We Found the 10 Best Setting Sprays to Ensure Your Makeup Lasts for Hours and Hours (2024)

After spending extra time blending your foundation, meticulously lining your waterline, and carefully tracing your lips, the last thing you need is for the weather (or your nerves) to cause a makeup meltdown. Luckily, there's a foolproof way to keep your makeup from dripping off of your face, and it requires only one extra step at the end of your makeup routine. A quick spritz of a setting spray is all it takes to ensure your makeup stays put for hours on end—while feeling completely weightless on the skin.

There are so many formulas to consider, and not all are created equal. To help you find the perfect setting spray for your skin type, we enlisted the help of a handful of testers to research the most popular options and try them out firsthand in our lab. We spritzed our way through 28 setting sprays—keeping finish, formula, and lasting power top of mind—to find the 10 best options.

Our Top Picks

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What We Love: It locks makeup in place for up to 16 hours and blurs pores to make the skin look flawless.

What We Don't Love: It sits on top of skin, rather than melting into pores.

Setting sprays are known to be multi-functional, but this one from Benefit Cosmetics truly does it all. Although the ultra-fine mist feels completely weightless on the face, it shrinks the look of pores, locks makeup in place, and keeps you looking fresh for up to 16 hours. Even after our tester put it through extensive waterproof tests, her makeup didn't budge. "It's comparable to a little rain jacket for my makeup," she says. "I was surprised to find that my makeup didn't run, smear, or move at all even after giving it a good splash."

One of the best things about this setting spray is that it blurs enlarged pores—but, in order to do that, it sits on top of the skin. If you prefer products that melt into the skin, take note that this one doesn't quite do that.

Size: 4 fl oz | Scented: No | Finish: Matte

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We're not the first to say it and we certainly won't be the last: You don't need to spend a ton of money to find beauty products that actually work. Case in point: Kim Kardashian once shared that she swears by Pixi Beauty's glycolic acid toner, proving that the London-based brand doesn't mess around when it comes to high-quality formulations. Unsurprisingly, the line's makeup-fixing mist is stellar—it prolongs makeup wear and keeps it from melting, even when temps reach triple digits.

Made with rose water, willow bark extract, and green tea, this hydrating and balancing pick is a great option for those with dry, flaky skin. "You can feel the refreshing ingredients settling into your skin right away," our tester says. "It dried on contact and made my makeup look so smooth."

Some might find that the spray gives off a strong rose smell. If you're easily bothered by fragrances, this one might not be for you. Rest assured, though, that our tester says the fragrance becomes less noticeable over time.

Size: 2.7 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Soft-focus

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What We Love: The hydrating mist transforms dull skin and gives it a healthy-looking, dewy finish.

What We Don't Love: Because it doesn't dry down all the way, it can transfer.

This multitasking spray from Rare Beauty takes care of your skin during every phase of your glam, starting with prep and carrying you throughout the day. It's formulated with hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate to lock in moisture and make the skin look brighter and more plump.

To ensure skin stays calm through all-day wear, the formula features a soothing botanical blend of lotus, gardenia, and white water lily. Aside from giving her skin a healthy-looking glow, our tester found that it helped lock her foundation onto her skin. "It gave my makeup a very natural, glowy finish," she said.

Because of its damp texture, the tester says that her makeup transferred a little bit. "All in all, it was waterproof, but I noticed some of my makeup on the towel I used to blot my face during testing," she explains. "My foundation still looked untouched, though, which is all I care about."

Size: 2.87 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Dewy

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What We Love: Not only is this spray water-resistant, but it also absorbs excess oil and controls shine.

What We Don't Love: It doesn't spray as evenly as we would like.

Often labeled the MVP of setting sprays, this Urban Decay option remains a favorite among makeup artists and beauty lovers alike. First, it's water-resistant—meaning it stands up to unexpected rainstorms, midday sweat, and even romcom-induced tears for up to 16 hours. Our tester says that even after splashing water on her face, her makeup barely moved. Second, those with oily skin will appreciate that the lightweight formula is infused with kaolin clay to absorb excess oil and control shine throughout the day. Lastly, the setting spray imparts a satin finish on the skin that isn't too dewy or too matte but rather falls somewhere in between.

The spray bottle's nozzle is powerful and each spritz is pretty potent, especially when used up close. To avoid an uneven application, hold the bottle eight to 10 inches away from your face and spray it a couple of times in an X and T formation.

