15 Best Drugstore Setting Sprays – Prep, Set, And Go!

Keep your makeup in place and nourish your skin with gentle formulas that show results.

Reviewed by Lorrie Pearson, Professional Makeup Artist
Written by Baishali Bhattacharya, MA (English)
Edited by Srijani Roy Chowdhury, MA (Journalism & Mass Communication), Certified Style & Image Consultant
Fact-checked by Shatabdi Bhattacharya, BSc  • 

It can be challenging to keep your makeup flawless throughout the day. But if you put your hands on the best drugstore setting spray, you do not have to worry about it anymore. Makeup smudges and forms creases as your skin releases sebum and sweat throughout the day. But a hypoallergenic setting spray can solve these issues.

In this article, we have made a list of the 15 most effective drugstore setting sprays that you must have in your makeup pouch right away. They help keep the makeup in place, giving you a flawless look all day long. Scroll down and check it out.

Top PicksCheck Price
Best For Dry Skin: Mario Badescu Facial Spray
Price on Amazon
Best Rated Matte Setting Spray: NYX Professional Make Up Matte Finish Fini Mat Setting Spray
Price on Amazon
Best Setting Spray For Oily Skin: Rimmel London Stay Mat Fix & Go 2-in-1 Setting Spray
Price on Amazon
Best For Radiant Finish: Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray
Price on Amazon
Best Long-Lasting Formula: L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Pro-Spray & Set
Price on Amazon
Best Weightless Mist: Wet n Wild Photofocus Setting Spray
Price on Amazon
Wet n Wild Photofocus Primer Water
Price on Amazon
Best Lightweight: e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set
Price on Amazon
Best Smooth Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
Price on Amazon
Best Luxurious: Too Faced Hangover Rx 3-in-1 Setting Spray
Price on Amazon

15 Best Drugstore Setting Sprays

1. Best For Dry Skin:Mario Badescu Facial Spray

4.4
Mario Badescu Facial Spray Image: Mario Badescu

The Mario Badescu Facial Spray is a refreshing, hydrating face mist that fixes your makeup. Selena Gomez, a well-known celebrity and singer, swears by using this facial spray as the first step in her beauty routine. It is made with aloe vera, bladderwrack, thyme, gardenia, and rose. Its invigorating formula hydrates, nourishes, clarifies skin tone, and re energizes skin with a radiant, dewy glow. The antioxidants in the celebrity-favorite spray protect the skin from environmental stressors. Its fragrance from the herbal extracts and a blend of rosewater refreshes you and is gentle on skin and keeps it hydrated day long. Go ahead and check out this YouTuber’s video for more details about the people’s experience and benefits of this product.

Product Dimensions: 2.75 x 2.75 x 3.75 inches | Weight: 2 Ounces

Pros

  • Revives dehydrated skin
  • Gives a gorgeous glow
  • Gentle on all skin types
  • Non-irritating formula
  • Soothing fragrance

Cons

  • Contains propylene glycol
  • Not suitable for sensitive skin
  • Not suitable for oily skin (may cause breakouts)

protip_icon Pro Tip
Use your setting spray to make your brows stay in shape and keep them natural-looking. Spritz some makeup fixer on the spoolie and brush the eyebrows with it.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

It has received over 9,933 rave reviews on Amazon, proving it is a mass favorite.

2. Best Rated Matte Setting Spray:NYX Professional Make Up Matte Finish Fini Mat Setting Spray

4.4

The NYX Professional Make Up Matte Finish Fini Mat Setting Spray is a lightweight, comfortable makeup fixer. It instantly sets makeup and offers a day-long gorgeous and shine-free look. The formula is sensitive skin-friendly and is specifically formulated for all skin types. It contains Plantago Lanceolata leaf that has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains Mahonia Aquifolium flower extract, which is a natural source of salicylic acid that reduces acne breakouts. To get a better understanding of the product and a tester’s experience of using it, you can check out this video on YouTube.

Color: Matte Finish.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable
  • Breathable
  • Long-lasting matte finish
  • Suitable for all skin types

Cons

  • Unpleasant smell
  • May feel greasy on the face

protip_icon Pro Tip
Use a setting spray as a primer if you don’t have your primer around. It helps hold your makeup in place and also makes it last longer.

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

More than 85,356 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.

