How To Make Homemade Setting Spray

A good makeup setting spray will help your makeup last longer and look fresh all day long.

It is a must-have in your makeup bag, but the problem is that using this miracle spray every time you put on makeup can get expensive!

If you are sure that you want to use makeup spray but don’t want the added cost, or maybe even the added chemicals that some might have, you can make it yourself at home!

How do you make a homemade setting spray?

Making homemade setting spray is pretty easy, and you only need a few simple ingredients and tools to make enough to last a while. By creating your own homemade setting spray, you know exactly what goes into it and save quite a bit of money, too.

To help you make your own makeup setting spray at home, we have included everything you need to know and everything you need to make the right one for you!

Why Make Your Own Setting Spray?

There are a few reasons why you might choose to make your own setting spray.

It could be to save some money, as setting sprays can be pretty pricey, and if you use them every day or so, you could use up a bottle fairly quickly.

Making your own setting spray really does work out much cheaper in the long run, and you won’t feel bad using it so often!

Another reason you might choose to make your own setting spray is to know precisely what is in it.

You will be in charge of the ingredients you add, so there are no hidden chemicals or allergens that could harm your health or skin.

Some makeup setting sprays on the market contain chemicals or allergens that can harm your skin.

Some of these could contain adhesives to help the makeup sit in place by creating a layer on top of your skin.

For many people, this could cause clogged pores and breakouts.

Some setting sprays contain denatured alcohols, which can dry out skin and reduce cellular regeneration, which, over time, can be very damaging to the skin.

Aerosol setting sprays are also a huge no-no, as you should not breathe in the aerosol chemicals daily, and they should generally be avoided.

By making your own setting spray at home, you are in control of the ingredients you use, and you can choose what your skin will agree with and what you know will be the healthiest.

How To Make Homemade Setting Spray

To start off, it helps to have a basic setting-spray recipe.

This is a base recipe, and you can add more ingredients or change one or two to suit you and your skin.

Use this recipe to start making your own makeup setting spray at home, and then experiment from there!

Tools:

A clean, empty spray bottle
A small funnel
A measuring spoon

Ingredients:

Filtered Water

The first ingredient you would need for the makeup setting spray is filtered water.

Avoid using water straight from the tap, as you can never be sure of the chemicals or debris that might be in it.

Filtered water should be clean and pure enough to use. A bottle of distilled or purified water is perfect.

Vegetable Glycerin

Vegetable glycerin (we like this vegan, non-GMO, pharmaceutical-grade brand) is the other main ingredient needed to make a homemade makeup setting spray.

Glycerin helps the makeup stay on your face longer, so you can enjoy your gorgeous look throughout the day without worrying about it fading too soon.

Glycerin, when used in the right quantities and in the right way, can be moisturizing for your skin and give you a beautiful, dewy look.

Just be aware that too much glycerin can make your skin look oily and clog pores. Always err on the side of caution when using it.

Rose Water (Optional)

Rosewater (Simplified Skin has the best rosewater we’ve found) is not an absolute must, but it does make the setting spray more hydrating and soothing to the skin.

It even works on its own as a natural facial toner.

You can leave the rose water out if you feel it stretches your budget too much, but it does form part of the basic recipe and makes quite a difference to how the setting spray turns out.

Rosewater has some excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce redness and cleanse the skin.

It is also wonderfully soothing and moisturizing, and it has a delightful, soft scent.

Instructions:

Fill your clean, empty bottle 2/3 of the way filled with filtered water.
Add in 3 teaspoons of rose water, or a little less depending on your personal preference.
Add in 2 teaspoons of glycerin to the bottle.
Shake to mix the ingredients together and spray to test.
Add in more glycerin if you feel it necessary.

Keep in mind that the measurements are based on using a 4 oz. bottle, so adjust if the bottle you are using is a different size.

Just make sure to test the spray to ensure that you are happy with the results.

Other Makeup Setting Spray Recipes

The above recipe is a basic one to work with, and there are many other ingredients you can add to tailor the setting spray to your liking and your skin.

Here are some other makeup setting spray recipes you could use at home:

Aloe Vera And Lavender

Aloe vera and lavender are two essentials for healthy skin and soothed senses!

Aloe vera will help keep your skin matte, allowing your makeup to stay in place longer.

It is also great for soothing skin and delivering essential nourishment!

Lavender oil helps prevent acne and create a brighter, more youthful complexion.

