Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray

$39 at Amazon$39 at Sephora$39 at Ulta

Finish: Natural | Amount: 3.38 oz | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s a reason both MUAs and Byrdie editors can’t stop raving about the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray. It delivers a perfectly even mist—no need to worry about droplets or patchy sprays—and sets within 15 seconds to a natural, slightly radiant finish. The best part? Editor Alyssa Kaplan praised the lightweight, hydrating formula, noting that it feels completely undetectable on the skin and leaves no sticky residue. Instead, it pulls your entire look together with a beautiful, soft focus effect.  

It also earned top marks for its longevity, as its staying power seamlessly transitions your makeup look from morning to night (it’s also waterproof, which can help combat humidity). It’s no surprise that this is celebrity makeup artist Molly R. Stern’s go-to when she needs a look to last all day on set or all night on the dance floor. 

The only thing we would change: the fragrance. While Kaplan noted the floral scent was a bit strong, she appreciated that it didn’t linger for too long. 

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “This formula definitely helps enhance the longevity of my makeup and also helps make it more transfer-resistant. It keeps my makeup looking fresh all day long.”

Best Drugstore

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Makeup Spray

$18

$15 at Amazon$15 at TargetView on CVS

Finish: Natural | Amount: 3.04 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

An effective drugstore setting spray can be hard to come by, but the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Radiant Makeup Spray earns its title as our best overall drugstore setting spray. It delivers a beautiful, natural finish that gives your makeup a subtle lit-from-within glow. The ultrafine mist sets your look with a light, even veil that doesn’t disrupt or melt your products. Instead, it hydrates the skin and elevates your makeup look. One note: it does contain fragrance, which may irritate sensitive skin, but if that doesn’t bother you, this gem is definitely worth a spot in your makeup routine. 

Kelsey, tester with combination skin: “I used this setting spray for my bridal shower and noticed that my face looked flawless from the beginning to the end. There was absolutely no streaking or separation of my existing makeup, and the product only elevated my makeup.”

Best Long-Lasting

Morphe Continuous Prep & Set Mist

$20

$19 at Amazon$20 at Ulta$15 at Target

Finish: Radiant | Amount: 2.8, 6.5 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Searching for a long-lasting setting spray that keeps your makeup looking flawless from day to night? Morphe’s Continuous Prep and Set Mist is the one to reach for. Not only does it lock in all your baking, contouring, and blending, but it also contains a host of skin-benefiting ingredients. Infused with nourishing ceramides, electrolytes to boost moisture, and antioxidants to increase elasticity, this setting spray goes beyond makeup—it’s skincare too.

Our tester was impressed by how well the lightweight formula worked, likening it to an ‘invisible shield’ that kept her look in place. The nozzle did come off after a few uses, but she easily popped it back on and was able to continue spraying it. Just be sure to press it back on firmly so the spray continues working properly. 

Wendy, tester with normal skin: “Immediately after spraying it, my skin felt more hydrated and had a subtle glow to it. It’s like an invisible shield that sets my makeup in place and keeps it that way until the end of the night.”

Best Hydrating

Mac Prep + Prime Fix+ Primer and Setting Spray

View at Ulta$34 at Ulta$18 at Target

Finish: Radiant | Amount: 3.4 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

“A dewy spray works wonderfully for dry or mature skin, giving it hydration and soft luminosity,” shares Briceno. Enter: MAC’s setting spray. This longtime staple is beloved for its hydrating, radiant-boosting formula that instantly refreshes the skin and locks in your makeup for an illuminating, glowy look.

Thanks to its skin-loving ingredients, such as glycerin, cucumber extract, and castor oil, this hydrating setting spray delivers a luminous finish without feeling heavy or greasy. Even better, this multitasking spray works at every stage of your routine—use it to prep, set, refresh, or in between makeup steps for an added glow. While the mist can be a bit robust, don’t worry because it sets in about 30 seconds and will leave your makeup looking smooth and freshly applied.  

Ally Hirschlag, former associate editorial director with combination skin: “This stuff is mega-hydrating, and I noticed the hydration power pretty much all day. That’s very welcome for someone who spends a lot of time inside a temperature-controlled environment. It helps marry my makeup together, if that makes sense—my finished look is smoother and more blurred.”

Best Matte

One/Size by Patrick Starrr On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray

$37 at Amazon$34 at SephoraView on Onesizebeauty.com

Finish: Matte | Amount: 1, 3.4 oz | Waterproof: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Whether you’re channeling a snatched ’90s matte look or just trying to keep unwanted shine at bay, this matte setting spray is the secret weapon to achieving a shine-free look. As someone with a very oily T-zone, I’m constantly reaching for pressed powder midday, but this product completely changed everything. The ultralight formula feels completely weightless, like a soft breeze across the skin, and it dries down almost instantly. My shine was absorbed entirely, and for the first time, I didn’t have to touch up throughout the day, which is why it earns the spot as the best setting spray for oily skin. 

While I wasn’t a fan of the slight chemical scent, it faded quickly and didn’t linger long enough to be a deal breaker. The matte finish and long-wear hold more than made up for it.

Best Natural Finish

MAKEUP BY MARIO SurrealSkin™ 16HR Soft Setting Spray

$36 at Sephora$36 at Kohls.comView on Makeupbymario.com

Finish: Natural | Amount: 3.38 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re looking for a setting spray that you can reach for every day, we highly recommend the Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Soft Setting Spray. It delivers a natural, skin-like finish, making it the perfect final step in your makeup routine, whether you’re going full glam or no-makeup makeup. The lightweight, ultra-fine mist allows for easy, controlled application with an even, seamless stream. Plus, the formula is infused with hydrating and skin-soothing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide. It locks your look in place while giving your makeup a your-skin-but-better finish. 

