What is Setting Spray + How Does it Work?

Want the secret to makeup that lasts all day? It’s setting spray, of course. What is setting spray? Well, it’s the last step in your makeup routine. It helps your makeup stay put without sliding off, fading away, smudging, creasing, or cracking. All-day long.

But that’s not all. Our line of vegan, cruelty-free makeup setting sprays is formulated for your specific skin type. They provide a flawless dewy, matte, or radiant finish – depending on the formulation you choose. And the best part? They’re actually really good for your skin too.

Ready to learn all about the secrets of makeup setting sprays? Here’s everything you need to know about this beauty essential, from how to choose the right formula to our top tips for flawless, long-lasting makeup application.

What Is Setting Spray?

Makeup setting spray is a fine, liquid mist made from ingredients that increase the lifespan of your makeup look. It can also be called finishing spray, fixing spray, or finishing mist.

What Does Makeup Setting Spray Do?

Makeup setting spray is what a topcoat is to a manicure or hairspray is to a hairstyle. It’s the final step in your makeup routine that ensures your makeup doesn’t budge, fade, crease, or crack throughout the day.

Does Setting Spray Work?

Seeing all your hard work – and your perfectly applied makeup – disappear halfway through the day is so frustrating. Does setting spray really make a difference? You bet. Setting sprays prolong the life of your makeup and keep midday touch-ups to a minimum by preventing smudging, creasing, and fading.

What To Look for In a Setting Spray

As with any product applied to the skin, you should read the ingredients carefully when choosing a setting spray. Steer clear of formulas that contain alcohol, harsh chemicals, and questionable ingredients that may be harmful to your skin or your health. Check out the Cover FX collection of setting sprays that are made from skin-loving, good-for-you ingredients. All formulas are free of alcohol, parabens, fragrance, mineral oil, gluten, sulfates, and phthalates. They’re safe for sensitive skin and also 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Choosing The Best Setting Spray for Your Skin Type

Our skin-friendly setting sprays come in formulas for every skin type and offer a range of finishes to suit every makeup look.

Dewy Finish Setting Spray: Best for Dry Skin

Our Dewy Finish Setting Spray is ideal for dry skin. It provides a healthy, hydrated glow with a dewy finish while locking makeup in place for up to 12 hours. This alcohol-free, skin-loving formula is enriched with weightless moisturizers cactus to nourish and hydrate the skin.

High-Performance Setting Spray: All-Day Wear for All Skin Types

Our High-Performance Setting Spray is a cult favorite that provides a long-lasting, crease-free finish for all skin types. It keeps your makeup in place for up to all-day wear and minimize the look of fading, melting, or settling into fine lines as the day goes on. This non-drying formula is enriched with fermented algae extract for extra protection against pollution and free radicals.

Should You Use Primer, Setting Powder, or Setting Spray?

Primer and setting powder can each be used on their own, with or without setting spray, to help your makeup last all day. Whether you incorporate just one or all three products into your makeup routine really comes down to your personal preference and the look you’re going for that day.

Primer vs Setting Spray

Setting spray and primer can both help your makeup last longer, but there are some pretty significant differences between the two products. Primers are applied before makeup to provide a smooth, poreless complexion for makeup application.

Cover FX Primers come in a variety of formulas to soothe, blur, grip, hydrate, and provide skin-protecting benefits while providing a smooth base for your makeup. On the other hand, setting sprays are the finishing touch that locks in your look.

Setting Spray vs Setting Powder

So, what’s the difference between setting spray and setting powder? Once again, both products can extend your look. Setting powders absorb excess oil, so they’re ideal for oily or combination skin. They’re also a great choice for anyone who wants a smoother, more flawless makeup application.

Cover FX Setting Powders can be applied before or after makeup to provide a matte, soft-focus finish with skin-loving ingredients that control shine and minimize pores. Combining setting spray with setting powder provides a flawless, smooth, skin-like finish that lasts all day without creasing.

How To Incorporate Setting Spray into Your Makeup Routine

Long-lasting, flawless makeup application starts with a good skincare routine. Prep your face for makeup by choosing a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer that are formulated for your skin type. Then apply primer to ensure that your makeup goes on smoothly, prevents creasing, and minimizes pores.

Next, use foundation, concealer, and corrector as needed to even out your skin tone and provide a clean canvas for your color products. Follow up with setting powder to lock your foundation in place, control shine, and provide a soft-focus finish.

Now, enhance and define your look with blush and highlighter. Finish off your beauty routine with a spritz of setting spray in the formula of your choice to lock in all your hard work.

How To Use Setting Spray

Here’s how to apply a setting spray in three easy steps.

Shake the bottle to ensure that your setting spray goes on evenly, without dripping or splotches.
Hold the bottle about 10-8 inches away from your face and mist lightly all over your skin.
Let dry.

Advanced Setting Spray Hacks

Makeup artists use these advanced setting spray hacks to achieve a long-lasting, flawless finish for their celebrity clients.

Apply Setting Spray Before Your Makeup

Setting spray can be applied before or after makeup. When applied before makeup, setting sprays that contain humectants will help the makeup grip to the skin like a hydrating magnet. Or try applying our High Performance Setting Spray before makeup to prevent breakdown and shine when it’s hot and humid outside.

Freshen Your Makeup with Setting Spray

Does your makeup tend to look a little too lived in mid-way through the day? A quick spray of our Dewy Setting spray can revive your makeup by adding moisture and bringing back your glow. Or try a spritz of our High Performance Setting Spray to help minimize the effects of oil and shine throughout the day without adding powder.

Use Setting Spray to Help You Blend Your Makeup

Apply a spritz of setting spray over powder and blush to help the formula melt into skin for a more natural, skin-like finish. Or try a quick mist over freshly applied cream blush or bronzer to help it blend more easily for a seamless finish.

Amp Up the Intensity of Powders and Pigments with Setting Spray

Applying a spritz of setting spray to your makeup brushes before applying powdered products can instantly make the pigment pop even more and give it a better grip on the skin. Try this technique with eyeshadow, blush, or highlighter to amp up the intensity of your look.

Apply Setting Spray in Layers for Even Longer Wear

Apply foundation, apply a layer of makeup setting spray, let the spray dry. Rinse and repeat for even longer wear on days you need your makeup to stay flawless from morning until night.

Wrapping Up: Do You Really Need Setting Spray?

You put a lot of time, love, and attention into your makeup, so why wouldn’t you do everything you can to keep it in place all day? Cover FX setting sprays provide a long-lasting, flawless finish that doesn’t crease or fade from morning till night. Sure, you could get by without it, but why would you want to?