What You’ll Learn
- Apply setting powder while your foundation or concealer is still wet to help the products bind, let the powder settle about 60 seconds, then finish with a mist to seamlessly "melt" layers together for longer wear.
- Spray like a pro: hold the setting spray bottle 6 to 8 inches from your face, mist in an X motion, use one spritz per area, and stop when skin is slightly damp not drenched for the best finish.
- Match ingredients to needs: pick finishing powders with silica or iron oxides for oil control, powders with hyaluronic acid or vitamin E for dry skin, niacinamide in dewy setting sprays sprays, electrolytes/vitamins in plumping sprays, and film-formers for true waterproof lock.
- Some translucent mineral finishing powders look luminous white in the pan but read neutral on skin, so start with very little to avoid a white cast or flashback.
You primed your skin and applied your contour perfectly in the morning, 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 powder vs. setting spray, 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 helps blend your makeup into your skin, ensuring a smooth, flawless-looking finish. Setting sprays also help to lock makeup in place, extending the longevity of your look. 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. These differ from finishing sprays, which are designed solely to help prevent smudging, fading, or transferring throughout the day.
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. Loose setting powders can also be used to bake your makeup and help prevent creasing throughout the day. Though they’re sometimes confused with finishing powders, the two products differ—setting powders help keep makeup in place, while finishing powders simply help blur the skin to create a smooth, airbrushed-like finish.
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 are a multitude of setting sprays to choose from. For example, you can have a dewy waterproof setting spray or a matte shine-reducing mist—and those are far from your only options. Ultimately, which makeup setting spray is best 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 spray with marshmallow root extract 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.
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, glowier appearance.
Our Dewy Finish Setting Spray gives you a fresh-faced, dewy makeup look that’s never greasy or oily. It’s formulated with skin-loving niacinamide and helps lock in your makeup for up to 16 hours while preventing your products from settling into fine lines.
Plump finish setting spray
If you want your skin to look and feel hydrated, our Plump Finish Setting Spray might be the perfect choice for you. This lightweight setting spray contains five electrolytes and vitamins (aloe, magnesium, zinc, citric acid, and biotin) and leaves the skin feeling moisturized and healthy, never oily. Plus, it helps keep your makeup looking fresh for up to 24 hours while reducing fading, smudging, and transferring.
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.
For a waterproof setting spray that’ll hold up no matter where your day takes you, we recommend The Face Glue Setting Spray. The long-lasting formula contains powerful film formers that help lock down your look, keeping your makeup intact for up to 24 hours.
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.
Setting spray for dry skin
If your skin is on the drier side, a hydrating setting spray will be your best friend. These formulas can help to give your skin the moisture it craves while ensuring your carefully-applied makeup holds up throughout the day.
One of our favorite setting sprays for dry skin is the Bare With Me Multitasking Makeup Spray. It’s formulated with aloe and cucumber extracts and delivers a burst of hydration for dewy, fresh-feeling skin. You can even use it to refresh your makeup (and quench your skin) throughout the day.
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 from your face 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 Mattifying Pressed 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.
Loose setting powder
Loose setting powders are finely-milled formulas that come packaged loose in a jar, rather than pressed in a compact. You can use these formulas to set your entire face, but they’re particularly well-suited to baking certain areas to ensure a smooth, crease-free finish. See for yourself with the translucent Studio Finishing Powder or lightly-tinted Mineral Finishing Powder. Keep in mind that with loose powders, it’s easy to overapply product, so start slowly and be sure to brush away any excess powder when you’re done with your routine.
Pressed setting powder
Pressed setting powders, as you can probably guess, come pressed in a compact, much like a blush or bronzer. These formulas are ideal for reducing shine, blurring pores and lines, and giving the skin a smoother appearance. To put the perfect finishing touch on your matte makeup look, reach for the High Definition Finishing Powder, which comes in three shades: translucent (for setting), yellow (for brightening), and green (for neutralizing redness).
Mattifying setting powder
If your skin tends to get shiny throughout the day, you may want to consider setting your makeup with a matte setting powder. These formulas are specifically designed to absorb oil and minimize the appearance of shine, resulting in a smooth, velvety-looking finish. Among our favorites in this category is the Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Mattifying Pressed Powder, which contains oil-absorbing rice powder. Lightly sweep it onto oily areas for lasting shine control without a dry or cakey finish.
Shimmer setting powder
Last but not least are shimmer setting powders, which (as you can probably guess) contain pearlescent or shimmery pigments in their formula. These setting powders aren’t quite as popular as traditional options, as it can be easy to go overboard with the shimmer. However, they can be a great pick for those who want to add strategic shimmer to specific areas or give their skin an all-over, softly-lit glow.
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.
Should you use setting spray before or after powder?
If you choose to use both a setting spray and a powder, you’ll want to be sure you layer your products properly to ensure a smooth, even finish. Generally speaking, it’s best to save setting spray for the final step in your routine, as the lightweight mist can help melt your powder and liquid products together to create a blended, stay-all-day look. However, you can also mist your face with setting spray between each step of your routine to help lock in every layer. When you’re ready to apply powder, be sure to do so while your skin is dry to ensure an even application. Then, dust off any excess powder and round it all out with one final misting of setting spray—with this approach, your makeup won’t go anywhere.
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
THE FACE GLUE SETTING SPRAY
Up to 24h makeup lock and shield, waterproof setting spray
MARSHMELLOW SETTING SPRAY
Marshmellow matte setting spray that lasts up to 16 hours makeup wear
Mineral Finishing Powder
Loose Mineral Power
Plump Finish Setting Spray
Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray With Electrolytes
High Definition Finishing Powder
Mineral Correcting Powders
Bare With Me Multitasking Makeup Spray
Hydrating Facial Spray with Aloe and Cucumber Extracts
Can't Stop Won't Stop Mattifying Pressed Powder
Lightweight Pro Mattifying Face Powder
