The best setting sprays are a must-have in my makeup routine—and honestly, I think they should be a key part of yours too, whether you’re a makeup minimalist or maximalist. After all, what’s the point of applying blush, concealer, or bronzer if it’s going to fade or separate just a few hours later?
“Setting spray is for anyone who knows they need extra-long wear time or wants their makeup to look perfect in any weather,” says makeup artist and brand founder Jenny Patinkin. While she tends to use setting spray more in the summer, she also recommends it for special occasions (including brides and bridal parties) to ensure “makeup looks perfect in photos from start to finish.”
Vogue’s Favorite Setting Sprays
– Best Airbrush Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, $38
– Best Clean: Saie CitySet Ultra-Fine Mist Setting Spray, $34
– Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist, $14
– Best Staying Power: One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray, $34
– Best Blurring: Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray, $36
And if you think any hydrating face mist can do the job of locking in your makeup—think again. “A setting spray extends how long your makeup lasts and acts like a sealant,” says pro makeup artist Natalie Dresher. “It works by spraying a mix of polymers and water onto your face, preserving the makeup and keeping it in place.” In short, a good spritz of setting spray is the finishing touch that locks everything in, so your makeup stays nearly as fresh as when you first applied it.
I started diving into makeup tutorials on YouTube as a teen in the 2010s. YouTubers like British makeup artist duo Nicole and Samantha Chapman (aka Pixiewoo) were my virtual mentors, along with Desi Perkins, and I was like an online apprentice. Back then, Urban Decay’s All Nighter setting spray was the top choice for most beauty creators, and I stuck with it from high school through college. After university, my makeup exploration grew, and I kept an eye out for all the new setting sprays that came out.
My criteria for a good setting spray are simple. First, it absolutely has to keep my makeup in place, even with my very oily skin. It needs to be lightweight, with a mist that doesn’t feel like it’s attacking me, and ideally won’t cause breakouts. So, how can anyone narrow down the best setting sprays to just a top five? Well, I’ve done it! After testing countless options, I’ve finally found a rotation that I not only trust to work but would recommend to anyone.
In This Story
– How to Choose a Setting Spray
– How and When to Use Setting Spray
– Who Is a Setting Spray Best For?
– What’s the Difference Between a Setting Spray and a Finishing Spray?
– Other Setting Sprays We Tested
– How We Tested
– Meet the Experts
Best Airbrush Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Vogue’s Kiana Murden uses Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless setting spray.
Why We Love It: This is the setting spray that made me rethink my old favorite. The lightweight mist can be used both as a prep step and a final step in your makeup routine, hydrating skin with aloe vera leaf juice and Japanese green tea extract. The aromatic resin and film-forming polymers make this pick waterproof, and it offers up to 16 hours of wear.
Editor’s Experience: “When Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray launched in 2020, I was probably its biggest fan. My old favorite was sold out, so I bought this one without trying it first. I can still confidently say this formula does the job. Even though my skin still gets oily in my T-zone and the center of my face, my…”My makeup still doesn’t separate—I just might need to use my blotting papers more often than if I’d used a mattifying setting spray. Overall? No complaints. But one heads-up: if you hate scented makeup, this one has a strong floral smell when you first spray it (though it fades quickly). —Conçetta Ciarlo, beauty shopping writer
More to Know
Key Ingredients: Film-former polymers, Japanese green tea, camellia leaf extract, radish root ferment filtrate, aromatic resin.
Finish: Blurred, softly radiant
Waterproof: Yes
Longevity: Up to 16 hours
Fragrance: Yes
More to Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, non-comedogenic
Size: 1.1 oz, 3.3 oz, 6.7 oz
Love It
– Hydrating and blurring formula
– Non-comedogenic
– Radiant finish
Leave It
– Some find the fragrance a bit strong
Best Clean: Saie CitySet Ultra-Fine Mist Setting Spray
Save to wishlist
Saie CitySet Setting Spray
$34 SAIE | $18 AMAZON
Vogue’s Conçetta Ciarlo uses Saie’s CitySet Ultra-Fine Mist setting spray.
