Is Setting Spray Bad For Skin and Other FAQs

One of the biggest questions I hear when it comes to setting spray is this: Is it necessary? Next, is setting spray bad for my skin?

So you just spent an hour putting on your makeup and you really don’t want to see it falling away by lunch, right?

What can you do to keep it locked in, all day long? Setting Sprays.

Settings sprays have changed the game for me when it comes to makeup wear time. Whenever I have a special event to attend, they’ve always given me the peace of mind to know that my makeup won’t be budging all day long.

Just like makeup primers, setting sprays will go a long way to keeping your look fresh all day long.

I don’t know about you, but I really cannot stand knowing I’m going to have to do a midday touch-up, when I know that I’m going to have my hands full that day.

Another thing setting spray can do for you is help combat the humidity and heat. Setting sprays for the summer are a must.

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What is setting spray and what does it do?

Setting spray is the last step to the makeup routine. Simply spritz a light coat over your makeup and go! There are a couple of main purposes setting sprays serve:

1. Keep your makeup on all day long
2. Reduce the powdery appearance of the look

Personally, I prefer the ones that make your look stay on all day, so I search for those.

Is Setting Spray Bad for Skin?

Short answer: No. The reason they get a little bit of criticism is because most of them are formulated with alcohol, which can be drying to the skin.

The alcohol in setting spray evaporates as it dries, which actually helps with the bonding process, keeping your makeup in place all day. Pretty cool, right?

So you don’t really have to worry about setting spray affecting your skin at all.

However, there are certain setting sprays made for certain skin types (as with most face products).

So if you have dry skin, look for one with hyaluronic acid. Many of these have the name “hydro”, “dewy”, or “glow” on the packaging, so it’s pretty easy to find them.

If you have oily skin and need a setting spray to help keep your skin looking matte throughout the day, look for a setting spray with the word “matte” on the packaging.

Will Setting Spray Make You Break Out?

Setting spray doesn’t necessarily cause breakouts. The breakouts are caused by pores getting clogged with oil or dead skin cells.

This just means that there are some setting sprays you might want to avoid if you do have acne-prone skin. Avoid setting sprays formulated with oils: specifically coconut oil.

Basically, anything on the Best Setting Sprays for Dry Skin you should skip on.

Can I use Setting Spray Every Day?

Typically, professionals recommend using setting spray for special occasions, where you need to have your makeup looking perfect for hours on end.

There are no adverse effects to using setting spray every day, so I say go for it! If you need your makeup to be long-lasting every day, there’s nothing stopping you from using it every day.

In fact, when I worked in the office full time (pre-pandemic), I used it every day.

Do You Use Setting Spray Before or After Powder?

Definitely use it after powder. This will help for a couple of reasons:

1. Its going to help reduce the “powdery” look of your makeup
2. Its going to help your foundation and powder blend together seamlessly
3. Its going to lock that powder into place all day long

Best Settings Sprays

For Oily Skin

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NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray

As we said before, if you have oily skin, you’re gonna want to look for a setting spray with the word “matte” in it. Its going to help lock in your makeup all day and really control the oils that cause makeup to break down in the first place.

This one is a fan favorite due to its ability to keep makeup in place all day long. It also helps control the oil, so you won’t need to use that blotting paper throughout the day.

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Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Matte Makeup Setting Spray

Urban Decay is one of those brands known for their products that help makeup last forever. Their All Nighter spray is one that has been touted as one of the best for years.

This is another one of their products that can keep your makeup looking fresh all day long but is specifically formulated to help control oil for those of us with oily skin.

For Dry Skin

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Milani Make It Dewy Setting Spray

This one comes off as a fine mist, which is crucial for setting sprays. It needs to dry quickly and not leave little droplets all over your face. Not only does this have a great mister, but it also hydrates the skin and keeps makeup looking fresh all day.

You can also put this one on before you apply makeup to act as a bit of a face primer. That’s a double win!

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Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix

This one is going to deliver a bit of hydration, while also keeping your makeup set in place. It is one of the best at making makeup last all day long.

I will note that this one has fragrance, which can be irritating to some, especially those with sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

Is setting spray necessary? I think if you have a special occasion, like a wedding, or just work 12 hours a day, this can be game-changing. I know when I worked in the office full time, along with pick up and drop off duties for the children, and any errands in between, setting sprays absolutely helped me keep my makeup looking on point all day long.

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