Our Guide To What Does Setting Spray Do | Cult Beauty (2024)

From versions that promise a glowy finish, to ones that waterproof your look and even mists that mattify, what setting sprays do is more than just keep your make up locked in place...

Whether you're a make up newbie or a seasoned pro, here at Cult Beauty we’re going to give you the 411 on everything from what does setting spray do to what they actually are and everything in between.

Fingers on the nozzle... Ready, set, spritz!

WHAT IS SETTING SPRAY

Setting sprays are a liquid formula packed with make up locking ingredients that work to help prolong your lookas well as prevent creasing, smudging and budging. Used as the last step in your routine, these sprays ensure your make up looks as fresh as when you first applied it.

WHAT DOES SETTING SPRAY DO

Now we know what it is, it's time to ask what does setting spray do? Acting as a veil on your face against the environment, setting sprays are infused with a range of ingredients from glycerin to film-forming polymers and essential oils, all working to make sure your make up stays put and looks freshly applied. But that’s not all, these masterful mists also ensure your complexion feels comfortable, skin is hydrated and the fact that you instinctively touch your face a million times throughout the day an undetectable little secret...

HOW TO USE SETTING SPRAY

Pick your favourite formula, shake to activate and spritz. We suggest holding the bottle between 15-20cm away from your face and spray in an “X” formation then a “T” for an even distribution. Once you’ve applied, it’s important you don’t touch your face to allow the setting spray to naturally dry down. For additional longevity (ideal for a special event or your wedding guest make up) you can use your setting spray after each major step in your routine – i.e. once after you’ve finished your base, again after contour and blush, once your eye make up and even after yourpowder.

Now we’ve know the who, why and what does setting spray do, here’s some of the best setting sprays on Cult Beauty’s shelves.

OUR TOP SETTING SPRAYS

1. 1.Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
2. 2.MAKE UP FOR EVER Mist and Fix-23 Spray
3. 3.Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
4. 4.Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting Spray
5. 5.Hourglass Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray

THE BEST SETTING SPRAYS

High-performing (and award winning), Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray keeps your make up looking magical for up to 16-hours. With a water-like consistency and an ingredient list full of good-for-skin blends, including aloe vera, hydrating Japanese green tea and the brand’s Flawless Film Polymers, this prolonging potion comforts complexions while keeping everything looking *just* applied...

Unifying your powders, creams and liquids into one cohesive finish is MAKE UP FOR EVER’s Mist and Fix-23 Spray. Delivering a natural, lit-from-within radiance while quenching skin’s thirst, this glow-giver is powered by hyaluronic acid in a super fine spray. Covering the entire face in just one spritz, use this to prep, mid-routine or as your finishing touch...

An icon in many make up bag is Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray. With a PETA verified cruelty-free formula and powered by the brand’s cutting edge advanced Temperature Control Technology, this setting spray works to lower the temperature of your make up to keep your foundation, shadows, blush and concealers locked in place – even when humidity, sun or sweat try and ruin the party. Plus, with its featherlight finish and comforting ingredients it’s suitable for all and *every* skin type.

Ideal for spritzing over and under your make up, Milk Makeup’s Hydro Grip Setting Spray is the vegan formula that flexes with your face for superior comfortability. Packed with blue algae that works like a magnet for make up and cannabis seed oil, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, this base player not only helps make up stay gripped in place, but it hydrates and refreshes your skin whenever you spritz too.

Ensuring your make up artistry will not budge is Hourglass’s Veil Soft Focus Setting Spray. Formulated to transform your make up into a water-resistant finish, this master mister hydrates the skin, delivers a dewy finish *and* blurs the look of fine lines, pores and texture. If that’s not going a spray and beyond, we don’t know what is...

WHAT DOES SETTING SPRAYS DO FAQ’s

Yes. Formulated specifically to keep your make up locked in place, setting sprays make a big difference to the longevity of your overall look. Although you can set your base with powder, it won’t prevent the make up from slipping and sliding. A setting spray on the other hand is infused with ingredients that work to keep everything exactly where you first applied it.

Like the cherry on top of your favourite cake, a setting spray is created to be spritzed as the last step in your make up routine. Although you can use it to sandwich your look together (and when you’re in need of some mega holding power), setting sprays are typically used after you’ve completed your make up.

Both. Think of a primer as your base coat and your setting spray as your top coat. Primers work to provide the ideal base for your foundation and concealers, while setting sprays work to melt everything together and prevent anything from fading, migrating or transferring.

And there you have it, a full rundown of some of what setting sprays do... We’ve found our favourite secret weapon for a crease proof finish, have you?