Shauna Beni-Haynes, former senior editor with combination skin: “It gives a natural, lived-in skin-like finish, which I absolutely loved. I also noticed that it made my makeup appear smoother, kind of like a soft filter effect. I did a full face glam around 7 a.m. before work, did a photoshoot, attended an event, and came home around 7 p.m., and I noticed that my makeup still looked great.”

Best Dewy

Tarte Life Lock Hydrating Setting Spray

$32 at Sephora$16 at Ulta$32 at Dermstore

Finish: Dewy | Amount: 3.38 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Stern recommends opting for a dewy finish when you want to add a glow and bounce to the skin, and the best dewy setting spray we found is the Tarte Life Lock Hydrating Setting Spray. This radiance-boosting formula mists on with a slightly more robust spray than others on this list, coating the skin in a fuller wash of finishing spray. The results are a gorgeous, dewy, luminous finish that our tester couldn’t get enough of. 

This dewy, hydrating setting spray is also packed with skin perks: Tarte’s superfruit complex nourishes and soothes, caffeine helps depuff, and bakuchiol smooths and brightens the skin. The glow-inducing results speak for themselves. 

Wendy, tester with normal skin: “I feel and look more awake after using this. The product doesn’t make my skin feel tight or uncomfortable. It actually feels moisturizing, and I love that it has nourishing ingredients including aloe, pomegranate, lemon, peach, and cranberry.”

Best for Dry Skin

e.l.f Power Grip Setting Spray

$11 at Ulta$11 at TargetView on Elfcosmetics.com

Finish: Dewy | Amount: 2.7 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

E.l.f. makes some of our favorite makeup products, so it’s no surprise one of their setting sprays made our list. If you ask us, the best e.l.f. setting spray is their Power Grip Setting Spray. The ultrafine mist feels so cooling and refreshing upon the first spritz, and it doesn’t leave behind a greasy or sticky residue. What we like most about it is its hydrating, dewy finish, thanks to skincare ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, squalene, and green tea seed oil, which is why we crowned it the best setting spray for dry skin.

Our tester appreciated how well is absorbed into the skin, which she credits the fine mist for. It’s worth noting, however, that it didn’t blend well with her cream blush or powder foundation, but for the affordable price, it may still be worth trying if you have dry skin.

Candice, a tester with combination skin: “This setting spray absorbs almost instantaneously after application, although I did wait for it to dry down a little bit. I think the ultrafine mist really helped with this. It also does not create any sort of noticeable film on the skin even on the first spritz.”

Best Fine Mist

Fenty Beauty You Mist Makeup-Extending Setting Spray

$33 at Sephora$33 at UltaView on Fentybeauty.com

Finish: Radiant | Amount: 3.4 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A fine mist setting spray offers better control and a smoother, natural finish without the risk of splotches or cakiness from oversaturating your face. Cue: Fenty Beauty You Mist Makeup-Extending Setting Spray. True to its name, this ultralightweight spray feels like a subtle mist, reminiscent of standing close to a waterfall. It’s light and airy, and leaves no residue or film on your skin. Plus, it contains antioxidants and is fragrance-free, making it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin. 

Our tester was blown away by how astonishingly fine this setting mist is; it delivered a soft veil that effortlessly set her look. She did wish it had a more cooling effect, but the precise nozzle is ideal for an airbrushed finish without any droplets.

Gabriela, tester with combination skin: “I can’t emphasize enough how fine this mist is. There’s no discomfort, overly wet feeling, or tightness after using the spray. I found that this spray really helps your makeup melt more into the skin and allows your products to shine to their full potential.”

Best With SPF

Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow Mist Setting Spray SPF50+

$23

$22 at AmazonView on Ulta$23 at Target

Finish: Natural | Amount: 3.04 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: No

A setting spray that also contains SPF? That’s a win-win in our book. The Naked Sundays Hydrating Glow mist is a true multitasker, doubling as sun protection and a flawless setting spray. It sits beautifully on top of makeup, leaving behind a skin-like finish sans patches. The lightweight, hydrating formula, thanks to hyaluronic acid, dries down quickly and gives your complexion a beautiful, plump effect. SPF 50 offers sun protection without compromising your powders and creams. It’s the perfect step to protect both your makeup and skin.

Clare, tester: “This is the only SPF I have found that works over makeup without disrupting it. It is so light that even with consistent top-ups every two hours, it never feels greasy on your skin.”

Best Fast-Drying

Anastasia Beverly Hills Impeccable 24HR Blurring Matte Setting Spray

$36 at Sephora$36 at Ulta$36 at Dermstore

Finish: Matte | Amount: 1.35, 3.38 oz | Waterproof: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When you’re short on time, a setting spray that absorbs in seconds is a game-changer. Luckily, this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills does the job. The fine mist melts into the skin almost instantly, feeling and looking nearly undetectable. It locks in your makeup look and provides extra reinforcement, allowing you to maintain your look from morning to night. Though it’s designed with a matte finish, our tester found that the finish leaned more radiant—something to keep in mind if you have super oily skin. However, for those who don’t require a matte finish specifically, it’s a fast and fuss-free favorite.

Gabriela, tester with combination skin: “The spray completely absorbed, leaving no film or residue on the face. I surely thought you’d see dewdrops, but to my happy surprise, you couldn’t.”