You primed your skin and laid your contour in the A.M., yet it’s creased and faded well before dinnertime. Sound familiar? It may be time to add setting spray or setting powder into your routine. These finishing-touch formulas are like insurance for your makeup, keeping your look secure and fresh for longer.
Ahead, we compare setting spray vs. powder, share how to use them, and offer our best setting spray and powder recommendations to add to your makeup bag.
Setting Spray vs. Powder
A setting spray is a face mist designed to set your makeup in place. Similarly, setting powder refers to a loose or pressed powder that helps lock in the rest of your face makeup. Consistency is the biggest differentiator between the two, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Both types of setting products can help keep your makeup masterpieces from smudging and fading while providing additional beauty benefits (think plump-looking skin or blurred pores), depending on the formula.
When determining which setting product is right for you, consider your skin type. Dry or combination skin is often more receptive to hydrating setting spray, while oily skin may require a more absorbent makeup setting powder to help combat shine. You can also use the two together (setting powder, then spray) for even more staying power.
What Is Setting Spray?
Makeup setting spray is a water-based mist that extends the wear of your makeup. Depending on the type of formula chosen, some setting sprays work double duty to help mattify your skin, impart a glowy finish, or add an extra dose of moisture.
What Is Setting Powder?
Available in loose or pressed form, setting powder is lightly dusted on top of your makeup to boost its longevity. A setting powder may appear similar to a classic powder, but the former often has a thicker consistency, while the latter is lighter and more finely milled to give skin a soft, smooth texture.
Types of Makeup Setting Spray
Setting sprays can be categorized by both finish (dewy, matte, or radiant) and by feature (waterproofing, oil-controlling, etc.). There are many combinations of finishes and features, which means there is a multitude of setting sprays you can pick from. For example, you can have a dewy waterproof spray or a matte shine-reducing mist—and those are far from your only options. Which makeup setting spray is best ultimately depends on your desired result.
Matte Setting Spray
Those who have shine-prone skin or are exposed to humid climates will fare best with mattifying setting sprays that can help control excess oil. Of course, some people also simply prefer a super matte look. If that’s you, a matte setting spray is a must.
Try Marshmellow Matte Setting Spray, which is a perfect complement to our Marshmellow Smoothing Primer. This 10-in-1 marshmallow root extract spray mattifies, smooths, reduces shine, minimizes pores, and extends makeup wear by up to 16 hours. It also has an irresistible (but not overpowering) marshmallow scent. Sweet!
Dewy Setting Spray
Whether you live in an arid environment or have naturally drier skin, a dewy finish setting spray can be an excellent option for restoring moisture and adding a natural sheen to your complexion. You’ll notice that skin instantly takes on a healthier, revitalized appearance.
Our Dewy Finish Setting Spray gives you a fresh-faced, dewy makeup look that’s never greasy or oily. Or, if plumpness is your goal, you can’t go wrong with our electrolyte-infused Plump Finish Setting Spray. The supercharged formula offers up to 24-hour wear, reduces makeup transfer and smudging, and helps keep your makeup looking fresh all day long.
Radiant Setting Spray
Radiance-boosting sprays contain luminescent pigments that catch and reflect the light, adding a lit-from-within glow to your complexion. Use this type of spray to set your everyday makeup, beautifully enhance sparkly eye looks, or give skin a luxe finish on special occasions, like festivals or holidays.
Help your skin shine bright with The Radiant Finish Setting Spray. Boasting ultra-fine micropearls in gold and warm champagne, this spritz will lend your skin a warm, sunkissed glow. We recommend shaking the bottle well before each use to disperse the pearlescent particles evenly.
Waterproof Setting Spray
Waterproof setting sprays are H2O-, sweat-, and heat-resistant and can help your makeup stand up to the elements (or your gym routine). A few spritzes can help everything from your foundation to your eye pencil stay put. They’re not just for beach days either, we also recommend reaching for a waterproof spray to keep makeup from melting in super hot weather. Not all setting sprays are waterproof, though, so be sure to check your product’s label to confirm, preferably before you put it to the test in the pool.
Pro Tip: Try “sandwiching” your waterproof setting spray for added endurance. With this application technique, you set every layer of makeup individually, which is ideal for high temps. Just spritz a small amount of setting spray onto your skin after your primer and then between every layer of foundation, concealer, and powder to get the benefits.
