How to make a dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser

Have you ever tried dragon fruit before? If not, you’re seriously missing out.

Also known as pitaya, this tropical fruit is loved around the world for its refreshing taste and beneficial nutritional properties.

But what really makes dragon fruit so special is its stunning hot-pink colour and beautifully speckled flesh. In fact, it’s so striking to look at that it’s almost too beautiful to eat.

So what if you used it in your skincare instead?

In this post, we’re going to show you how to turn dragon fruit into a luxurious powder-to-foam face cleanser that transforms into a vibrant pink foam the moment it touches water.

The best part? It’s incredibly easy to recreate and requires only 7 ingredients to make, yet looks and feels like something you’d buy in a premium beauty store or would see on your Instagram feed.

What makes this cleanser so special + why make it

Powder cleansers are having a moment – and for good reason. They last longer than traditional cleansers, require no preservatives, are lightweight and travel-friendly, and have a magical, transforming texture.

Our powder-to-foam cleanser is packed with skin-loving botanicals like coconut milk, bentonite clay, and colloidal oatmeal, which makes this cleanser great for dry or sensitive skin, whilst the clay helps with oilier areas.

But what truly makes it special is the addition of our hero ingredient – dragon fruit.

The moment you activate this powder with water, the vibrant pink colour of dragon fruit comes to life. In seconds, this neutral-looking powder transforms into a luxurious, vibrant pink foam – a fun, visual treat that’s just as enjoyable to use as it is to look at.

And the best part? It’s incredibly easy to make at home. And you don’t need a chemistry degree or a lab space to make it.

In fact, that’s just a myth perpetrated by the beauty industry to keep you buying their products. Curious to learn more about this? Then check out these posts below:

Episode 37: Do you need to be a cosmetic chemist to formulate skincare?

Episode 307: Why you don’t need to be a chemist to formulate

Unleash your potential: You can formulate cosmetics without a chemistry degree

Everything you’ll need to make this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser

Here’s everything you’ll need to make 50 grams of this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser:

Ingredients

To make this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 10g bentonite clay
• 10g coconut milk powder
• 9g Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate Powder (SCI)
• 7.5 rose petal powder
• 7.5g dragon fruit powder
• 3.5g rice powder
• And 2.5g colloidal oatmeal

You can find the full ingredient breakdown and a list of suggested suppliers in the sections below.

Equipment

And now for the equipment! To make this gorgeous dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser, you’ll need some basic kitchen tools – most of which you probably already have at home. If not, you can easily find them online or at speciality kitchenware stores.

You’ll also need to clean and clear some counter space.

To make this powder cleanser, you’ll need:

1. A digital scale to measure your ingredients accurately
2. A large mixing bowl to combine your ingredients – make it bigger than you think, because powders take up more space than expected, and you need room to mix everything properly
3. A whisk or a large spoon to combine ingredients gently and evenly
4. A container to store your finished cleanser
5. Coffee grinder (optional) – useful if you want your powders to be finer

And finally, you’ll need a face mask or covering for your nose and mouth, as some of these powders can be irritating if accidentally inhaled. You’ll also need some gloves and an apron, and a hair tie to tie your hair back.

You can find all of this equipment on our Formula Botanica Amazon storefront.

Ingredient breakdown

Now let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that make this cleanser so special.

1. Bentonite clay

INCI: Bentonite

Bentonite clay is a gorgeous grey-green powder made from volcanic rock that has been naturally aged over time. It’s incredibly absorbent and helps cleanse the skin by drawing out impurities.

2. Coconut milk powder

INCI: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Powder

Coconut milk powder is derived from coconut milk and is packed with nourishing fats and vitamins that help keep your skin soft and hydrated whilst cleansing.

It also helps balance the more intensive cleansing action of the other ingredients and adds a subtle, coconutty scent to your dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser.

3. Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI)

INCI: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate

We’re adding a specialist ingredient to this powder, which will give it its transforming powder-to-foam texture: Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI)!

Don’t let the name intimidate you – SCI is a gentle, coconut-derived ingredient that creates the lovely foaming action when you add a splash of water to your cleansing powder.

In cosmetic formulation, it’s known as a surfactant, and you can learn more about this ingredient type below:

Natural formulation 101: Beginner’s guide to skincare ingredients

5 natural surfactants to use in your cosmetics

Adding this ingredient to your powder is what turns it into a foaming cleanser rather than just a mask.

4. Rose petal powder

INCI: Rosa Gallica (Rose) Flower Powder

And now for our botanicals!

We’ve added rose petal powder to this facial cleanser, as it has a gorgeous, soft floral aroma and a beautiful dusky rose colour.

Rose petals have also been used in skincare for centuries, as they’re rich in antioxidants and have a beautiful, natural fragrance.

5. Dragon fruit powder

INCI: Hylocereus Undatus (Dragon Fruit) Fruit Powder

And now for our star ingredient: dragon fruit, also known as pitaya!

Dragon fruit is packed with vitamins A, C, and E – the famous “ACE” trio – which are known for supporting healthy, glowing skin.

