Cream Foundation

If you've made your own mineral foundation before, you'll know how great it is as a powder foundation... but if you prefer something creamier, then this is going to be perfect. It also allows you more freedom for layering. I often just use a tiny bit for everyday wear to even out skin tone and more if I'm going out in the evening.

Make Your Own Cream Foundation, with How-To-Video & Step by Step Instructions

This recipe is inspired by Marie Rayma's recipe from humblebeeandme.com which I have been using exclusively for over a year now. We didn't have the exact ingredients that she uses, so I tweaked it - using ingredients we have available. It uses her mineral powder foundation recipe which you will find in her book Make It Up 

Check out our how to make mineral foundation and our Mineral Foundation Kit 


BandA 4
Before (L) and after (R) applying my cream foundation.

I have also used this recipe and replaced the mineral powder foundation with one of Marie's bronzer recipes (at the same 50% ratio) to make a bronzer contour cream which I'm VERY happy with! 

How-To-Video Make Your Own Makeup - Cream Foundation 

Equipment - Check out our Makeup equipment starter pack which includes everything you need including Marie's book Make It Up.
mini measuring spoons
Mini scales - You're going to need very sensitive scales for such small batch sizes and these are super handy for formulating in general.
Mini silicone spatula - This is very useful for smooshing the ingredients together and for scraping everything out.
Glass Beaker - These are really handy in general and I like using them in a water bath because of their tall sides, so that water doesn't get it, but you could use a small plastic pot.
Container for final product - A 5ml clear glass pot works really well or else and old makeup compact is great.

Ingredients
Makes 5g 
Phase A
50% | 2.50g mineral foundation powder - recipe in Make It Up
18.9% | 0.95g Castor oil
12% | 0.60g Squalane - olive
11% | 0.55g Coco caprylate
4% | 0.20g Carnauba Wax
3% | 0.15g Candelilla wax
1% | 0.05g Silica microspheres
Phase B
0.1% | 0.005g Vitamin E *

*My scales don't go down this far and the least you can put in is a small drop, so that's fine.

Adjust batch volume with Go Native NZ's Batch Size Calculator 


Method

  1. Weigh all of your Phase A into a glass beaker or whatever container you're using.
  2. Place in a water bath, deep enough to cover the sides of the ingredients but not so deep that any water is in danger of splashing inside.
  3. Gently warm until ingredients are entirely melted, occasionally using your spatula to smoosh combine it well.
  4. Once everything is melted take off the heat and quickly add Phase B.
  5. This will set quickly so you don't have much time to transfer into your container, so have it ready to go.
  6. You will probably get about half of it in before it sets, then you will have to scrap the rest out with your spatula.
  7. It's very difficult to get a smooth finished surface but you can help by pre-warming your container with a hair dryer and you can blast it with the hair dryer again once it's all in the melt the top.


    To apply
    You can apply it with fingertips or a foundation brush, whichever you prefer.