Setting sprays have been the secret weapon of makeup artists for decades, but have only recently become a household item. Originally designed for Hollywood actors, setting sprays can amplify any makeup look in seconds and leave you with a flawless complexion all day long.
Yet as setting sprays have grown in popularity, so have the offerings. The setting spray market is now filled with options that can aid in skincare, hydrate, minimize the appearance of pores, and even eliminate excessive oil.
A good setting spray is not only ideal for special occasions but it can be used every day as the final step in your beauty routine to keep you full face of makeup looking fresh all day long.
So with all of these setting sprays, how do you find the setting spray that’s right for you and your skin type? If you are searching for the best setting sprays for oily skin, then this list is here to help.
What is setting spray?
Setting spray is an invisible liquid that’s gently applied on top of the skin over your finished makeup. Setting spray is designed to act as a top coat that preserves makeup and keeps you looking fresh-faced throughout the day.
Unlike setting powder, setting spray is lightly misted over your face, rather than brushed on.
Should you use setting spray if you have oily skin?
A setting spray can be a powerful makeup tool if you have excess oil production. Setting sprays that are specifically formulated for oily skin can boost hydration and reduce shine without clogging up your pores.
Is setting spray or powder best for oily skin?
Setting powders alone tend to be best for oily skin because they absorb excess oil. However, you can still achieve a beautiful finish with a setting spray that’s been made with oily skin in mind. For the best results to extend the wear of your makeup, you can use both a setting powder and spray together to control oil and fully lock your makeup in.
20 Best Setting Sprays for Oily Skin
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Here’s a curated list of the top 20 setting sprays for all occasions and budgets.
1. Best Overall : NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray
NYX Matte Finish Setting Spray is a consistent fan favorite across the Internet. This spray is a best seller on Amazon with over 89,000 reviews and it’s easy to see why.
It’s affordable at just under $8, lightweight, and totally vegan. And good news, the matte finish will last for up to 16 hours. Matte setting sprays are everything you should look for if you have oily skin.
2. Best Budget : Wet n Wild Photo Focus Matte Finish Setting Spray
At just over $6, this setting spray is hard to beat. Wet n Wild’s setting spray is a great option for budget-conscious shoppers that still delivers a beautiful look. The matte finish of this spray is ideal for absorbing excess oil and keeping skin looking fresh.
3. Best Drugstore : Maybelline Lasting Fix Makeup Setting Spray
Maybelline knows exactly how to design a great drugstore product. Their setting spray is super lightweight with a 16 hour matte finish hold to help control oily shine.
Not to mention it’s dermatologist and allergy test, so it’s a major find if you have sensitive skin. For only $8, this is one of the best drugstore setting sprays you can get.
4. Best Drugstore Runner-Up : Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray
The Milani Make It Last 3-in-1 Setting Spray is a cult favorite since it’s easy to find, long lasting, and infused with charcoal powder to really absorb excess oil.
However, Milani’s setting spray is slightly smaller than Maybelline’s even though it costs slightly more. Milani’s amazing features earn it an honorable mention, but the price and size issue bump this spray into the runner-up category.
5. Best Splurge : Hourglass Veil Setting Spray
If you’re really ready to treat yourself, then invest in the Hourglass Veil Setting Spray. At a little under $50, there’s no doubt that this setting spray is a splurge, but it may just be worth it.
Exceptionally lightweight, this setting spray is known for its deep hydration and blurred finish to leave your skin looking radiant. It’s also vegan, sulfate-free, and cruelty-free as an added bonus.
6. Best Oil Control : Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray
Kaolin clay is the secret behind Urban Decay’s exceptional oil control setting spray. Kaolin clay is a powerhouse when it comes to clearing oil, dirt, and pollutants from skin and keeping pores nice and clear.
Also as a fun surprise, this setting spray uses cooling technology to lock in makeup and soothe the skin.
7. Best Shine Control : Makeup Revolution Pro Fix Oil Control Makeup Fixing Spray
Shiny skin is a thing of the past with Makeup Revolution’s setting spray. With a matte finish and lightweight formula, this product works to prevent skin oil and ban unseemly shine.
8. Best Lightweight Setting Spray : Skindinavia Oil Control Finishing Spray
For an almost feather-like formula, Skindinavia is a fantastic choice. This setting spray is considered to be the first setting spray developed for consumers, even though it was originally made for film sets.
The history of this spray totally shows with its light texture that’s designed to slowly evaporate and lift heat away from the skin’s surface. The result is a long lasting makeup look with a lightweight feel.
9. Best Long-Wear : Revlon Colorstay 24 Hour Lock Setting Mist
Revlon’s setting spray is for those of you who literally need all-day coverage. Designed to hold makeup for a full 24 hours, Revlon’s Colorstay Lock Setting Mist is also packed with powerful anti-pollutant ingredients that leave skin fresh, protected, and oil-free.
