Makeup setting sprays are an often overlooked part of a makeup routine. Originally sold as hair sprays for the face, they've been around since the 70's. Yet somehow, these must-have mists have managed to remain the best kept secret of makeup enthusiasts.
In this article, we're here to show you how to choose a lightweight, non-sticky, and long lasting setting spray to keep your makeup fixed in place. Whether you're after a matte or dewy finish for oily skin or dry, we've ranked the top 10 best in the UK. From cult favourites like Mac and the Urban Decay All Nighter, to more affordable options such as NYX. To help you out, all our recommendations are available to buy from Amazon, eBay, John Lewis and Boots!
Quick List - Top Makeup Setting Sprays
NYX Cosmetics
Long Lasting Spray for a Comfortable and Shine-Free Finish
Urban Decay
A Non-sticky Formula With Temperature Control for All Environments
A qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist. I provide professional makeup services for all occasions, whether it be for a bride on their wedding day or backstage at a photo shoot. I also enjoy teaching through hosting live talks on my social media, masterclass events, and 1-1 training. My favourite style of makeup is most definitely vibrant. I love a colourful eyeshadow palette... or 10!
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Claire is a qualified Beauty Therapist and Makeup Artist; she provides professional makeup services for all occasions from bridal to backstage at photo shoots. Claire also teaches masterclass events as well as 1-1 training, and when she gets the chance, enjoys sharing her expertise hosting live talks on her social media. She's a big fan of the vibrant style and loves a colourful palette... or 10!
Keep up-to-date with Claire through her Facebook and Instagram page where you can learn the latest tips and tricks when it comes to makeup application and also get inspired to try new looks!
Using a setting spray with a dewy finish throughout the course of the day will help to renew the appearance of your makeup, without the need for any touch-ups or reapplication. That's because these sprays work to moisturise and soften the skin, avoiding a cakey look.
Setting sprays with a dewy finish are ideal for those with dry skin due to their hydrating and calming effect. Just make sure you opt for one with no alcohol, or a low alcohol content, to minimise any further drying out or irritation to the skin.
Introducing a luminous finish to your makeup routine can revitalise and enhance the appearance of a dull complexion. Keep an eye out for ingredients such as glycerine, hyaluronic acid, aloe, vitamin E - just to name a few. These contribute well to the hydrating and calming requirements dryer types have a thirst for.
Ensuring your setting spray also contains antioxidants is very important as these protect your skin from free radicals that can play a huge factor in drying out the skin. Such as the likes of damage from continued exposure to different types of UV rays.
For a shine-free finish, choose a matte setting spray. These are particularly useful for combatting that dreaded greasy sheen that can occur when applying makeup over oily skin. For an even application, you might want to try lightly coating your face with a mattifying spray prior to foundation. This will help to soak up any excess oils and add a bit of 'tooth' to the skin.
Explore the best non-comedogenic foundations here!
Matte finish setting sprays are a must for those who struggle to keep excess sebum at bay. They are designed in order to control and balance out the skin's natural oils, providing makeup longevity and a shine-free complexion.
Not only are they used to assist oily to combination skin types, but they are also beneficial to use before certain events and activities. You will find increased body heat and differing climates are contributing factors that encourage your makeup to move. Ultimately, to lock in your shine-free makeup, a matte setting spray is a must!
If you can't resist the allure of a good fragrance, you may wish to opt for a scented setting spray. These can add a bit of luxury to your makeup routine. Although, you may find some have a strong chemical smell, which can be quite unpleasant for something that will be sitting on your face all day long.
However, if you've got sensitive skin, the perfumes and essential oils used in scented products can cause irritation. To avoid any unpleasant reactions, we recommend sticking to fragrance-free setting sprays to keep your skin from freaking out!
Fragrance is used to counteract or enhance cosmetics that have slightly unpleasant or minimal aromas. And of course, we are all guilty of being drawn to products that make our nose happy, but opting out when it comes to fragrance can be beneficial in the long run. Sometimes fragrance may not pose signs of threat immediately, but exposure to it over time can develop problems for your skin.
After putting on your makeup, you'll want to make sure your setting spray sets your look all day and night. A good setting spray should be able to maintain the original quality of your makeup for the longest possible time, without it becoming streaky and patchy.
Constantly reaching for your makeup bag is considerably time-consuming and stressful. A long lasting setting spray takes away the inconvenience of frequently having to retouch your face. As a rule of thumb, one that is truly long lasting should keep your makeup in place for 12 hours or more.
Setting sprays keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day as they reduce the chances of needing a touch-up. To make for an easy, no-contact method of locking in your makeup, a setting spray is the way forward. It is a less invasive method of setting your face without disrupting your makeup with applicators such as brushes, sponges, or your fingers.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Too Faced Hangover 3-in-1 Setting Spray | ![]() | 3-In-1 Spray That Primes, Sets Makeup and Revitalises Skin | |
2 | MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ | ![]() | A Soothing Water Mist Available in Four Fragrances | |
3 | NYX Cosmetics Professional Makeup Setting Spray | ![]() | Long Lasting Spray for a Comfortable and Shine-Free Finish | |
4 | Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray | ![]() | A Non-sticky Formula With Temperature Control for All Environments | |
5 | Yves Saint Laurent Top Secrets Makeup Setting Spray | ![]() | Travel Setting Spray for Glowing Skin On-The-Go | |
6 | Art Naturals Makeup Setting Spray | ![]() | All Natural Ingredients for a Long-Lasting Matte Finish | |
7 | L'Oreal Paris Shake & Glow Luminous Setting Spray | ![]() | Illuminating Setting Spray That Makes Skin Appear More Radiant | |
8 | E.L.F Cosmetics Makeup Mist & Set | ![]() | Spray Directly Onto Your Makeup Brushes for More Vibrant Pigment Application | |
9 | Morphe Continuous Setting Mist | ![]() | Lightweight Setting Mist With Vitamin E | |
10 | Saffron Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray | ![]() | An Excellent Mattifying Spray for Oily Skin |
What stands out about this setting spray is its versatility. With this 3-in-1 product, you get to enjoy the benefits of a multitasking mist that primes, sets everything in place and can be used to refresh your makeup in the middle of the day.
