From Huda Beauty to Charlotte Tilbury, these are the best setting sprays to keep makeup looking flawless all day, no matter how hot it gets
With temperatures soaring as summer fast approaches, keeping makeup looking fresh can feel like an impossible task. And that’s exactly where a great setting spray comes in.
Designed to lock makeup looks in place, setting sprays act as an invisible shield over liquid or powder formulas, helping to blur imperfections, control shine, and extend wear time, no matter how hot it gets. They can also be used to prime ahead of makeup, or between layers of makeup to help products ‘melt’ into the skin for a seamless blend.
Whether used for a wedding, on holiday, or a daily commute, a few spritzes can make all the difference between a flawless finish that lasts all day and a midday meltdown. But with so many on the market, it can be hard to know which shoppers can rely on.
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Our team of beauty buffs have tried and tested their fair share of setting sprays over the years and have rounded up the very best to keep makeup looking application-fresh all day. Some, like Urban Decay’s have been beloved by makeup fans for years, while new launches from Huda Beauty have impressed shoppers straight off the bat.
These are our team’s top setting sprays that will see any full glam survive hours on end – even in the height of a heatwave.
Beth’s pick: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Setting Spray – £28
Huda Beauty’s newly launched Easy Bake Setting Spray, the brand’s first-ever setting mist, is the ultimate heatwave essential. Inspired by the cult-favourite Easy Bake Loose Powder, this alcohol- and fragrance-free formula locks makeup in place for up to 16 hours while delivering a soft-focus, blurred finish that’s both transfer-proof and shine-controlling.
Packed with skincare benefits, it’s infused with five types of hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate, mineral clay to keep excess oil at bay, and rice starch to soothe and smooth the skin. The mist feels so lightweight which helps makeup meld seamlessly into the skin without looking overly matte or too dewy — perfect for that natural, flawless look even in sweltering temperatures, no matter what skin type.
Plus, it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and suitable for all skin types, making it a standout pick for summer. I’ve been throwing the travel-sized version in my handbag for on-the-go refreshes. The only downside is that the bottle can be a little leaky – however, I’ve seen Huda is actively listening to feedback to improve the packaging, too, which is great to hear.
Lauren’s pick: Fenty Beauty You Mist Setting Spray – £28
I’ve been eager to try Rihanna’s highly-praised Fenty Beauty range for some time, so when the new You Mist Setting Spray arrived on my desk, I was thrilled. Having tested it for more than two months, it’s officially one of my new favourite beauty additions.
The product claims to render makeup sweat and water-resistant, and aside from a few exceptionally perspiring nights on the dancefloor, it has certainly delivered. My makeup remains impeccable all day without the weighty or tacky sensation that some setting sprays induce.
It also incorporates wild thyme extract, providing a revitalising lift — particularly useful as the temperature begins to rise. Plus, the muted pink bottle is a pretty addition to my vanity table.
Phoebe’s pick: Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray – £23.60
I’ve been using the Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray for over a decade, so it’s safe to say I’m clearly obsessed with it. The best-selling setting spray is suitable for all skin types and has a ‘waterproof, smudge-proof and transfer-proof’ formula with temperature control technology.
Urban Decay claims the spray will ‘lock makeup into place for up to 16 hours’, which I’ve found to be true. I’ve tried a few setting sprays over the years, but All Nighter is the only one that has successfully made my makeup stay put from 7am until 11pm without the need to touch up, even in hot temperatures. It ensures my makeup provides lasting full coverage and keeps my highlighter glowing all day.
The only downside to the All Nighter Setting Spray is that, when I used it for the very first time, it made my non-waterproof mascara transfer slightly under my eyes. This was easily solved by using the spray first and letting it set before applying my mascara to complete my look. LookFantastic is currently offering the setting spray on sale for £23.60, down from £29.50.
Eve’s pick: ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow Spray – £25
I love a multi-tasking setting spray that can not only keep make-up in tact throughout the day, but one which can also be used as a primer for make-up as well as to keep skin well hydrated as the day goes on. And one which I’ve been using for a few years now is the ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow spray which is £25 at Sephora.
Firstly, the formula looks beautiful – once shaken that is. It becomes a glittery, iridescent dancing liquid that is mesmerising to look at and once applied leaves skin with a subtle shimmer.
Of course, it also does the job of keeping make-up in place for hours on end – I’ve worn it to many weddings, which we all know is a good 12 hour stint for make-up – and it’s done its job.
While the spray is great for setting make-up, it’s got some lovely skincare benefits too that throughout the afternoon revive skin to be bouncy, hydrated and, well, better.
Rich in Antioxidants, Green Tea and Vitamin E and packed with cucumber and chamomile extracts, the formula conditions and nourishes skin to leave anyone looking revitalised and glowing – plus, caffeine in the product claims to help combat dark circle under the eyes (although I’ve not seen this for myself personally).
While the scent didn’t bother me, for some customers it was a bit too overpowering. One thing I will say, though, is that the applicator is a bit strong – ‘aggressive’, as one reviewer put – which isn’t the most enjoyable experience when applying it to the face. To combat this, I’ve taken to spraying the ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow onto a beauty blender and applying it that way. This way I can avoid getting the product in my eyes too.
Tiffany’s pick: L’Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray – £8.99
When L’Oreal launched a new makeup setting spray, I wasn’t sure if the name of the product delivered what it said on the tin but how wrong was I.
The L’Oreal Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray is a high performance spray that locks in makeup for up to 36 hours and it is sweatproof, waterproof and transfer-proof. As someone with combination skin, my forehead and nose tend to get shiny when the pressed powder wears off so a setting spray would be helpful in blotting the oil and keeping my makeup intact.
The micro-fine mist settled quickly on my face and as I tested, it dried in three seconds and created a veil-like protection that stops any foundation from transferring onto a tissue paper. Some people found it greasy on skin but that has not been a problem to me.
However, I agreed with others who mentioned that it smells like a hair spray, and I would prefer one from Charlotte Tilbury in this aspect, but given it’s £8.99 on Amazon, I didn’t mind it at all.
Lucy’s pick: Morphe Continuous Setting Mist – £17
I hate a setting spray that takes ages to dry, or leaves my face feeling overly wet causing my makeup to run. The Morphe Continuous Mist setting spray is the lightest product I’ve tried, with a micro-fine mist that prevents my makeup melting or caking.
The packaging isn’t anything to write home about, however, the product itself is five stars, in my opinion. It doesn’t leave a sticky tack after application and shoppers can even layer it throughout the day without it looking oily. Leaving a radiant and glowing finish, rather than matte, it is £17 at full price but shoppers can currently get it on sale at Boots for £14.40.
Harriet’s pick: e.l.f Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray – £10
Setting spray is hands down my go-to product all year round, come rain or shine. As someone with quite dry skin, I rely on the e.l.f Power Grip setting spray to not only keep my makeup in place all day, but give it a subtle dewy glow. I’ve bought this e.l.f one on two different occasions now for a quick and more affordable option to my previous Urban Decay favourite, as it’s £13.60 cheaper.
A perk for me, and what sets it apart from other products I’ve used, is the hidden skincare (a personal favourite). The Power Grip is boosted with 5% aloe, and hyaluronic acid, a product which helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles over time.
However, my one gripe with this product (and I suppose something that comes with the cheaper price) is the spray bottle. It doesn’t give off an even fine mist, so I have to spray the product onto a beauty blender and then dab into the skin, otherwise I’ve found dots of wet marks on foundation – which isn’t good.
