These 12 Setting Sprays Pass My All-Day-Wear Test, Even in 30-Degree Weather

First up, the product that converted me to setting sprays. Designed with oily skin in mind, this oil-free mist uses pore-blurring microspheres alongside lentil extract to absorb excess sebum and niacinamide to smooth pores. It's described as a mattifying setting spray, which initially put me off, as despite having oily skin, I've always liked a glowy finish to my makeup, but I'd describe the finish as velvety rather than totally matte. Not only does it keep my makeup looking pristine for around 12 hours at a time, but I'd say it actually gives the overall finish of my makeup more of a polished finish. It's truly brilliant and already has plenty of 5-star reviews singing its praises.

Without a doubt, this was the setting spray most raved about amongst my beauty editor friends, and I can see why. It's also an oil-free formulation, but it's brimming with hydrating ingredients like Japanese green tea and aloe vera, so drier skin types will love this. However, even if you're on the oily side like me, this stuff really works. It's ultra-lightweight and leaves makeup looking fresh and radiant for hours and hours. Oh, and it smells really good too.

On hot summer days, there’s something lovely about spritzing on Vieve’s Invisiveil Setting Spray regardless of its ability to keep makeup in place. It’s a lightweight and hydrating blend of skincare ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants to keep skin looking fresh and bouncy, and the soft neroli scent smells beautifully spa-like. All that aside, it also does a brilliant job of keeping makeup looking its best for hours at a time, leaving a natural finish that’s neither too matte nor overtly dewy. It simply makes skin look fresh and bright. It’s not as long-wearing as some others on the list, but it will get you through a workday with ease—just top it up at night if you’re heading out.

If you're someone who loves a skin-like finish but still wants your makeup to stay put, this is one to have on your radar. Unlike setting sprays that can leave behind a noticeably dewy or matte effect, Fenty Beauty's You Mist focuses on extending wear whilst keeping your makeup looking exactly as you applied it. It's a lightweight, water-based mist infused with wild thyme to nourish and hydrate the skin, so it's particularly comfortable for long days or occasions when you're wearing a full face of makeup. The result is skin that never looks greasy, but subtly glows.

Typically, in my testing, I have found that it pays to spend a little more on a setting spray if you want longevity, but this one from e.l.f. blows that theory out of the water. Coming in at a tenner, this affordable mist uses a universally appealing blend of green tea, cucumber and aloe to set makeup in place for the long haul. In fact, it's so damn good that it sells out really fast, so this is one to add to the cart when the opportunity presents itself.

When I think of setting sprays, it's Urban Decay's cult classic that always springs to mind first, but Grier actually swears by this Ultra Matte iteration. "It's a kit staple for clients whose skin tends to 'eat their makeup' without it on," she says.

As someone with oily skin myself, I can attest to how well this stuff works. Despite the ultra-matte label, I'm always impressed at how vibrant this leaves makeup looking without any chalkiness that you might expect. Instead, it's absolutely skin-like yet ensures that your makeup stays exactly where you've put it until you wash it off that night.

This hardworking mist has all the benefits of MAC's cult Fix+ hydrating spray with the bonus of increasing the longevity of your makeup and preventing transfer. (Mask wearing was still in full effect in the UK when this product launched, and so many of the brilliant reviews say that it stopped makeup from transferring onto face masks.) Whilst I don't think the longevity is quite as impressive as my favourite from Milk Makeup, it feels lovely on the skin and definitely keeps my makeup looking good for hours. Plus, the hydrating benefits mean you can use it to prep your skin before makeup application, too.

I wasn’t expecting much from this little high-street spray, let alone a makeup artist’s seal of approval, but Grier claims this as her makeup kit staple. “It’s great for red carpet events as it offers 36 hours of invisible protection, and it’s perfect for humid weather," she explains. If you’re in a rush, then this really can’t be beaten. It has an ultra-fine mist that dries down in seconds with no droplets or stickiness left behind. And it’s quite portable too, so it’s perfect for popping into your handbag if you’re at a summer wedding and want to touch up. Not that you’d have to—once this stuff is on, it really does lock your makeup down so it won’t shift. My only gripe is that it does feel a little bit hairspray-like at first, but the strong smell fades away fast.

For hot and sticky days, REFY’s Face Setter delivers everything you want from a setting spray—staying power and the impression that you have naturally radiant skin (that’s never sweaty). The addition of polyglutamic acid here is brilliant at keeping skin hydrated, plump and firm without adding excessive levels of glow as some hydrating mists do. Instead, it mists onto skin to give an almost velvety veil of protection that keeps the makeup beneath looking naturally radiant and well-blended.

This is increasingly becoming a go-to for me on mornings when I look absolutely shattered. (Rather sadly, not from a hangover but courtesy of my baby who hates sleeping!) It's got lots of skin-friendly ingredients like coconut water and probiotics to deliver a soothing burst of hydration to tired skin, but it also adds a veil of luminosity to your finished makeup look. Basically, it fakes the illusion of sleep whilst keeping your handiwork in place. Genius.

More than a setting spray, the By Terry Hyaluronic Glow Setting Mist feels like an extra layer of skincare over your makeup. The mist itself feels almost juicy on the skin, offering up an extra dose of hydration to drier complexions, but it never looks wet or shiny. Instead, on oily skin like mine, it just helps to add a fresh luminosity that looks intentional rather than sheeny. Infused with hyaluronic acid, it's a great option for really hot days when skin can end up feeling parched and tight after time spent in the sun, so it makes a great option for touch-ups in the heat. A must for hydration, radiance and staying power.

If maximum staying power is what you're after, then this setting spray really does live up to its name. It's created to help hold makeup firmly in place, just like glue, and it does exactly that, meaning that it's particularly well suited to busy days or really hot weather. The mist itself is fine, although I did find that the nozzle didn't dispense it continually, which I don't love, but once it's dry, it creates a really adherent base without leaving your skin feeling stiff or uncomfortable. This isn't one if you want to add glow or dewiness to your skin, but it does leave your makeup looking vibrant and not flat. Plus, considering the price point, it performs impressively well alongside many higher-end alternatives.