A Lock-It-In Setting Spray is the Key to Smudge-Proof Makeup (2024)

A Lock-It-In Setting Spray is the Key to Smudge-Proof Makeup (1)

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We updated this article in July 2022 to ensure all picks vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute were available, in stock and correctly priced. We also included a new pick from Make Up Forever as Best Setting Spray for Oily Skin.

Whether it's a big event or a hot summer day, making sure that your eyeshadow, lipstick and foundation last from day to night is a serious feat. Enter setting spray: If you want your makeup to stand up against the elements, tears and everything in between, a makeup setting spray is necessary. According to celebrity makeup artist Tobi Henney, a setting spray is a liquid mist, usually alcohol-based, that's applied as the last step in a makeup routine to help lock it in. Just spritz on to keep makeup looking and feeling fresh through warm weather, vacay hotspots and sweaty workouts. And yes! Setting sprays work on all skin types, though Henney recommends a light hand on sensitive skin.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts and chemists regularly test makeup products of all kinds, from primers to face mists to drugstore cosmetics and airbrush kits. We consider the skincare benefits, application process and effects to get a sense of whether the ingredients hold up over time. We also try them in real life to make sure they perform just as well. The setting sprays ahead are either picked by our editors and staffers, come highly recommended by verified online reviewers or are regularly stocked in the kits of professional makeup artists.

No matter if you've got oily skin or sensitive skin, we rounded up the 17 best setting sprays you should introduce to your makeup routine:

1

Best Overall Setting Spray

Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray 4oz

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If you ask any beauty expert about their favorite makeup setting spray, chances are they love this Urban Decay formula — it's our product experts' go-to choice, too, especially Executive Textiles Director Lexie Sachs. "There are very few products that I'll consistently splurge on, but this one is worth it," she says. "I've tried many setting sprays, but none of them have kept my makeup intact as long as this one." The brand claims it will keep your makeup looking vibrant for up to 16 hours. Plus, it's paraben-free, sulfate-free and vegan.

2

Best Value Setting Spray

e.l.f. Illuminating Mist & Set

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This inexpensive setting spray drugstore pick boasts hydrating aloe, green tea, cucumber and a bunch of vitamins (A, C and E!) for moisture. Bonus: It's alcohol-free, which is great for sensitive skin. One Walmart reviewer who uses it for their work as a model describes it as "hairspray for your face" since it impressively keeps everything in place.

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3

Best Setting Spray on Amazon

Bella Jade Makeup Setting Spray

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A Lock-It-In Setting Spray is the Key to Smudge-Proof Makeup (5)

Now 16% Off

Amazon shoppers swear by this $12 makeup setting spray — it has over 6,000 reviews and a 4.3 average rating! "I really like it because I don't feel like I have anything extra on my face, my foundation stays on all day, and no more under-eye smudges," writes one Amazon reviewer. Its fragrance-free formula means it's likely sensitive skin-friendly. Plus, its use of green tea can be soothing on puffy skin and blemishes.

4

Best Hydrating Setting Spray

Mario Badescu Facial Spray Duo

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These facial sprays refresh and hydrate your skin to lock in makeup without a matte or cakey finish. "I like my makeup more natural so I use it for dewiness," says former GH staffer Shanon Maglente. The duo comes with two hydrating formulations: one formulated with aloe, herbs and rosewater, and the other with aloe, cucumber and green tea.

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This setting spray from L'Oreal promises to extend your makeup and keep it fresh all night long. Our Lab loves how L'Oreal's Infallible line performs (the Total Cover Foundation stays on for a whopping 24 hours!), so it's safe to say this Makeup Extender will live up to our expectations. "With other setting sprays, even high-end ones, I typically have to blot my oily areas often and do touch-ups, but not with this," says one Amazon reviewer.

6

Best Makeup Setting Spray

MILK MAKEUP Hydro Grip Setting + Refreshing Spray

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Recommended by TikTok, our associate product & reviews editor hurried to the store to test the promise that this setting spray prevents makeup from fading. "True to its name, the hydro grip spray truly keeps my makeup in place," she says. "I spritz about three layers directly on my face and add one spritz into my face mask for extra measure. I swear, it has drastically reduced makeup transfer." Plus, the mini-sized bottle alone has lasted her for months. Thanks to its blend of hyaluronic acid and hemp seed oil, it feels super hydrating.

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7

BEST SMUDGE-PROOF SETTING SPRAY

Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Makeup Sealer

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"Ben Nye Setting Spray has been my go-to for years," says Henney. "It was created and used a lot in theater and helps if the client is going to be in hot and humid climates or is perfect on a wedding day." The brand describes it as smudge-proof and water-resistant, so it's a great option for those who sweat easily.

8

Best Setting Spray for Glowy Skin

Rare Beauty Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime & Set Mist

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Selena Gomez's beauty brand never misses: This setting spray is that cherry on top for locking in natural glowy makeup. It's not drying at all. In fact, our associate editor tried it on her dry, sensitive skin and found that it only hydrated. It dries down to a subtle, shine-free sheen. Its fine mist is infused with acne-fighting niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate.

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9

Best Matte Setting Spray

NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray

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For a totally shine-free makeup look, try this affordable NYX setting spray. It seals in your face makeup while leaving skin with a velvet-like appearance, making it perfect for people with oily skin who want to prevent shiny T-zones. Some Ulta reviewers like to blot their skin with a tissue after applying the setting spray to get rid of excess shine.

10

BEST DRUGSTORE SETTING SPRAY

Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray and Primer

This spray really helps lock in makeup, according to Associate Video Producer Lauren DeThomasis. She especially loves using it after powder because it makes the powder "melt" into makeup, giving a "more natural and not cakey" appearance. It's half the price of premium setting sprays but with the same staying power, she says.

