Reaching for a setting spray or setting powder after applying your makeup can feel like a game of beauty roulette. After all, choose the wrong product, and you could do more harm to your finished look than good. Many powder formulas can look overly powdery or chalky, and I've tried plenty of setting sprays that completely fail keep my makeup in place. (Picture a sad, streaky mess just minutes after I walk out of my air-conditioned apartment on a hot summer day.)
To help you avoid a similar experience, we've created a quick and easy how-to guide for setting sprays and setting powders—from expert-recommended formulas that will never let you down to pro application tips. We'll also take some time to explain the key differences between setting powders and setting sprays so you know when to reach for which formula. (Because, yes, it makes a difference!) Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.
The Difference Between Setting Sprays and Powders
In trueBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing fashion, we tapped makeup artist Tomy Rivero to get more details. According to him, both setting sprays and setting powders serve the same function, but results may vary depending on your undertone, skin type, product application, and desired finished look. "A setting powder is very fine, usually loose (looks like flour) and is used all over to help set cream or liquid makeup in place," explains Rivero. "A setting spray is a mist that encapsulates the makeup on the skin, helping it adhere and last longer for dryer skin types." Important note: Be sure to keep your skin type in mind when deciding between a setting powder or setting spray.
Being aware of formulation can help you weed out the duds from the high performers, and luckily, Rivero has pro shopping suggestions for both sprays and powders. "[Setting spray] is formulated for different skin types—make sure you're picking up an oil-controlling formula for oily skin and a hydrating formula for dry skin. Also, it's a good idea to stay away from glitter or luminous pigments with setting sprays, especially if you have more texture to your skin." For setting powders, he recommends products that are fine and silky (not chalky) and have a complementary undertone or translucent finish for the best results.
Using Setting Sprays and Powders for the Best Finish
As with all makeup products, the way you apply setting sprays and powders matters, and Rivero has some helpful tips and tricks. To avoid streaky, uneven setting spray application, maintain a distance of about 12 inches from the face, and try spritzing in a circular movement to make sure you get all sides. For a loose setting powder, he recommends using a powder puff. "Take a little of the powder in the center of the powder puff, fold the puff in half, and work the product into the puff. Open it up, and gently use a padding motion to press the powder all over the skin and under the eyes," he says.
Setting sprays and powders are interchangeable, but they can also work well together. According to Rivero, it depends mostly on how your skin responds to product. For example, if your skin is oily, but you want to wear a full face of makeup without having to worry about reapplication through the day, it's best to treat your finished look with both a setting spray and a powder before heading out the door. But if your skin is normal and your makeup routine is on the lighter side, using just one or the other may do the trick.
Now that you know how to use them, below are 18 top-rated (and -reviewed!) setting sprays and powders to consider during your next shopping haul.
The Best Setting Sprays
Not only does this Milani product work for all skin types, but the three-in-one spray hydrates, illuminates skin, and sets makeup. "It's a super-lightweight formula that doesn't add anything to the makeup but seals in all of the work. It will help your work last all day and night," Rivero says of this setting spray.
Customer Review: "This is my absolutely favorite budget friendly setting spray! I work in a warehouse and it keeps my makeup in place all day no matter the temperature! I spray both underneath and on top of my makeup. Highly recommend."
If you need your makeup to last all day, then why not invest in a setting spray that protects your look from humidity? Using green tea extract and witch hazel, this light-as-air and non-sticky formula helps absorb oil and tighten pores while delivering a flawless matte finish.
Customer Review: "I bought this product because I had a wedding and needed the best hold for my makeup. I had seen millions of reviews on social media and I couldn't be happier to have purchased it. The makeup lasts ALL night and I have oily skin and nothing moved."
A personal favorite, Morphe's Continuous Setting Mist features a formula with nourishing vitamin E, vitamin B5, and fruit extracts. It defends your complexion and enhances its look and performance all day with an even and controlled application sans streaks or product buildup.
Customer Review: "Legit bound my makeup together giving me such a skin like finish (even with layers of foundation powder). My look lasted all night without having to reapply. I sprayed after my foundation and again at the end of my look. Fave step!"
