DIY Translucent Powder

By now, you probably know that I have been transitioning over to a mostly whole foods (clean) diet for a few months now.  What you may not know, though, is that I have also started exploring the world of all natural beauty products.  At the moment, I have only tried a few products.  I have just barely dipped my toes in the water, but I was so excited about a recent discovery that I just had to share!

About a week ago, I came across a recipe for homemade translucent powder here.  I am one of the lucky ones who gets to deal with adult acne (although it is usually not too bad - just horribly annoying), and I have very oily skin.  I have been using loose, translucent powder on my face for years, and I typically have to reapply powder 3 or 4 times throughout the day because my face gets so shiny.  So, I was definitely game to try something new.

The ingredients were French Green clay and organic cornstarch, both of which I purchased at Whole Foods.

Yes, that's it.  (The blog that I found this on said that you could use baking cocoa to add color if you wanted, but I decided not to.)

All you do is mix equal parts green clay and cornstarch.  (I used two tablespoons of each.)  And mix well making sure to get out all the lumps.

Fortunately, I happened to have a nearly empty, store bought powder jar that I cleaned out and refilled.  The original post suggested a spice jar, but I think pretty much any small container would work.

I have to admit, I was a little leery when I mixed it up and it was green!  When you dust it on your face though, it's completely translucent.  No green tint at all.  It feels amazing when you put it on.  It's the smoothest, silkiest powder I have ever used.  PLUS, I put powder on my face this morning, after my shower, and did not have to reapply it at all throughout the entire day.  Seriously, I'm amazed.

After doing some research, I found mixed reviews about using cornstarch.  Some people recommend it for acne, while others say it can be bad for acne prone skin.  Most everyone agrees, though, that it is fantastic for soaking up oil.  (Definitely can attest to that!)  French green clay, on the other hand, is used in many resorts and spas for facials and skin treatments.  Most of what I read stated that green clay is antibacterial, and therefore, beneficial for acne prone skin.  So, I'll let you all know if I notice any difference, one way or the other, after using it for awhile.

I also have plenty of green clay left, so I may do some experimenting with face masks.

Enjoy!