3. Best Setting Spray For Oily Skin:Rimmel London Stay Mat Fix & Go 2-in-1 Setting Spray

4.3

The Rimmel London Fix & Go 2-in-1 Setting Spray locks in makeup for the entire day. It also leaves a shine-free matte finish. You can use it along with or even before your makeup to absorb excess oil from the skin for a vibrant and radiant look. This makeup-extending spray prolongs and enhances the all-day wear of makeup with just one use, adding a timeless beauty charm to your makeup looks. Check out the review of this product for more information about the reviewer’s experience with it.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 5 x 1.78 x 5 inches | Weight: 0.27 Ounces

Pros

  • 2-in-1 action
  • Perfect fixer for oily skin
  • Matte finish
  • No cakey residue look

Cons

  • Consistency could be too thick

4. Best For Radiant Finish:Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray

4.4

The Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray locks in your makeup and keeps it intact all day long. You wouldn’t need any touch-up. Just a spritz of the spray fixes your look for up to 16 hours. It gives a matte, dewy finish. It reduces the appearance of imperfections, and prevents fading or smudging. This long-lasting illuminating spray leaves a cooling and refreshing look. It is an influencer-favorite product, receiving enthusiastic reviews for top-quality results on the regular.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches | Weight: 2.12 Ounces

Pros

  • 3-in-1 formula to prime, correct, and set
  • Gives a matte, dewy finish
  • Flawless finish
  • 100% vegan
  • Enhances complexion
  • A fine mist
  • Can be sprayed before or after makeup
  • Suitable for oily or sensitive skin

Cons

  • Poor quality spraying nozzles

Why We Think It's Worth Buying

The product has more than 28,178 reviews and is a top choice all around the world.

5. Best Long-Lasting Formula:L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Pro-Spray & Set

4.4

The L’Oreal Paris Makeup Infallible Pro-Spray & Set is a lightweight and oil-free mist that prevents fading or smudging. It also locks in your gorgeous makeup all day long. Just spray it from a distance of about 10 cm from your face, and you’re good to go. It does not feel sticky or tacky when applied. It dries up fast. This celebrity-endorsed spray easily keeps your makeup looking fresh for about 7 to 8 hours.

Color: Setting Spray | Product Dimensions: 5.41 x 1.69 x 5.41 inches | Weight: 4.66 Ounces

Pros

  • Ultra-lightweight mist
  • Oil-free
  • Non-comedogenic
  • Dermatologically-tested
  • Easy-to-use
  • Dries up quickly

Cons

  • Not suitable for skin that is too dry

6. Best Weightless Mist:Wet n Wild Photofocus Setting Spray

4.3
Wet N Wild Photo Focus Setting Spray Image: Wet N Wild

The Wet n Wild Photofocus Setting Spray is among the popular weightless mists for a natural finish. It works well with all types of skin. This exclusive formula makes your skin look flawless every time with no cakey coverage, no melting, and no creases. It contains aloe vera that keeps you hydrated, refreshed, and glowy, contributing to the charm of your statement-making makeup looks.

Skin Type: AllColor: Natural Seal the Deal | Product Dimensions: 1.65 x 1.65 x 3.94 inches | Weight: 1.5 Ounces

Pros

  • Weightless mist
  • Gives a natural finish
  • Hydrates skin
  • Works with any makeup
  • No cakey look
  • Contains emollient aloe vera

Cons

  • Not a soothing smell
  • Poor build quality

My Personal Experience

"This setting spray adds a healthy glow to skin and secures makeup effectively. It works quite similarl to those high-end sprays. It enhances makeup longevity without feeling heavy."


7. Wet n Wild Photofocus Primer Water

4.3
Wet N Wild Photo Focus Primer Water- Coconut Image: Wet N Wild

The expertly crafted e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set is enriched with skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, green tea, and vitamins A, C, and E that hydrate, soothe, and soften your skin. This setting spray is also infused with Arctium majus root which boosts anti-inflammatory benefits in your skin. This lightweight, budget-friendly formula controls your skin’s excess shine and imparts it with a matte finish. Suitable for all skin types, this setting spray is cruelty-free.

Skin Type: All | Product Dimensions: 1.66 x 1.66 x 3.94 inches | Weight: 0.02 Ounces

Pros

  • Ultra-lightweight mist
  • A 3-in-1 primer to prep, set, and refresh
  • Hydrating and nourishing
  • Brightens the appearance
  • Flawless finish
  • Cruelty-free
  • PETA-certified
  • Pleasant smell (of tropical coconut)

Cons

  • Not suitable for sensitive skin

8. Best Lightweight: e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set

4.4
e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set Image: Elf Cosmetics

The e.l.f. Matte Magic Mist & Set is enriched with skin-loving ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, green tea, and vitamins A, C, and E that hydrate, soothe, and soften your skin. This setting spray is also infused with Arctium majus root which boosts anti-inflammatory benefits in your skin. This lightweight, budget-friendly formula controls your skin’s excess shine and imparts it with a matte finish. Suitable for all skin types, this setting spray is cruelty-free.