Size: 4 fl oz | Scented: No | Finish: Satin

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What We Love: This spray ensures a shine-free finish with no caking or creasing and keeps makeup from melting.

What We Don't Love: Because it's mattifying, skin can feel a little tight after application.

Those with oily skin can benefit the most from a good setting spray, given that they're most prone to a makeup meltdown. This one, which testers said was like "spraying air," is the key to a matte finish and makeup that stays where it's supposed to for up to 16 hours.

After the spray set, which happens almost instantly, our tester says that her makeup looked smooth and poreless. Despite wearing a mask all day, her skin stayed shine-free, except around her nose. "This worked wonders for my very oily skin, plus my makeup looked the same at the end of the day—still blurred with no creasing or caking," she says.

She also mentioned that the spray made her face feel a little tight after application. Though it wasn't uncomfortable, it's something to keep in mind, especially if you have dry or easily irritated skin.

Size: 3.4 fl oz | Scented: No | Finish: Matte

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What We Love: It imparts a gorgeous dewy finish and glow to the skin while combatting signs of aging.

What We Don't Love: The small bottle makes it less economical for everyday use.

After that elusive lit-from-within glow? All you need is a few spritzes of this dewy setting spray. Made with hydrating botanical oils, the formula works as a primer that can be used before applying makeup or as a way to refresh your skin throughout the day. "The mist feels weightless on the skin and gives it a subtle glow," our tester says. It even helps combat signs of aging with the help of amino acids and other ingredients to increase collagen production—which also makes skin look plumper and more radiant.

It isn't lost on our tester that the price is pretty high, especially given the size of the product. "For $48, I would consider using this for special occasions rather than as part of my everyday makeup routine," she explains. "I wish the bottle was bigger for the price, but it has beautiful results nonetheless."

Size: 1.35 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Dewy

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What We Love: It blends makeup into the skin with ease for an indestructible glowy finish.

What We Don't Love: The nozzle can be fragile.

Anastasia Soare, the genius behind Anastasia Beverly Hills, has quite an extensive list of celebrity clients—Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Victoria Beckham, to name a few. So it's only right that her line of beauty products leaves skin red carpet-ready. Even our tester found that after a few spritzes, the setting spray helped her foundation sink into her skin and left behind a glowy yet indestructible finish. "This is one of the best setting sprays I've tried," she says. "It made my makeup melt into my skin and gave me a smooth-looking complexion."

The water-based formula can be used both before and after makeup application and goes on clear—which might be surprising given the bottle's shimmery packaging—to seal makeup in place.

Despite the rave review, there is one con: The nozzle. It broke for some users, causing either too much product to come out or none at all. "The mist came out a little aggressively, so you need to be careful with the nozzle," our tester says.

Size: 3.4 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Dewy

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What We Love: It keeps full glam makeup intact for up to 16 hours without caking, creasing, or settling into fine lines.

What We Don't Love: The pump can get stuck and cause leaking.

If you're looking for a setting spray that doesn't budge for all day and into the night, this is the one to grab. Ideal for big events, Lawless Beauty's lightweight mist keeps makeup looking freshly applied for hours on end—16 to be exact. Unlike other sprays, it extends the life of your makeup without causing it to cake, crease, or settle into fine lines, which is great news for those with mature skin. The formula contains spherical elastomer powder, an ingredient known to absorb oil and reduce shine, as well as a blend of essential oils to refresh the skin.

One thing we'd like to point out is that the spray bottle can leak product from the pump. "I love the smell, the black bottle, and the packaging, but something about my pump doesn't work right," writes one user. "It eventually got stuck and stopped spraying properly." If this happens to you, we recommend transferring the liquid into a separate spray bottle and continuing use as normal.

Size: 1.7 fl oz | Scented: No | Finish: Natural

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What We Love: It has built-in UV protection and an antioxidant-rich formula to boost glow.

What We Don't Love: The formula can make skin feel sticky.

No one wants their makeup to melt off their face, but protecting your skin against sun damage is equally as important as having a flawless foundation. Luckily, Milani has combined makeup setting spray and SPF 30 into a single holy grail product. This micro-mist acts like a glue to lock makeup in for the long haul (read: 16 hours) while shielding skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays. It also features a lightweight feel and glow-boosting formula, making it perfect for daytime use.

Though you can simply spray it on, our tester says that this one works best when blended into the skin with a makeup sponge. Otherwise, it felt sticky sitting on top of her skin.

Size: 2.03 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Dewy

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What We Love: It works like magic to soothe stressed-out skin while shielding makeup from water and sweat.

