make up as I cant stand the feel of it on my skin.
However, one day I needed a bit of colour and went straight to my pantry and took out the cornstarch and cocoa…
The rest of your ingredients sound sublime-cant wait to give it a try!
I’m the same. I rarely use makeup… but every now and then I will use some bronzer. I love the way it feels and smells.
@ Samantha Stiles .. I had the same problem until i decovered ARBONNE make-up, it’s so light I don’t feel it. doesn’t cornstarch clogh the pores? would maca be any better?
I’m not aware of cornstarch clogging pores… but I’m not 100% sure. You could also switch it out for arrowroot powder.
What about usin baking soda? I mean you use it for everything else anyways, and its age to brush your teeth why wouldn’t it work here?
I probably wouldn’t use baking soda. It’s great for deodorizing and cleaning… and it probably too rough to keep on your skin as a makeup. I’d use cornstarch (GMO free) or arrowroot powder.
Baking soda is a salt, salt’s will take moisture out of your skin and leave it dry and itchy.
Arbonne does not have a good rating from the EWG Skin Deep database. If you’re concerned about chemicals in your makeup, I wouldn’t use it.
maca, I believe is suppose to be mined by slave labor.
Amazing! I love this and cannot wait to try it, I have been trying to move more and more closer to all-natural make-up and skin care so this recipe will come in quite handy!
- Katie
Hope you like it, Katie.
I’m excited to try this! Any ideas for homemade mineral foundation or powder?
I’ve had a few requests for that. I’ll need to do some research.
Do you have a recipe for mascara and eyeliner!?! Those are what I wear most! I still use the toxic stuff, but I am almost out and was thinking I would buy some good stuff. I would much rather make it if I can!
Sure do: http://thankyourbody.com/all-natural-homemade-mascara/ (to make eye-liner just take out or use less beeswax).
Shut the front door!! I’ve tried to figure out a way to go make-up free, but I always end up getting discouraged by the list of ingredients needed. I am so astounded right now! Thank you!
You’re welcome.
WOW!!! I have been wanting to get rid of chemical makeup and saw this. I make it (doubling the cornstarch cause I have pale skin), I took my old makeup to the bathroom with me to try it, thinking the new wouldn’t cover like I needed, I get some red checks sometimes and like to get it covered…I used this new one and IT WORKED AWESOME!!!!!!!It smeels good, works great, got rid of something else I use with chemicals….Keep up the great tips!!!
Hi!
What about blush? Do you know how to make this into a pink colour?
Thank you!
I haven’t tried blush yet. Let me look into it.
Well…Brasilians use Aniato seeds to collor the food. And the native indians uses it to color the body. You can find it in powder form at the spices isle. http://www.survivalinternational.org/articles/3133-from-body-paint-to-popcorn-with-annato
use annato powder with cornstash. you will find it at the spices isle. Go easy as its very red.
Hi! I really like this Bronzer, but I was wondering if there was something else I could replace for the cornstarch? Any ideas? Arrowroot? Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda,
You can definitely substitute arrowroot for the cornstarch. Yes.
I love this !!! I’m going to share this with our Teenage clients. will you be creating Blush & Eyeshadow ? ..you know how girls love their eyeshadow.. thank you christina
Blush is coming this week! I’ll keep working on an eye shadow.
Do you find that this stays on for the majority of the day (as well as typical makeup does, anyway)?
It seemed to stay on as long as another bronzer. Although, I’m a bad judge because makeup in general has never stayed on me for more than an hour.
Oh, and what is cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa powder? Different than what’s in my spice rack, or is that what you mean?
I’m not sure what your question is? Cinnamon and nutmeg are both spices. Cocoa powder can be found in the baking aisle.
Thanks, that’s that answer I was looking for! Just seems too easy and too good to be true!
Hello! I was wondering, where did you get the compact container from?
It was actually just an old compact I had lying around. Cleaned out the old stuff and made room for the new.
Ah okay, thank you! I’ll see if I have any laying around
I tried the recipe and it didnt seem to work…i mix a lotion in w it and it seemed like it “scrubbed” my skin a bit but didnt hold any color at all. im very pale too. i used the exact meadurements but added one more tsp of cornstarch since i am so pale. whered i go wrong?
Perhaps the lotion diluted the color? If you want more of a liquid bronzer I’d try a couple of drops of olive oil or another oil that’s good for the skin. And you probably don’t need the extra cornstarch. I’m about as pale as they get, and the color I use it much darker than my skin because it does go on lighter.
Cocoa powder, what kind, baking cocoa powder?
Yep.