Color: Black | Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 13.6 inches | Weight: 2.12 Ounces

Pros

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Controls shine
  • Provides a matte finish
  • Affordable
  • Cruelty-free
  • Phthalates-free
  • Parabens-free
  • Nonylphenol ethoxylates-free
  • Triclosan-free
  • Triclocarban-free
  • Hydroquinone-free

Cons

  • May take longer in drying

9. Best Smooth Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

4.5
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray Image: Charlotte Tilbury

As the name suggests the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray provides a creaseless makeup finish. The product is infused with tried-and-tested flawless film formers that create a shield over your makeup and help set it without fading or melting. The aloe vera and the Japanese green tea in the formula hydrate and soften your skin, while the aromatic resin unclogs your pores and fills your senses with a rejuvenating scent. This lightweight formula is oil-free and it lasts for 16 hours

Color: Clear | Product Dimensions: 6.38 x 1.65 x 2.2 inches | Weight: 6.38 Ounces.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Provides a flawless finish
  • Pleasant floral scent
  • Blurs pores
  • Long-lasting
  • Oil-free

Cons

None

10. Best Luxurious:Too Faced Hangover Rx 3-in-1 Setting Spray

4.6

The Too Face Hangover 3-in-1 Setting Spray is a weightless coconut water-infused mist that primes, sets, and refreshes the skin for a long-lasting makeup. The invigorating emollient coconut water hydrates, nourishes, and softens the skin. It is a perfect cure for a beauty hangover. The nourishing, refreshing formula gives a flawless finish to uplift your beauty.

Product Dimensions: 1.57 x 1.57 x 6.69 inches | Weight: 0.64 Ounces

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • A 3-in-1 solution in one spritz
  • Hydrating
  • Smoothens the skin
  • Paraben-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Alcohol-free
  • Oil-free

Cons

  • Expensive

11. Best Smudge-Proof: Self Beauty Uniconic Shield Fixer

4.2
Self Beauty Uniconic Shield Fixer Image: Self Beauty

The Self Beauty Uniconic Shield Fixer imparts a semi-matte finish to your face and makes your makeup appear dewy. The product contains hyaluronic acid that moisturizes your skin and keeps it feeling refreshed. It forms a two-layer coating over your makeup protecting it against sweat, oil, and environmental aggressors. This humidity-proof setting spray has a wide-angle dispenser and hygienic packaging allowing you to mist the product evenly to your face and it comes in a travel-friendly compact size. This formula is also smudge-proof.

Color: Matte | Product Dimensions: 1.46 x 1.46 x 5.31 inches | Weight: 5.64 Ounces.

Pros

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Provides a semi-matte finish
  • Sweat-resistant
  • Smudge-proof
  • Wide angle dispenser
  • Travel-friendly
  • Cruelty-free

Cons

None

12. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Makeup Setting Spray

The Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant is a weightless, non-sticky makeup setting spray that locks in the vibrant look in place for hours with no fading, melting, or a cakey appearance. It also does not show the fine lines. The antioxidant-rich transparent formula with peptides boosts skin’s radiance, maintains skin elasticity, and leaves skin looking radiant, vibrant, and refreshed.

Product Dimensions: 1.66 x 1.66 x 5.59 inches | Weight: 3.36 Ounces.

Pros

  • Weightless mist
  • Non-sticky formula
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Infused with peptides
  • Fine, cool mist
  • Leaves a brighter, glowy skin
  • Quick-drying
  • Dermatologist-tested
  • Protects the skin

Cons

  • Not suitable for sensitive skin

13. Catrice Cosmetics Prime & Fine Fixing Spray

4.3
Catrice Cosmetics Prime & Fine Fixing Spray Image: Catrice

The Catrice Cosmetics Prime & Fine Fixing Spray is a multitasker. It is a 3-in-1 fine mist that primes, sets, and refreshes the skin for a supple look. It absorbs instantly for a flawless finish. Shake and spray for freshening up your look and plumping up your skin.

Color: transparent.