It is also one of the best and most relaxing aromas, so that is never a bad thing.

When making a setting spray with aloe vera, use an organic, pure gel, not one that contains added fillers or other ingredients.

True aloe vera gel will be clear, not bright green.

To make an aloe vera and lavender setting spray, mix 2 tablespoons of aloe vera gel with 3 drops of lavender essential oil into a bottle with 1 ½ cups of distilled water.

Shake to combine and use!

Rose Water And Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is such an excellent ingredient for your skin. It helps reduce excess oil and hold makeup in place.

Rosewater, an ingredient used in the basic setting spray recipe, keeps skin vibrant and fresh and adds a bit of a dewy look to the skin’s surface, too.

This is a good formula to use if your skin breaks out often, or if you have oily, acne-prone, or mature skin.

To make this setting spray, mix in 1 tablespoon of witch hazel, 1 tablespoon of rosewater, and 1 ½ cups of distilled water in a clean spray bottle. Shake to mix before use.

It is best to store this makeup setting spray in the fridge and use it within 3 weeks.

DIY Makeup Setting Spray Mistakes To Avoid

There are some common mistakes people make when making their own makeup setting sprays at home, so read through these mistakes to ensure you don’t make the same ones!

Using Tap Water

One of the most common mistakes is using tap water to make the setting spray instead of distilled or purified water.

Tap water contains many added chemicals, debris, and bacteria that can harm your skin.

Leaving tap water in a bottle for an extended period could also allow these bacteria to grow, which is not great for your skin.

Using Plastic Bottles With Essential Oils

Some people believe that you should not keep essential oils stored in plastic containers.

This is because essential oils can damage plastic, so you should use a glass container instead.

Photosensitivity Essential Oils

Photosensitivity can worsen when using certain essential oils.

Some essential oils, such as lime, lemon, and grapefruit, can cause photosensitivity.

This could cause your skin to burn, become itchy or red, and even blister in the sun.

It is best to avoid using these essential oils in a makeup setting spray.

Not all citrus oils cause photosensitivity, and others, such as blood orange and tangerine, are fine to use if you wish.

Can You Make Setting Spray Without Glycerin?

Glycerin is a key component of a basic setting spray, but some recipes do not include it.

If you find that glycerin irritates your skin too much or that it clogs your pores, then you could try another recipe.

One such option is to mix three parts witch hazel, two parts aloe vera gel, and 1 part rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with distilled water.

However, alcohol can dry out your skin, so be sure to moisturize and use this spray only occasionally.

Giving The Setting Spray More Glow

You can add an extra ingredient to give your setting spray a glow so that you can finish your skin with a dewy, shiny finish, perfect for a night out or a natural look.

To do this, you can add a few drops of illuminating serum to the setting spray.

Start with a few drops at first, and test the spray.

You don’t want to add in too much, or your skin will be way too shiny!

You can always add a few more drops after this until you reach your desired level of shine!

Why You Should Use A DIY Setting Spray

A DIY setting spray lets you control the ingredients you put on your skin, and it helps you save money over time, too!

Here are some more reasons why you should use a homemade setting spray:

Sets Your Looks For Longer

A homemade setting spray will work just as well to lock in your look for longer.

You can even use it multiple times when applying your makeup to ensure each layer stays in place.

This way, you make the most of your makeup products and don’t have to worry about reapplying!

Works As Primer

Did you know that you could use your makeup setting spray as a primer as well?

You can spray your face with the setting spray a few minutes before applying your makeup.

This not only creates a nourished, hydrated surface for applying makeup, but also helps the makeup last longer.

Once you have applied your makeup over the primer, give it another few sprays to properly lock it in.

Freshen Your Look

You might feel as though your makeup needs a bit of a pick-me-up during the day, and instead of adding more makeup, you could spray a bit of setting spray onto your skin.

This is especially helpful if you have some illuminating drops in the setting spray, but the other ingredients will also help give your skin a fresh, revitalized look.

Final Thoughts

It really is quite simple to make your own setting spray at home, and it works out to be wonderfully cost-effective, too.

You can choose which ingredients to include in the setting spray and which to exclude, so your skin is only given the best and protected from harmful and irritating ones.

Experiment with a few different ingredients to see which works best for your skin and helps keep your makeup looking fresh for longer!

How To Make Homemade Setting Spray

Why Make Your Own Setting Spray?