- Main ingredients: Glycerin, agave, prickly pear, niacinamide, transdermal magnesium, zinc lactate.
- Mate: 3.4 oz
Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Repairing Primer & Setting Spray
Why we love it: The spray is packed with hydrating coconut water and works as both a primer and a setting spray. Moreover, you can apply it anytime to feel refreshed.
- Main ingredients: Coconut water
- Mate: 4.0 floz
What is a setting spray?
“A setting spray is a spray that extends the life of makeup and acts as a sealant,” says makeup artist Natalie Dresher, who collaborates with social media personalities like Dylan Mulvaney and Remi Bader. “It works by spraying a mixture of polymers and water onto the face, which locks the makeup and applies 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 about ‘Til Dawn waterproof setting spray for customers without sensitive skin.
This is how you choose a setting spray
“You need to know your purpose for setting the spray before making a choice,” says makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin. “If you search for keywords like ‘dewy’, ‘oil control’, ‘waterproof’ or ‘long-lasting’ you can find the right formula for the result you want. There are also setting sprays that are marketed as protection against blue light.”
How do you know if a setting spray works as it should? “In general, the spray should not feel drying, or make your skin feel itchy and tight,” 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 has lifted.”
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 make sure 100% of the face is sprayed,” notes Dresher op. She recommends using a setting spray as the ‘very last step’ of a makeup routine, although other facial sprays can be used at different times of the day to refresh skin and makeup.
Alternatively, a fixative spray can be used for targeted gloss control. “I like to apply a mattifying setting spray to one of my moisturizers Jenny Patinkin Green Tea Makeup Sponges, and then gently press it into the T-zone, only where oil and shine control is needed,” says Patinkin.
Who is a setting spray best for?
“Setting spray is for anyone who knows they need extra-long wear or wants their makeup to look perfect in all weather conditions,” says Patinkin. “I use it more often in the summer to prevent makeup from melting off due to heat and humidity, and I always recommend it for brides and bridal parties so their makeup looks perfect in photos from start to finish.”
What is the difference between a setting spray and a finishing spray?
Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between setting sprays and finishing sprays. “Setting sprays create a barrier that helps your makeup last longer,” says film and television makeup artist Vasilios Tanis, who has collaborated with Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson and Jennifer Coolidge. “They can save you time because you need fewer adjustments.” Some of his favorite setting sprays include: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray And Hourglass veil setting spray.
