If setting spray is one of those steps you skip, you may want to reconsider. Although skin care and primer are important actions in your base routine, setting spray is the secret to long-lasting, flawless makeup on extra sweaty days and special occasions.
Setting sprays leave a soft veil on top of your skin to “lock-in” makeup. Depending on the formula, setting sprays can also absorb excess sweat, control sebum and melt powder formulas, which can benefit certain skin types.
Thus, whether you need one is reliant on what you’re searching for, but to get the longest wear from your makeup, a good setting spray is essential. Keep reading to discover the best setting sprays for all skin types, according to experts and editors.
Best for oily skin$undefined$34.00
Best for long-lasting makeup$undefined$39.00
How do you apply setting spray?
Before using setting spray, apply your base (foundation, concealer, blush). Some makeup artists even spritz setting spray in between applications to increase makeup longevity. In general, you’ll want to hold the bottle “about eight to 10 inches away from your face” and spray “evenly to cover the skin,” according to celebrity makeup artist Brielle Pollara. “Let it air dry naturally instead of touching your face,” refraining from using a beauty sponge or brush, too.
Remember: A light, quick mist of setting spray is always enough to reap its benefits.
The best setting sprays, according to makeup artists and editors
Best drugstore setting spray:
Previously recommended by our experts, the E.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray is boosted with aloe, hyaluronic acid, squalane and green tea seed oil to simultaneously treat inflammation and leave a hydrated finish that never feels sticky.
Since it is a bi-phase formula, the product requires you to “shake” before use to mix and activate the water phase and oil phase. According to the brand, you can mist over bare skin to prep or post-makeup to set.
Best for combination skin:
Editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson continuously uses blotting powder to manage her combination skin. So when she previously tested the setting spray above, minimal to no touch-ups were a requirement.
After a long, sweaty commute and a quick nap in between, Stewart-Jackson noticed her makeup didn’t move in the places that especially mattered: her hairline and nose, to name a few. “By the time I was ready to take my makeup off, about 11 hours had elapsed and everything, including my mascara, was still in place,” she wrote in a review, even with some oiliness peaking through. “I even wiped a tissue across my cheek to see if anything would come off, but I only saw a very small amount of transfer that came from my nose area.”
Editor’s note: Stewart tested the 16-hour formula, but the setting spray has recently been updated to hold up to 24 hours.
Best waterproof setting spray:
This classic pick was updated with better wear, new setting powers and a finer mist, earning a stamp of approval by our testers during our 2026 Beauty Awards.
With versatile use, the setting spray is effective for prepping skin before makeup, blending cream and powder formulas and increasing makeup longevity up to 24 hours. The product does all this while cooling and hydrating skin, which, in turn, helps prevent “cracks” and “cake-ing” after misting.
Best for oily skin:
“For clients with oily skin or anyone who needs their makeup to truly stay put through heat, humidity or long events, I love [the] One/Size On ’Til Dawn Setting Spray,” shares Pollara. “It provides a more matte finish and is my go-to when longevity is the top priority,” she adds. The brand attributes the long-wear to its water-, sweat-, transfer- and smudge-proof formula.
Best setting spray for mature skin:
Earning makeup artist Billie Gene’s seal of approval for mature skin, Makeup by Mario’s SurrealSkin Soft Setting Spray has a barely-there, hydrating feel that helps prevent makeup from settling into fine lines. It softly sets makeup for a “lived-in” finish and extends wear for up to 16 hours.
Best mattifying setting spray:
For those prone to oiliness or shine, this award-winning setting spray uses niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and upsalite (a mineral powder) to visibly smooth texture and absorb sweat and oil.
“It has a more wet effect after applying, but give it a beat and it dries down very quickly,” suggests tester Bianca Clendenin, as instructed by the brand for best results (use a puff, sponge or brush to “blot” the product). “In 90 degree weather, my makeup was not moving or melting off after a whole day,” she adds.
Best setting spray for dry skin:
For those with dry skin, the tight feeling post-setting spray might be all too common. I [San Miguel] find myself spritzing a facial mist to soothe my skin right after applying some formulas, but never with the pick above.
Infused with skin care ingredients, including hyaluronic acid and hemp seed oil, the setting spray leaves the skin with a visibly glow that doesn’t feel or look greasy. My skin feels “wrapped” with moisture, which, for this skin type, can help prevent fading and cracking. I’ve paired it with its matching primer to extend wear, but the setting spray holds well on its own.
Best setting spray for long-lasting makeup:
When it comes to the best Charlotte Tilbury products, our editors were quick to recommend the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. Associate market editor Audrey Ekman claims it is the “the secret to flawless makeup” that lasts all day long.
“I use it as the final step in my routine after setting powder, and it really melts all of my makeup layers together for a gorgeous, radiant finish,” Ekman shares. “It doesn’t feel tacky or crunchy like other setting sprays can, which I really appreciate.”
Pollara also consistently reaches for the setting spray for the same reasons, adding that “i’s a great option for most skin types, especially normal to dry or combination skin.”
Frequently asked questions
A setting powder and setting spray go hand-in-hand when it comes to makeup longevity, but according to Pollara, you can ditch one of the steps depending on your skin type and desired finish.
“If you have dry or mature skin, you can often skip powder and rely on setting spray to keep your makeup looking fresh without adding extra product,” the makeup artist reveals. “If you’re oily, I usually recommend using a small amount of powder in areas like the T-zone first, then finishing with setting spray.”
If you’re debating between using a primer or setting spray, Pollara says to base it off your biggest concern. “Primer helps create a smooth canvas and can address concerns like pores, oiliness or dryness before makeup,” she shares. “Setting spray is designed to extend the wear of your finished look. Ideally, they work together because primer preps the skin and setting spray locks everything in.”
However, some people can rely on skin care as their "base" before makeup, so be sure to listen to your skin as you shop.
“People sometimes use the terms interchangeably, but they serve slightly different purposes,” explains Pollara. “A setting spray helps blend all of your makeup together for a more natural finish while adding wear time. A fixing spray acts more as a seal to lock makeup into place for maximum longevity and resistance to heat, sweat, or humidity.”
When to use either: Pollara recommends a setting spray for everyday. To lock in makeup for important events or long travel days, a fixing spray might have a better hold.
How we chose the best setting sprays
The Shop TODAY team rounded up the best setting sprays for every skin type by enlisting the recommendations and expertise of makeup artists. We also included beloved editor picks as well as award-winning and top-rated products that won’t break the bank.
Meet the experts
- Brielle Pollara is a New Jersey-based celebrity makeup artist.
- Billie Gene is a bi-coastal beauty expert and celebrity makeup artist.
NuFace Fix Microwand
NuFace Fix Microwand