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Your little bag of cosmetics tricks always has your back. And a setting spray? It's the supporting act that sees your makeup through hours of wear.

We’ve all been there. You leave the house feeling fierce and flawless, ready to take on whatever the day — or night — throws your way, only to be undermined by the staying power of your favourite cosmetics. But there’s a simple fix: A good makeup setting spray.

If you aren’t yet a setting (aka ‘fixing’) spray convert, these little bottles of miracle-like product might seem like a gimmick. Can a quick mist of a clear liquid really do that much? In short, yes. Read on for the best setting sprays worth your money and for more on why these sprays are a must-have.

Read more: The low-down on makeup primers

Suitable for: All skin types

Sometimes you come across a skincare product that makes you question how you survived without it. All Nighter Setting Spray by Urban Decay is one of these. A serious cult favourite — and a beloved product of the Best Buys team — this finishing spray keeps your makeup intact and looking fresh for up to 16 hours.

Prolonging the wear of your makeup isn’t the only reason we love this makeup essential. Once applied, you’ll notice a subtle sheen. While we’re a fan of this glow boost, if you have oilier skin, we recommend going for All Nighter Setting Spray Ultra Matte instead.

The setting spray’s packaging is fun and, even after weeks of use, the mister still delivers an even, super-fine application.

We love Urban Decay’s products so much, we can’t wait to try out the All Nighter Setting Spray with Vitamin C that’s getting rave reviews. If, like us, you’re always on the hunt for quality makeup items, snap up a selection now as Boots is currently offering 20% off its entire collection of Urban Decay products. Don’t wait!

Suitable for: All skin types

Another fan favourite, Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray sees you through the day, ensuring your makeup stays in place for up to 16 hours. Keeping oiliness at bay while offering a hydrating shield, this product has earned a 4.6-star rating at Charlotte Tilbury from more than 1,500 reviews.

A versatile mist, you can either use it as the final step of your makeup application, as you normally would or as one of the first steps. When applied prior to your makeup, Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray acts as a primer to smooth and blur pores, creating the perfect canvas for your foundation. You can also spritz your brushes before applying eye shadow or blusher to intensify and set their appearance.

This spray smells inviting and is very lightweight, creating what the brand has dubbed a ‘weightless veil’ of protection. Snappy monikers aside, Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray boasts a number of soothing and hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, antioxidant-rich Japanese green tea and aromatic resin. In other words, not only will your makeup remain radiant, your skin will thank you for using this product.

Suitable for: All skin types

Like a refresh button for your makeup, the Makeup Hydro Grip Makeup Setting Spray by Milk has the power to inject a little life into your handiwork — even hours after you first applied your makeup.

Though when applied alongside your makeup it should provide 12 hours of crease-free, transferless wear, if you do find you need a little zhush during the day – this miracle spray is up to the task.

Brimming with hard-working ingredients like blue agave extract, hemp-derived cannabis seed extract, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and niacinamide, Hydro Grip might just become your secret weapon.

Like every setting spray, Milk’s should be shaken before use, but this spray actually relies on it to activate its formula. As for packaging, we love it. It’s bright and fun, like summertime in a bottle.

Suitable for: Combination to normal skin types

You trust H&M to freshen up your wardrobe and revamp your home decor, so why not when it comes to your beauty regime? H&M’s line of beauty products covers the bases — from makeup to skincare to bathing products and more. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to take the plunge. And adding the H&M Fixing Spray to your cosmetics arsenal is the best place to start.

The superfine mist feels light and refreshing against your skin, whilst locking your makeup in place. So whether it’s a hot, sunny day or a chilly winter night, you can feel confident that your face looks fresh.

Though designed for combination and normal skin, many with oilier skin types note it’s worked wonders for them as well. That’s likely thanks to this spray’s neutral finish that doesn’t add too much sheen, nor does it create an extra matte look.

What seals the deal for us, is that the H&M Fixing Spray is seriously affordable. Its packaging isn’t the flashiest, but does it need to be when it ticks so many boxes?

Suitable for: All skin types

For a matte finish, e.l.f. packs a punch in preserving the look of your makeup. Infused with cucumber extract, aloe vera and green tea, the All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist also leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Its 80ml bottle is a great travel-friendly size that tucks into your carry on for a flawless on-the-go look. As for packaging, its bottle is very on-brand for e.l.f., and the bottle contains a mixer ball that blends the formula better when you shake it prior to use. The only downside is that you may have issues with the spray clogging in the bottle, a slight inconvenience that can be remedied with a warm wipe of the applicator.