I am so happy I ran across your little glorious page. I saw this post on pinterest and as this year is my “go all natural” (no more harsh chemicals/make my own shampoo/the works), I was so pumped to see an all natural bronzer! I NEVER wear bronzer, my guilty pleasure is eye shadow and mascara (already saw the post there too
) but my brother-in-law is graduating from pilot training and its this fancy occasion where I want something extra ya know? Anyways, so happy to have run across this site. So much wonderful information! In one day you convinced me to buy a squatty potty (they should give you some $$ from their sales lol). I believe God works in really cool unique ways and whats awesome about that is that Monday (after about a week of no core exercises) I did some crunches. Tuesday morning, back was KILLIN me..I think before I just got used to it or forgot about it. But then, I was reading your post on crunches (and then some investigative work to make sure) and I was like “woah, hold up”…. So yeah, no more crunches. For me, God works in mysterious ways and your post was that mysterious way…for all I know your post saved my back from more pain (cause you know I wouldve just kept going and calling it normal).
Thank you!
Aw, thanks Kristina! So glad you stopped by.
Nice idea, but the stuff in the other powder isn’t toxic. It’s mostly minerals which are either inactive, like the mica which gives it shimmer, or beneficial (like the titanium dioxide, which protects your skin from sun damage). Triglycerides is a fancy word for oil and most of us know what aloe is. The cornstarch is cheaper and may be easier on sensitive skin, but the cinnamon and nutmeg could be irritating. And it won’t give you any sun protection.
I personally wouldn’t put titanium dioxide on my skin, although it’s safer than a lot of chemicals, for sure. Mica can also be a skin irritant for some. But you are also right that cinnamon can be irritating for some, too. I still like this homemade stuff better… suits my skin, standards, and budget better. But to each their own.
Cool! Can’t wait to try it.
I found these sites to buy containers:
http://www.kosmetech.com/category_info.asp?idCategory=14
http://www.sks-bottle.com/Cosmetic-Containers.html
I’d love to see eyeshadow too
I’ll see what I can do about eye shadow.
Do you know who Crunchy Betty is? This is her *exact* recipe. She has a book and owns an extremely popular natural beauty shop as well. Here’s a link to her recipe from two years ago. Kind of insane that you’d both have the same recipe! Amazing how great minds think alike. I actually clicked this link on Pinterest to see if it was different than hers, as cornstarch and arrowroot aren’t my favorite ingredients for the face- they feed acne causing bacteria. Anyway, you’d love Cruncy Betty, I bet! http://www.crunchybetty.com/natural-makeup-hacks-homemade-bronzercontour-powder
I am aware of Crunchy Betty, but didn’t know she had this bronzer recipe, too. Love her site. Thanks!
OH, I’m almost out of bronzer and was wondering what brand to buy next. I’m definitely going to try making my own. I love that it doesn’t have all of the toxic ingredients!
Yeah, I like that too.
This is BRILLIANT ! I am so happy that I stumbled on this blog. Do you have any receipts for liquid/powder foundation?
You could add this to your favorite facial lotion… but I haven’t perfected one I like that’s a diy all natural one yet.
I just made this, wow it really works! Thanks soo much for sharing. I live in Canada where we spend a lot of time indoors and I use bronzer every single day of my life. It’s amazing I can make my own at home. And it sure does smell good. =)
~ Catie
I’ll be sharing this post on facebook.
Thanks, Catie!
Do you have a recipe got foundation? Liquid or powder?
Yep: http://thankyourbody.com/homemade-foundation/
What about mixing it with some moisturizer for a creamy bronzer? I have lines that are often accentuated by powder.
But, would the cinnamon burn if it were in a moisturizer base?
If you have a moisturizer that you trust you *should* be able to mix this… but I haven’t actually tried it so I would start with a small little bit and do a patch test.
Just wondering if you can substite anything for the essential oils?
I would like it to stay together but do not have oils….
Try some jojoba, avocado, or olive oil. Just a few drops and keep adding until it’s a consistency you like.
Great idea! I used the lavendar oil to hold it together, but I’m just not a real fan of the smell (I know, I’m odd!). I’ll have to try some almond, coconut or olive oil next time! Thanks! Of course, this is going to last me for a long time since I don’t use that much of it. It’s just nice to have something when I need it that I recognize the ingredients! Thanks!
While this sounds like a great idea in theory, cornstarch on your face is just a bad idea in general. Cornstarch absorbs water, so to use this on your face will dry out your skin and accentuate fine lines. Your skin needs water on its surface to appear and be healthy. The cornstarch will also clump together with oil on the surface and create that beautiful clumpy makeup look we all desire. Cornstarch does not belong in face makeup products.
- a ten year cosmetic industry vet.
I actually use arrowroot powder now.
What is arrowroot powder?
Similar to cornstarch (which can be used in a pinch), but better for the skin: http://amzn.to/163MFZC
I tried this today and I will never wear store bought bronzer again! Thanks!
Made this today and I love it!
Yay!