Why We Love It: With a skincare-infused formula and an incredibly fine mist, Saie set out to make a clean but high-performing setting spray. “Our goal was to have a formula that would keep makeup from fading, smudging, or melting throughout the day,” Saie founder and CEO Laney Crowell told Vogue. “We wanted it to feel weightless, comfortable, and hydrating—but never greasy.” As pro makeup artist James Boehmer noted in our Vogue First breakdown of the brand’s December launch, the formula gives a radiant finish without disturbing any makeup underneath.
Editor’s Experience: “I got to preview Saie’s setting spray a few months before it launched. Saying it sprays as a fine mist is an understatement—it’s so light and airy, it feels more like stepping into a cloud than spraying something on your face. Out of all my favorite formulas, Saie’s setting spray gives the most natural finish, with makeup that looks lived-in. It’s a great everyday option, but since I have oily skin, I need a little extra help during warmer months.” —C.C.
More to Know
Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed corn starch, glycerin, tangerine peel extract, propanediol.
Finish: Dewy
Waterproof: No
Longevity: Up to 16 hours
Fragrance: No
More to Know: Free from sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, mineral oil, or talc.
Size: 3.21 oz
Love It
– Clean, skincare-infused formula
– Ultra fine, refreshing mist
– Natural finish
Leave It
– Not as long-wearing for very oily skin
– Corn starch can potentially clog pores on very oily skin
Best Drugstore: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist
Save to wishlist
L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray Mist
$14 $11 (21% off) AMAZON
Why We Love It: If you want maximum staying power at an affordable price, look no further than L’Oréal’s option. It might look like a travel-sized hairspray and even sound like one with its aerosol spray, but it’s not. While this isn’t a skincare-makeup hybrid formula, it really locks makeup in place with a blend of vinyl copolymers. The non-comedogenic formula gives up to 36 hours of wear.
Editor’s Experience: “Picture this: I traveled to Paris for work and would be working from evening until early morning. As always, I forgot something—this time, my setting spray. Even worse? It was couture week, there was a heat wave, and no air conditioning anywhere. With all that in mind, I dragged myself to the nearest French pharmacy and bought L’Oréal’s setting spray in a moment of desperation. I applied my makeup at 5 p.m. and got home at 4 a.m.—nothing moved, except for me getting a bit oily (my natural state). I have no complaints other than it smells like aerosol hairspray—but it works, so who cares?!” —C.C.
More to KnowKey Ingredients: Alcohol denat., vinyl copolymers
Finish: Matte
Waterproof: Water-resistant
Longevity: Up to 36 hours
Fragrance: Yes
More To Know: Mineral oil-free
Size: 3.3 oz
Love It
Leave It
– Affordable price point
– Some dislike the hairspray-like smell
– Long-wearing
Best Staying Power: One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
ONE/SIZE
On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
$34
ONE/SIZE
Vogue’s Conçetta Ciarlo uses One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Waterproof setting spray.
Why We Love It: It’s true that drag queens have used hairspray on their faces for decades as a trade secret to keep their makeup in place. So while this product looks like a giant can of hairspray, it’s actually a surprisingly skin-friendly formula. With witch hazel to absorb excess oil, green tea extract to tighten pores, and strong, flexible polymers, the spray gives your skin a blurred, matte finish.
Editor’s Experience: “Waterproof, sweat-proof, smudge-proof—it doesn’t get more long-lasting than this. That’s exactly why this is my go-to setting spray for special occasions. Take the Met Gala, for example. I often do my makeup at 6 a.m. and get home who knows when. Right before the event starts at 5 p.m., I do quick blush touch-ups and a little blotting, but otherwise my makeup stays perfectly in place. The brand claims up to 16 hours of wear, but I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve gone a full 24 hours without it moving. More recently? I made my way through the city after the Knicks won in five games, in 90-degree weather—again, no budging! In short, I would never, in a million years, reach for any other setting spray when I need my look to last with minimal touch-ups.” —C.C.
