How To Use Setting Spray For Long-Lasting Makeup
Using setting spray is one of the best ways to make your makeup look freshly applied all day long. The right setting spray locks in your look while controlling shine and keeping makeup from fading, creasing, or melting off over time.
What is Setting Spray and How Does it Make Makeup Last?
Setting spray contains film-forming polymers that work like a sealant over your makeup, setting the pigments in place so they don’t budge. Common polymers used include:
- Acrylates Copolymer – creates a flexible, breathable layer
- VP/VA Copolymer – adheres makeup layers together
- Polyhydroxystearic Acid – waterproof barrier
Many setting sprays also have silicones like dimethicone to smooth and perfect the skin. When misted over a full face of makeup, these key ingredients mesh all the layers together so they essentially become transfer- and sweat-proof.
It’s important not to confuse setting sprays with facial mists or thermal waters which refresh skin but don’t contain fixing agents to actually prolong wear time. Similarly, setting sprays work differently than setting powder which soaks up excess oil and sweat that prematurely breaks down makeup.
Using a dedicated makeup setting spray as the last step of your makeup routine will help the products underneath adhere together better and resist fading, smudging, and rubbing off for longer without getting cakey or separating.
Choosing the Right Setting Spray for Your Skin Type
Not all setting sprays are made the same. Consider your own skin type and needs when evaluating formulas:
Dry or Dehydrated Skin
Choose hydrating setting sprays with moisturizing ingredients like:
- Glycerin – attracts moisture to skin
- Hyaluronic acid – binds hydration to skin
- Aloe vera – soothing, hydrating botanical
- Illuminating pigments – impart a subtle glow
Avoid mattifying or oil-controlling setting sprays with clay or powder, as these can be overly drying.
Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
Look for oil-controlling, mattifying setting sprays with ingredients like:
- Rice starch powder – absorbs excess oil
- Tea tree, sulfur, or zinc – fight breakouts
- Matte pigments – limit greasiness and shine
Stay away from oils, shimmery pigments, thick butters, and creamy ingredients that can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
Sensitive or Reactive Skin
Opt for a hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic formula free of common irritants like:
- Fragrance and essential oils
- Alcohols like SD alcohol, denatured alcohol
- Harsh preservatives like parabens
Stick to gentle ingredients like aloe, green tea extract, oat extract and other skin-soothing botanicals. Always patch test first.
Mature Skin
Seeking out setting sprays with anti-aging ingredients can help visibly smooth fine lines and wrinkles while extending makeup wear such as:
- Antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E – protect against environmental damage
- Peptides – stimulate collagen production over time
- Dimethicone – instant line-filling effect
Avoid heavily powdered mattifying formulas that can settle into creases and emphasize dynamic wrinkles.
How to Apply Setting Spray for Maximum Staying Power
Using proper technique when misting on setting spray gives you the most mileage from each spritz. Follow these steps:
Prep Skin First
Mist setting spray onto a clean, dry face as a makeup primer before applying any other complexion makeup. This gives the polymers a smooth, even base layer to grip onto. Avoid using an exfoliating scrub before spraying, as the uneven skin surface can cause uneven makeup application.
Use Light, Even Layers
When makeup application is completed, hold the bottle 10-12 inches away and close eyes. Mist evenly across the face in a sweeping, zig-zag motion using a light hand. Avoid pumping continuously or holding too close as the layers can become too saturated and cause makeup to slip around. Work in sections.
Target Fade-Prone Areas
Concentrate extra spritzes on areas most prone to makeup fading like around the nostrils, laugh lines, undereyes, and oral commissures by the sides of the lips. These areas see a lot of facial movement and contact which can cause makeup to rub off faster over time without proper sealing.
Let it Set Fully
Let each layer dry for at least 60 seconds before adding the next so the polymers can properly set. Fanning face with a mirror helps. Avoid powdering immediately on top of wet setting spray or doing next steps like reapplying lipstick until it dries. The makeup needs to set with the spray not be disrupted by additional products.
