A good setting spray can do so much for your makeup and skin. It “sets” your makeup and keeps the pesky elements from ruining your incredible canvas of work. Sweat, transfer, and heat are absolutely no match for a good one—some can even provide long-lasting hydration to your skin and protect it from drying out too.
What you might not know, however, is that setting spray is also good for more than just finishing a look. After speaking to many different makeup artists and ahem, scrolling endlessly through TikTok, I’ve found some pretty genius setting spray hacks that should definitely be shared. I promise, no matter your skin type, there’s also a formula out there for you. Whether you like a dewier look, have oily skin, or struggle with dryness, we’ve found the best options.
Read on below for some next-level setting spray hacks along with the spray celebrity makeup artist Elizabeth Seropian never goes without.
For those who may be setting spray novices, Seropian has a bit of info on what they are and what they’re used for. “A setting spray prolongs makeup wear and helps it stay in place throughout the day,” she shares. “It is a staple in most makeup artist kits, including mine.”
Typically, setting spray is applied on top of your makeup to lock it all in, but what’s also great about them is that there are so many other ways to use them. “One thing I love to do sometimes, depending on my client’s skin, is I like to mix a few spritz of the setting spray with foundations. It gives your skin more of a sheer coverage and makes it feel lightweight,” Seropian says.
Additionally, I have to share two more genius setting spray hacks I happened to learn from makeup artists on TikTok. You can spritz your eye shadow brush with setting spray after picking up product to decrease smudging and creasing. It has worked like an absolute charm for me and I never put on eye shadow without doing this now. And lastly, this one is pretty common, but you can use some setting sprays as both a base and finishing spray. I do like using a separate primer, but if I’m in a pinch or in a hurry, I spritz on a bit of MAC’s Fix+ ($31) and it works beautifully.
If your skin is dry or mature, you’ll want to look for extremely hydrating setting sprays that won’t dry you out throughout the day. If you have combination skin, you’ll still want to look for something light, refreshing, and hydrating to reduce dry patches and control any oily areas.
Oily skin can be a bit tricky. I don’t often recommend oil control setting sprays for those who are oily because it doesn’t necessarily fix the problem. Sometimes, if you’re not careful, a mattifying or oil-control setting spray can actually do the opposite of its intention. If it causes more dryness, your oil glands might start to overcompensate by producing more oil. It makes more sense to focus on skin prep and correcting the oil imbalance. I’ve found jojoba oil to be extremely helpful on oily days because it helps balance oil production in the skin. My skin used to be more oily on the surface because it was dehydrated at its deeper layers and drying it out more exacerbated the issue. Once I started using super hydrators like glycerin, squalane, and jojoba oil under makeup, my skin became balanced and I now rarely get overly oily. You can definitely use a mattifying spray in a pinch, but I would recommend focusing on correcting your skin’s oil imbalance so it’s not as much of an issue.
Those with sensitive skin or acne-prone skin will want to check their setting spray for pore-clogging ingredients before using it. Some may have ingredients that can irritate your skin or they might be too heavy.
For Seropian’s all time favorite setting spray in her kit along with a few of our own favorites, keep scrolling.
Pros: Great for a luminous, dewy finish, adds a subtle glow to the skin, locks in makeup for up to 12 hours. Cons: May be too dewy for some. “My all-time favorite setting spray is the Cover FX! The Dewy Setting Spray is Ideal for those who prefer a luminous and dewy finish, this setting spray adds a subtle glow to the skin while keeping makeup in place. Also the same brand has an incredible setting spray called the Mattifying Setting Spray. This setting spray is specifically formulated for oily skin types. It helps control excess oil, minimize shine, and keep makeup in place without drying out the skin. It just depends on what you’re looking for!” — Seropian. Customer Review: “Love this setting spray. I’ve been using it for years and [it] makes my skin appear dewy and younger.”
Pros: Alcohol- and oil-free, sets makeup for up to 16 hours, contains Japanese green tea to hydrate and support the skin’s moisture barrier. Cons: Not fragrance-free. This setting spray provides 16 hours of coverage with extra-hydrating ingredients like Japanese green tea. It also minimizes the appearance of pores for a smoother finish. Customer Review: “As a professional makeup artist, I have no complaints with this setting spray. It does what it needs to do and I always get feedback that it smells + feels nice! It’s also light enough to be sprayed throughout makeup application”
Pros: Provides a dewy finish, sets makeup for up to 12 hours, contains skincare ingredients that lock in moisture without clogging pores, noncomedogenic. Cons: May be too dewy for some. Milk’s setting spray is unique because it contains hemp-derived cannabis-seed extract and oil, which work with other ingredients like blue agave extract, hyaluronic acid, aloe, niacinamide, and moringa-seed oil to refresh and lock in moisture. It leaves a glassy, radiant finish without irritating sensitive, acne-prone skin or clogging pores. Customer Review: “I have been a fan of the hydro grip line for awhile, since I’m such a sweaty girlie in the summer. This stuff keeps my makeup in place for literally HOURS and somehow doesn’t dry me out. Perfect size for travel, highly recommend.”