More To Know
Key Ingredients: Green tea extract, witch hazel, polymer blend, cucumber extract, aloe leaf extract
Finish: Matte
Waterproof: Yes
Longevity: Up to 16 hours
Fragrance: Yes
More To Know: Cruelty-free
Size: 3.4 oz
Love It
Leave It
– Ultra long-wearing
– Not for those who prefer a dewy finish over matte
– Non-comedogenic
Best Blurring: Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying Setting Spray
Vogue’s Conçetta Ciarlo uses Danessa Myricks’s Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Mattifying setting spray.
Save to wishlist
Save to wishlist
Danessa Myricks
Yummy Skin Liquid Blurring Balm Setting Spray
$36
SEPHORA
Why We Love It: Danessa Myricks has turned the beloved qualities of her Yummy Skin Balm and Water Powder Serum into the newest addition to the Yummy Skin collection: a lightweight setting spray. This non-comedogenic mist is great for acne-prone skin, keeping makeup in place while giving a soft matte finish that feels comfortable and never looks dull or dry. That’s thanks to a mix of niacinamide and upsalite for light oil control, and hyaluronic acid to prevent makeup from getting patchy.
Editor’s Experience: “I’ve always wanted to try Danessa Myricks’s viral blurring balm, but I find balm-type formulas too heavy for my breakout-prone skin. The setting spray is the same concept, but it’s a completely non-comedogenic, fine mist that gives an instantly soft-matte finish without being drying. While it’s not fully water or sweat-resistant, it works well for my everyday makeup. For extra confidence, I use this as a base layer to make my makeup look more natural, and then finish with a spritz of One Size Beauty’s spray for extra oil control on my problem areas.” —C.C.
More To Know
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, upsalite, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, sea water, zinc PCA, silica
Finish: Blurred
Waterproof: No
Longevity: Up to 16 hours
Fragrance: No
More To Know: Vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free
Size: 3.3 oz
Love It
Leave It
– Blurred, soft matte finish
– Niacinamide can be sensitizing for some
– Skincare-infused formula
Everything You Need to Know
How To Choose a Setting Spray“Before you pick a setting spray, you need to know what you want it to do,” says Patinkin. “Look for words like ‘dewy,’ ‘oil control,’ ‘waterproof,’ or ‘lasting’ to find the right formula for your goal. Some setting sprays also claim to protect against blue light.”
How can you tell if a setting spray is working? “It shouldn’t feel drying or make your skin itchy or tight,” says celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose, whose clients include Lily Gladstone and Lupita Nyong’o. “Once the mist settles, your makeup should look fresh, never dull.”
How and When to Use Setting Spray
“My favorite way to apply setting spray is in a snowflake motion—up and down, in an X shape, and across your face horizontally—to make sure every part gets covered,” says Dresher. She recommends using it as the “very last step” in your makeup routine, though you can use other facial sprays throughout the day to refresh your skin and makeup.
You can also use setting spray for targeted shine control. Patinkin suggests spraying a mattifying setting spray onto a damp makeup sponge, then gently pressing it into areas where you need oil control, like your T-zone or the center of your face.
What’s the difference between a setting spray and a finishing spray?
Although people often use these terms interchangeably, they have some differences. “Setting sprays create a barrier to help your makeup last longer,” says film and television makeup artist Vasilios Tanis, who has worked with Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson, and Jennifer Coolidge. “They can save you time because you’ll need fewer touch-ups.”
On the other hand, Tanis explains: “Finishing sprays add moisture to the skin and give it a dewy look, whether you’re wearing makeup or not. They can also be used as a skin revitalizer—a pick-me-up for your skin.”
