She also mentions that the spray made her face feel a little tight after application. Though it wasn't uncomfortable, it's something to keep in mind, especially if you have dry or easily irritated skin. While formulas with alcohol can help prolong your makeup, the ingredient can be irritating for dry or sensitive skin types, especially if you plan to use it every day. “Remember that alcohol is not a skincare ingredient,” says makeup artist Mia Yang. “Please keep in mind that setting spray is not for everyday use, and a little goes a long way—a light mist is more than enough.” Alternatively, alcohol-free formulas are water-based and tend to be more hydrating, though they may have a slightly shorter wear time. If you're looking for an alcohol-free option, the Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray is a great one. But what actually is setting spray? According to Los Angeles-based cosmetic chemist Victoria Vohland, setting spray is made up of three parts: water, alcohol, and a film former. Together, these create a barrier to prevent makeup from slipping. Fun fact: It's the same chemical formula that's used in hair gel, but it's tweaked to be safer and gentle enough to use on the face. "These are very much used in long-wear makeup, especially when [brands] make claims like '12-hour-wear,'" she previously told Allure . The spray bottle's nozzle is powerful and each spritz is pretty potent, especially when used up close. To avoid an uneven application, hold the bottle eight to 10 inches away from your face and spray it a couple times in an X and T formation. Without a setting spray, you are more likely to end up with a shiny T-zone, creased eyeshadow and smudged mascara. On top of that, your base makeup – including contour, blush, highlighter and foundation – is unlikely to last (especially if you’re planning on wearing them for more than 10 hours, be it for a wedding or a night out). Plus, the constant summertime heatwaves don't exactly help, either. Best setting sprays at a glance:

How it’s held up: Even after months of use, we’re still finding ourselves reaching for this bottle multiple times throughout the week. We still recommend it for days when you’re not wearing a lot of makeup, because while it is very hydrating, it won’t keep your makeup from smudging all day long. How it’s held up: We’ve found ourselves incorporating this setting spray into our daily routine, with everything from priming and setting spritzes to spraying our sponges to blend and set our makeup flawlessly. We’d go so far as to say that this would be a great option for people doing bridal or full-glam makeup, thanks to its long staying power and texture-smoothing results. How it's held up: After six months of testing, we recommend this product more for hydration and for light makeup looks versus setting full faces of makeup. It still gives us that hydrated look that we love — so we suggest using it as a primer before layering your makeup and then doing a light spray on top for a dewy finish. While setting spray isn't a necessity, it will amp up your makeup game and help your products last. Some setting sprays even add to your makeup, creating a dewy or matte finish and blurring imperfections that your foundation might have missed.

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There's a whole sea of formulas out there. And we’ve tried and tested them all. To figure out which one should you choose, make sure to consider both your preferred finish (matte or dewy) as well as your skin type (are you team oily, dry or combination?). that violates any law, statute, ordinance or regulation (including, but not limited to, those governing export control, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination or false advertising);

that is, or may reasonably be considered to be submitted in extreme volumes and as such be deemed as ‘spam’;Of course, no round-up of makeup setters would be complete without a mention of the iconic Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray. It is a hero in the beauty community and basically bulletproof (but maybe don't test that), deserving of every rave review it gets. It's the ultimate makeup wingman (just read our Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray review if you don't believe us). Best part? There's a version of it for an ultra matte finish, extra glow and even one that's infused with vitamin C. How it’s held up: Even after six months, we are still loving this spray. We’re thankful that it comes in a big bottle (4 oz .version), because we still haven't run out and feel like we’re getting our money’s worth.

