Best Drugstore Setting Sprays of 2022

2022-10-26 10:12:08 By : Ms. Caster Wheel ZR

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Don't sacrifice your look, whether you have dry skin or an oily complexion.

Settings spray acts like the insurance of makeup, keeping your look smudge-proof and giving it staying power. As the last crucial step in a makeup routine, setting sprays help lock in, or at the least, extend looks up to the night's end. The right makeup setting sprays will put your worries at ease, but you don’t have to splurge on an expensive product to get the job done, according to LA-based makeup artist Vanessa Flores. What's more, some of these budget-friendly setting sprays also infuse skincare benefits by including plant extracts, vitamins and other ingredients catered to dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin and combination skin alike.

So, rather than watching a spray you splurged on spritz away before your eyes, take a gander at our favorite drugstore options that come especially in handy for those everyday makeup looks. Though our beauty pros have yet to test this category at large, we rounded up the tried-and-true picks of our Good Housekeeping staffers — including product experts, asked celebrity makeup artists their recommendations and vetted best-sellers from highly rated brands. Prevent makeup from sliding, smudging, creasing or fading quickly with these best drugstore setting sprays.

Ahead, read more about what to look for in a drugstore setting spray. Get ready on a budget with our guides to the best drugstore cosmetics and the best drugstore primers.

No matter your skin type, rest assured you'll find a holy grail product in this Milani 3-in-1 setting spray. Prime and prep skin, spritz between makeup applications for more effortless blending and set it all with the same mist. Flores recommends this pick as it comes out in a fine mist that covers the face in about two to three pumps. The brand also boasts its 16-hour staying power so your makeup looks see minimal fading and smudging. "It grips and helps makeup last all day," Flores adds. Our GH staffers say it offers various finishes for everyone, too. That's namely because of its niacinamide benefits, such as reducing hyperpigmentation, fine lines and acne in all skin types.

NYX's matte setting spray has over 88,000 Amazon reviewers talking about its smooth, lightweight powers. When a setting powder won't cover it, opt for this mattifying formula that aims to reduce shiny complexions and that reviewers say minimizes the appearance of pores. We appreciate its niacinamide ingredient, which can help fight breakouts on oily skin, while its humectant propylene glycol adds a degree of hydration. The brand claims it extends the vibrancy of foundation, eyeshadows and powders for 16 hours. It also comes in dewy options and radiant finishes, depending on your preference.

Lock makeup in place with this $6 gem. Flores highlights its blend of chamomile extract that aims to "refresh and calm your skin." She adds: "Plus, there's niacinamide to help even out the skin and reduce dark spots over time." Another star ingredient, witch hazel, is proven to minimize the appearance of pores and relieve irritation.

With 4.5 out of 5 stars, nearly 5,000 Amazon reviewers agree that this drugstore setting spray earns top praise. Flores says it keeps her own foundation lasting all day long and leaves a nice mist on the face "without feeling like you've been attacked by the spritzer." We also appreciate its vitamin C and vitamin E ingredients known to soothe, brighten and plump dry complexions. Blending aloe, green tea and cucumber, it refreshes and smells like a facial.

Flores uses this facial freshener as a little pick-me-up on bare skin. "The coconut water and vitamin C prime and give dull skin a boost," she says. "And then spritz again after applying makeup to set it." For an added cooling effect, the brand recommends storing it in the fridge.

You won't catch your makeup slipping when spritzing on this setting spray for the day. It's been a trusty makeup lock spanning years for one of our product pros. "Not only does it hold my makeup in place even after a long day of commuting, but one bottle seriously lasts forever." Infused with aloe leaf juice, the setting spray layers on an easy finish that aims to keep skin hydrated. Sensitive skin types may take care to avoid this as it's formulated with fragrance, which can be irritating for some.

Spritzing on this setting spray with a subtle coconut scent feels like a tropical affair. One GH staffer with dry skin reaches for it to hydrate her complexion and lock makeup in place. What's more, the fine mist distributes a nice refreshing spray that won't feel sticky once dried down — we found it offered a natural, glowy finish.