Instead of using fresh pitaya from the supermarket, we chose to use dragon fruit powder, which has a much longer shelf life and is easier to work with.

Just like the fresh fruit, the powder has a vibrant pink colour. This is what gives this powder-to-foam cleanser its stunning colour when you add water – transforming your powder cleanser from a neutral powder to a visually striking pink foam.

6. Rice powder

INCI: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder

Next is rice powder – a creamy off-white ingredient that gives the cleanser a wonderfully velvety texture.

It also helps absorb excess oils while temporarily minimising the appearance of pores and fine lines.

7. Colloidal oatmeal

INCI: Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour

Finally, our last ingredient is colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground oat powder that feels like silk on the skin.

Colloidal oatmeal is great to work with and contains natural compounds that help support your skin’s moisture barrier. It also provides gentle exfoliating properties that smooth your skin without scratching.

Remember, you can source all of these ingredients from the suggested suppliers listed at the bottom of this post.

How to make a transforming powder-to-foam dragon fruit cleanser

• Makes: 50g
• Level: Beginner-friendly
• Estimated time: 10 minutes

Step-by-step method:

Ready to turn these ingredients into your very own transforming cleanser?

Here’s how to make this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser in 4 easy steps:

• Step 1: Weigh your base ingredients

Start by weighing your base ingredients into a large, clean bowl. Add 10 grams of bentonite clay, 10 grams of coconut milk powder, and 9 grams of Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI).

Tare your scale after each addition using the ‘tare’ button to reset your scale, so your measurements stay accurate.

And remember to wear a face mask!

Step 2: Add your botanicals

Next, add your botanicals – this is what makes this cleanser so special.

Add 7.5 grams of rose petal powder, 7.5 grams of dragon fruit powder, 3.5 grams of rice powder, and 2.5 grams of colloidal oatmeal, taring your scale after each addition.

The rose powder and dragon fruit powder will give your blend a beautiful soft pink colour, while the rice powder and colloidal oatmeal help create that smooth, gentle feel on the skin.

• Step 3: Mix everything together

Now it’s time to combine your ingredients! Gently mix them all together using a whisk or large spoon.

Take your time here – you want all the powders to be evenly distributed so your cleanser works consistently every time you use it.

If the mixture feels a little coarse, you can grind small amounts in a coffee grinder to make it finer. Just be careful not to over-process the delicate botanical powders.

• Step 4: Package, label & enjoy!

All that’s left to do is carefully transfer your finished powder into a clean, dry container – a small jar works perfectly.

Add a label so you know what it is, and your cleanser is ready to use!

And just like that, you’ve created a beautiful powder-to-foam cleanser that looks like something you’d find in a premium skincare store for $30 or more, but with the satisfaction that you made it yourself.

To store your powder, keep it in a cool, dry place, as moisture is the enemy of powder formulations. When stored properly, this cleanser can keep for several months without needing any preservatives.

How to use this powder-to-foam cleanser

To use this powder cleanser, simply scoop about half a teaspoon into your palm or a small bowl, add a splash of water, and mix into a paste.

Watch your muted powder transform into a vibrant pink foam and gently massage it onto damp skin, enjoying that lovely light foam and the natural exfoliation from the powders.

Rinse with warm water and then pat your face dry.

This is gentle enough for daily use and suitable for most skin types. It helps remove dirt and grime, is packed with skin-loving botanicals, and doesn’t require any preservatives because there’s no water in the formula.

Customising your cleanser + your next steps

We hope you enjoyed this blog post and feel inspired to try making this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser yourself! If you do, make sure to tag us on social media using #FormulaBotanica, as the team and I would love to see how it turned out.

One of the best things about this cleanser – aside from its incredible colour transformation and changing texture – is how customisable it is. Once you understand the basic structure of the formula, you can endlessly adapt it to suit your own skin needs and preferences.

For example, you could swap the dragon fruit powder for strawberry powder, experiment with different clays, or add soothing botanicals like powdered chamomile for sensitive skin. The possibilities are endless – just make sure you keep the same overall ratios so the formula stays balanced.

If this has sparked your curiosity, why not check out our free online training course? In our free foundation course, you’ll learn how to make many more natural and organic skincare products like this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser – and customise them to your liking. Check it out now!

Suggested ingredient suppliers

Below is a list of suggested suppliers you can use to source the ingredients to make this dragon fruit powder-to-foam cleanser:

INKY Ingredients (UK)

Aroma-Zone (EU)

Aromantic (UK)

Alexmo Cosmetics (EU)

Manske (EU)

The Soap Kitchen (UK)

Ellemental  (EU)

Lotioncrafter (USA)

Essential Labs (USA)

Go Native NZ (New Zealand)

Naturally Balmy (UK)

O&3 – The Oil Family (UK/EU)

Soap & More (Canada)

Handymade (EU)

Formulator Sample Shop (USA)

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Timea Racz

Timi was a key member of the Formula Botanica team from 2015 to 2020; first as our Education Manager and then as Head of Formulation & Research. You can find out more about the Formula Botanica team here.