When your skin is acting up, turn to this Tower 28 mist. Formulated with sensitive skin in mind, this cult-favorite spray contains hypochlorous acid, an ingredient naturally produced by the body to fight redness and irritation, along with a whole slew of other pH-balancing components. It's even received the National Eczema Association's Seal of Acceptance, so you know it's safe for all skin types. Whether you experience chronically dry skin or need a boost of hydration in the cooler months, this alcohol-free setting spray from MAC is a product you’ll want to have on hand. Beauty products that contain a high level of alcohol (when it’s one of the first few ingredients listed) are known to strip your skin of moisture — a total no-no for people with dry complexions. This spray has a milky consistency that both looks and feels hydrating when spritzed on top of our makeup without causing our skin to appear oily. And better yet, it has blue-light and pollution protection to shield your skin from those irritants you never stop to think about. We noticed a visibly smoother texture once the mist had sunken into our skin, blurring texture and keeping our makeup looking fresh all day (yes, we really can attest to its staying power). For any content that you submit, you grant Space NK a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, transferable right and license to use, copy, modify, delete in its entirety, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from and/or sell and/or distribute such content and/or incorporate such content into any form, medium or technology throughout the world without compensation to you. Because of its damp texture, the tester says that her makeup transferred a little bit. "All in all, it was waterproof, but I noticed some of my makeup on the towel I used to blot my face during testing," she explains. "My foundation still looked untouched, though, which is all I care about." How it’s held up: We’ve found ourselves incorporating this setting spray into our daily routine, with everything from priming and setting spritzes to spraying our sponges to blend and set our makeup flawlessly. We’d go so far as to say that this would be a great option for people doing bridal or full-glam makeup, thanks to its long staying power and texture-smoothing results.

When it comes to selecting the right formula, professional makeup artist Jonet Williamson suggests starting with the ingredient list. From there, you can tailor it to your skin's needs and your glam style. While formulas containing alcohol can prolong makeup, they can be irritating, especially if you use it everyday. Be aware that a little goes a long way and, if you're sensitive to alcohol-based products, look for an alcohol-free formula. How it’s held up: We’re still reaching for this setting spray even after months of use, and we especially like it to liven up our skin after dusting our foundation with a light layer of powder for some extra staying power. This light hit of moisture brings a subtle glow to our skin without making us look oily — the perfect balance between moisturized and mattified. Makeup artists always have setting sprays in their kits, especially bridal makeup artists,” admits Carly Utting. “We need the client’s makeup to stay put throughout the day so a setting spray is a must for any makeup application.” Is finishing powder or setting spray better? Despite the rave review, there is one con: The nozzle. It broke for some users, causing either too much product to come out or none at all. "The mist came out a little aggressively, so you need to be careful with the nozzle," our tester shares. As someone with a passionate love of makeup (I wear foundation, blusher, eyeshadow, liquid liner on the reg) AND an oily T-zone, I am well-placed to test the effectiveness of setting sprays that stop everything sliding southwards by lunchtime. For the last few weeks, I have been testing sprays, assessing which ones helped to keep my makeup in place over the course of a full 8-hour work day. Some of the setting sprays on this list have been in my own makeup arsenal for years, and naturally these are ones that rank highly.that is, or may reasonably be considered to be submitted in extreme volumes and as such be deemed as ‘spam’; Nydia Figueroa is a celebrity makeup artist and beauty director at Miss New Jersey Earth and Fashion Gxd Magazine. She has been featured on various outlets, including Nylon, Allure, and The Dr. Oz Show. How We Tested Whether you reach for it every time you do your makeup or just when you plan to dance, sweat, or spend time in the hot, humid sun, you're wise to keep a bottle in your arsenal. When you're done with your makeup, aim the nozzle of the spray a few inches away from your face, mist in a zig-zag motion to allow the product to settle over all your features, dry and go. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. Our only criticism was that for a “pore-minimizing” setting spray, we’d hoped it would more significantly blur our pores. While this spray doesn’t entirely erase the look of pores, it certainly smooths out texture and creates a radiant glow on your face, all while sinking into and preserving your makeup for the long day ahead.How it’s held up: Even after six months, we are still loving this spray. We’re thankful that it comes in a big bottle (4 oz .version), because we still haven't run out and feel like we’re getting our money’s worth. The spray bottle's nozzle is powerful and each spritz is pretty potent, especially when used up close. To avoid an uneven application, hold the bottle eight to 10 inches away from your face and spray it a couple times in an X and T formation.

