DIY Setting Spray: Our Favorite Hydrating Makeup Primer Recipe

Our DIY setting spray recipe has been a game-changer for our own sustainable makeup routine—especially considering natural makeup often lacks the synthetic ingredients that give conventional cosmetics their long-lasting properties. Maybe the only draw-back of buying clean cosmetics.

But you don’t need chemicals to keep yourself looking glam all day with our homemade setting spray and makeup primer that will lock in your makeup while hydrating and soothing your skin.

This homemade setting spray uses hydrating and soothing ingredients to help keep your makeup in place while giving your skin a refreshing boost.

Ingredients:

• Aloe Vera Gel (1 tbsp): Aloe vera is a natural hydrator and skin soother, helping to calm irritation and keep skin moisturized.
• Witch Hazel (2 tbsp): Known for its astringent properties, witch hazel helps tighten pores, control oil, and prevent breakouts without drying out your skin.
• Rose Water (2 tbsp): Rose water is a natural toner that balances your skin’s pH and provides soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
• Glycerin (1 tsp, optional): A humectant that attracts moisture to the skin, helping to lock in hydration and keep your makeup intact for longer.
• Distilled Water (~1/4 cup): Acts as the base to dilute the mixture and help the ingredients blend well.

Instructions:

1. In a small spray bottle, combine the aloe vera gel, witch hazel, and rose water.
2. Add the glycerin if desired, to help retain moisture and keep your makeup fresh.
3. Fill the rest of the spray bottle with distilled water.
4. Secure the cap and shake the bottle gently to mix the ingredients.
5. Hold the bottle about 8–10 inches from your face and spray a light mist over your makeup to set it. Allow the spray to dry before touching your face.

Store-bought setting sprays are expensive, and kind of an annoying extra that you feel you should buy even after you’ve already spent a whole lot of money on getting the actual makeup. They typically range anywhere from $10–$30—especially when you’re using them daily. With this DIY setting spray, you get all the benefits of a high-quality product at a fraction of the cost, especially considering we find a little goes a long way. Here’s the math.

• Aloe Vera Gel: $12 for a 12 fl oz bottle (~$0.50 for 1 tbsp)
• Witch Hazel: $8 for a 16 oz bottle (~$0.25 for 2 tbsp)
• Distilled/Filtered Water: $1 per gallon (~$0.01 per cup)
• Rose Water: $7 for an 5 fl oz bottle (~$1.40 for 1 2 tbsp cup)
• Glycerin: $10 for a 16 fl oz bottle (~$0.10 for 1 tsp)

Cost per batch: ~$2.26

Store-Bought Equivalent: ~$10+ for a 2 fl oz bottle (e.g., Nix, Milani, e.l.f., or similar mid-tier skincare brands)

Savings per Batch: $7.74

We bet you’re not surprised to learn that drugstore setting sprays are filled with artificial fragrances, preservatives, synthetics and other ingredients that can dry out your skin, cause irritation or worse. Here are a few common harmful ingredients you might find in store-bought setting sprays:

• Alcohol: Often used to make the spray dry faster, alcohol can be drying and irritating to the skin, especially for sensitive or dry skin types.
• Synthetic Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are a major cause of skin irritation, allergies, and headaches.
• Parabens: Preservatives that have been linked to hormone disruption and skin issues.
• Propylene Glycol (PEGs): A synthetic compound that can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions, particularly in sensitive skin. They may also be contaminated with carcinogenic by-products.

Can you tell we’re not fans on conventional cosmetics? Unless it’s clean skincare products from a vetted brand we’d rather make our own homemade beauty essentials and DIY makeup.