Setting Spray Lowdown

February 17, 2020

Setting Spray Lowdown

Setting sprays.

Probably one of the best inventions in the makeup world...EVER.

Does it sound weird and wrong to spray your face with something wet after you’ve just applied the perfect makeup look? Yes... BUT... this stuff isn’t just water... it’s a magical makeup staying potion.

If you have ever struggled with oily skin and tried to get your makeup to last more than an hour, you know how amazing setting sprays are. Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray use to be the ONLY one around and I am still a die hard fan because it saved my face from melting more times than I can count.

But, in the last five years new setting sprays have flooded the market to address more than just oil prevention and makeup staying power. We now have hydrating mists, dewy sprays, mattifying miracle mists and more! There’s seriously something for everyone.

How do you know which ones to use?

As always, ManicMakeupGirl is here to help!

Setting Sprays for Oily Skin:

1) Cover FX Mattifying Setting Mist (HERE)

2) Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Setting Spray (HERE)

3) NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray (HERE)

All three of these settings sprays work wonders for oily skin gals. These all help to keep oily shine at bay and keep your makeup from separating or sliding off your face. Dry skin girls stay AWAY from these because they will make your skin more dry than the Sahara desert!

The Cover FX Mattifying Spray will seriously keep you shine free for hours and hours (even in the summer heat). A little goes along way and it WILL dry you out if you use too much. Spray lightly for the best oil free results.

The Urban Decay De-Slick is still a cult classic and an oily skin sufferer’s BFF. As I said before I have used it for years and have no plans to stop. It’s a tried and true makeup setting wonder.

The NYX Setting Spray is also a wonderful addition to my oily skin spray team. It’s super affordable and also adds the perfect balance of makeup setting and oil prevention all in one spray.

Setting Sprays for Normal or Combination Skin:

1) Mac Prep + Prime Fix+ Spray (HERE)

2) Cover FX High Performance Setting Spray (HERE)

3) Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (HERE)

If you’re in the middle of the road with normal or combination skin (combination skin means you have both oily and dry areas), then these setting spray options will work for you! You don’t want something super mattifying because you also have dry areas, but you don’t want something super hydrating either. You need a quality setting spray that does just that. SETS! You don’t need added moisture or added drying agents. These three options won’t dry you out or make you more oily. They set your makeup perfectly and keep it looking 100% all day (or night) long.

The Mac Fix+ has a cult following and it is definitely a favorite of mine. I use it to set, refresh, fix makeup mistakes and more. The nozzle is quite forceful so make sure you spray from a good distance or else it might all end up in your eye! Another way I use this one is by spraying it on my beauty blender sponge and dabbing on top of my makeup.

The Cover FX Spray and the Urban Decay All Nighter are pretty much twins in my book. They both have wonderful makeup staying power and I can’t decide which one I love more, they’re that good!

Setting Sprays for Dry Skin:

1) Morphe Continuous Mist Setting Spray (HERE)

2) Mario Badescu Facial Spray (HERE)

3) Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Water (HERE)

4) Colourpop Pretty Fresh Hyaluronic Acid Setting Spray (HERE)

If you have dry skin, you might have been scared to try setting sprays because they use to be only directed at oily skin sufferers. But now there are tons of options to help add moisture and refresh your parched skin throughout the day without making your makeup suffer. These four options can be used before, during, and after makeup application to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

The Morphe Continuous Mist Setting Spray has THE BEST nozzle sprayer ever! Does that even make sense? It really is a continuous fine and delicate mist that feels wonderful on the skin and works so well for people with dry skin who want a hydrated, but set makeup look.

The Mario Badescu Facial Spray doubles as skincare and a hydrating mist. It has aloe and rosewater to prep the skin for makeup and also rehydrate throughout the day. Pro tip: put this bottle in the refrigerator and have a cooling, moisturizing pick me up any time of day (or night). Whenever you feel the need for a little extra hydration, spray this on.

The Smashbox Primer Water is something that I use to HATE. I thought it was the worst product ever, but that was because I had oily skin at the time. However, my skin went through a super dry spell during both of my pregnancies and this stuff literally saved my skin (and my makeup). I loved using it before applying my makeup to help dry patches disappear and then I also used it to set my makeup as well. My skin is more combination now, so on my dry skin days I still reach for this.

The Colourpop Hyaluronic Acid Spray is also super hydrating and refreshing for dry skin sufferers. Don’t let the hyaluronic acid part scare you (It’s not actually an acid). Hyaluronic acid is one of the most moisturizing ingredients on the planet and it helps your skin keep its natural moisture without making it more oily. It’s wonderful for all skin types, but especially dry skin.

Dewy Setting Sprays:

1) Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray (HERE)

2) BareMinerals Dew Mist Setting Spray (HERE)

3) NYX Dewy Finish Setting Spray (HERE)

If a matte look is not your style and you want to add a little shimmer or natural glow to your finished makeup look, try a dewy setting spray! These dewy setting sprays set your makeup and also give you a subtle radiance so your makeup look isn’t totally matte or flat. If you have oily skin, these might not be your friend because they ADD shine (and shine is what oily peeps usually want to get rid of). But, they’re a beautiful way to add some natural radiance and glow if that’s what you’re looking for. These are also great for spraying on the shoulders or anywhere you want a little added sheen.

The Anastasia Beverly Hills and the BareMinerals both have a beautiful shimmer to them that adds a lit-from-within glow to any look. The NYX Dewy Finish is more subtle but brings life back into any look that needs a little added dimension.

Setting Spray Tips:

1) Use before makeup to help prep and prime the skin.

2) Use during makeup application for added makeup staying power or hydration benefits.

3) Use after your makeup look is complete to seal in your look.

4) Spray in an X motion from left to right across the face to make sure every area is covered.

5) Fan it dry or dab in lightly with a damp beauty blender sponge.

6) If you want to make your eyeshadows POP and have more color payoff, spray an eyeshadow brush with a setting spray and then use with your eyeshadow. Not only will the damp brush help enrich your powder shadows, the setting spray will also act as an eyeshadow primer and lock in your color all day.

7) Most of these setting sprays come in travel sizes! If you want to test one out before you buy the full size bottle, the travel sizes are the best way to go.

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Set it and forget it!!

What’s your favorite setting spray? Do you use one of these? I would love to hear what your favorites are!

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