You’ve painstakingly applied makeup and look good and ready to rock the world. How to retain it through the whole day? That’s where a setting powder comes into play.

With an oily skin or combination skin, or when sweating profusely, makeup can often be washed out. I don’t like piling on stuff on my face especially, but setting powder can be a necessity for some.

So, now that’s cleared up, we’re going to look at our ingredients.

Ingredients

Cocoa Powder
Starch
Cinnamon Powder
Nutmeg Powder

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, take all the ingredients mentioned above. The ratio will depend on your skin tone and preference.

For me, I needed more of starch powder and less of cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa powder. For some, the cocoa powder might not even be necessary, or just in negligible quantities. So go with the ratio according to your requirements.

Once you get the ingredients mixed well and get the right shade for your skin, you’re done!

Transfer to a sterilized jar and use as needed.

Tips to Tweak the Recipe

If you have sensitive skin, skip the cinnamon powder. It is more important for those with oily skin, combination skin or acne-prone skin.

Nutmeg adds a nice touch to the recipe and depending on your skin tone, you might need that more than other ingredients or probably skip cocoa and cinnamon – when you have fair skin.

While cocoa powder isn’t really suitable for oily or acne-prone skin, cocoa powder doesn’t trigger acne for most. Even so, make sure you test it out before you use.

You can add a few drops of essential oil, or a few drops of oil if you like pressed powder consistency. However, I liked the loose powder consistency better for this purpose.

Depending on the amount of Starch powder you use, the mix can make you think about caked makeup. But trust me, unless you use this in exorbitant amounts and your setting powder is chiefly composed of starch, you don’t have to worry about it. However, I used Arrowroot Powder instead of Cornstarch or other options, as it didn’t trigger breakouts or allergic reactions.

Those with sensitive skin can substitute Arrowroot Powder with Oatmeal, though Arrowroot works fine for most.

Rice flour is coarse, so use Rice Powder as a substitute for starch if you’re considering rice.

Start with less starch and work with the ratios from there. Don’t start with a large amount of starch – you will have more than you need for a few months that way!

How to Use the Setting Powder?

Just dust it after you’re done with your makeup. I use a kabuki brush, though you can use any soft brush that works for you best.

Shelf Life

Since we’re using starch, it is a good idea to prepare less and keep smaller batches handy. The shelf life is as good as the ingredients – the one with the lowest shelf life.

Don’t have time for DIY Makeup Recipes? Try Gaya Cosmetics for your beauty requirements – high quality and natural mineral makeup that’s non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic