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Lock Your Make-Up In Place From Dusk Til Dawn With The Best Setting Sprays
Plus, the insider tips on how to use them properly
Setting sprays have come a very long way in the past few years, with the alcohol-laden spritzes of old being replaced by some formidable skin-kind formulas that'll keep your complexion happy while locking foundation firmly in place. But how exactly do they work, and how. much difference can they make?
What is a setting spray?
You might find these bottled water mists labelled also as finishing or fixing sprays. There are slight differences, with setting and fixing sprays essentially locking your make-up in place while finishing sprays do the job of ensuring the make-up appears fresh and well-blended (read: it takes down canines). These days however, most good setting sprays perform in both ways.
Who are setting sprays for?
A good setting spray isn't just a strong move for the oily-skinned; although if your foundation slides off your face before lunchtime, it's an absolute no brainer. Now, there’s a make-up setting spray to make dry skin look dewy, one to protect from pollution, and plenty that promise to dial up the radiance.
In terms of formula, opt for one with minimal drying alcohols and plenty of skin-loving ingredients such as aloe vera and glycerin to restore hydration and calm any redness.
How to use a setting spray
According to make-up artist Danielle Roberts, the key to setting-spray success is all in the application. 'Always apply the mist in a "T" motion through the centre of the face and an "X" to hit the outer perimeters,' she says. What's more, don't hold your bottle too close: a fine mist is easily achieved when you're wielding the bottle at arm's length.
And that’s not all your setting spray is good for, either. 'Try spritzing your flat shadow brush with a little setting spray to pick up and lay down a more foiled effect with high-shimmer shadows,' adds Roberts. Gone too heavy-handed with the setting powder? A hydrating mist can help restore softness and freshen up the complexion.
Here, see the setting sprays you’ll find in team ELLE’s beauty bags...
The 10 Best Setting Sprays Of All Time
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
The one that needs no introduction, Urban Decay's setting spray is designed to keep your full glam intact from the first dance to the very last. It works by instantly lowering the temperature of your make-up, which helps it to stay put on your face, even when you're in the sweatiest of nightclubs. Think of it as air-con in a bottle.
The original bottle creates a satiny finish, but for a little more dew we love the hyaluronc acid-boosted Extra Glow iteration.
Product specifications
| Best for | Waterproof, transfer-proof, extra hold |
|---|---|
| Skin type | Oily |
| Finish | Natural |
Elf is an affordable brand to trust when it comes to complexion products that deliver. This setting spray boasts a humectant-rich base, so doesn't dry skin into submission, yet keeps foundation from slipping away before lunch. Priced on par with a large latte, it's a ridiculously good-value product that far surpasses expectation.
Product specifications
| Best for | Everyday wear |
|---|---|
| Skin type | Dry to combination |
| Finish | Natural |
MAC Fix+ Multitasking Setting Spray
This legendary setting spray is still one of the best on the market, and now there's one for every skin type.
If you have combination skin, opt for the cucumber-enriched original: it'll keep your skin in that perfect middle-ground between matte and dewy. Oily skin? Enlist the Matte formula to ensure your liquid foundation stays put for hours. And for a serious radiance boost, try the hyaluronic acid-infused Magic Radiance iteration.
Product specifications
| Best for | Lasting hold, freshening make-up |
|---|---|
| Skin types | Dry to oily |
| Finish | Natural |
Charlotte Tilbury's setting spray does not disappoint. More hydrating than most, it can be used throughout the day to revive your make-up, keeping it looking freshly applied. With calming aloe vera and pore-cleansing resin, it's good for easily irritated types, too.
Product specifications
| Best for | Hydrating, special occasions, extra glow |
|---|---|
| Skin type | Dry to oily |
| Finish | Dewy |
This skin-kind setting spray really raises the bar. The serum-style formula is loaded with Algenist's signature algae extracts, which hydrate and treat the skin throughout the day. Advanced polysaccharides form an invisible (and non pore-clogging) protective veil over the face, locking make-up in place and fending off free radicals.
As the name suggests, this one is more radiance-boosting than mattifying. Perfect for combination and dry skin types, it'll lock down your foundation and deliver that glass-skin effect. Don't be misled by the sparkle – it's the bottle, not the formula, that's glittery. However, the vanilla-laced fragrance is a love-it-or-hate-it situation.
Iconic London Prep-Set-Glow Hydrating Mist
This is the ultimate choice if you're looking for skin that shines. Iconic London's setting spray is infused with brightening pigments that bring just the right amount of glow to a dull complexion. Keep it in your bag and spritz whenever you need a radiance boost.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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