The 13 Best Setting Sprays of 2024, Tested by Real People

It’s rare that a product checks every box, but this setting spray from Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez did just that. This light mist pampered us with its refreshing feeling as it settled onto our skin, as promised with its 4-in-1 technology (hydrate, prime, set, refresh). 

We noticed that this spray seemed to melt into our foundation and even appeared to shrink the size of our pores, giving us a natural, glowing look. This setting spray is completely waterproof and kept our makeup looking pristine, even after splashing our face with water. There was also minimal transfer to the towel we used to dry off, which was quite impressive.

While the initial spray was light, we got more product after the next two pumps and were entranced by the smell — a fusion of gardenias, lotuses, and waterlilies. The size of the bottle (almost 3 oz.) is also a plus, because you’re getting a good amount of product for the price. Its versatility and reasonable cost makes this setting spray ideal for a daily beauty routine. As Selena Gomez once said, “the heart wants what it wants,” and our heart (and skin) says yes to this spray.

How it’s held up: We found that this product kept our makeup looks in place throughout the holidays and even while out on New Years Eve, which impressed us. During international travel, it kept our face looking dewy and feeling refreshed despite longer flights and jet lag.

Functions: Priming, hydrating, setting | Size: 2.87 oz. | Finish: Dewy, radiant | Best for: Normal, dry, combination, and oily skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  4/5

• Performance

  4/5

A good setting spray doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and the E.l.f. Micro-Setting Mist offers solid makeup protection and a refreshing layer of hydration for a budget-friendly price. We were skeptical at first, but later found that it was surprisingly comfortable and lightweight on our skin. Once the spray was applied, we thought it almost felt too hydrating at first, but once it dried, our skin and makeup looked incredibly smooth without feeling cakey. 

However, the water-resistance test showed a minor hiccup — this spray isn’t completely waterproof. When we splashed a bit of water onto our skin, a little bit of lipstick was removed, but our foundation stayed in place. Overall, we believe this is a good setting spray that accommodates smaller budgets (especially for long-term use) and leaves your skin hydrated and makeup secure. As an added bonus, this spray also absorbs blue light, so if come into contact with a lot of screens in your day-to-day, this product is ideal.

How it’s held up: This setting spray is still going strong. After testing several makeup routines between seasons, we have found that it works best when combined with a foundation and primer, although it still performs well without a primer or with a tinted moisturizer instead of foundation. One thing we want to point out: Be careful when spraying around your eye area — it was very irritating when it got in and around the eyes.

Functions: Setting makeup, hydration, protecting against blue light | Size: 2.7 oz. | Finish: Matte, shine-free | Best for: Normal, dry, combination, and oily skin

Most setting sprays technically can be used as primers, as well, but no other product does this step quite like the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless setting spray. We followed the instructions, which told us to mist our faces with the product before and after applying makeup. The end result was a dewy complexion, which gave our skin a bit of reflectiveness after we had mattified it with powder. We think that if you have oily skin this may be a bit too slick for you, but people with normal or dry skin will appreciate the glow that this spray provides.

We thought that it served as a lovely primer, keeping us glowy from the first spritz until the last, despite all the layers of makeup in between. It’s a fabulous last step for people who want to bring back a natural sheen to their skin post-powder without brushing on the highlighter, but we’d advise you to not try to tap or blend the mist with a sponge afterwards, or you may increase the chances of looking oily. However, its multi-use functionality, luxe packaging, and fine, equally-distributed mist made us fall in love with this primer and setting spray combo.

Functions: Primes, sets, hydrates skin, blends makeup | Size: 3.3 oz., 1.1 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, dry, and combination skin

If you need to pick up a new setting spray while you’re out running errands, then look no further than the Pixi Makeup Fixing Mist. This hydrating and budget-friendly spray is great for people with dry skin, as we noticed that our faces got an instant boost of hydration once the product settled in. Our makeup appeared to sit better on our skin once the spray dried down, smoothing out any texture that was visible before. We also enjoyed its fresh aroma, a mixture of rose and green tea, which washed over us as we misted our faces. 

This product has many great qualities for hydration, but we do wish it was a little more long-lasting. We noticed that it wasn’t entirely preventing our makeup from smudging through the water and towel test, but it did still make us feel refreshed and beautiful. Perhaps opt for this one if you don’t typically wear a ton of makeup or simply want to freshen up your skin throughout the day.

How it’s held up: Even after months of use, we’re still finding ourselves reaching for this bottle multiple times throughout the week. We still recommend it for days when you’re not wearing a lot of makeup, because while it is very hydrating, it won’t keep your makeup from smudging all day long. 

Functions: Smoothes, hydrates, balances, sets | Size: 2.7 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, dry, combination, and oily skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  4/5

• Performance

  5/5

For makeup that lasts from day to night, look no further than this setting spray from Urban Decay. Earning a nearly perfect score in our tests, this spray absorbed quickly, protected makeup from daily wear, and even held up against a splash of water. Not only did it feel really light on our skin, but it made our makeup pop, too. This spray performed well throughout our tests, surpassing many of our expectations performance-wise while feeling like nothing on our faces. The spray proved to be highly waterproof, barely smudging our makeup after a splash of cold water to the face. 