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Vegan
  • Not tested on animals
  • All-rounder mist
  • Fast-absorbing
  • Refreshes the skin
  • Lightweight
  • Long-lasting flawless finish

Cons

  • A strong smell

14. pixi by petra Makeup Fixing Mist

4.5

pixi by petra is a prolonged makeup fixing mist that adds a soft-focus finish. The lightweight fixing spray provides long-lasting makeup wear with no melting or smudging. It also ensures the makeup does not settle into fine lines or pores. It is infused with rose water, willow bark, and green tea that hydrate, nourish, balance, and protect the skin.

Color: clear | Product Dimensions: 1.02 x 5.2 x 1.02 inches | Weight: 0.35 Ounces

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Boosts skin hydration
  • Balances makeup temperature
  • Powerful antioxidants protect the skin
  • Provides a fresh look

Cons

None

15. Makeup Forever Mist & Fix Makeup Setting Spray

4.3

These are the best makeup setting sprays available online that have received positive reviews from makeup enthusiasts and reviewers. These are effective yet lighter on your pocket. But before you make a purchase, it is important to know what you need to check for the right product.

Color: Multicolor

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Alcohol-free
  • Refreshes the skin
  • Rub-resistant
  • Sweat-proof
  • Locks-in moisture
  • Hydrates the skin
  • Protects skin from damage
  • Boosts oxygen supply to the skin tissue

Cons

  • Not suitable for oily skin

These are the makeup setting sprays available online. These are effective yet lighter on your pocket. But before you make a purchase, it is important to know what you need to check in the right product.

Tips To Choose The Right Product

  • Pick a lightweight formula that won’t be cakey on your face.
  • If you have dry skin, do not choose easy drying fixing sprays as they may dry your makeup further. Avoid a mist that contains alcohol.
  • Choose an illuminating setting spray that is hydrating, nourishing, and restores skin balances.
  • If you have oily skin, choose an oil-free, non-comedogenic matte spray.

Lorrie Pearson, a professional makeup artist, says, “When choosing a setting spray, it is important to find one that is easy to use, light weight and will help keep your makeup in place. There are so many on the market that do different things, but think about what you want as the end result, more hydration or staying power? Then try different ones to discover the best for you.”

Infographic: How To Choose The Right Drugstore Setting Spray

Setting sprays have entirely changed the makeup industry. They help your makeup stay put for hours without fading, smudging, or melting. However, it is essential your setting spray suits your skin type, makeup needs, and desired finish. Check out the infographic below for some important points to keep in mind before buying one.

How To Choose The Right Drugstore Setting Spray (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

The Bottom Line

There is nothing more frustrating than leaving your house with the perfect makeup and seeing it disappear shortly afterward. To let your makeup stay flawless all day long, you do not have to spend a bomb because plenty of drugstore makeup setting sprays are available on the market. If you have dry skin, go for the Mario Badescu Facial Spray, while the NYX Professional Make Up Matte Finish Fini Mat Setting Spray is most ideal for oily and sensitive skin types. You can also try the Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray for a refreshed look with a matte finish. These drugstore sprays not only keep your makeup in place all day long but also revives dehydrated skin and are gentle. We recommend you opt for a non-comedogenic formula if you have oily skin.

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Baishali Bhattacharya, the author of this article, is certified in makeup artistry. She has a keen interest in various makeup products. She has done thorough research, read many online reviews, and compiled a list of the best drugstore setting sprays. These sprays are a must-have for a flawless makeup look throughout the day. The best part is these fall into an affordable range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better – a primer or a setting spray?

Either a primer or a setting spray can help fix your makeup for the entire day. But applying a primer in lieu or before makeup helps smooth out your appearance and masks the fine lines.

Is a fixing spray the same as a setting spray?

Yes, both the types of sprays serve the same purpose.

How do I make the setting spray last longer?

Once you are ready with the makeup, shake the bottle and spray it on your face from a distance of 6 to 8 inches. This allows for a long-lasting wear.

Can you use a setting spray every day?

Yes, you can use a setting spray regularly. If you want your makeup to last longer than usual, using this product is a must.

Is translucent powder better than setting spray?

No, a setting spray offers coverage to every part of your face. A translucent powder usually absorbs oil from key areas and focuses on the high points of your face.

Should I apply setting spray before or after makeup?

You must apply a setting spray after you are done with your makeup. The setting spray will keep your makeup intact even during harsh weather conditions.

Does a setting spray cause acne?

No, a setting spray does not cause acne. The makeup that you are using may give rise to acne symptoms and clog pores, but a setting spray does not contribute to the same.

How long do setting sprays last?

Different brands have different expiration dates but the product usually lasts from 12 to 14 months.


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