The oil-free formula counteracts dryness, hydrating skin for a gorgeous glow without appearing greasy. It's infused with nutrient-rich coconut water, which can help delay signs of ageing and smells really amazing. What more could you ask for?
If you're looking to explore more makeup setting sprays with scents, Prep + Prime Fix+ is available in four fragrances, including romantic rose, calming lavender, creamy coconut and a soothing herbal aroma. Great for anyone who can't resist the allure of a good smell!
This wonderful product is a holy grail for many, as it is packed with vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. It's also infused with cucumber extract, which provides a base for hydration, aids acne-prone skin and reduces puffiness.
For a gorgeous shine-free finish that feels comfortable and lightweight, we recommend this makeup setting spray by NYX Cosmetics. The long lasting spray works keeps your make up in place, combating shine and leaving skin with a silky-smooth poreless finish without greasiness.
If you are concious of how your makeup is made and what goes in it, this NYX setting spray has a cruelty-free and 100% vegan formula. Guaranteeing that there are no animal-derived ingredients or by-products within the formulation.
An absolute cult favourite in the makeup world! Suitable for all skin types, this lightweight and non-sticky setting spray is ideal for those who dislike the feeling of heavy makeup on their face, while leaving a vibrant finish.
It prevents your makeup smudging and sliding by lowering the temperature of your makeup to keep your foundation from melting off your face. So, whether it's hot and humid, or cold and windy, you can rely on this setting spray to keep your makeup looking fantastic all day or night.
This unique product developed by skincare experts sets your makeup beautifully. It is specially formulated to keep your skin feeling hydrated and can be used both before application as a skin primer, as well as post-makeup to lock it in place.
It contains walnut leaf extract which helps to form a protective barrier on the skin, preventing clogged pores and acne. We think it's the perfect product for busy working days, or nights out. Simply spritz a bit on for glowing skin on-the-go!
If you prefer all-natural cosmetics, this water-based setting spray is free from artificial ingredients. Instead, it contains organic, plant-derived ingredients such as pomegranate, which is rich in antioxidants and helps encourage cell regeneration.
The perfect primer, as well as finishing spray, the lightweight formula is packed full of skin-boosting active ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin to help slow the signs of ageing, calm irritation, soothe redness and exfoliate dead skin.
This illuminating setting spray is your new makeup essential if you want a fresh, healthy, glowing complexion that will last all day. Your skin will appear more radiant, providing you with a flawless luminous finish.
This spray contains coconut water and glycerine which gives long lasting hydration and an instant cooling sensation. It also contains Vitamin E to protect and care for your skin. Although it leaves you with a radiant finish, some customers have said it makes them look a bit greasy, so keep this in mind when applying.
To keep the colours of your makeup looking their best, we recommend the E.L.F Makeup Mist and Set. Spray directly onto your makeup brushes prior to application to help pick up pigment for a more vibrant colour. However, some customers have said that it is not as 'misty' as they would like.
The formulation is loaded with ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin, such as vitamins A, C, and E, as well as green tea, cucumber and aloe vera. Best of all, E.L.F is a cruelty-free and vegan company. So you can be confident that no animals have been harmed in the making of this product.
Morphe Continuous Setting Mist serves to keep your skin feeling hydrated and looking radiant. Suitable for people with normal and combination skin types, so those with oily skin might be better to avoid. You can use it to set makeup or help those highlighters pop!
The long lasting spray keeps your face set all day and is infused with vitamin E and B5, and fruit extracts - ingredients that do wonders for your skin! Spritz this baby on and it will keep you looking fresh, cake-free and radiant.
This is an excellent mattifying setting spray that will give a high-lustre finish to your makeup. When applied, it creates an invisible film that makes your skin glow without looking greasy, and protects against irritation.
For convenience, it comes in a compact bottle that you can easily throw into your makeup bag. Although some reviewers say that the nozzle doesn't give out a very fine mist, it's long lasting and will prevent your makeup from fading throughout the day.
A makeup setting spray is a cosmetic product applied on top of your makeup to help keep it in place over an extended period of time. It's an essential part of your makeup routine if you're after a metaphorical 'topcoat' that locks in your makeup throughout the day.
Having a setting spray can be useful for nights out, live performances, or to protect against the elements when outside. Using a makeup setting spray won't just prevent your makeup from sliding, but will also help your makeup "pop" and looking more vibrant.
"A spritz or two of a setting spray onto an eyeshadow brush can quickly transform the pigmentation of an eyeshadow from dull to vibrant in an instant, and reduce some creasing on the lids due to its long-lasting properties."
Written and researched by David Gbe
No. 1: Too Faced|Hangover 3-in-1 Setting Spray
No. 2: MAC|Prep + Prime Fix+
No. 3: NYX Cosmetics|Professional Makeup Setting Spray
No. 4: Urban Decay|All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
No. 5: Yves Saint Laurent|Top Secrets Makeup Setting Spray
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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