Hold setting spray 10-12 inches back and target typical makeup fade zones like around nostrils.
Best Drugstore Setting Sprays
You don’t need to spend a lot for effective makeup extending setting sprays. Here are top affordable options under $15:
Maybelline Lasting Fix Makeup Setting Spray
Ideal for normal, combination, and oily skin types, this lightweight spray gets the job done on a budget. It contains acrylates polymers to seal in makeup without adding shine or residue.
Key Benefits:
- Matte, lightweight finish
- Oil-free, shine-controlling
- Flexible hold
L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray
With a waterlike consistency, L’Oreal’s popular drugstore setting spray contains glycerin for light hydration paired with acrylates/VA copolymer for strong makeup gripping power.
Key Benefits:
- Lightly hydrating without added oils/shimmer
- Even matte finish
- Longwear protection
NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray
If excess shine is your main issue, NYX’s matte finish option uses oil-absorbing rice starch and soothing ginseng root to combat greasiness and prolong wear time.
Key Benefits:
- Controls shine without flat, cakey finish
- Balances and mattifies skin
- Soothing herbal extracts
Best High-End Setting Sprays
For special events and maximum hold, upgrade to these professional setting sprays with premium ingredients and custom finishes.
Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Matte Longwear Liquid Foundation
The OG of makeup extending sprays, this cult classic minimizes pores while preventing makeup breakdown for up to 16 hours thanks to Polyhydroxystearic Acid which forms a flexible breathable barrier over skin blocking sweat and sebum.
Key Benefits:
- Sweat-resistant
- Controls oil and shine
- Waterproof barrier
- Minimizes pores
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
With a patented time-release microfine polymer mesh, this luxe setting spray visibly smooths and perfects skin while locking in makeup. Light-diffusing ingredients like mica give a soft focus effect.
Key Benefits:
- Lightweight micro-fine mist
- Hydrates while securing makeup
- Luminous soft focus finish
- Plumps skin over time
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist Setting Spray
A splurge worthy of special events and photography, Tatcha’s antioxidant-packed spray locks in serum, moisturizer, and makeup for a glowing look that lasts. It has whole-leaf green tea, rice bran oil, plus pearl and silk powders.
Key Benefits:
- Soothing botanical antioxidants
- Nourishes and hydrates skin
- Dewy, luminous pearl finish
- Luxurious fine mist
How to Choose Between Setting Powder vs Setting Spray
Should you use setting powder or setting spray for longer makeup wear? Here’s how to decide:
Oily Skin
For very oily skin types prone to extreme shine, layer BOTH setting powder and spray to mattify and seal in makeup. Apply powder first after foundation, THEN follow with a mattifying spray like Urban Decay All Nighter once the powder has set. The powder soaks up excess oil and sweat damaging makeup while the spray acts as a transfer-proof topcoat sealing everything in place.
Dry Skin
Skip powder which can be drying and emphasize flakes and fine lines. Opt for a hydrating setting spray like Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless 3 instead. Spritz on bare, moisturized skin first before foundation to maximize smoothness and grip. Follow with another layer at the end over completed makeup for extended wear minus powdery dullness or tightness.
Special Events
No matter your skin type, pull out all the stops for a big event, photoshoot, wedding, etc. Apply your preferred setting powder first where needed like the T-Zone, THEN seal the entire look with a high-performance spray like Urban Decay for bulletproof transfer and sweat resistance. The combo keeps makeup budge-proof without requiring touch ups.
DIY Setting Spray vs Store Bought Sprays
Can you make effective homemade setting spray using ingredients from your pantry? Here’s the truth:
Why Make DIY Setting Spray?
Homemade spray seems tempting for customizing the exact ingredients you want while saving money. Common DIY recipes use witch hazel or floral water plus a light oil or glycerin.
Pros
- Affordable using pantry ingredients
- Natural botanical formulas
- Customizable ingredient list
- Fun craft project
Why Opt for Store Bought Instead?