Niacinamide – a type of Vitamin B3 that brightens the complexion and diminishes the look of pores and blemishes. If you're looking for a setting spray that doesn't budge for all day and into the night, this is the one to grab. Ideal for big events, Lawless Beauty's lightweight mist keeps makeup looking freshly applied for hours on end — 16 to be exact. Unlike other sprays, it extends the life of your makeup without causing it to cake, crease, or settle into fine lines, which is great news for those with mature skin. The formula contains spherical elastomer powder, an ingredient known to absorb oil and reduce shine, as well as a blend of essential oils to refresh the skin.How it's held up: We found that this product kept our makeup looks in place throughout the holidays and even while out on New Years Eve, which impressed us. During international travel, it kept our face looking dewy and feeling refreshed despite longer flights and jet lag. I love using a setting spray over makeup to combat dryness and add longevity," says celebrity makeup artist Nydia Figueroa, explaining that some formulas prevent patchiness by creating a flexible barrier. I’m Jessica, the beauty editor at Reviewed. I test all sorts of beauty products, from skincare to makeup to hair tools, as well as write and edit educational beauty stories. I’m not one to spend the money on a product if I don’t think it will be a game-changer for my routine, which is why I’m skeptical of setting sprays and their claims of keeping makeup in place for hours on end. I wanted to see if any of the options I tested could change my mind and convince me I must add this final step to my makeup routine. The Tests If you’re in search of a product that will give you dewy skin, we can’t promise that this spray will provide that radiant “glazed donut” look that you see all over your social media feed. However, this spray does keep our skin looking balanced and hydrated without the addition of excess of oil, making this a great in-between choice for people with combination skin.

How it’s held up: As we got into the colder months, we became very appreciative of this spray’s glow-boosting qualities. Not only does our skin feel more quenched after a few sprays, but our visages look a little more alive despite the dreary weather. There are so many formulas to consider, and not all are created equal. To help you find the perfect setting spray for your skin type, we enlisted the help of a handful of reviewers to research the most popular options and try them out firsthand in our lab. We spritzed our way through 28 setting sprays — keeping finish, formula and lasting power top of mind — to find the 11 best options. In the end, the Benefit Cosmetics Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray caught our attention because of its pore-blurring finish and long-lasting hold, even after being splashed with water. Everyone wants that supermodel glow, and we’re here to tell you that you don’t need to douse your face in highlighter to achieve it — the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip setting spray will leave you looking luminous with just a few spritzes. This spray had a cooling effect as it hit our skin and left us feeling refreshed without being overly-moisturized or dried out. Our makeup set beautifully as the spray sunk into the surface, keeping our foundation in place even as we splashed water on our face and dabbed it with a towel. Senior commerce writer Sarah Han is a fan of the Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation, which blends out like a dream and has the feel of a serum-like, skin tint sort of situation. The main difference, however, is that the lightweight formula is easily buildable up to medium coverage, which is perfect for concealing areas of redness and dark spots. The sizable, doe-foot wand makes application a total breeze, too. Just shake the bottle and dot the pigment as needed. If you don't mind getting your hands a little messy for a few seconds, you can blend and tap the formula in with your fingers if you feel like forgoing the tools. After the spray set, which happens almost instantly, the tester notes that her makeup looked smooth and poreless. Despite wearing a mask all day, she revealed that her skin stayed shine-free, except around her nose. "This worked wonders for my very oily skin, plus my makeup looked the same at the end of the day — still blurred with no creasing or caking," she says.

Often labeled the MVP of setting sprays, this Urban Decay option remains a favorite among makeup artists and beauty lovers alike for a number of reasons. First, it's water-resistant — meaning it stands up to unexpected rainstorms, midday sweat and even romcom-induced tears for up to 16 hours. Our tester shares that even after splashing water on her face, her makeup barely moved. Second, those with oily skin will appreciate that the lightweight formula is infused with kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and control shine throughout the day. Lastly, the setting spray imparts a satin finish on the skin that isn't too dewy or too matte, but rather falls somewhere in between. The fragrance, although addictive, is not for everyone. Our tester loved how subtle the scent was and noted that it didn't irritate her skin at all. However, those with sensitive skin might want to steer clear, especially if they have a tendency to react badly to fragrances. How it’s held up: We’re still reaching for this setting spray even after months of use, and we especially like it to liven up our skin after dusting our foundation with a light layer of powder for some extra staying power. This light hit of moisture brings a subtle glow to our skin without making us look oily — the perfect balance between moisturized and mattified. Whether you experience chronically dry skin or need a boost of hydration in the cooler months, this alcohol-free setting spray from MAC is a product you’ll want to have on hand. Beauty products that contain a high level of alcohol (when it’s one of the first few ingredients listed) are known to strip your skin of moisture — a total no-no for people with dry complexions. This spray has a milky consistency that both looks and feels hydrating when spritzed on top of our makeup without causing our skin to appear oily. And better yet, it has blue-light and pollution protection to shield your skin from those irritants you never stop to think about. We noticed a visibly smoother texture once the mist had sunken into our skin, blurring texture and keeping our makeup looking fresh all day (yes, we really can attest to its staying power).