Overall, we believe this is a high-quality spray that will keep your makeup intact and refreshed. In fact, the only con we could come up with is price, and it’s not outrageous, just slightly higher than others on our list. Even if you don’t wear a lot of makeup, we would recommend this product to other beauty lovers because of how refreshed we feel after a few quick spritzes. 

How it’s held up: This setting spray has kept makeup in place when using for weekend nights out and an all-day wedding. It’s been a reliable part of our skincare routine knowing we can use this spray and not worry about reapplying or needing any major touchups. We have noticed some blemishes pop up, but we can’t definitively say this setting spray is causing them. Either way, it’s a product we love and will continue to use.

Functions: Hydrating, setting | Size: 4 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and oily skin

When you’re finishing off your makeup, the last thing you want to do is add more weight — which is why we love this ultra-fine, barely-there mist from E.l.f. Cosmetics that keeps our makeup perfect throughout the day (the brand boasts 16-hour wear) without the high-end price tag. While we love a nice glow, we appreciated the shine-controlled finish that this spray left us with, keeping our skin looking dewy, but not damp or oily. We noticed that this spray played particularly well with powders, which makes us believe that this is a great option for days that you’re getting ultra-glammed up.

While we loved how this spray performed, we noticed that the packaging is a bit lower-quality than some of the others. The plastic cap cracked after a few weeks and the nozzle is not the sturdiest, but this product also is tied for our “best budget” price, so in all fairness, it checks out. However, we do think the product itself far surpasses its affordability in terms of performance, and we find ourselves reaching for this daily.

How it’s held up: We’re still using this every day six months and two bottles later. We trust that it will keep our makeup in place and appreciate its non-oiliness without being drying. We’re devotees!

Functions: Sets, hydrates, and soothes skin | Size: 2.7 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, dry, combination, and oily skin

Your makeup skills are something to be proud of, so you’ll want to finish the job off right with a spray like this glowy mist from Anastasia Beverly Hills. This setting spray was one of the best at melting our makeup together and making our skin look smooth as butter, while also bringing the shades of our makeup to life. We noticed an instant boost in hydration and a natural-looking glow when we sprayed this golden mist, but don’t worry, your skin won’t be covered in Cullen-esque sparkles afterwards (the only glitter involved in this bottle is on the decorative packaging). 

While we appreciated the mist’s ability to uptick the brightness and coloring of our makeup, we did notice that the spray came out a little aggressively, so we’d recommend using only a few spritzes. However, this also means that you don’t need much to get the long lasting glow that this spray provides (and you can get the most for your dollar). We also want to note the scent: a coconutty vanilla that may be a dream to some and a nightmare for others. Depending on your preferences, you’ll want to know about its fragrance.

How it’s held up: As we got into the colder months, we became very appreciative of this spray’s glow-boosting qualities. Not only does our skin feel more quenched after a few sprays, but our visages look a little more alive despite the dreary weather.

Functions: Sets, blends makeup, and provides a glow | Size: 0.4 oz., 0.1 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Best for: Dry, combination, and normal skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  5/5

• Performance

  4/5

A spray so popular it’s available in most retail stores, the pore-minimizing spray from Benefit Cosmetics was a hit with us, too. This truly was a microfine mist that felt nearly weightless on top of our makeup, and we loved how cooling it felt as it touched our skin. Edging near a perfect score, this spray earned high marks in feel, performance, and water-resistance during testing. It set our makeup without smudging or running down our faces, and during the water test, it proved mostly waterproof. 

Our only criticism was that for a “pore-minimizing” setting spray, we’d hoped it would more significantly blur our pores. While this spray doesn’t entirely erase the look of pores, it certainly smooths out texture and creates a radiant glow on your face, all while sinking into and preserving your makeup for the long day ahead.

How it’s held up: Even after six months, we are still loving this spray. We’re thankful that it comes in a big bottle (4 oz .version), because we still haven’t run out and feel like we’re getting our money’s worth.

Functions: Minimizing pores, hydrating, setting | Size: 4 oz., 1 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and oily skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  4.5/5

• Performance

  5/5

• Wear

  5/5

This spray is unique among competitors because it applies almost like a burst of damp air, rather than a moist spray where you feel the hydration instantly. It almost felt like there was nothing on our face, but we felt the effects when our skin tightened ever so slightly. The mist left no residue or moisture on our faces, but completely blurred out our makeup to create a smooth surface. As a matte-finish product, it also reduces the shine effect — a bonus for those with naturally oily skin. After the splash test, we did notice that some makeup had transferred to the towel when drying off, but the appearance of our makeup hadn’t changed, smeared, or run at all. 

A potential downside is the fragrance, which didn’t bother us personally, but can be a bit perfume-y for some. In terms of longevity, we were pleasantly surprised that after taking our facial masks off at the end of the day, our makeup still looked nearly flawless and very minimally oily.

How it’s held up: We’re still reaching for this setting spray in our makeup bags, thanks to its long-lasting effect and reliable protection. What would we change? The spray mister doesn’t always distribute product evenly and the formula can be a bit drying — which is great for oily skin types but not so great for normal or combination skin, especially in the winter. However, we still recommend this setting spray because it truly does keep makeup in place throughout the day and night.