Whether you're going for a full-beat glam look or just a little spot correction, using a setting spray that reduces shine and keeps your makeup in place is a must. This weightless, matte-finish spray uses a highly advanced formula infused with cucumber, aloe vera extracts, hyaluronic acid, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection to play defense against UV rays.
Customer Review: "This spray is like no other makeup setting spray I've ever tried. The fact that it has sunscreen is absolutely amazing! It smells good and keeps makeup smooth fresh and glowy! It's so nice to spray on your face at the beach or on the go."
I haven't met a makeup enthusiast who hasn't sworn by this setting spray to get the job done. In addition to helping makeup stay in place for up to 16 hours without melting, fading, or settling into fine lines, it gives a flawless, airbrushed finish that's both flexible and breathable. Plus, it's formulated with Japanese green tea to support the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Customer Review: "I couldn't recommend this enough. It blends your makeup right into your skin and it doesn't budge at all. It is totally worth every penny. This is now my favorite and i will definitely be purchasing again, i swear by it. Your makeup looks perfect and it illuminates and hydrated the skin, my makeup just looks like skin now."
If you already love Milk Makeup's Hydro Grip primer like I do, then you should be pairing it with this Dew Long-Lasting Setting Spray. Non-sticky and alcohol-free, the setting spray has a microfine mist that locks makeup in for 12 hours. I like to use it between each layer of makeup for maximum wear, moisture, and glow.
Customer Review: "I LOVE this setting spray! I have tried a bunch of different brands and have never found one I like as much as milk. I feel like it really keeps my makeup in place all day and is such a refreshing part of my makeup routine! I will definitely repurchase when I run out!"
You can never have enough SPF-infused makeup products on hand to combat the harmful effects of UV rays. This mist supports, hydrates, and finishes makeup using a formula of SPF 30, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E that's perfect for use on all skin types. The product is clear and water-resistant, so I also use this for effortless SPF reapplication throughout the day.
Customer Review: "The Soleil Toujours Set Protect Mist is so easy to use and protects my skin from the sun without feeling heavy. It's light and refreshing, not sticky like usual sunscreen. Plus, it can set my makeup, keeping it in place all day. So, it's like a sunscreen and makeup saver in one!"
Less expensive doesn't mean less effective. When sweat and outside elements threaten your makeup masterpiece, use the Press Refresh Setting Spray to keep your look fresh with the addition of skin-loving ingredients. It also smells like coconuts, which instantly transports you to a tropical paradise with each spritz.
Customer Review: "A very fine mist that feels refreshing on the skin and makes makeup look like a dream even after hours of wear! Dries down to give a dewy sheen to the skin and give your skin a natural glow. Smell is light enough to not notice."
Hourglass's ultra-fine, water-resistant mist can be used to hydrate and set makeup for up to 24 hours. It's undetectable on the skin, giving a smooth, even, and radiant appearance that blurs the look of imperfections in seconds. It also pairs well with the brand's Veil Translucent Setting Powder if you'd like to add even more protection for your makeup.
Customer Review: "This is great. It has a very fine mist that’s not sticky and dries instantly. I have very oily skin and I don’t think it helps me stay matte, but it helps make my skin look flawless and beautiful. I’ve tested it with multiple foundations and all of them work well with this spray."
I'm know for always having ultra-glowy makeup, and this is what I use to make it happen. In addition to being a setting spray, it addresses dryness, dullness, and uneven texture by prepping the skin and tightening pores using a blend of fragrant essential oils in 100% a natural formula. It's like a trip to the spa in a bottle.
Customer Review: "Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a total winner! It feels light, smells amazing, and leaves my skin hydrated and radiant. Makeup goes on like a dream. Seriously, it's become a must-have in my routine. Highly recommend!"
The Best Setting Powders
Rivero swears by this Givenchy powder for its lovely blend of undertones. "It provides a thin veil of powder that sets nicely while still leaving the skin glowy and beautiful," he explains. It also reduces the appearance of pores and minimizes skin texture.
Customer Review: "This is my 3rd time purchasing this. I just keep coming back to it despite trying other setting powders. The powder is incredibly thin/lightweight and the color creates a brightening effect."
Superfine and weightless, Fenty Beauty's Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder perfects and extends makeup wear for a photo-ready finish by reducing shine and blurring the look of pores, fines lines, and imperfections. It also comes in eight versatile shades to blend flawlessly with your skin tone.
