16 best setting sprays to smudge-proof your makeup
Finding one of the best setting sprays for your skin type and desired finish may feel like an overwhelming task, given just how much variety there is out there. When it comes to makeup-prolonging mists, we're spoilt for choice, so how on Earth do you choose the right one?
And before you say it: yes, a quality setting spray makes all the difference, especially now that we're heading into the summer. The number one thing you want from a setting spray is more time with your makeup – there's nothing more irritating than having your mascara, eyeshadow, base, blush and bronzer (and entire makeup look) melt off your face mere hours after applying it in the first place, and on warmer days, it almost feels inevitable.
Once you’ve chosen a spray has top marks in longevity, it’s time to move onto your desired finish: are you a dewy girl or somebody who prefers a blurred-out, matte effect? Perhaps you want something in-between, or a little bit of both. Then there are the extra little details that you'll want to consider, from extras such as added SPF protection all the way down how the mist diffuses onto your skin.
As a girl who used to resort to spritzing hairspray over her makeup before an evening out (NEVER do it), I've been through a journey trying to find the perfect setting spray. I'm a glowy gal, so radiance is key for me – I've always wanted a setting spray that keeps makeup in place and gives me a dewy look without looking greasy. Luckily, I’ve managed to find several I absolutely adore and think are worth raving about. And the best part is, if you pair any of them with a solid setting powder, you can be 100% sure that your makeup won't slip or move throughout the day. British summertime heatwaves won’t stand a chance, either.
Best setting sprays at a glance:
- Best setting spray overall: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
- Best affordable setting spray: e.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray
- Best setting spray for sensitive skin: Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Mist
- Best setting spray for acne-prone skin: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
- Best blurring setting spray: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Setting Spray
Which setting spray is best for each skin type?
There's a whole lot of formulas out there – and we’ve tried and tested them all. As mentioned, in order to figure out which one you should choose, be sure to consider both your preferred finish (matte or dewy), as well as your skin type, whether you have an oily, dry or combination complexion. If you need a quick guide to finding the perfect product to make your face last until the end of the day, try the following:
- For dry or dehydrated skin, try a setting spray that’s designed to give a dewy or hydrating finish. Look for ingredients such as hyaluronic acid for extra hydration. If you want your skin to glow, you’ll do well with a radiant finish or something that boosts hydration. Dull skin will benefit from a product that features vitamin C, which has a brilliant brightening effect.
- If you have oily or combination skin, it’s advised that you look for a setting spray that boasts a matte or blurring finish, or even for a product that promises to target enlarged pores. Likewise, if you tend to wear matte makeup and like that effect, a mattifying or blurring spray will be your go-to.
- If your skin is on the sensitive side, you may want to steer clear of formulas with actives such as vitamin C.
How we tested makeup setting sprays
The GLAMOUR team – alongside our freelance writers – have over the years tested dozens of makeup setting sprays from a range of brands that range in price, ingredients’ lists and packaging. We have looked for which mists increase the longevity of makeup, as well as the kind of finish they have and how they feel on the skin. The following list consists of our favourites (find out how we test here).
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Feeling inspired to upgrade your makeup routine? Check out our guides on the best bronzers, best concealers, best cream blushes and best liquid blushes. We can also help you pick the best lipstick, best highlighter, best eyebrow product and more. For more from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Scroll for our full edit of the best setting sprays to banish makeup smudging…
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
Why we love it: You can't go wrong with a bestseller – after all, it's one of the best makeup setting sprays and a favourite among makeup artists for a reason. This long-wearing fixing spray from Urban Decay helps keep your makeup fresh, smudge-proof and transfer-resistant for up to 16 hours at a time, minimising the need for touch-ups. In short, it has the ultimate staying power.
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e.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray
Why we love it: This setting spray from e.l.f. Cosmetics is affordable amd full of nourishing ingredients (think: aloe vera juice, hyaluronic acid, squalane and green tea seed oil). Thanks to its long-lasting and gripping properties, it's particularly great for when you need your makeup to last well over 10 hours without budging.
Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Mist
Why we love it: Refreshing, hydrating AND soothing? Name a better recipe for sensitive skin, we'll wait. Jokes aside, this setting spray is actually good, and here's why: apart from giving you that healthy-looking glow, this mist also minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as dark circles. Throw in niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate and we're totally sold.
