If you’ve taken the time to flawlessly blend your foundation and masterfully contour your angles, you want that application to stay put—that is, until you’re ready to remove it! Priming the complexion will help, as will choosing longwearing formulas. However, setting and its next-level technique, baking, will be your ultimate protection against makeup meltdown, creasing, and fading—especially on a jam-packed day in the heat and humidity or on a fun-filled night out until dawn.
Want to know how to set and bake, and the differences between setting and baking? Start here, with this breakdown of our favorite setting and baking methods.
TECHNIQUE 1: SETTING WITH SETTING SPRAY
SKILL LEVEL: EASY
EFFECT: NATURAL
For one-step setting, setting sprays—those liquid formulas misted onto the face through an atomizer—are your go-to product. They can lock in your look—and depending on the formula you choose—have additional benefits, as well—from absorbing oil and mattifying the complexion to making it hydrated and dewy and even nourishing it with good-for-skin ingredients. When we’re setting our makeup with setting spray, we like to use the Morphe Continuous Setting Mist, Mattifying Continuous Setting Mist, or Luminous Setting Spray. Here’s how:
STEP 1: Hold the bottle about 8 to 10 inches away from the complexion and spritz the formula evenly across the face as a last step in your application.
TECHNIQUE 2: SETTING WITH SETTING POWDER
SKILL LEVEL: NEXT-LEVEL
EFFECT: SMOOTH AND MATTIFIED
To take your setting up a notch, try setting powder. Loose or pressed powders sweep over the complexion, while holding makeup in place, smoothing, and mattifying, which is especially beneficial if you have an oil-prone T-zone. Available in translucent shades, as well as pigmented ones, they can also colour-correct, warm up, or brighten up your foundation. Not sure how to shop for setting powder? You’ll want one that’s finely milled and silky-soft, like the Morphe Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder. Here are the steps we follow for setting with Bake & Set:
STEP 1: Apply Morphe Filter Effect Soft-Focus Foundation and Filter Effect Soft Radiance Concealer.
STEP 2: Using a pointed powder brush, like the Morphe M581 Pointed Powder Brush, sweep Bake & Set over the complexion, including across the forehead, around the nose, on the chin, and under the eyes.
STEP 3: Apply the rest of your makeup.
STEP 4: Finish with Continuous Setting Mist.
TECHNIQUE 3: BAKING WITH SETTING POWDER
SKILL LEVEL: PRO
EFFECT: BRIGHTENED, SOFT-FOCUS, AND HD-READY
Not a pro? Stage performers and celebrities used to being in the spotlight may have introduced baking, but the technique has now entered the mainstream—and with it the tips and tricks to perfecting it. With baking, you’ll still be using a setting powder, like Bake & Set. The difference? You’ll be gently stamping—not sweeping—the setting powder into the complexion over concealer, letting it absorb or “bake” into the application, and then dusting away the excess powder. Baking usually targets the undereyes and cheekbones to mattify them for zero flashback and creasing. Want to bake the entire complexion? You’ll still follow the steps below, but you’ll expand the coverage:
STEP 1: Tap Filter Effect Soft Radiance Concealer in a shade slightly brighter than the complexion under the eyes and then blend it into the skin using press-and-roll motions and a damp beauty sponge, like the Morphe Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge.
STEP 2: Using the flat edge of the beauty sponge, pick up enough Bake & Set powder to cover the undereye and cheekbone areas.
STEP 3: Press the loaded beauty sponge on top of the concealer, without blending in the powder.
STEP 4: Let the powder bake for 5 to 10 minutes.
STEP 5: When the application has completely dried down, pick up a setting powder brush, like the Morphe V115 – Detail Setting Powder Brush, and gently press in the powder.
STEP 6: Using the same brush, dust off all excess powder.
STEP 7: Apply the rest of your makeup.
STEP 8: Finish with Continuous Setting Mist.
TECHNIQUE 4: BAKING AND SETTING WITH SETTING POWDER
SKILL LEVEL: MASTER
EFFECT: FLAWLESS
You can bake, you can set—or you can combine the techniques. Think of this option as getting the best of both worlds: brightened undereyes and a smooth, mattified, long-lasting complexion look. Here’s how:
STEP 1: Tap Filter Effect Soft Radiance Concealer under the eyes and then blend it into the skin using press-and-roll motions and a damp beauty sponge, like the Highlight & Contour Beauty Sponge.
STEP 2: Using the flat edge of the beauty sponge, pick up enough Bake & Set powder to cover the undereye and cheekbone areas.
STEP 3: Press the loaded beauty sponge on top of the concealer, without blending in the powder.
STEP 4: Let the powder bake for 5 to 10 minutes.
STEP 5: When the application has completely dried down, pick up a setting powder brush, like the V115 – Detail Setting Powder Brush, and press in the powder.
STEP 6: Using the same brush, dust off all excess powder.
STEP 7: Apply the rest of your makeup.
STEP 8: Lightly sweep Bake & Set over the cheeks, using your powder brush.
STEP 9: Finish with Continuous Setting Mist.