- Key ingredients: Glycerin, agave, prickly pear, niacinamide, transdermal magnesium, zinc lactate.
- Size: 3.4 oz
Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Replenishing Primer & Setting Spray
Why we love it: Packed with hydrating coconut water, the spray works equally well as a primer and a setting spray. Plus, mist it on at any point to feel refreshed.
- Key ingredients: Coconut water
- Size: 4.0 fl oz
What is a setting spray?
“A setting spray is a spray that prolongs longevity to makeup, and acts like a sealant,” says makeup artist Natalie Dresher, who works with social media personalities like Dylan Mulvaney and Remi Bader. “It works by spraying a mixture of polymers and water to the face, preserving the makeup and setting it in place on the face.” Dresher’s go-to setting sprays are Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray for all skin types and One/Size by Patrick Starrr On ‘Til Dawn Waterproof Setting Spray for clients without sensitive skin.
How to choose a setting spray
“You have to know your objective for setting spray before making your selection,” says makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin. “Looking for keywords like ‘dewy,’ ‘oil control,’ ‘waterproof,’ or ‘lasting’ will help you get to the right formula for your desired outcome. There are also setting sprays that are marketed as protection from blue light.”
How do you know if a setting spray is working as it should? “In general, the spray should not feel drying, or make your skin feel itchy and taut,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose, whose clients include Lily Gladstone and Lupita Nyong’o. “Your makeup should look fresh, and never dull, once the mist settles.”
How (and when) to use setting spray
“My favorite way to apply a setting spray is in a snowflake motion—up and down, in an X formation, and horizontally across the face—to ensure 100% of the face has been sprayed,” Dresher notes. She advises using a setting spray as the “very last step” of a makeup routine, though other facial sprays can be used at various points throughout the day to freshen up skin and makeup.
Alternatively, a setting spray can be used for targeted shine control. “I like to apply a mattifying setting spray to one of my damp Jenny Patinkin Green Tea Makeup Sponges, and then gently press it into the T-zone, only where oil and shine control is needed,” Patinkin shares.
Who is a setting spray best for?
“Setting spray is for anyone who knows that they need extra long wear time or wants their makeup to look perfect in any weather condition,” Patinkin says. “I use it more in the summer to protect makeup from melting off in heat and humidity, and I always recommend it for brides and bridal parties so that their makeup looks perfect in photos from start to finish.”
What’s the difference between a setting spray and a finishing spray?
Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, setting sprays and finishing sprays do have some differences. “Setting sprays create a barrier to help your makeup last longer,” says film and television makeup artist Vasilios Tanis, who has worked with Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson, and Jennifer Coolidge. “They can save you time as you’ll need fewer touch-ups.” Some of his go-to setting sprays include Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray and Hourglass Veil Setting Spray.