Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. But still, it doesn’t hurt to enhance it further, right?
Makeup is usually enough to achieve the goal. However, you need to maintain your makeup for it to last the whole day. Touch-ups can be a hassle especially when it’s a busy day. It can be disappointing to make an effort to look good in the morning only to look haggard and a ‘mess” hours later. And it’s not even evening yet!
This problem can be solved with a dry makeup setting spray. It is the final step of your makeup routine to keep you looking fresh throughout the day. Spraying it on your face will coat your makeup thereby preventing or delaying your maquillage from fading, creasing, or getting ruined. You can go about your business much longer without worrying about frequent touch-ups
If you can’t go the whole day without makeup, add a setting spray in your beauty toolkit.
Homemade Setting Spray as Alternative
If for some reason you can’t or don’t want to use a commercially available setting spray, there are alternatives that you can try. You can actually make one at home, too.
You’d want to avoid chemicals that can clog the pores, cause skin damage, contribute to acne, or pose more possible health risks. Therefore, it’s good to try a safer alternative.
The Healthier Option
To make a dry setting spray on your own, combine glycerin and rose water. Glycerin (or glycerol) is a colorless and odorless compound that comes from vegetable oils or animal fats.
The syrupy liquid is commonly used in cosmetics and is a major ingredient in various moisturizers and lotions. Glycerin is the most effective humectant, “a type of moisturizing agent that pulls water into the outer layer of your skin from deeper levels of your skin and the air.” (Healthline.com)
Glycerin hydrates and improves the skin. It protects against irritants and speeds up healing when you have a wound.
What to do:
Add 2 teaspoons of glycerin to, at least, 3 teaspoons of rose water. If you want more, make it tablespoons. Put it into a spray bottle and shake the bottle thoroughly. Now, you’re ready to spray the solution over makeup.
You are free to add more rose water if you want. For oily skin or a matte result, though, less glycerin is suggested. Alternatively, you can mix 3 parts of water with 1 part glycerin.
IMPORTANT! Glycerin can turn rancid within two weeks so refrigeration is recommended for a longer shelf life.
Other than the use of glycerin, however, there are other ways to create a DIY setting spray.
How to Make Setting Spray without Glycerin
1. Just spray rose water to take care of the makeup’s texture. That should work if the texture is too powdery or like cake to the touch. It can melt those “extras” for a more natural glow.
Rose water has antioxidants, reduces oiliness, and maintains the skin’s pH balance. That’s why it’s a common ingredient found in many health and beauty products.
What to do:
Mix ¼ cup of regular water with ¼ cup of rose water. Add vitamin E to the solution by squeezing out the oil from a vitamin E capsule. If you prefer a specific scent, add 1 to 2 drops of the appropriate essential oil. Transfer everything into a dry, clean bottle. Shake the bottle well then spray the rose water on your made-up face.
2. You can add witch hazel to rose water. Hazel is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial. Therefore, it can prevent skin problems like acne and the secretion of excess oil. It also has a soothing and calming effect on the skin.
What to do:
Just mix a ½ cup of witch hazel with a ½ cup of rose water in a spray bottle. It’s a 1:1 ratio so you can opt to mix 1 tablespoon of each instead. You will need to add 1 ½ cups of water. Shake the solution thoroughly and apply. It would be good, though, to refrigerate the formula for 2 to 3 weeks as a way to store the product.
3. Use an organic aloe vera and lavender oil mixture. Aloe vera, dubbed as the “wonder plant”, is a natural moisturizer that nourishes, heals and softens the skin. Meanwhile, the versatile lavender oil has many benefits, including acne prevention. It has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
Combined, aloe vera and lavender oil keep the skin matted, free of excess oil, and moisturized.
What to do:
Prepare 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel, 2 to 3 drops of lavender oil, and 1 ½ tbsp of water. Mix them all together in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle well and…you know the drill.
4. Mix them all up! Combine 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin, 2 tablespoons of rose water, 1 tablespoon witch hazel, and 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel. Add in 4 drops of any essential oil if you so desire. Mix, shake well, spraaaayyyyy!!!
Lavender oil is a good choice for extra moisture and more relaxed skin. Or for more glowing skin, try out orange and lemon. It’s really all up to you.
Things to Consider
So those are the best alternatives to commercially available and costlier branded setting sprays. Other than those, what other things should you consider?
Here are a few more tips:
- Try using distilled water to avoid tap water contaminants.
- Always test any of the formulas on naked skin. They are generally safe, but individuals react to things in different ways. Safety first.
- About to wear non-waterproof mascara? Spritz it on your face first. Avoid raccoon eyes!
- Spray from a safe distance away from your face. Six inches away is considered alright. Of course, you need to close your eyes.
- Once sprayed, let it settle and dry on your face. Don’t touch! Not until it’s dry.
Stay beautiful all day without the hassles. Try out these DIY dry makeup setting sprays to see what works best for you. Stay safe and practical.