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Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Why we love it: This Charlotte Tilbury formula has been a firm-favourite setting spray for a long time, particularly during those face mask-wearing times we're all keen to forget about. It has a profound ability to lock your look in place and create an invisible shield between you and the elements, brimming with calming aloe vera, as well as Japanese green tea to soften. It helps to prevent pores from becoming congested.
Why we love it: Packed with polyglutamic acid, arginine and babassu oil – all ingredients you'd find in jar of moisturiser – skin looks immediately fresher, plumper and more hydrated. All of which means that your makeup will inevitably look better, too.
Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Setting Spray
Why we love it: Milk Makeup's mist will quickly become your go-to if a blurred-out, matte finish is your desired effect. It's also perfect for oily or combination skin that needs a little extra help to keep makeup in place. The lightweight formula helps to control shine for a soft-focus finish while also prolonging makeup application, making it ideal for those warmer summer months.
NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray
Why we love it: This is one of the most best-selling setting sprays out there. It feels incredibly lightweight and comfortable but rest assured, your makeup will be locked and set for a good while. Plus, it's perfect if you're someone who has oily skin and loves that blurred shine-free look. Not to mention, it costs less than £10, making it an even bigger bargain compared to its competitors.
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Morphe Continuous Setting Mist
Why we love it: Say goodbye to melting, caking or fading with this setting spray (especially at the most crucial moments). By swapping your old clumsy manual pump setting sprays for this ultra-fine and refreshing air-powered mist, you'll come to love how it provides complete control and guarantees a smooth application every time.
NYX Professional Makeup Dewy Finish Fini Satine Setting Spray
Why we love it: NYX's dewy offering is just one of the brand's many brilliant drugstore-priced setting sprays that caters to different skin types and needs. For those who suffer with dryness or dehydration, this is the one to opt for. Alternatively, if you just love a gorgeous radiant finish, the spray will live up to all your expectations. It also of course ensures long-lasting makeup and zero creasing. And for that price, you may as well pick up more than one while you're at it!
Kate Somerville UncompliKated SPF50 Soft Focus Makeup Setting Spray
Why we love it: If you're keen to kill two birds with one stone (and save money while you're at it), Kate Somerville's mist offers you the chance to set your makeup and also protect skin from harmful UV rays, all in one. A great option to top up your sun protection throughout the day, this is a must to keep in your bag or at your desk. And the weightless, evenly-diffused nature of the fine mist means you'll be treated to a refreshing spritz any time you reach for it.
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Why we love it: Refreshing and moisturising? Yes and yes. This setting spray features subtle light-reflecting particles that leave you with a gorgeous gleam. With ingredients such as cucumber, chamomile green tea and vitamin E (as well as a healthy burst of revitalising caffeine), this product will refresh your skin and give it a gorgeous glow, and is a perfect accompaniment to your skincare.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray
Why we love it: This formula behaves like a featherweight ‘seal’ between your skin and the elements. With skincare ingredients such as blue agave extract, cannabis seed extract, hyaluronic acid, aloe and niacinamide (vitamin B3), this product forms a shield for your face to help protect your look all day long. The best part? It’s vegan, cruelty-free and formulated without any ‘fillers’.
Yves Saint Laurent Nu Dewy Mist
Why we love it: We love a luxury beauty buy as much as the next girl, so YSL's dewy setting spray had to make the cut. Despite being an investment, this spray is a two-in-one: not only does it keep makeup in place effectively, it also promotes a healthy glow, with hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and pomegranate extract at the top of its INCI list.
Why we love it: This setting spray is a gentle choice, perfect for cooling down hot summertime complexions. It's infused with rose water and green tea to replenish lost moisture and provide antioxidant protection, but it also ensures makeup STICKS. When sprayed over your makeup base, it leaves skin with a beautiful soft-focus finish.
Why we love it: Ideal as either a setting spray or a smoothing primer (or even to apply directly to your makeup brushes!), Mac Fix+ is a vitamin-powered soothing mist that combines oil-absorbing powders and agents to help extend the wear of makeup while also rebalancing and mattifying your skin. It also instantly reduces the appearance of pores, which is always a plus in our book.
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Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray
Why we love it: Anastasia Beverly Hills' setting spray is a glowy girl's dream, with a water-based, oil-free formula that promotes radiance and increases makeup longevity, without looking oily or greasy. The only advice we have with this one is to use sparingly, as the mist is very effective! This means it will however last longer, making it a win-win.
