There are a few makeup products that are non-negotiable everyday essentials. For me, it’s an eyebrow pencil and under eye concealer. For others, it’s red lipstick or mascara. Then, there are the products that never get enough airtime. They’re the unsung heroes working overtime to deliver the exact results you’re looking for, yet they often seem to get overlooked. Things like primers, lip liners and blush. Oh, and setting sprays.
A great setting spray can totally switch up the longevity of your look, eliminating the need for midday touch-ups while simultaneously helping to care for your skin. They can prep, set, smooth, blur, brighten and protect. All in a single spritz. Here’s how to choose the best one…
What is a setting spray?
A setting spray is a product used to keep makeup in place and is typically applied as a mist over the finished look. Setting sprays often contain ingredients designed to prolong the wear of makeup that help it adhere to the skin and absorb excess oil, as well as ingredients that provide a matte or dewy finish depending on the desired look. Additionally, setting sprays can help prevent makeup from smudging, creasing, or fading throughout the day, for when you want your makeup to look as good at the end of the day as it did at the start.
How to choose a setting spray
Now, not all setting sprays are created equal. The best ones will be multifunctioning and contain plenty of results-driven skincare ingredients. Look for brightening ingredients like Niacinamide to maintain that lit-from-within glow, antioxidants to protect from environmental aggressors like pollution (especially if you live in a city), and something to soothe and hydrate to keep skin happy all day long. Plus, you want your setting spray to have a high tech blurring effect to assist in creating a flawless complexion, as well as a long-wearing, smudge and sweat resistant formula.
Beauty Pie's new Wonderfilter™ Blurring Skin Primer & Setting Spray contains 5% Niacinamide to brighten, Aloe Vera to soothe and Natural Resin to prevent pores clogging. Plus, it has a natural blurring effect for a flattering, soft-focus finish. It's proven to prep and "fix" makeup for 8 hours - in other words, it's amazing.
The difference between setting spray and setting powder
Setting spray isn’t the only option when it comes to extending the life of your makeup application. There’s also setting powders, of course, as well as long-wear formulas of foundation, eyeliner and lipstick.
A setting spray is the perfect all-over option for when you want your makeup to stay put, but you don’t want it to feel like you’re adding an additional layer of product over the top. If you were to apply setting powder all over, it might knock out any areas that were meant to stay glowy and dewy, like the cheekbones and brow bones. A setting powder is best kept for spot-treating specific areas of shine or excessive oiliness, like the T-zone, as well as areas that are prone to creasing, like under the eyes.
How to use a setting spray
It really is as straightforward as it seems. If your setting spray doubles as a primer, spray liberally onto clean skin and wait a few seconds for it to dry naturally before starting your makeup application. To set, mist all over your face, holding the bottle around 20cm - 30cm away, and allow it to dry naturally. Feel free to apply throughout the day as a refresher!
Setting Spray vs. Hairspray
There's a makeup myth that hairspray can be used instead of setting spray. However, hairspray typically contains alcohol and other chemicals that may not be suitable for use on the delicate skin of the face. It can cause irritation, dryness, or allergic reactions when applied directly to the skin, especially around the eyes. Plus, it makes skin feel tacky and there's a risk of inhaling the aerosol fumes, which probably aren't great for your respiratory system.
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