Suitable for: Dry to normal skin types

Forget the pump, this makeup mist by Morphe is set apart from the others on our list by its continuous spray design. Why is that so exciting? Its continuous mist gives you more control of the application so that you can achieve a seriously even look.

Not only does Morphe’s setting spray provide your makeup with great staying power, but it also delivers a good dose of hydration without overwhelming the skin. Fruit extracts, vitamin B5 and E headline the ingredients list to nourish the skin and provide a subtle glowy finish.

The only downside to a continuous spray is if you aren’t used to it, you might find yourself applying too much product. When first using Morphe Continuous Setting Mist, it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution until you get the hang of it.

Suitable for: All skin types

While the packaging isn’t everything, Clarins nails it when it comes to the look of its setting spray. The bottle looks and feels as high-end as the product inside, making it a stunning — and practical — addition to your makeup bag.

‘But how does it hold up?’ You ask. The answer? Rather impressively. Its super lightweight formula won’t weigh down your look, but will keep your makeup going strong throughout the day. And, if you feel your look needs a boost of brightness, this Clarins spray can be used any time to hit reset on your makeup.

Infused with grapefruit extract and rose water, this product smells amazing, too.

Fix’ Make-Up is among the priciest options to make our list, costing nearly £25 for just 30ml. But it’s on our list for a reason. Despite being on the indulgent side, its ability to improve the wear of your makeup, its design and its fragrance make it a worthwhile splurge.

Suitable for: All skin types

While a few of our selections are available at drug stores, the NYX one offers a great mattifying option, whilst being the easiest to find on the high street. Helping to cut down on excess shine, it also prolongs the wear of your makeup. For an extra shine-free finish, apply a little NYX Setting Spray to your brush before applying concealer or foundation. Then, proceed with your routine as usual before finishing it off with a final misting.

Wear-wise, this finishing spray is really lightweight and doesn’t feel tacky. So, you can use it after each step in your beauty regime for extra shine protection, or simply finish your look with it.

In short, a makeup fixing (or setting) spray locks in your makeup to increase its wear time. Typically applied at the end of your makeup routine, these sprays fight against makeup slippage and pesky creases. A good setting spray can help your makeup look fresh for hours longer than usual, meaning you get more out of your favourite products.

Fixing sprays can also work with your skin type to improve the look of your makeup. Hydrating sprays offer a boost of glow while mattifying sprays fight shine.

Unlike SPF, these sprays don’t have to be a part of your everyday routine. If you’re giving your face a bit of a breather, there’s no need to apply a setting spray after applying your skincare basics.

You stand to gain the most from a setting spray when you’re applying a full face of products — which can lead to slipping, when the weather —hot or cold — has the potential to wreak havoc on your look or when you feel that your makeup needs a pick-me-up during the day.

While it’s a good idea to follow the instructions on your preferred spray, applying your fixing spray can be done in a few simple steps:

Most often used as the finishing touch, a setting spray can also be used during your usual routine. Some sprays are designed to help smooth the skin and can therefore be used as a primer. This gives your makeup even more staying power and the added bonus of a more even foundation application.

If you’re going for a super colourful aesthetic (or your usual application requires a lot of layers), setting sprays can be the ace up your sleeve for a seriously bold, flawless look. A fixing spray applied to your brushes or applicators before applying colourful makeup can intensify the hue, providing extra payoff. Alternatively, apply a spritz of fixer after each layer of foundation or concealer to ensure seamlessly smooth, long-lasting layering.

Within the Best Buys team, we’ve found the Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray to be a favourite for everyday wear. We’re also big fans of the affordability of NYX’s Professional Makeup Setting Spray and the nourishing ingredients of Milk’s Makeup Hydro Grip Makeup Setting Spray.

The fixing spray that works best for you will be the one that keeps you looking as good as you feel, hour after hour. And you’ll likely need to try a few different options before you find your perfect match.

But we get it. Trialling a host of products is expensive and it can take a while to land on the right one for you, so we hope our guide gives you an idea of where to start based on your skin type and daily needs.

The information presented above is accurate as of 29/06/2022. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices. The 'Best Buys featured' badge indicates sponsored content, and we may earn a commission when you make a purchase.

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