What We Don't Love: It smells like chlorine.

When your skin is acting up, turn to this Tower 28 mist. Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this cult-favorite spray contains hypochlorous acid, an ingredient naturally produced by the body to fight redness and irritation, along with a whole slew of other pH-balancing components. It's even received the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, so you know it's safe for all skin types.

The spray can be used throughout the day to help minimize the look of flare-ups and stressed skin, as well as keep makeup looking and feeling fresh. I personally keep the spray on hand at all times, especially on hot, humid days when my acne-prone skin needs a quick zhuzh. Even after splashing her face with cold water, our tester reported that her makeup stayed intact and didn't smudge when drying her face off with a towel. "I'm so impressed with the spray's durability; it seems to be entirely water-resistant," she notes. "If you're one to sweat a lot, this is the spray for you!"

Though hypochlorous acid is the hero ingredient, it gives the spray a chlorine-like fragrance—but that disappears as it dries. However, because of how effective this spray is at calming and refreshing angry skin, chances are, you'll be willing to overlook it.

Size: 4 fl oz | Scented: Yes | Finish: Natural

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Our Testing Process

To start, we researched the top-rated setting sprays on the market. After honing in on online ratings, we spent 30 hours putting the 28 most popular setting sprays to the test. We had each of our testers try the setting sprays over makeup so they could analyze the performance of each one. If any product claimed to be waterproof, the testers splashed water on their face, then dabbed with a towel to note makeup that ran or transferred. Our testers rated each setting spray on a scale of 1 to 5 for three key categories: comfort, performance, and water resistance. Once the data was collected, we were able to narrow down the original pool of products to the 11 best setting sprays.

What to Keep in Mind

  • Ingredients: When it comes to selecting the right formula, professional makeup artist Jonet Williamson suggests starting with the ingredient list. From there, you can tailor it to your skin's needs and your glam style. While formulas containing alcohol can prolong makeup, they can be irritating, especially if you use them every day. Be aware that a little goes a long way and, if you're sensitive to alcohol-based products, look for an alcohol-free formula.
  • Skin Type: "There's a setting spray for every skin type," Williamson says. "If you're someone with dry skin, you'll want to use a setting spray with hydrating ingredients like essential oils and hyaluronic acid for added moisture; but for oily skin, you may want to use a setting spray that will also help control shine."
  • Staying Power: As far as setting sprays are concerned, staying power is key—you want one that will ensure your makeup stays in place for as long as possible. Finishing sprays can offer hold from anywhere between 12 to 24 hours. Consider how long you intend to wear your makeup and your location—if it will be hot out or if you will be sweating, etc. These factors will help determine how long-lasting your setting spray should be.

Your Questions, Answered

How do you use a setting spray?

Regardless of your makeup expertise, Williamson assures InStyle that setting sprays can fit seamlessly into your existing routine. "Ideally, you'll want this to be the final step in your makeup routine," she explains. "Sprays should be spritzed about six inches from your face so that it falls lightly onto the skin." For some, it might be beneficial to prime the skin with the same spray or finish up with a sweep of powder to ensure long-wearing results. "A trick that I like to do for my clients with oily skin is to spray a layer of setting spray before and after makeup," Williamson adds. "For makeup that holds up under masks, I'd suggest double setting, which means using a setting powder and spray." Store the setting spray in a skincare fridge for a refreshing, cooling effect.

Can you apply setting spray to other parts of the body?

Setting spray isn't exclusively for your face makeup; it can also be applied to the eyes and lips. In addition to locking your glam in place, Williamson recommends using a setting spray to take your eyeshadow to new heights. "Setting sprays can also come in handy when doing your eye makeup," she says. "It can turn a matte shadow into a cream liner and intensify the color payoff of shimmery shadows." To put this tip into action: dip your brush into the powder first, then give a spritz of setting spray before tapping onto your lids or swiping across your lash line—you'll notice the impact immediately.

What Is InStyle Picks?

Did you notice the InStyle Picks seal of approval at the top of this story? That means our team of testers has reviewed every product on this list using a unique methodology to ensure it's really worth your time, money, and attention. We may get samples for free to try but we never promise positive (or any!) coverage in exchange. Put simply: InStyle Picks are products we love, and we've put them to the test to be sure you will too.

Want more product recommendations? From best-in-class concealer to the black pants you need for work, check out all of our InStyle Picks content.

We Found the 10 Best Setting Sprays to Ensure Your Makeup Lasts for Hours and Hours (2024)
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