The first thing we notice in a body powder isn’t the scent. It’s the feel.
If a powder grabs on damp skin, turns chalky, or fades the minute the weather gets warm, the fragrance doesn’t matter much. When we reworked our body powder, we spent more time on texture than anything else. We wanted something that felt dry but not dusty, soft but not flat, and comfortable enough to reach for after a shower, before a walk, or on the kind of hot California day when skin starts sticking to itself.
Why starches stayed in the formula
Starches do a lot of the quiet work in powder formulas. A recent review of starches in cosmetics points to the same things formulators care about in real life: absorbency, smooth texture, and easy application across body care and makeup. That lines up with what we see at the bench. Arrowroot gives a light, airy dryness and is commonly used in body powders because it absorbs moisture without feeling harsh. Tapioca changes the glide. In cosmetic use, it shows up in body powders and antiperspirants, and it helps create a softer, silkier finish instead of that flat kitchen-starch feel.
Why we paired them with kaolin and bentonite
Clays are where the formula gets more interesting. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review lists kaolin and bentonite among clay ingredients used in cosmetics as absorbents and bulking agents. In practice, kaolin is the gentler one for us. It helps with oil absorption and anti-caking, and it tends to feel soft on skin. Bentonite does a different job. It works as an absorbent, filler, texturizer, and binder, which is part of why it shows up in body powders and deodorant products. A recent review of a kaolin-and-bentonite clay mask for oily skin also noted effective oil control with good tolerance. In a body powder, that kind of pairing helps us get a blend that feels more balanced in humidity and less one-note than starch alone.
Why we left talc and cornstarch out
We didn’t remove talc and cornstarch to make a dramatic claim. We removed them because they weren’t the direction we wanted for this formula.
Talc is still used in cosmetics to absorb moisture and prevent caking, but FDA also notes longstanding concern around possible asbestos contamination in talc and continued regulatory attention around talc-containing cosmetics. Cornstarch, to be fair, can work in absorbent powders. A clinical review on intertrigo even mentions absorptive powders such as cornstarch as one way to help reduce moisture and friction in skin folds. Still, when we compared blends, arrowroot, tapioca, kaolin, and bentonite gave us a finish we liked better: lighter, smoother, and less pantry-like on skin.
Packaging changed too
Once we had the formula where we wanted it, the packaging had to make sense with it. Fine powders are useful, but they should stay close to the skin instead of floating through the air. Formula Botanica recommends working carefully with fine powders, avoiding dusty application, and choosing containers that disperse product more evenly without creating clouds of powder. That thinking shaped this update too. Moving into paperboard tubes was about reducing plastic, yes, but it was also about making the whole ritual feel cleaner, easier, and a little more intentional.
The new formula isn’t about sounding cleaner on a label. It’s about better wear. It goes on softer, holds up better in heat, and feels like something we’d actually want to use ourselves. That’s still the test that matters most.
At Lantern & Veil, our formulation process is rooted in a deep understanding of cosmetic chemistry and a commitment to stability. We prioritize how ingredients actually behave during production, ensuring every batch is technically sound and intentionally crafted. This commitment is why we continue to refine our formulas—because a better-performing product is always worth the extra work at the bench.