Functions: Setting makeup | Size: 3.4 oz. | Finish: Matte | Best for: Oily, combination, and normal skin

Whether you experience chronically dry skin or need a boost of hydration in the cooler months, this alcohol-free setting spray from MAC is a product you’ll want to have on hand. Beauty products that contain a high level of alcohol (when it’s one of the first few ingredients listed) are known to strip your skin of moisture — a total no-no for people with dry complexions. This spray has a milky consistency that both looks and feels hydrating when spritzed on top of our makeup without causing our skin to appear oily. And better yet, it has blue-light and pollution protection to shield your skin from those irritants you never stop to think about. We noticed a visibly smoother texture once the mist had sunken into our skin, blurring texture and keeping our makeup looking fresh all day (yes, we really can attest to its staying power).

Be forewarned that it needs to be shaken up before misting your skin, as we’ve had some unshaken spritzes that seemed to spit the product at us rather than spray. Regardless, this mist has been a moisturizing gift to us dry-skinned beauty lovers, keeping us moisturized and our makeup perfect throughout even the coldest winter days.

How it’s held up: We’re still reaching for this setting spray even after months of use, and we especially like it to liven up our skin after dusting our foundation with a light layer of powder for some extra staying power. This light hit of moisture brings a subtle glow to our skin without making us look oily — the perfect balance between moisturized and mattified.

Functions: Setting, protecting, hydrating | Size: 3.4 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and oily skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  5/5

• Performance

  4/5

• Wear

  5/5

If your skin tends to be a little dry in some spots, a little oily in others, then we’ve got you covered with the Lawless Glam Guard Long-Wear setting spray. This gentle mist is the happy medium between mattifying and hydrating, feeling utterly weightless on our skin and keeping our looks smudge-proof — even despite splashes of water and a towel press. We’ve even found ourselves using this spray before and after makeup application, wetting our blending sponges with the spray instead of water to better blend our concealer and foundation while locking the products in place simultaneously.

If you’re in search of a product that will give you dewy skin, we can’t promise that this spray will provide that radiant “glazed donut” look that you see all over your social media feed. However, this spray does keep our skin looking balanced and hydrated without the addition of excess of oil, making this a great in-between choice for people with combination skin.

How it’s held up: We’ve found ourselves incorporating this setting spray into our daily routine, with everything from priming and setting spritzes to spraying our sponges to blend and set our makeup flawlessly. We’d go so far as to say that this would be a great option for people doing bridal or full-glam makeup, thanks to its long staying power and texture-smoothing results.

Functions: Setting, hydrating, oil-absorbing, mattifying | Size: 1.7 oz. | Finish: Natural | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and oily skin

What’s better than a product that not only seals in your makeup for the day, but is kind to your skin, too? This ultra-lightweight setting spray from Tower 28 doubles as an alcohol-free pH-balancing toner, which counters redness, works well with acne-prone skin, and is non-drying. We were intrigued by this multi-hyphenate product and challenged this skin-friendly spray with our water and towel test, both of which were passed with flying colors. You can even use this spray at different steps of the makeup process besides just the last one, misting your face before moisturizing as a toner or spritzing your skin to prime and prep.

In the absence of added fragrance, we did notice that the product has a slightly chlorine-like smell. However, we didn’t think that this was a complete deterrent, and appreciated its lack of added essential oils or other fragrant ingredients, which could be irritating to sensitive skin. If you’re looking for something that can double as makeup and skincare, then we’ve found your dream product.

How it’s held up: After six months, we’ve found ourselves gravitating towards this spray in the beginning stages of our makeup to use as a toner rather than a setting spray. We’ve seen makeup-locking results from both ends, the beginning and end of our glam process, but want to get the full benefits of this skin-enhancing product, and therefore have been using it on our bare skin before going in with makeup.

Functions: Setting, toning, pH-balancing, soothing | Size: 4 oz., 1 oz. | Finish: Radiant | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and oily skin

Our Ratings

• Water Resistance

  4.5/5

• Performance

  4/5

Tatcha is a premium skincare brand and its skin mist is no exception. Its subtle smell reminds us of spa products, and we loved that it gave a slight glow to our skin after use. The mist created a solid barrier on our faces, locking our makeup into place and keeping it from smudging or smearing throughout the day. It created a natural radiant glow to the point where we decided to forego the highlighter. Enduring our splash test, this mist proved to be waterproof.

Though we loved the upscale packaging, we thought the size of the bottle is rather small. However, we understand that Tatcha’s price point is higher because of its quality and performance, and already know and love its skincare collection. For the long-lasting results and quality assurance, we do still love this protective mist.

How it’s held up: After six months of testing, we recommend this product more for hydration and for light makeup looks versus setting full faces of makeup. It still gives us that hydrated look that we love — so we suggest using it as a primer before layering your makeup and then doing a light spray on top for a dewy finish.

Functions: Hydrates, brightens | Size: 1.35 oz. | Finish: Dewy | Best for: Normal, combination, dry, and sensitive skin