How to Set Your Makeup

Co-authored by Yuka Arora and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: July 21, 2020 References

You’ve done your makeup perfectly and you’re looking amazing. Great! Now, you want to make sure that your face still looks perfect even after a night out. You might be worried about your makeup fading away over time. If you want to set your makeup, try using a primer and applying setting spray to look amazing even after hours of fun.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Baking Liquid Foundation and Concealer

1
Apply a primer for your skin type. Makeup primers help to stop the oil from your skin from getting onto your makeup and ruining it.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Primers come in many different forms, and you can find ones for oily skin, dry skin, or a combination of both. Use a pea size amount of primer all over your face before you apply your makeup.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you are prone to clogged pores, a primer could cause you to break out.
2
Apply your liquid foundation and concealer. Put on your foundation for your skin tone like you normally would, and then apply concealer on top of that in any problem areas. These usually include your T-zone, underneath your eyes, and breakouts.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Liquid foundation is better for baking because it is not already dry like powder foundation is.
Advertisement
3
Dip your beauty blender into loose, translucent powder. Use a colorless powder so you won’t add more color to your foundation or concealer. Dab a beauty blender into the powder and pick up as much as it will hold.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- You can use a powder puff instead of a beauty blender, but it will not hold as much powder.
- Most beauty supply stores will have beauty blenders and powder puffs.
4
Pat a generous amount of powder onto the areas you want to bake.^{[5]
X
Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Baking your makeup sets it and makes it less likely to crease. Gently pat the powder onto the areas of your foundation or concealer that you want to set so that it looks flawless and doesn’t crease later. These areas usually include your T-zone and underneath your eyes. Only dab the powder a few times, making sure you don’t pat it all the way into your skin.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- You should still be able to see the powder sitting on top of your face. Don’t wipe or rub the powder onto your face.
5
Wait 5 to 10 minutes, then brush the powder off of your face.^{[7]
X
Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} The powder will absorb any oil that was on your skin. After you’ve let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, use a fluffy makeup brush to gently wipe the powder off of your skin.^{[8]
X
Research source}

Tip: You can do your eyeshadow or eyebrows as you wait for your face to bake.
6
Apply the rest of your makeup as you normally would. Once your face makeup is set, you can finish by applying blush, highlight/contour, eyeshadow and lip makeup in whatever order you’d like. Avoid touching the parts of your face that you baked earlier.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Setting with a Spray

1
Apply your full face of makeup like you normally would. This can include foundation, concealer, bronzer/contour, highlighter, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lipstick, and even mascara. Put on as much or as little makeup as you plan to wear, starting with your foundation and concealer.^{[10]
X
Research source}
2
Purchase a setting spray for your skin type. Different setting sprays work well for different skin types. Research which type of skin you have and buy a setting spray that is specifically for your type of skin.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- Common skin types include dry, oily, and combination.
3
Spritz the spray 2 or 3 times onto your finished makeup. Hold the bottle about 1 foot (0.30 m) away from your face so that it doesn’t spray too much. Close your eyes to avoid getting the spray in your eyes. Spray the setting spray 2 or 3 times so that it covers your entire face. ^{[12]
X
Research source}
- You can also spray the air in front of you and move your face into the cloud of setting spray.
4
Let the setting spray dry for about 1 minute. You can use a fan or a piece of paper to wave in front of your face and dry it faster. Don’t touch your face until the setting spray is completely dry.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- If you are prone to breakouts or you plan on sweating a lot later, setting spray could clog your pores.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Powder to Set Your Makeup

1
Apply your full face of makeup as you normally would. Put on as much or as little makeup as you would like to wear. This includes your face makeup, eye makeup, and lipstick. Start with your foundation and concealer and then move on to your eyes and lips.^{[14]
X
Research source}
2
Put loose, translucent powder onto a powder puff.^{[15]
X
Expert Source

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 30 August 2018.} Use a clear powder so that you don’t add more color to your face. Dip a powder puff into the loose powder until it is completely covered.^{[16]
X
Research source}
- You can buy powder that has a color in it if you want more coverage.
- You can use a fluffy makeup brush instead of a powder puff if you prefer.
3
Tap off any excess powder from the powder puff. When you dab the powder puff the first time, the amount of powder will be too much. Tap off the powder puff 2 to 3 times to shake off the majority of the excess powder back into the container.^{[17]
X
Research source}
- If you don’t tap off the excess powder, you could end up with powder all over your clothes as you apply it.
4
Dust your entire face with a thin layer of translucent powder. Tap the powder into your makeup until it has disappeared completely. Don’t swipe or rub the powder puff onto your face, or you could streak your makeup. Be sure to dust your entire face with the powder to lock in your look.^{[18]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

What can I do to make my makeup last all day?

Yuka Arora
Makeup Artist
Yuka Arora is a self-taught makeup artist who specializes in abstract eye art. She has been experimenting with makeup art for over 5 years, and has amassed over 5.6K Instagram followers in just 5 months. Her colorful and abstract looks have been noticed by Jeffree Star Cosmetics, Kat Von D Beauty, Sephora Collection, among others.

Yuka Arora

Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

You can use a setting spray or powder to help keep your makeup intact without creases. You can also apply loose powder to the concealer or foundation and let it "bake" on your face for a few minutes to help set your makeup.