Why we love it: I’m not usually a full-glam girl, but when I do decide to go all out, I need my makeup to stay put—and L’Oréal’s Infallible Setting Mist never lets me down. It’s won several Cosmo beauty awards for its ability to lock everything in place with just a three-second spritz. If I’m doing the whole foundation and contour situation, I’m finishing it off with this.
One Cosmo editor says: "You’ve probably seen an influencer spray this on their face then dunk into water or dabbed their glammed up face onto a wedding dress and wondered if it’s truly effective or not—and I’m here to tell you it’s honestly worth the hype. It keeps my face hydrated while locking my makeup in place during 12-hour days. I also love that you can hold it down for a continuous spritz instead of having to unevenly spray across your face. This budget-friendly pick works better than $30+ setting sprays.”—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR
Why we love it: How could we possibly round up the best setting sprays without this OG? This changed the entire game and still holds up as one of the best setting sprays for keeping my makeup in place all damn day. There's a reason brides have been swearing by this for over a decade, because it instantly sets down your powders and extends makeup wear.
It doesn't mattify my makeup per se, but it doesn't add any dewiness either. Instead, it just takes away some of the excess powder on my face and makes my skin look cohesive. The real shining star is how long it makes makeup last.
One Cosmo editor says: "I've been using this since high school—prom, homecoming, graduations, frat parties, concerts, bar crawls, you name it—and it holds my makeup on for every single one of 'em. Typically, with this on top, I get an extra five or six hours of wear out of my products, which is a strong feat."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
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Why we love it: Milani is the blueprint when it comes to drugstore setting sprays, and we didn’t think it could get any better than the original Make It Last formula, but it does. This latest iteration boasts a super fine mist combined with a continuous spray, so you can cover the whole face in just one go. It’s also free of any pore-cloggers, so those with acne-prone skin don’t have to top their makeup off with anything that may break them out.
One Cosmo editor says: “I’ve relied on the original Milani Make It Last Setting Spray for years, but this microfine mist majorly increases my makeup’s longevity. Similar to the One/Size On ’Til Dawn, this claims to make your makeup waterproof, sweatproof, and transfer-proof. I haven’t dunked in a pool wearing this, but it does keep my makeup on even when I’m drenched in sweat on the subway, which is enough for me.”—BG
Why we love it: For those who want a stronghold setting spray without any of the harsh scents or stiffness of a longwear formula, Saie’s is lightweight, super hydrating, and will lock any level of glam into place. It sprays onto the face with a super fine mist (as the name would suggest) and leaves behind a nice natural glow. It’s a big deal when I finish a setting spray, and this is the first bottle I’ve emptied in years. It also comes in a travel-size so I bring it anywhere and everywhere. Beauty director and makeup minimalist Lauren Balsamo is also a major fan.
One Cosmo editor says: "I’ve never really cared about setting sprays. I’m not a huge makeup wearer, and most formulas I’ve tried feel like I’m spritzing hairspray directly onto my face. But Saie founder Laney Crowell promised me her brand’s new setting spray would be different—and she wasn’t kidding. CitySet feels more like a hydrating face mist you’d use in your skincare routine, yet somehow keeps my skin tint and blush looking fresh well into the afternoon." —LB
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Why we love it: Beyoncé used this viral formula during the Renaissance Tour to lock in her makeup for a full three-hour sesh of performing. And ya know what? After testing it myself, I genuinely believe I also could perform for three hours on a hot stage in the middle of summer and look like Queen Bey, as long as I had this setting spray on. Because the longevity with this sucker is real.
One Cosmo editor says: "One/Size's formula comes in an aerosol can with an ultra-fine mister that basically feels like I'm spritzing myself with hairspray. And honestly, maybe I am! Because this makes my makeup last longer than any other setting spray on this list. It really nixes shine, thanks to a slew of oil-absorbing polymers in the formula. It makes my makeup completely sweat and waterproof."—BG
If you have sensitive skin and are on the hunt for a setting spray that won’t only keep your makeup in place for hours on end, but will also nourish your skin sans any aggravating ingredients, then Danessa Myricks is our top pick. It’s got niacinamide to soothe, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and it’s free of pore-cloggers, so you won’t have to worry about breaking out while adding a blurring finish to your glam.
One Cosmo editor says: “This setting spray is sorcery in a bottle. One spritz and my skin becomes velvety perfection. It locks in my makeup, blurs like an IG filter, and somehow still feels weightless. I’m talking all day wear with zero touch-ups.”—JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE
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Why we love it: If you want your face to look like you just came up for some air after gallivanting around the sea like a mermaid, shake this bottle up and spray it all over yourself. Don't worry, it's not filled with chunky glitters. Sure, there are some teeny-tiny shimmers in there, but overall, it offers the most stunning radiant sheen all over my skin (see the pic above of me in Aruba, living my glowiest life). Surprisingly, with all that shine, it actually does extend my makeup a bit too.
One Cosmo editor says: "Iconic London knows a thing or two about making me look glowy as all hell (ahem, their highlighters are my fave), and this setting spray fits the bill. This spray leaves my face illuminated, but still locks down and lasts for a few extra hours than when I don't use any setting spray at all."—BG
Why we love it: I know it's a lil on the nose, but this setting spray really does create the illusion that my makeup was airbrushed onto my face like a painting. A couple of sprays as the last step of my makeup routine, and it helps blur my pores and make my skin look smoother. And it lives up to those 16-hour longevity claims, FYI. I've tested this in hella conditions, including the heat, humidity, and rain, but my makeup stood up to the challenge.
One Cosmo editor says: "This setting spray is my go-to when I want my makeup to look extra dewy. When I spritz this on, everything somehow looks smoother—like you can't tell where my blush stops and my concealer starts. Plus it's super hydrating and doesn't create any patchiness on my dry skin."—JH
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How to choose the best setting spray for you:
Assess your longevity goals.
If you want makeup that won't budge, choose a setting spray with waterproof or sweatproof formulas. These will help seriously lock down your makeup, often using a mix of oil and sweat-absorbing ingredients. (Dw, we noted the best ones for this above.) But if you would prefer a simpler formula that just gently sets down your makeup and removes any powdery excess from your skin, then focus instead on setting sprays that feature skincare ingredients as well. Which brings us to...
Consider your skin type.
Do you want a matte finish or a glowy finish? That's prob gonna be your most important Q when it comes to setting spray, as most formulas will slightly change the look of your makeup (or enhance whatever you have on). A glowy setting spray will likely be filled with oils and hydrators, making it a great pick for dry skin. Meanwhile, matte formulas are great for keeping shine at bay without having to add layers of powder throughout the day. But if you're not sure, opt for a natural-finish setting spray that'll seal your makeup without changing the look too much.
How we ranked the best setting sprays:
To test the best setting sprays on the market, we coated our faces in our go-to base routine (foundation, concealer, bronzer, blush, and powder), then doused ourselves in each of the sprays on this list. We tested these mists for months at a time, drawing from years of experience testing setting sprays—to narrow it down to our top picks. We judged each one based on how long it locked in our makeup, how it made our skin look, and how the bottle and mister performed.
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Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from testing drugstore mascaras to reviewing the viral Il Makiage foundation. She's an authority in all makeup categories, but is an expert when it comes to setting sprays after trialing every buzzy formula on her skin over a few months. She regularly tests and analyzes makeup for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top makeup artists to assess new formulas and brands.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about all things makeup and skincare. She's tested dozens of setting sprays in the name of beauty journalism and for personal reasons to see which last the best for long days.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.