Pros: Lightweight and refreshing for oilier areas of the skin and hydrating for drier areas, enriched with vitamins, minerals, green tea, and chamomile to soothe and boost moisture. Cons: May be too dewy for some. Enriched with vitamins, minerals, green tea, chamomile, and cucumber, this setting spray is soothing and hydrating. The lightweight formula sets your makeup for up to 12 hours. Customer Review: “This was the first MAC product I ever purchased. I’m already wanting to buy, like, two more bottles of this. First of all, this is not a setting spray that will ‘set’ your makeup. This is to be used as a primer, or a finishing mist that will leave your face more dewy and have a healthy, youthful glow. With all the steps to makeup—foundation, contouring, powder… etc.—your face can have a powdery, cakey, almost lifeless look. This mist will help make your final look more dewy and healthy, without looking all powdered up. Also, this is great if you have dry patches! It’s very refreshing, a nice cucumber smell from what I get from it. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants a dewy, healthy look! If you like the matte look, you may not want to get this.”
Pros: Oil-free, delivers oil control, matte finish, made with patented temperature control technology that helps lower the temperature of your makeup and keep it from sliding. Cons: Can cause makeup to separate if too much is applied. Celebrity makeup artist Sara Talias loves this setting spray for oily skin. It helps keep oil production under control, mattifies the complexion, and contains patented temperature control technology that helps lower the temperature of your makeup, keeping it from sliding off. Customer Review: “Never lets me down!! I would recommend to others especially with oily skin.”
Pros: Provides a matte finish, contains SPF 50 sun protection, reduces shine, hydrates and softens the appearance of fine lines. Cons: Not fragrance-free. Here’s another setting spray with SPF protection. The fine mist sets makeup, reduces shine, leaves a matte finish, hydrates, and softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Pros: Provides soothing hydration, boosts your skin’s natural glow, . Cons: Expensive. Those with dry or mature skin might want to try Tatcha’s Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. It contains a red algae and hyaluronic acid complexion to boost hydration levels in the skin along with green tea and rice to give skin extra radiance. This mist can also be used as a base or setting spray for makeup. Customer Review: “I keep this in my bag when Im traveling so I don’t dry out too much. It’s so soothing to the skin. I need gallons of this stuff. So far, this mist is what has helped my dehydrated skin the most.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, provides a matte finish, sets makeup for up to 16 hours, helps control shine. Cons: May be too matte for some skin types. For an affordable drugstore option, Maybelline’s Lasting Fix is one of the top choices out there. It leaves you with a fresh, matte finish that lasts for 16 hours. Customer Review: “I’m in LOVE. My makeup no longer runs or smudges. My shirts/blouses stay makeup free! Holds it in place all day long. So so very happy with this purchase.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, provides a matte finish, . Cons: Bottle is small. With close to a 100,000 rating and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, this one is the real deal. This matte version of Nyx’s formula is the most popular, but the brand also has options for a dewy finish, radiant finish, and a plumping setting spray. Customer Review: “LOVED THIS!! Set my face so well. I am acne-prone too and it did not make me break out.”
Pros: Budget-friendly, sets makeup for up to 16 hours, acts as a priming, correcting, and setting spray in one. Cons: Not fragrance-free. If you want a product that’s multitasking, this one will do the job. Not only does it set makeup, but it also can work as a primer and blurs imperfections. Customer Review: “I rarely wear makeup, but after a really bad breakout, I couldn’t go out in public without it. I wore this stuff to compete in a rodeo during 100° weather with about 90% humidity, fully expecting it not to last through the first ten minutes. I was careful to just dab at the sweat instead of wiping it off my face, and by the time I got home my makeup still looked almost like it had when I put it on. I was AMAZED.”
Infused with coconut water and probiotic-based ingredients, this three-in-one product primes, sets makeup, and leaves skin moisturized. You can also use it as a refresher throughout the day.
This setting spray is a favorite of mine because it has a lot of staying power—up to 24 hours to be precise. It’s water-resistant and lightweight, so you won’t feel like you’re wearing something heavy during those 24 hours.
This transfer and sweatproof option from Sephora Collection never ceases to amaze me. It’s incredibly refreshing, budget-friendly, and keeps makeup in place for up to 16 hours.
