How to Make Cream Blush (Plus Bronzer)

I’ve been experimenting with homemade makeup for years, from DIY concealer and highlighter to lip balm to mascara. I have a powder blush I love that works well, but I’ve gotten requests for a cream blush option. After nailing a liquid foundation recipe, I decided to work on a creamy formula blush too.

You can customize this cream blush to your skin tone for a buildable tint. If you have warmer undertones, then use a little more cocoa powder or warmer-toned pigments. I’ve included instructions for the pigment amounts I use, but you can tweak it to your preferences.

Cream Blush

A lot of cream blush on the market uses ingredients like dimethicone, silica, red 6, and other ingredients I’m not thrilled with. While more companies now make non-toxic options, it’s usually cheaper to make your own!

Cream blush has more staying power and can be much bolder and more versatile than powder blush. A little goes a long way. I also use a small amount to darken my natural foundation if I need to during the summer.

Depending on the ingredients used your blush can have a matte or dewy finish. The cocoa powder helps the blush cream formula have a warmer tone and the mica adds color and a glowy sparkle.

Ingredients For the Best Blush

There are two options for this recipe. One uses a pre-made lotion, while the other is a DIY liquid base.

1. For a simpler version, use a natural pre-made lotion for the base and add colors and pigments as needed.
2. The DIY base takes a little more time and five ingredients but allows more customization since you’re making the base lotion yourself.

If you’re making your own blush base then you’ll need shea butter, aloe vera gel, and emulsifying wax. Beeswax won’t work here because we need the emulsifying wax to combine the water and oil-soluble ingredients. The basic ingredients are the same as my liquid foundation recipe.

The aloe vera is hydrating and the shea butter is nourishing for dry skin. You can also add a little vitamin E oil for antioxidants and to extend the shelf life. While I love fresh aloe vera, it has a very short shelf life in DIY skincare recipes. Using a premade and naturally preserved aloe vera gel works best here.

Customize Your Cream Blush Color

This DIY starts off with either cocoa powder or natural mineral makeup for colorant. You can then add mica powder for extra pigment. I used a combination of a deep berry and a bright pink. You could even add a little bronze or mauve mica to the mix for a more complex color palette.

Start out with just a little bit and add more until you get the color you want. I included the exact amounts I used in the recipe below, but you can add more or less depending on your preferences. The more pigment you add the stronger and bolder the color will be.

• Use 1/4 to 1 teaspoon cocoa powder AND 1/2 to 1 teaspoon mica powder.
• OR use 1-2 teaspoons of natural mineral powder in your color of choice

It’s difficult to find a powdered blush without titanium dioxide, which can be toxic if inhaled as a powder. Once it’s mixed into a foundation or cream blush it doesn’t seem to have the same toxicity concerns. If you don’t have a powdered blush you already like, then use the cocoa powder and mica option instead. Plant-based pigments like ground beetroot yield a gritty product that doesn’t give skin much color.

How to Apply It

I typically use a blush brush to apply this but you can easily use your fingers. You’ll want to dab a little on your cheekbones and then rub it up towards your temples in small circles. The exact placement depends on your face shape and coloring.

If you have a really dry skin type, you may need to apply moisturizer or primer to your face first. I find the shea butter gives this a creamy and moisturizing feel that works well over foundation.

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 than it will on the skin.
• Adding more vegetable wax with the homemade lotion base will make a thicker and longer-lasting blush/bronzer. Using more aloe makes 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.

Have you ever used cream blush before? Leave a comment and let us know!