The main issue with DIY spray is getting the hold and drying time right. Without access to chemists and lab testing, the results are unpredictable. Store bought formulas use precise concentrations of polymers proven to keep makeup in place for hours.
Pros of Store Bought Sprays
- Reliable, rigorously tested formulas
- Pack a stronger gripping power
- Give more predictable lasting results
- Often contain skin benefits like anti-aging ingredients
- Convenient application without mixing
For best odds of getting all day staying power, opt for a proven, premium brand setting spray using patented polymers over attempting homemade with subpar hold. But diy can be a fun experiment!
How to Make Your Own Setting Spray
If you do want to make your own, here is a beginner recipe to try:
Ingredients
- 1 cup unflavored, additive-free witch hazel or rose water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 5-10 drops of preferred essential oil for fragrance (optional)
Method
- Measure all ingredients into spray bottle, close cap tightly.
- Shake vigorously 30 seconds to combine thoroughly.
- Before applying makeup, mist lightly over clean moisturized face and allow to dry.
- Apply makeup as normal. Once done, spritz homemade spray lightly all over face 8-10 inches away, allowing each layer to dry between passes.
- Repeat application as needed throughout wear, focusing extra sprays on areas makeup tends to fade first.
Tips
- Can substitute coconut oil for glycerin for more hydration
- Start with fewer drops of essential oil, adding more to preference
- Shake well before each use
- Experiment with holding bottle closer/farther away on arms first to gauge spray density
While DIY recipes can be fun and affordable, getting truly waterproof, transfer-proof holding power is extremely difficult without the exact patented polymers and silicones found in the top brands on the market specifically designed to grip makeup in place no matter what. But some homemade recipes work decently well for low key events!
Frequently Asked Questions About Setting Sprays
Still have questions about how to choose and use setting sprays? Here are answers to some common FAQs:
How is setting spray different than setting powder?
Setting spray and setting powder work differently to achieve longwear makeup. Sprays contain flexible polymers that bind makeup layers together while powders use fine particles to soak up excess oils and sweat. Using both creates an extremely budge-proof base.
When should you apply setting spray?
For best results, mist setting spray on clean bare skin first before makeup to maximize adhesion. Then spritz again as the last step once all makeup is done, concentrating on areas prone to fading.
Does price really matter when choosing setting spray?
Ingredients differ greatly across price points so invest in a premium brand if you have specific concerns like oily skin or deep wrinkles needing heavy sealing power. For everyday use, affordable drugstore options often perform decently though may lack extras like mattifying or skin care benefits.
How can you make your own DIY setting spray?
While homemade recipes using natural botanicals are popular for customization and affordability, getting the polymer concentration right is extremely difficult without lab testing. For max staying power, opt for a proven premade formula using ingredients at their most effective levels.
Application Tips for Flawless, Budge-Proof Makeup
Using setting spray daily helps makeup apply more smoothly, last for hours longer, and resists transferring, fading, running, and smudging in heat, humidity, and other challenging environments.
Follow these best practices for flawless wear:
- Always mist onto clean, dry bare skin first before applying complexion makeup
- Use light, even sweeping layers about 8-10 inches from face
- Avoid pumping continuously from up close, work in sections
- Let each layer dry fully 60 seconds before adding next
- Target typical fade zones like around nose and mouth with extra focus
- Finish with powder like under eyes before final setting spray layer
Allow each layer of setting spray to dry fully between passes for best results.
With the right techniques and formulas personalized for your skin needs, setting spray lets you rock your glam looks confidently all day through busy schedules without shine, smudges or wear!
Final Takeaways
- Setting spray contains flexible polymers that bind makeup layers together preventing fading and transferring even through sweat and oil.
- Look for hydrating vs. mattifying formulas based on skin type. Apply first before makeup, again after.
- Mist lightly in even layers. Let dry fully between passes. Concentrate on typical fade zones.
- High quality setting sprays deliver reliable gripping power to lock in makeup. DIY recipes are unpredictable.
- Following good techniques for application keeps makeup flawless for hours longer!
What are your favorite setting sprays and application tips? Share in the comments!