Does your make up slip south in the summer? We reveal the best sprays on the market to keep your face in place
Although setting spray is often dismissed as frivolous, it’s not. It is an essential for summer. It refreshes your make-up, holds it in place and is good for your skin. Not to mention it’s a real multitasker, I wouldn’t dream of going on holiday without it – taking the place of a primer, powder, and eyeshadow as well as being a godsend on a long plane journey.
We reveal the top five products to stop your make-up from budging, whatever the weather.
1. Avon Makeup Setting Spray
They say: Helps set foundation, blush and eye make-up in place. Micro-fine mist dries quickly to an invisible finish. A non-sticky formula infused with vitamins A, C and E.
We say: Often overlooked in the search for the Holy Grail of make-up, Avon has come up trumps. It is head and shoulders above anything of a similar price, but it’s not just “good for the price”, it’s just good. This is a no-fuss, does-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin sort of product, which, while everyone else is bragging about their magic minerals and futuristic technology, is just getting the job done. As one might expect, the lower price means that the bottle isn’t quite as pretty, and could be easily overlooked at first glance. This would be a big mistake, it sticks everything down, and got me through a whole day at the beach without budging. Quickly pushing its way to the front of my collection, this is a sure-bet if you need lasting power. On days when I’m doing my make-up on the go, I use this, instead of water, to saturate my sponge, giving it a place in every version of my routine.
Makeup Setting Spray, £6, Avon, avonshop.co.uk
2. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
They say: It helps prevent melting and fading to keep your make-up looking gorgeously just-applied with a soft-focus finish for up to 16 hours. And it’s perfect for all skin types.
We say: Undeniably cool; a combination of the purple-accented packaging and the suggestion that I might make it through 16 hours of partying. But, with its style comes some very real substance. It really does last. Think hairspray for your face but without the ickyness and you’ll be close to the effect. You can be confident that, whatever you put your face through, once this is on, even the most painstakingly detailed make-up will survive. It is the super hard-core answer to lasting make-up; a best friend not only to a night out but also to the long day in the office and the commute to get there. Want to make it through a long-haul flight and still look gorgeous? This is how. No matter how hot the weather might get, All Nighter has you covered. And just in case you want to branch out further, Urban Decay do two others (Chill and De-Slick) to cater for all your setting spray needs.
All Nighter Setting Spray, £21, Urban Decay,urbandecay.co.uk
3. Make Up Forever Mist & Fix
They say: This light and comfortable mist seals the make-up and keeps it in place by coating the skin with a weightless and invisible film. The mist provides a continuous protection for the make-up and skin against external attacks (pollution, temperature variations) by creating a colourless and imperceptible shield made from active hydrating ingredients.
We say: This product will irrevocably change your routine for all seasons. No longer are you stuck faffing around with powder and brushes, with one quick spray you can have absolute confidence that your make-up will stay in place all-day. I was somewhat dubious at first. It doesn’t look remarkably different to any of the other setting sprays I’ve tried — there is no fancy, frilly packaging or noticeable scent. But the nozzle disperses the product evenly across your face in a couple of sprays, drying almost immediately. It lives up to its claim that it moisturises the skin and manages to feel hydrating without smudging mascara, or moving freshly applied concealer. Once set, it stays frozen in place all-day with no trace of movement – even the notorious crème blushers stay put.
Mist & Fix Setting Spray, £19, Make Up Forever,makeupforever.com
4. Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray
They say: This spray quickly and easily works to treat and replenish thirsty skin, restoring skin’s moisture equilibrium, and boosting firmness via a bio-activated hydrating complex. Appropriate for all skin types, it absorbs quickly, leaving skin soft and smooth to the touch.
We say: This is not here to glue your make-up to your face. Instead, it does something a little more innovative, it rehydrates. It softens a look that might yet besummer-ready. It changes your make-up from feeling heavy and over-done, to fresh and bright. The packaging is stunning. Simple, clean and a pleasing neutral pink with silver accents, it would be welcome on any dressing table. Clinique have incorporated their affinity for luxury skincare into their make-up range allowing for a product that is effective at doing its job, but also feels distinctly good for you. It feels a little thicker than your average setting spray, and leaves a noticeably smooth and hydrated finish. This is, of course, ideal both with and without make-up, and is a great pick-me-up on a long day. The hydration comes without any oil, so you’ve no fear of being an oily mess. If going for the natural summer look, this is your best friend, allowing for effortless beauty.
Moisture Surge Face Spray Thirsty Skin Relief, £22, Clinique, clinique.co.uk
5. MAC Prep + Prime Fix +
They say: A lightweight, mineral-rich finishing mist that refreshes the skin and finishes make-up. It helps create an even surface for a smooth make-up application.
We say: The most versatile member of the fixing spray family, this could become a summer beauty essential, as it involves carting around fewer products. A long established people’s favourite, it has not lost its edge. Dispensed in a fine mist from the bottle, it spreads quickly and evenly across the face. The bottle can then be locked to prevent it going everywhere in a bag. The liquid itself is light and soothing, drying in seconds. It goes on wonderfully as both a first and last step in the make-up application process, this “make-up sandwich” keeps your make-up fresh and long lasting. You can also intensify your eyeshadow by spraying a little on a blending brush, negating the use of an eyeshadow primer. But it’s also dangerous— you move fast from saving it as a finishing touch for special occasions to not being able to leave the house without getting your fix. Not that you need to leave without it, it comes in a handy travel size.
Prep + Prime Fix +, £17, MAC, maccosmetics.co.uk