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Stay fresh, dry, and free from body odors with this silky smooth DIY body powder! This recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make and only requires 3 ingredients. You can optionally scent it with essential oils for a nice, natural fragrance, too!
If you’ve never tried body powder before, you are in for a treat.
As someone who hates to be sweaty and lives in a hot, humid area, I would say body powder is life-changing.
It’s a super simple DIY that keeps me feeling dry, comfortable, and odor-free, even on my sweatiest days!
This recipe is seriously easy to make — just mix together 3-4 ingredients, and you’re ready to go.
Yet, it makes such a big difference in how I feel! It keeps body odor at bay, kind of like homemade whole body deodorant or DIY perfume, but it also does so much more than that!
If you want a recipe that is quick and affordable to whip up, and makes you feel great, you’re going to love this DIY body powder!
What is Body Powder?
Body powder is used to absorb moisture, prevent chafing, and reduce odor on the skin. It’s applied directly to the skin at the beginning of the day or after a shower, usually in areas that experience a lot of sweating, like the back of the neck. Body powder keeps you feeling fresh and dry throughout the day, and can even make you smell lovely if you opt for scented powder!
Why You’ll Love It
- Feel great: I truly can’t recommend body powder enough! It makes you feel fresh from the shower, even on hot and sweaty days. I’m so much cleaner and more comfortable when I use body powder.
- Save money: Making your own bath and body products is a great way to save money! They are much more affordable than store-bought natural options.
- Natural ingredients: This DIY body powder is talc-free and made with 100% natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin.
- Easy: It doesn’t get easier than this DIY! With just a few ingredients in less than 5 minutes, you’ll have your new body powder ready to use.
Ingredients
- Arrowroot powder: Helps absorb moisture and gives the powder a light and silky texture. You can also use cornstarch, but I don’t like the texture as much.
- Kaolin clay: Has a soft, smooth skin feel and helps the powder cling to the skin. Kaolin clay is very gentle and won’t dry out your skin like some other clays can.
- Baking soda: An optional addition that helps absorb moisture and reduce odor. Read the expert tips first if you have sensitive skin!
- Essential oils: An optional addition to give the product fragrance. I prefer to keep my body powder fragrance-free and get my fragrance from a homemade body spray, but you can add essential oil if you’d like.
How to Make DIY Body Powder
Step 1. Add the arrowroot powder and kaolin clay to a clean bowl and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Step 2. If using baking soda, add it next and mix well.
Step 3. Drop in the essential oils, if using, and whisk thoroughly to evenly distribute the scent.
Step 4. Transfer the powder to a clean jar or shaker container and secure the lid.
How to Apply Body Powder
Apply body powder to dry skin using your hands or a powder puff. A powder puff works well at applying a perfectly thin layer, but it’s not essential. Keep in mind, a little goes a long way.
I like to apply body powder after a shower, and it can be reapplied throughout the day as needed to stay dry and comfortable.
You can apply body powder anywhere you need it, avoiding the eyes, mouth, and other sensitive areas. It’s helpful to use in areas that experience a lot of sweat or chafing, such as the neck, chest, back, inner thighs, or the backs of the knees.
Expert Tips
- Store body powder in a cool, dry place and keep moisture out of the container.
- Baking soda can be included because it can help absorb moisture and neutralize odor, which is why you often see it in products like homemade natural deodorant. That said, it isn’t ideal for everyone, especially on sensitive skin, and it’s definitely not required for a good body powder. (I also have a baking soda-free deodorant recipe for those who are sensitive.)
- Always perform a patch test with new products to ensure you are not sensitive to any of the ingredients before broadly applying them.
- Instead of a powder puff, you could also use a fluffy makeup brush. Tap it on the side of the container to get excess powder off before applying, like you would with DIY foundation.
Best Essential Oils for Body Powder
Essential oils are an optional addition to your body powder that adds a light, natural fragrance. You can use any of your favorite skin-safe essential oils and create custom blends!
I personally leave my body powder unscented so I can have all of my personal fragrance come from a homemade perfume, but scented body powder is a great way to stay smelling great throughout the day.
My favorite essential oils for body powder are chamomile or lavender, because they are calming, mild, and gentle on the skin. That said, you can add any oils you love!
Recipe FAQs
You can use body powder as often as you need to stay dry and comfortable. Once a day in the morning is usually enough for me, but you can apply more before going outside on hot days or before bed as needed.
Most people won’t experience any downsides to using it daily, but if you notice your skin is excessively dry, take a couple of days off to allow your natural body oil to replenish. A homemade body cream can also help if you get dried out.
If you have sensitive skin, you can absolutely use DIY body powder! To prevent any potential irritation, I recommend omitting the essential oils and the baking soda. The powder will still work wonderfully, but it will be gentler without those ingredients.
If you have hair on your head, I would recommend opting for a DIY dry shampoo instead of body powder. It will have a similar effect, but it’s made with hair in mind. Dry shampoo is also typically colored to blend in with your hair so you don’t have an obvious white powder in your roots.
Related Recipes
- DIY Spray Deodorant
- Natural Deodorant Cream Recipe
- Homemade Body Butter Stick
- Solid Essential Oil Perfume
- DIY Body Oil for Glowing Skin
If you tried this DIY Body Powder or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
DIY Body Powder
Equipment
- Powder puff optional, but recommended
Ingredients
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder, (32g)
- 2 tbsp kaolin clay, (20g)
- 1 tsp baking soda, optional, see notes*
- 3-5 drops essential oil of choice, optional, see notes*
Instructions
- Add the arrowroot powder and kaolin clay to a clean bowl and stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
- If using baking soda, add it next and mix well.
- Drop in the essential oils, if using, and whisk thoroughly to evenly distribute the scent.
- Transfer the powder to a clean jar or shaker container and secure the lid.
Video
Notes
- *Baking soda can be included because it can help absorb moisture and neutralize odor, which is why you often see it in products like homemade natural deodorant. That said, it isn’t ideal for everyone, especially on sensitive skin, and it’s definitely not required for a good body powder.
- *I personally keep my body powder unscented, but you can add your favorite skin-safe essential oils for a mild, natural fragrance. I recommend chamomile or lavender.
- Store body powder in a cool, dry place and keep moisture out of the container.
- Always perform a patch test with new products to ensure you are not sensitive to any of the ingredients before broadly applying them.
- Instead of a powder puff, you could also use a fluffy makeup brush. Tap it on the side of the container to get excess powder off before applying, like you would with DIY foundation.
amazing recipe
Amazing recipe!
Thank you so much!
Love this body powder!!!
I am so happy to hear!