Setting Spray for Oily Skin
There’s a fine line between dewy and greasy. If you struggle with slick-looking skin, oil-controlling setting sprays are for you. They often feature astringents or vitamins that help minimize the appearance of pores and reduce the look of oily skin.
A great grease-nixing option is our Matte Finish Setting Spray. This breathable vegan mist instantly absorbs oil and reduces the appearance of shine. Best of all, it’ll keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours without settling into (and emphasizing) fine lines.
How to Use Setting Spray
It’s easy to think setting sprays are just a spray-and-go situation, but that’s not quite right. The distance you hold them and where you aim them can make all the difference. Ahead are a few things to know when using setting sprays.
- After applying all your makeup, reach for your preferred finishing spray and shake it thoroughly.
- Position the bottle about six to eight inches from your face and lightly mist it onto your skin in an “X” motion (diagonally, from jawline to forehead), using one spritz per area of your face.
- When skin is slightly damp but not drenched from the spray, let the formula air dry.
Pro Tip: One of the best things about setting spray for makeup is how portable it is. We recommend stashing one in your purse whenever you need a refresh. Even better if you snag a travel-size bottle.
Types of Makeup Setting Powder
As mentioned earlier, both loose and pressed setting powder for makeup exist—but you’ll also have to decide between a pigmented or colorless powder. Here’s what to know about each, plus our favorite types of NYX Professional Makeup setting powder.
Translucent Setting Powder
Translucent makeup setting powder is ideal if you’re happy with your coverage and just want to control shine or add a soft-focus effect to your look. Think of these powders as a blurring filter in real life.
Our Studio Finishing Powder is a 100% pure mineral silica finishing powder that can set your foundation or be worn alone. The luminous white powder goes on neutral and works on all skin tones. A word of advice: A little goes a long way, so start with less than you’d normally apply—you can always add more if needed.
Tinted Setting Powder
For additional coverage on top of your makeup, opt for a tinted setting powder that matches your foundation. Besides budge-proofing your makeup, some powder formulas can help reduce redness or visibly brighten your skin.
Our silky-soft Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Setting Powder has a feather-light, tinted formula that absorbs oil and adds a smooth matte finish. Another option for providing a subtle hint of color and just enough coverage is our Mineral Finishing Powder.
Setting Powder for Oily vs. Dry Skin
Both skin types can use tinted, translucent, loose, or pressed powders. However, those with oily skin will want to look for formulas with absorbent minerals like silica or iron oxides. If you have dry skin, on the other hand, you should seek out powders with moisturizing agents such as hyaluronic acid or vitamin E to help prevent the powder from flaking or settling into fine lines.
How to Use Setting Powder
Pinpointing your perfect setting powder is only one piece of the puzzle; how to apply it is another. Here’s how to use setting powder properly to increase your makeup’s lifespan.
- Similar to setting spray for makeup, setting powder should be the last product applied in your routine. For best results, apply the powder when your foundation or concealer is still wet. This helps the products bond together for a seamless, long-lasting effect.
- Swirl a large, fluffy brush over pressed powder (or lightly dip it into loose powder), and gently shake off any excess.
- Dust the brush over your T-Zone (forehead, nose, and chin), and move on to other areas where you tend to see more shine.
- Allow your powder to settle into your skin for about 60 seconds.
- Top it off with setting spray, if desired.
Final Insights: Setting Spray vs. Setting Powder
Setting spray vs. powder doesn’t have to be an either/or situation. Many makeup lovers actually choose to use both to stretch the life of their makeup looks even further.
If you do wish to pick between spray and powder, know that there isn’t a right or wrong choice. Both are great for extending makeup longevity. Either way, a dependable setting formula of some sort is a must for your makeup collection. To pick the right product(s), consider your skin type, desired finish, and what benefits you want.
Pro Tip: If you need a new foundation or concealer to go with your setting spray or powder, test out our full range using our virtual try-on tool.
Next: How to Pick the Right Makeup Primer.
Do you lock in your looks using NYX Professional Makeup setting spray or powder? Post the results on social media and tag us @nyxcosmetics.
PRODUCTS USED
MARSHMELLOW SETTING SPRAY
Marshmellow matte setting spray that lasts up to 16 hours makeup wear