10. Best with SPF: Coola Makeup Setting Spray SPF 30
Since setting spray is the top layer of makeup anyways, infusing it was SPF isn’t such a bad idea. Coola’s setting spray adds in SPF 30 coverage to its shine-absorbing, pore-minimizing, and hydrating formula so you can fight oil and UV rays all at the same time.
11. Best Protection: e.l.f. Cosmetics Stay All Day Blue Light Micro-Fine Setting Mist
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UV rays certainly aren’t the only thing your skin needs protection from. Blue light from technology devices can actually contribute to skin damage and the creation of fine lines and wrinkles.
e.l.f. Cosmetics has this covered though with an ultra-fine mist specially designed to combat the effects of blue light, while still hydrating skin and setting makeup. This is a great option if you work in front of a computer or other devices.
12. Best Hydrating : Lancôme Fit It Forget It Setting Spray
Skincare powerhouses hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C come together in this nourishing setting spray. Lancôme Fit It Forget It spray is all about shine-free hydration with ingredients that infuse moisture into the skin while repelling damaging oils and pollutants for a clean and nourished look.
13. Best Waterproof : Huda Beauty Resting Boss Face Waterproof
Although it’s a bit on the pricier side, the Huda Beauty Resting Boss Face is the best waterproof setting spray out there. It creates an ultra matte look that’s ideal for oily skin types with a powerful hold that can stand up against rain, sweat, and even a day of swimming.
14. Best Waterproof Runner-Up : One/Size by Patrick Starr on ‘Till Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray
For a slightly cheaper waterproof option, opt for this setting spray instead. Patrick Starr’s creation is hailed for its blurring effect and matte-finish that delivers a shine-free look for oily skin.
However, some online reviewers state this product is more water-resistant than waterproof.
15. Best Multitasker Runner-Up : Rimmel Stay Matte Primer and Stay Matte Setting Spray
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Rimmel may not be a 3-in-1, but it’s still overachieving as a 2-in-1 primer and setting spray. Its strong, matte finish can remove oil from skin’s surface and ban makeup shine when used both ways. Plus at less than $4, it’s a steal.
16. Best Clean : Volition Beauty Oil-Control Mattifying Mist
Natural Humectant Powder. It’s an all-the-time mattifier without drying the skin. It’s combined with Salicylic Acid and Witch Hazel in this time-saving setting spray that keeps unwanted shine at bay, and minimizes the appearance of pores & blemishes while keeping skin hydrated
If you want clean beauty products, then Volition Beauty’s setting spray is exactly what you’re after. Rose water, amino acids, witch hazel, and natural humectant powder are the star ingredients that balance skin’s pH levels to reduce unwanted oil.
17. Best for Sensitive Skin : Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Setting + Refreshing Spray
Sensitive skin has a friend in Milk Makeup’s setting spray. A clean formula of hemp, blue agave extract, aloe vera, and niacinamide hydrate, refresh, and soothe even the most sensitive of skins, while still providing a strong, setting feature.
18. Best for Special Events : Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless
For weddings, bachelorette trips, or any other special event where you need to look picture perfect, grab this setting spray from Charlotte Tilbury.
Not only is it completely oil-free, but its additional polymers prevent any caking or creasing and create an airbrushed, poreless complexion. There will be absolutely no makeup meltdown when using this!
19. Best for a Night Out : Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray
An award-winning lightweight setting and finishing spray that keeps makeup fresh, smudge-proof, and transfer resistant for up to 16 hours.
Our last setting spray is Urban Decay’s All Nighter setting spray! If you’re the type of person who needs your makeup to last from day to night, this is a great option.
Even though it’s pricey, this award-winning spray is superior at absorbing oil even through hot weather or other sweaty conditions. Pro tip – if you mist your makeup brush with this spray before applying your makeup products it will increase the longevity of your makeup!
FAQ
The Revlon Colorstay 24 Hour Lock Setting Mist is by far the longest lasting setting spray with a full 24 hour’s worth of hold. However, there are plenty of other great options that offer a 16 hour hold as well.
Although setting spray and finishing spray seem identical, they actually have slightly different purposes. Setting spray is designed to lock in your makeup so nothing smears, cracks, or smudges. Finishing spray, on the other hand, gives makeup a long lasting boost to hold it in place for the entire day.
Setting spray should always be applied after your makeup application. Since setting spray helps seal in your makeup look, you’ll want to put it on after you’ve completed all of your makeup.
You can absolutely use setting spray without any makeup. Throughout the day, you can apply setting spray to freshen your face, add a dose of hydration, or create a dewy, natural appearance.
Conclusion
Setting sprays are vital and versatile additions to any makeup routine. With oily skin in particular, the right setting spray can remove excess shine, moisturize skin, and keep you looking flawless all day long.
With this list, you’ll be sure to find the setting spray that works best for you. For more makeup content, check out the guide for cleaning your makeup brushes or learn how to organize a makeup drawer.
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