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11

BEST PORE-MINIMIZING SETTING SPRAY

Charlotte Tillbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

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Made from soothing aloe vera, moisturizing Japanese green tea and sweet-smelling aromatic resin, this setting spray aims to give a pore-minimizing finish to makeup looks. "This one is great as it will set your makeup for up to 16 hours and is oil-free, so it's perfect for oily skin types," says Henney.

12

BEST 2-IN-1 SETTING SPRAY AND PRIMER

MAC Prep & Prime Fix + Makeup Setting Spray

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According to professional makeup artist Tobi Henney, this is a hydrating setting spray that also doubles as a primer. It's also alcohol-free, which means it's a better option for dry or sensitive skin types. The small nozzle sprays out a fine, continuous mist that makes it perfect for on-the-go pick-me-ups.

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13

Best Setting Spray for Oily Skin

MAKE UP FOR EVER Light Velvet Air Shine-Control Refreshing Spray

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This setting spray from Make Up Forever is a favorite of Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Chemist, Danusia Wnek. "I have really oily skin in my t-zone and this product is oil controlling —keeps me looking matte all day. It is also budge proof, locking in my makeup even through hot humid days". Wnek also mentioned that you should give this product a good shake before using but unlike others that squirt out, this one always sprays out in a fine mist.

14

Best Setting Spray for Dry Skin

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray

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For those with dry skin who don't want a completely matte makeup look, this setting spray makes skin look fresh and glowy. After trying several setting sprays on her dry skin, Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine loves this one for making her skin look dewy. "The packaging is glittery, but there's no glitter in the actual mist, which is what I prefer," she says.

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15

Best Setting Spray for Sensitive Skin

Tower 28 Beauty SOS (Save.Our.Skin) Daily Rescue Facial Spray

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Designed for sensitive skin, many Tower28 beauty products use formulas accepted by the National Eczema Association. This one is fragrance-free, alcohol-free, oil-free and hypoallergenic. Our GH associate editor suffers from severe eczema and found it super compatible with her skin. "I reach for it as both a primer and a setting spray," she says. "It feels super refreshing." The brand also recently re-released the spray in recyclable packaging!

16

Best Setting Spray with SPF

Supergoop! Supergoop! (Re)Setting Refreshing Mist SPF 40

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If you're searching for an option with sun protection for your beach days and pool parties, Supergoop!'s setting spray offers SPF 50 and claims to be water-resistant for up to 40 minutes. Just be sure to use regular sunscreen, too, because chances are you won't apply enough setting spray for adequate protection (which, FYI, is a teaspoon-sized dollop for your face.) "I don't smell any alcohol or sunscreen scents like with other mists I've tried," says one Ulta reviewer.

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17

Best Gentle Setting Spray

Make Up For Ever MIST & FIX Make-Up Setting Spray

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In our everyday testing, our product experts loved that this formula's spray was "gentle and fine, making application easy" and that the product smells great (like all cosmetics should!). Plus, it didn't disturb makeup and sat well on the skin without feeling greasy or shiny.

How we choose setting sprays

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Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts and chemists regularly test beauty products of all kinds, from sunscreens and razors to nail polish and more. We consider the ingredients and formula to get a sense of whether the product will hold up over time. We also try them in real life to make sure they apply easily and wear well. The setting sprays in this list are either personal favorites of our product experts or popular options with rave consumer reviews and ratings.

While the GH Beauty Lab hasn't tested this category specifically, we have tried many of these picks in our daily lives. Our pros recommend looking for gentle formulas that are free from irritating ingredients such as parabens, sulfates and petroleum (fragrance can also be irritating to especially sensitive skin). It should also apply easily while offering long-lasting staying power.

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Do you put setting spray on before or after makeup?

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If you're not sure how to put on makeup setting spray, the good news is that it's super easy! First, read the label because some formulas might have specific instructions. (You might need to shake the bottle beforehand, etc.) Once all of your makeup is applied (Yes, everything from powder to mascara.), hold the bottle about eight inches away from your face, close your eyes and mist in a slow circular motion to cover all of your face, says Henney. If you tend to have drier skin, layering some spritzes in between powder applications can help keep skin dewy and make things blend easier.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, we put all types of skincare to the test in Lab and with consumer testers. We evaluate facial steamers, body sprays, toners and more to find the best quality products that are actually worth buying.

This list was put together with the help of Associate Product & Reviews Editor Jacqueline Saguin who regularly consults with professional makeup artists and collaborates with GH's Beauty Lab to put together product reviews on the very best makeup out there, according to consumer and Lab testing. She has spent years researching and experimenting with products that work with her severe eczema, and she subsequently began her career covering everything from buzzworthy buys to sensitive-skin staples.

We also consulted professional makeup artist Tobi Henney who has a list of celebrity clientele spanning Barbara Palvin, Megan Fox and more.

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Amina Lake Abdelrahman

Amina is a product review writer and editor who worked as an editorial assistant in the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2018 to 2020, writing original content based on GH Lab experts' product testing and analysis. Amina graduated from Montclair State University with a B.A. in communication studies and journalism.

A Lock-It-In Setting Spray is the Key to Smudge-Proof Makeup (25)

Jacqueline Saguin

Senior Commerce Editor

Jacqueline (she/her) covers all things e-commerce in beauty, lifestyle and beyond for the Good Housekeeping Institute. Before joining GH in 2021, she was a style and beauty reviews fellow at Insider, testing viral trends, reviewing sustainable brands and more. She's a graduate of the University of Florida's School of Journalism, with a specialty in magazines and mass communication.

A Lock-It-In Setting Spray is the Key to Smudge-Proof Makeup (2024)
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