We're not the first to say it and we certainly won't be the last: You don't need to spend a ton of money to find beauty products that actually work. Case in point: Kim Kardashian once shared that she swears by Pixi Beauty's glycolic acid toner, proving that the London-based brand doesn't mess around when it comes to high-quality formulations. Unsurprisingly, the line's makeup-fixing mist is stellar — it prolongs makeup wear and keeps it from melting, even when temps reach triple digits. Though hypochlorous acid is the hero ingredient, it gives the spray a chlorine-like fragrance — but that disappears as it dries. However, because of how effective this spray is at calming and refreshing angry skin, chances are, you'll be willing to overlook it. Milk Makeup (otherwise known as the MVP of the beauty industry) is built on the ethos that you should #LiveYourLook, rather than just wear it. Understanding that cosmetics are a way of expressing yourself, the brand dreams up products with powerful pigments and skin-saving ingredients. From fan-favourites (we’re talking about the KUSH Mascara and Vegan Milk Moisturiser, of course) to new arrivals, this covetable collection has your covered.

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What’s better than a product that not only seals in your makeup for the day, but is kind to your skin, too? This ultra-lightweight setting spray from Tower 28 doubles as an alcohol-free pH-balancing toner, which counters redness, works well with acne-prone skin, and is non-drying. We were intrigued by this multi-hyphenate product and challenged this skin-friendly spray with our water and towel test, both of which were passed with flying colors. You can even use this spray at different steps of the makeup process besides just the last one, misting your face before moisturizing as a toner or spritzing your skin to prime and prep.

There are so many formulas to consider, and not all are created equal. To help you find the perfect setting spray for your skin type, we enlisted the help of a handful of reviewers to research the most popular options and try them out firsthand in our lab. We spritzed our way through 28 setting sprays — keeping finish, formula and lasting power top of mind — to find the 11 best options. In the end, the Benefit Cosmetics Super Setter Pore-Minimizing Setting Spray caught our attention because of its pore-blurring finish and long-lasting hold, even after being splashed with water. This product has many great qualities for hydration, but we do wish it was a little more long-lasting. We noticed that it wasn’t entirely preventing our makeup from smudging through the water and towel test, but it did still make us feel refreshed and beautiful. Perhaps opt for this one if you don’t typically wear a ton of makeup or simply want to freshen up your skin throughout the day. Though it wasn't fast-drying, this reasonably priced option from L'Oréal passed our splash test and definitely helped our makeup stay intact. Unfortunately, one of our testers experienced a burning sensation and found the smell unpleasant. Setting spray can be used in multiple ways,” explains Carly Utting, National Artist M·A·C Cosmetics UK & Ireland. “I use it as the last step in my makeup application after I have powdered. However, during the warmer months, I like to spritz my makeup sponge with setting spray and use it to apply foundation for added staying power.”Aside from the obvious glam-extending benefits, I wanted to select a variety of makeup setting sprays that would serve different skin types - for example, mattifying ingredients for oily complexions. The actual applicator was also a big consideration for me. Heavy-handed pumps that soaked the face were ruled out, while delicate aerosol mists ranked highly. What is left is a list of the 10 best makeup setting sprays that work for all skin types. Do professional makeup artists use setting spray? If you're looking for a setting spray that doesn't budge for all day and into the night, this is the one to grab. Ideal for big events, Lawless Beauty's lightweight mist keeps makeup looking freshly applied for hours on end — 16 to be exact. Unlike other sprays, it extends the life of your makeup without causing it to cake, crease, or settle into fine lines, which is great news for those with mature skin. The formula contains spherical elastomer powder, an ingredient known to absorb oil and reduce shine, as well as a blend of essential oils to refresh the skin. We noticed that this spray seemed to melt into our foundation and even appeared to shrink the size of our pores, giving us a natural, glowing look. This setting spray is completely waterproof and kept our makeup looking pristine, even after splashing our face with water. There was also minimal transfer to the towel we used to dry off, which was quite impressive.