Customer Review: "I live in a state where it’s humid most of the year and combine that with my already oily skin? Yuck! But this setting powder (in banana) is my lifesaver! I use it to set my foundation and my skin will only look dewy instead of oily. I love it!"
There's no easier way to bake and set your makeup than with Huda Beauty's Easy Bake powder. Using moisturizing vitamin E, oil-absorbing rice starch powder, and micronized powder for easy layering without caking, this powder creates an airbrushed finish with up to 10 hours of wear.
Customer Review: "When I tell you this is the best setting powder…. I am yet to try another one more effective. It makes your pores disappear. It keeps your skin looking flawless all day no matter what. When you use this with the Cherry Blossom, it is gorgeous! Another amazing Huda product!"
Made with aerated-cream technology, Saie's translucent loose powder sets, smooths, and diffuses for a radiant finish. Its formula is also infused with squalane to keep moisture locked in, plus ethically sourced mica for added luminosity. I'm a huge fan of how plump and moisturized my skin looks as well as how seamless the blend is with this product.
Customer Review: "This setting powder works so well! I have it in translucent and it doesn’t look cake-y when applied and leaves the perfect finish to my makeup while helping to eliminate shine in my T-zone. I love it!"
I've been using Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Power for years and still couldn't be happier with the results. It comes in truly translucent shades that work on all skin tones and create a soft-focus effect that blurs imperfections with a flawless, matte finish. I've also noticed there's no flashback in photos.
Customer Review: "Recently purchased this translucent powder and after a week of using it, I will never use another setting powder other than this. I have extremely oily skin, and this keeps me matte throughout the day! Worth every penny!"
It's finally time to get your hands on this setting powder from Haus Labs. The clean, skincare-infused formula blurs imperfections and smooths skin for a flawless finish. It also features fermented arnica, which reduces redness and irritation, plant squalane to boost hydration, as well as tourmaline to support cellular energy.
Customer Review: "First I'm loving that it's talc-free! It has great blurring and smoothing properties that's long lasting. That's my favorite feature. The shade is great for my under eye area. It's has a unique gel-powder that I like while still being lightweight!"
If you're on the hunt for a setting powder with a silky, weightless feel to it; the Halo Glow Setting Powder should already be in your shopping basket. It creates the dreamiest, soft-focus finish using finely milled synthetic sapphire particles that smooth imperfections and help keep shine at bay.
Customer Review: "Omg this loose powder makes my skin look flawless. I have extremely dry skin and this powder looks amazing on the skin. It doesn't make my skin look powdery, it's extremely light weight and it feels good on the skin. I've never used a loose powder that makes my skin look and feel so good. It's amazing!"
This super-luxe microfine powder uses soft-focus nanoparticles to blur away lines while rose wax and almond oil work to hydrate and protect the skin. When I'm not using this alone or on top of foundation and concealer, I like to apply it around the nose (focusing on my T-zone) to mattify oily areas.
Customer Review: "Finding a powder that didn't look cake-y or have an unnatural skin tone has been mission impossible for me until I tried this one. I cannot believe how finely milled it is—so soft and sets my foundation perfectly without a powdery look. Absolutely love this powder."
Hourglass's Veil Translucent Setting Powder is an ultra-refined, talc-free loose powder that delivers a naturally flawless finish. Ideal for all skin types, it's designed with soft-focus, light-reflecting particles to instantly blur the skin and minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles. Use it with the Veil Setting Spray for maximum results.
Customer Review: "I've used this almost every day for over a year, and it still hasn't run out. I like to brush it under my eyes after putting on my color corrector. I also put it all over my face once with a fluffy brush after I've done my foundation, contour, and blush to prevent oiliness and creasing. A little goes a long way."
I'm happy to pay over $70 for this setting powder time and again since it always gives elite results. Packed with protective, skin-refining actives, Westman Atelier's weightless clean setting powder creates an instant diffused finish and healthier-looking skin over time with quinoa seed extract, vitamin C, and a probiotic.
Customer Review: "This is the only powder that doesn't emphasize the wrinkles around my eyes in order to set concealers. It has a flawless finish and miraculously minimizes my pores. I love this product and I'm especially impressed that it's refillable."
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