Stay where you are!
The best makeup setting spray is powerful. It has the ability to keep your makeup in place from morning until night. No matter what’s thrown at your face.
From heatwaves and sweat, to dehydration and rain, these beauties prevent smearing and smudging. Whilst the best primer definitely helps hold everything in place, the best makeup setting spray adds that extra layer of assurance.
It used to be common practice for people to use hairspray instead (especially theatre performers). Not only is this completely unnecessary now because of the amazing formulas that we have available to us now, but it should this be avoided at all costs. The ingredients in hairspray can be detrimental to your skin’s health.
Also, the best makeup setting spray is different to the best face mist, so be wary when shopping to buy the right one for your needs.
How do you use the best makeup setting spray?
The key to making the best makeup setting spray as efficacious as possible is the application.
With some makeup setting sprays you can actually apply it before you apply your makeup, but most are used afterwards. Be sure to check the back of the bottle before using.
- First things first, apply your makeup – mascara, lipstick, the whole shebang.
- Next up, shake the bottle really well before use. This is important, because you want all of the ingredients to be thoroughly mixed before spraying.
- Hold your hand at least 8″-10″ (about arm’s length) away from your face. You really don’t want to soak your face.
- Close your eyes and mouth. Lightly mist your face, making sure that you spray evenly, covering every bit of your face. This might take quite a few sprays.
- Allow it to dry naturally, do not rub. It shouldn’t take too long, but it’s essential that it dries down on its own to lock in your look.
If you find that your makeup tends to slip by mid-afternoon, you’ll really see the benefits of adding the best makeup setting spray into your routine.
Here’s our roundup of the best on the market…
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Clarins Fix’ Make-Up, £24 Feelunique
This light, refreshing mist sets make-up to give longer-lasting hold. Enriched with aloe vera and allantoin, it instantly moisturises and soothes your skin, while invigorating grapefruit extract and organic rose water scent provide a continuous sense of well-being. It also contains Clarins exclusive anti-pollution complex to protect your skin from environmental damage.
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Maybelline Lasting Fix Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray, £9.99 Look Fantastic
Oilier skin types will love this oil-free mattifying mist. It promises 16-hour long lasting wear, but it can also be used throughout the day to take down shine.
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Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray, £19.20 Fabled
Arguably THE best make-up setting spray ever invented. It has a long, long, long list of fans that would pledge allegiance to it any day. It basically has the setting power of hairspray, but won't ruin your skin. Plus it's ultra fine, so feels like you've got nothing on and also features patented Temperature Control Technology to lower the temperature of your make-up and keep foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place.
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Bare Minerals Dew Mist Setting Spray, £22 Fabled
This is new from Bare Minerals and in true BM style, it's all about the glow. It sets makeup in place, but keeps skin super hydrated (thanks to the watermelon and apple extracts) so that your skin stays luminous from AM to PM.
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MAC Prep + Prime Fix+, £21 Look Fantastic
Take a walk backstage at any fashion week and you'll spot Max's Prep + Prime Fix+ in every makeup artist's kit. It is brilliant at priming, as well as sealing your makeup. It contains Green Tea, Chamomile and Cucumber, which together hydrate and sooth the skin. Mac recently released travel friendly scented versions, so if you're partial to watermelon, peony, pineapple, white tea or cucumber then you're in luck.
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NYX Professional Makeup Dewy Finish Long Lasting Setting Spray, £7 Cult Beauty
This is one of NYX's bestselling products and apparently, the send 'truck loads' to all of the film sets in LA, as it's the must-have setting spray in Hollywood. There's a matte and a dewy version, so one to suit each skin type.
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E.L.F. Matte Magic Mist & Set Spray, £5 Feelunique
A lightweight formula that work AND most importantly won't break the bank. At £5 it's a complete bargain. Infused with vitamin B, E and Arctium Majus Root (a skin soothing ingredient), which keep skin hydrated throughout the day.
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Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray, £23 Cult Beauty
Anything that has High Performance written on it instils instant confidence. And so it should. It's alcohol-free, so ideal for drier skin types (although if you have oily skin you'll love it too), and has added pollution-protection. It dries quickly, so spray and be on your way.