According to TikTok, this affordable Milani setting mist matches the famed Charlotte Tilbury airbrush setting spray. Our staffers agree, too, as they attest to its matte staying power. That's largely so because of its silica formula, which consists of tiny, sponge-like particles that can absorb the oil produced by skin. In our best primers for oily skin roundup, we included many products with this ingredient because it temporarily fills in large pores and fine lines and wrinkles, leaving a smooth canvas behind.

Our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts and chemists regularly test affordable beauty products of all kinds, from drugstore body washes to drugstore mascara to drugstore night creams. In our Lab, we evaluate the ingredients and formula to gauge whether the product will hold up over time. We also try them in real life on a panel of consumer testers to make sure they perform well. While the GH Beauty Lab has yet to test this category, the setting sprays in this list are either personal favorites of our product experts, top picks from professional makeup artists or popular options with rave consumer reviews and ratings.

Setting sprays are water-based products that contain a small amount of a film-forming polymer paired with humectants and sometimes plant extracts, according to Good Housekeeping Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. "When the product is sprayed on, the water and sometimes a small amount of alcohol in the product gradually evaporate, creating a refreshing sensation," Chiara says. "After that, a very light, almost imperceptible film of the polymer is left over the makeup, making it more resistant to smudging and transferring."

A resounding yes! According to Flores, they prolong the life of your makeup application. "I swear by them when working on set," she says of her MUA work on shows like Glee and American Idol. "It’s never easy to keep your makeup looking fresh through the end of the day, but makeup setting sprays can help keep the need for touch-ups to a minimum."

✔️ Ingredients: Dry skin can benefit from hydrating ingredients such as glycerin or emollients like coconut water — seen in both the e.l.f. Dewy Coconut Setting Mist and the L’Oréal Paris LUMI Shake and Glow Dew Mist — to prevent makeup from looking cakey and powdery. For oily and acne-prone skin types, look for oil absorbers like silica and anti-acne skincare ingredients like witch hazel.

✔️ Finish: Though it's down to personal preference, some setting spray finishes are suited toward specific skin types. Oily and acne-prone skin may opt for pore-minimizing or matte finishes to reduce shine. Dry skin types can look for dewy, hydrating or radiant finishes.

✔️ Even mists: Stop big droplets from dissolving your makeup by using a setting spray with a fine mist. One trick Flores recommends is to test new sprays on your hand first. A majority of the above picks offer thin, evenly distributed layers.

A few spritzes after a completed makeup look usually does it, but sometimes Flores layers setting spray in between each step for a more waterproof effect. "Close your eyes when you spray!" she advises. "Apply mascara after spraying, or wait for it to dry first. Spraying too close can lead to larger drops and your makeup running." Celebrity makeup artist Omayma Ramzy sprays it on a Beautyblender and dabs it over makeup for any areas that need an extra refresh.

While powders tend to work better for oily skin and setting sprays for dry skin, Flores recommends using both a loose powder and a setting spray if you really want to set and extend the life of your makeup. She uses the Pink Lipps Cosmetics Loose Setting Powder. According to Ramzy, you might want to use a setting spray with a Beautyblender to even out your makeup look. "Powders are also still great if you want an all over velvet-matte finish that sometimes a setting spray isn’t going to do," she says.

Chiara Butler is a Reviews Analyst in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab, where she's led testing for our guides to the best water flossers and best shampoo bars. With her background as a cosmetic chemist, Chiara gave commentary on how setting sprays work and their ingredients, applying her expertise in evaluating ingredient lists and product claims.

Jacqueline Saguin is the Associate Product & Reviews editor. She collaborated with our Beauty Lab and Good Housekeeping staffers to narrow down our top picks. Jacqueline also collaborated with professional makeup artists Vanessa Flores and Omayma Ramzy for a complete guide to shopping for drugstore setting sprays.