Other Setting Sprays We Tested
Hourglass Veil Setting Spray
$50 NORDSTROM | $49 AMAZON | $50 BLUEMERCURY
This ultra-fine mist gives your skin a soft-focus finish and boosts your makeup’s staying power. If you want your look to last a full 24 hours, this water-resistant formula can help.
Fenty Beauty You Mist Makeup-Extending Setting Spray
$32 FENTY BEAUTY
This ultra-fine mist does it all: it’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free, non-comedogenic, waterproof (so sweat and humidity won’t mess up your makeup), and transfer-resistant. Hundreds of online videos prove it—when beauty fans test this spray, product swatches and even lipstick don’t budge after a generous spritz.
Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray
$29 AMAZON
Urban Decay’s iconic All Nighter setting spray was originally made and patented by the independent brand Skindinavia. This long-lasting spray keeps your makeup from smudging or moving for up to 16 hours, even in hot and humid conditions. It also has a cooling effect on your skin.
MAC Cosmetics Prep + Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray
$34 NORDSTROM
This multipurpose spray refreshes your skin and gives your makeup a pearlescent glow. It’s been a classic setting spray among beauty lovers since the early days of YouTube makeup tutorials. Besides prepping and setting your makeup, you can also spray it on your favorite powder products to make their colors pop.
Morphe Continuous Prep & Set Setting Mist+
$20 AMAZON
Made with ceramides and electrolytes, this fine mist hydrates your skin and improves its elasticity.It sets your makeup while giving it a luminous finish.
Save to wishlist
Ilia Blue Light Mist
$38 NORDSTROM | $46 AMAZON | $38 ILA
As the name suggests, this soothing, lavender-scented spray does more than just set your makeup. It also acts as a protective shield, guarding your skin against damage from blue light and pollution.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a complete approach to give you well-rounded recommendations. First, we rely on Vogue’s wide network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to get professional insight into the best products in the industry, the ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We combine their expertise with our editorial best practices to create thoughtful selections.
For setting sprays, we chose the best based on ingredients, scent, and how long they last. To do this, we tested each formula, gathered expert advice, and considered reviewer feedback to decide which ones to recommend. Read more about our testing methodology.
Meet the Experts
– Nick Barose is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lily Gladstone and Lupita Nyong’o.
– Jenny Patinkin is a beauty expert, makeup artist, and brand founder.
– Vasilios Tanis is a celebrity makeup artist who has worked on film and TV sets with Sydney Sweeney, Dakota Johnson, and Jennifer Coolidge.
– Natalie Dresher is a celebrity and influencer makeup artist whose clients include Dylan Mulvaney and Remi Bader.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Here are the 5 best setting sprays Ive ever used
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly is a setting spray
A setting spray is a mist you apply to your face after you finish your makeup It helps lock everything in place so your makeup lasts longer and doesnt smudge fade or crease
2 Do I really need a setting spray or is powder enough
While powder sets your makeup and controls oil a setting spray adds a layer of protection that powder cant It helps melt the powders into your skin for a more natural finish and prevents your makeup from transferring onto clothes or phones
3 How do I actually apply a setting spray
Hold the bottle about 810 inches away from your face Close your eyes and mouth then mist your face in an X and T pattern Let it air drydont fan it or touch it
4 Can setting spray replace my primer
No Primer preps your skin and helps makeup adhere while setting spray seals the look They work best together but they arent interchangeable
Questions About the 5 Best
5 What are the 5 best setting sprays mentioned
They are typically highperformance sprays like Urban Decay All Nighter Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Morphe Continuous Mist Milani Make It Last and NYX Matte Finish The specific list depends on the users experience
6 Which one is best for oily skin
A mattefinish spray is best Look for one that controls oil and shine Urban Decay All Nighter or NYX Matte Finish are popular choices for oily skin types
7 Which one is best for dry or dull skin
You want a dewy or glow setting spray Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish or Morphe Continuous Mist are great because they hydrate and give a luminous skinlike finish