Tested and Reviewed: 11 Best Makeup Setting Sprays for Long-Lasting Makeup This Summer
Our beauty editor and makeup artists promise these are the best solutions for locking makeup in place.
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Sweltering summer weather won't stand a chance against these highly-rated makeup setting sprays. Designed as the final step in a cosmetics routine, setting sprays create a fine, invisible seal that locks in makeup on the skin, eyelids, and lips. They're a must-have for any occasion because they prevent tears, sweat, humidity, and other elements, from ruining artfully applied eyeliner, contour, and foundation. Regardless of the weather, the final results will always be the same: prolonged makeup that lasts from sunrise to sunset. The best part? As our beauty editor, I tested most of the featured products on this list, so users can rest assured they are hype-worthy. As for the rest, I asked a few makeup artists to share their favorite setting sprays, and I'm confident that your next beauty must-have is definitely on this list — and starts at $10.
The Best Makeup Setting Sprays
What to Consider
When shopping for a makeup setting spray, there's one (obvious) goal to keep in mind: setting makeup. However, formulas can be designed to impart a matte or dewy finish, and some serve multiple purposes, too, such as a primer and a setting spray.
Makeup Setting Spray Vs. Finishing Spray
Some brands call their products makeup setting sprays or finishing sprays, but what do these names actually mean? To find out, I asked celebrity makeup artists Jenny Patinkin and Jenna Apel to explain the real differences between the two product types.
- Makeup setting sprays leave a light film to help lock in the makeup and prevent it from smudging or evaporating no matter the weather.
- Finishing sprays melt the makeup into the skin for an “I woke up like this” radiant glow and boost hydration.
Thankfully, plenty of brands have combined the long-wearing properties of traditional setting spray with the makeup-melting and moisturizing properties associated with finishing spray, so users can enjoy the best of both worlds.
Skin Type
Before gifting a setting spray, consider your loved one's skin type and if they want their face to look matte or dewy.
- Oily and combination skin will benefit from a makeup setting spray that offers a matte finish and should look for shine-control ingredients like witch hazel and kaolin.
- Dry, normal, and mature skin should look for a makeup setting spray with hydrating and soothing properties such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera for a luminous, second-skin finish.
How We Chose
Another important factor is cost, so I included top-rated picks at various price points, highlighting both cheap Amazon buys and luxury makeup setting sprays. I've been actively covering the beauty space since 2016, so it's safe to assume that I've tried pretty much every setting spray available at Ulta, Sephora, and Amazon over the years. For this piece, I revisted the Best Products beauty closet and my home vanity to spritz on several of these products. After two weeks of testing in the real world, I feel confident in sharing my beauty editor-approved picks. For added guidance, I asked Patinkin and Apel about their no-fail recommendations — and their selections are highly rated. Here are the best makeup setting sprays for every skin type.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
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