I have never known a category soar as suddenly as setting spray. It existed for aeons, with the best of them (Urban Decay’s All Nighter, £29.50, which still has second-to-none longevity) rarely threatened by anything new. But countless sprays have launched in the past year, all of them promising to significantly increase the lifespan of makeup.
There’s an argument that “fixing sprays” and “setting sprays” have different purposes (locking down makeup versus providing a more unified, less powdery finish, respectively), but I dismiss it because it’s based on the generous assumption that the marketeers who name products according to popular Google search terms give a hoot for semantic nuance. Here, I mean sprays that do all of the above, drastically reducing makeup fade and wear, even during dancing, hot flushing or perspiring.
My favourite in recent years is Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (£32), since it best combines staying power with a natural, complexion-enhancing look. It scores extra points for its ability to stay smooth when powder or an evening makeup change is later applied over the top.
But giving it a run for its money is Fenty Beauty’s new You Mist (£28). This has a finer spray, no fragrance and comparable staying power. It doesn’t have the same satiny look, but is similar in that it doesn’t alter the texture of makeup. It’s a fantastic product upon which I’ve become so dependent that last month, when I arrived in London for a 16-hour day and realised I’d forgotten to apply it, I went straight to Boots to buy one.
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The best setting spray on the high street is Milani’s Make It Last (£14.50). It is an excellent performer at a fair price that keeps makeup fast without dryness, itchiness, tightness or colour changing. However, I specifically mean the spray marked “Original”. I recently bought the SPF version in the US and my eyes streamed profusely until I washed it off. The lasting effect of L’Oreal’s Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist (£9.99) is phenomenal, but it is pipped by the Milani because it smells a bit too much like hairspray.
If you find setting sprays feel too wet upon application, Kosas’s new Cloud Set Airy Setting + Smoothing Mist (£32), does exactly what it says on the pack. The unfragranced, monsoon-like mist coats evenly, coolly and comfortably, and gives a smooth, slightly blurry finish. It’s ideal for those who want their lighter, more natural-looking makeup to last as long as a face full.
Stylist: Yvonne Achato. Lighting assistant: Declan Slattery
