12 Best Makeup Setting Sprays for Every Skin Type and Budget

You’ve gone through your full routine; cleansed, moisturized, primed your skin, and taken your time to carefully apply your makeup. Foundation? Flawless. Contour? Blended like a pro. Blush, highlight, brows, lips, your whole face is giving. You step out looking your best, confident that your look will last all day.

But then a few hours pass, and things start to go downhill. Your foundation begins to separate, your concealer creases under your eyes, and that glow you were loving earlier? It’s completely faded. By late afternoon, it’s like your makeup never happened.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and it’s exactly why makeup setting sprays exist. These lightweight mists are designed to keep your makeup in place for hours. They help prevent smudging, sliding, and fading whether you’re heading to work, an event, or just trying to survive a hot, humid day.

But with so many options on the market; promising everything from a matte finish to a dewy glow, it can be hard to figure out which ones are actually worth buying.

To help you choose, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best makeup setting sprays of 2025. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly favorite, a long-wear formula, or something hydrating for dry skin, there’s something here for every makeup lover. 

What Exactly Is a Makeup Setting Spray?

Think of setting sprays as the invisible bodyguards of your makeup. After all the blending, buffing, and baking, you need something to lock it all in place. Setting sprays are mist formulas that sit on top of your makeup, helping it last longer by forming a lightweight film over your skin. Some sprays also control oil, add glow, or soothe skin — depending on what ingredients they contain.

But not all sprays are created equal. While some promise a 16-hour hold and actually deliver, others fade before lunch. Plus, some contain alcohol — which can be drying, especially for sensitive skin. Thankfully, options like Milk Makeup Hydro Grip offer alcohol-free formulas that don’t compromise hold.

Ahead, we’ve put together some of the best makeup setting sprays for every budget and skin type.

The OG. The blueprint. The icon. Urban Decay’s All Nighter has a well-earned cult following and for good reason. It’s oil-free, waterproof, and literally locks makeup in for up to 16 hours. The formula contains a patented Temperature Control Technology that lowers the temperature of your makeup to help it “melt” into your skin.

Even after 14 hours (yes, fourteen), the base will look freshly applied. Zero creasing around the nose or under the eyes. Foundation stays matte, eyeshadow holds on, and blush will still be visible. Truly the GOAT.

The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Set + Refresh Spray serves double duty as both a makeup setter and a skin refresher. It’s packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe, and blue agave, which give your skin a boost while locking in makeup.

The finish is dewy but not greasy. Milk makeup spray holds makeup in place all day (even with a mask!) and gives a healthy glow that looks natural. No stinging, no dryness, and no tightness; great for sensitive skin users.

Vieve Invisiveil Setting Spray is all about the feel; it’s super light and dries down quickly without any residue or film. It sets makeup without altering your finish, making it perfect for layering over matte or dewy products.

The Vieve setting spray doesn’t make skin feel sticky or look shiny. Subtle fragrance, but not overpowering.

HUDA brought her Easy Bake game into spray form, and it shows. The HUDA BEAUTY Easy Bake Loose Powder Setting Spray has a soft-blur effect and mattifies shine without dulling your glow.

Your makeup stays mostly intact for 10+ hours with minimal oil breakthrough. Only con? Slightly tacky during the first minute of drying.

Lightweight and softening, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray acts almost like a misting veil. It’s infused with aloe vera, green tea, and Japanese green rice extract to nourish and protect skin while keeping makeup in place.

Best for casual to semi-formal occasions. The staying power is solid for 6–8 hours, but you might need to touch up oily areas. That said, the Charlotte Tilbury setting spray adds a gorgeous glow and enhances the skin’s natural texture beautifully.

You don’t have to splurge to get real performance. This budget-friendly e.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray mimics high-end results with a moisture-locking blend of aloe and squalane.

Impressive staying power for the price. e.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray gives a dewy, slightly tacky finish; great if you want your makeup to feel “gripped” to your skin.

A true drugstore classic, NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray cuts shine and keeps foundation looking smooth. It’s alcohol-based, so be mindful if you have dry skin.

NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray works best when paired with a matte primer. Great for heat, sweat, and outdoor events.

Technically more of a finishing spray than a setting one, but Fix+ is a multi-use legend. It hydrates, sets, and blends powder products seamlessly into the skin.

MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Setting Spray melts makeup together for a skin-like finish, but doesn’t extend wear as long as others. Still perfect for no-makeup makeup or refreshing throughout the day.

 

If you want heavy-duty hold, One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray is your guy. It’s waterproof, sweatproof, and mattifying; designed for drag, weddings, stage, and red carpet-level glam.

Holds makeup like cement (in a good way). That said, One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray has a strong fragrance and feels a bit drying, so use sparingly or skip if you have dry skin.

Selena Gomez’s glow-enhancing mist is packed with skincare ingredients like niacinamide, lotus, and gardenia extracts. Doubles as a primer, setter, and refresher.

Great for minimal to medium makeup days. Rare Beauty Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Mist hydrates beautifully and leaves skin bouncy, but may not provide the longest hold for full glam.

The aerosol-style spray delivers an ultra-fine mist, which makes it easy to evenly coat the face. Morphe Continuous Setting Mist doesn’t disturb makeup and dries quickly.

Nice for everyday wear and keeps a light glam glam-looking polish. Morphe Continuous Setting Mist doesn’t perform as well during long, sweaty days, but works beautifully under cooler conditions.

A drugstore underdog that actually performs. Revolution Superfix Misting Spray is lightweight, offers a soft matte finish, and helps reduce transfer. It works well for short to medium days out. 

Pro Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Setting Spray

• Spray between layers: A light mist after foundation and before powder can help lock in every step.
  
• Let it dry naturally: Fanning may be tempting, but letting it settle gives better results.
  
• Use a sponge to press it in: Want extra longevity? Tap it in gently with a damp beauty sponge.
  
• Store it in the fridge: Especially during hot months, this adds a cooling effect and helps calm skin.
  

Final Thoughts: Which Setting Spray is Best for You?

If you’re after maximum hold and all-day wear, Urban Decay All Nighter is the clear winner. For something gentler and glowier, Milk Hydro Grip delivers on both performance and hydration. On a budget? e.l.f. Power Grip Dewy and NYX Matte Finish prove you don’t need to spend big for solid results.

No matter your skin type or makeup routine, there’s a setting spray here to help you seal the deal. Because when your face beats, it should stay beat no matter how long the day drags on.

Photo: Fenty Beauty