Sticky Summer Body Powder
A silky body powder for humid days: cornflour and arrowroot give the slip, and a tablespoon of kaolin clay takes the shine off without turning the mix chalky.
You will need
- 3 tbsp cornflourno cornflour? use extra arrowroot powder
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powderno arrowroot powder? use extra cornflour
- 1 tbsp kaolin clay
The ritual
- Sift the cornflour, arrowroot and kaolin clay together into a bowl.
- Whisk with a fork until the colour is completely uniform.
- Sift the mixture a second time straight into a shaker jar.
- Dust lightly onto dry skin, keeping the jar well below your face.
- Smooth it into creases with a large soft brush rather than your hands.
The mistake most people make
The mistake most people make is dusting this powder onto skin that is still damp or sweaty, hoping it will mop up the moisture. Starch on wet skin rolls into a paste that sits in creases and feels worse than the stickiness ever did. Towel off completely, wait a minute or two after your shower, then apply a light layer to fully dry skin. A thin dusting you can barely see always outperforms a thick coat.
Why these ingredients
- 3 tbsp cornflour
- Cornflour is the bulk and the slip, and it is what makes the powder feel silky rather than dusty.
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
- Arrowroot is finer than cornflour and gives a smoother finish, so the mix does not sit visibly in creases.
- 1 tbsp kaolin clay
- Kaolin takes the shine down and holds a little moisture, which is what stops the powder sliding straight off.
Smart swaps
- 3 tbsp cornflour → tapioca starch, which feels slightly silkier still.
- 2 tbsp arrowroot powder → more cornflour, if arrowroot is not in the cupboard.
- 1 tbsp kaolin clay → rice flour, sifted very finely, for a similar matte finish.
Keep it clean
Mix with freshly washed hands and clean, dry bowls and spoons. If a recipe is stored, use a jar or bottle washed in hot soapy water and dried completely, and never dip wet fingers into the batch.
Who should skip it
Skip this powder if you have asthma or any breathing sensitivity, since even careful shaking sends fine particles into the air. Avoid it in areas prone to yeasty irritation, such as under the breasts or in the groin, because cornflour can feed that overgrowth, and never use it on broken or chafed-raw skin. Do a 24-hour patch test on your inner arm first.
Storage & when to let go
Keeps six months in a dry sealed jar. Keep it out of the bathroom, since steam turns any starch powder to paste in the lid.
What to expect — honestly
Skin feels dry and slippery instead of tacky, and clothes stop clinging for a few hours. Sweat eventually wins and you reapply. It manages how a hot day feels rather than stopping you sweating.
Where it fits in your week
This can be an everyday powder through the sticky months: after your morning shower, before getting dressed, focusing on the backs of the knees, the chest and anywhere fabric clings. Reapply once at midday at most. Skip it on days you have applied a body oil or rich sunscreen to the same area, as powder over oil turns pilly, and do not layer it over freshly exfoliated skin.
Common questions
Will cornflour go pasty when I sweat?
It can if you use too much on damp skin. A light dusting on skin you have dried properly stays powdery; a thick layer will clump.
Can I scent it?
Drop a dried lavender bud or two into the jar, leave it a week, then sift them out. Skip essential oils, which clump the powder.
How long does the finished powder last?
Kept bone dry, around six months. The powder itself does not spoil quickly, but every bit of moisture that sneaks into the jar invites clumping and, eventually, mustiness. Use a dry brush or shaker rather than damp fingers, keep the lid screwed tight, and store it somewhere drier than a steamy bathroom if you can.
Can I make a big batch to last the whole summer?
Yes, this scales cleanly since it is all dry ingredients: keep the three-to-two-to-one ratio and sift the larger amount twice so the clay distributes evenly. Store the extra in a separate airtight jar and refill your shaker from it, so the main supply is never opened in a humid bathroom and stays perfectly dry.
I have very dry skin; will this make it worse?
It can, if you use it generously, because starches and clay absorb oil that dry skin needs. Apply the lightest possible layer only where you genuinely feel sticky, halve the kaolin clay for a softer blend, and moisturise as normal at night. Very dry or flaky patches usually do better with no powder at all.
This recipe is shared for general cosmetic enjoyment, not medical advice — see how we research and write in our editorial policy and the full safety guide.
