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When it comes to locking down your beat, makeup artists and beauty experts recommend using a setting powder to set your liquids and creams and then a setting spray to seal everything in place. The combination of these two will ensure that your makeup will last through office days, nights out, and everything in between!
The use of setting powders is pretty clear-cut, but there is still some confusion regarding makeup sprays, specifically the difference in their variations. ICYDK, there are two kinds of makeup sprays that most people use: setting spray and fixing spray, both of which are used interchangeably. However—news flash!—they actually do different things for your makeup look.
For today's makeup lesson, we'll be giving you the 411 on both makeup products, what they're good for, and their differences. Ofc, we'll also be including a short shopping list at the end so you can start to fill in the gaps in your routine! Keep on reading to learn more:
What's a setting spray?
A setting spray is probably the term you've heard the most—it's what many people refer to when talking about the final step of their routine. Contrary to popular belief and its name, a setting spray isn't meant to be used for locking your makeup in place. Instead, a setting spray is intended to be used in between the steps of your routine to "melt" the products down to create a non-cakey and non-powdery look.
Setting sprays generally contain more humectant (a.k.a. moisture-retaining) ingredients and have less alcohol content than fixing sprays. It's also usually packed with skin-good ingredients like aloe vera, panthenol, glycerin, and more to help with further hydrating your complexion. All of these will reduce the powdery look and make everything more seamless as you go along your routine.
What's a fixing spray?
On the other hand, a fixing spray is meant to be the final step of your routine to make your look last the entire day. It's usually made with polymers dissolved in a solvent (usually alcohol) that creates a "film" to protect your makeup from budging. The solvent also helps with further melting down the products you used to make it look seamless, but do note that over-spraying can dissolve your makeup and make it run, so spritz sparingly!
Aside from polymers, other common ingredients found in fixing sprays include acrylates, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and polysaccharides. P.S. Hairspray usually contains the same ingredients, so you can use it in a pinch during a makeup emergency if you don't have a fixing spray. (However, we do recommend using a dedicated fixing spray for your face instead.)
TL;DR: What's the difference between setting spray versus fixing spray?
A setting spray is used in between the steps of your makeup routine to refresh, hydrate, and melt everything down to prevent the powdery and cakey look. A fixing spray is meant to be the finishing touch to your makeup to set everything in place, prevent it from budging or moving around, and extend its overall wear time.
SHOP: The Best Setting Sprays
ZEESEA Makeup Setting Spray (Pink Cap)
A favorite of local Redditors, this affordable setting spray gets rave reviews for its dual purpose: melting down makeup and making it last the entire day. It's also praised by people with oily skin for keeping their skin matte for a few hours before having to touch up their beat.
ZEESEA Makeup Setting Spray (Pink Cap), P334, Shopee and Lazada
Sunnies Face Skin So Good Setting Spray
If you want a fine, weightless mist that won't leave droplets on your base, go get the Skin So Good Setting Spray from Sunnies Face. It contains hydrating and skin-soothing ingredients that take care of your complexion while also priming it for the next steps of your routine.
Sunnies Face Skin So Good Setting Spray, P695, Shopee and Lazada
blk cosmetics Fresh 3-in-1 Setting Spray and Hydrating Mist
Aside from melting your makeup in between steps, this spray from blk cosmetics also works as a hydrating mist that can refresh your makeup after midday touchups. It's also formulated with niacinamide and SPF40 PA+++ which makes it the perfect companion for summer (alongside your sunscreen, ofc).
blk cosmetics Fresh 3-in-1 Setting Spray and Hydrating Mist, P549, Shopee and Lazada
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Makeup Setting Spray
This is one spray you're sure to find in the kit of any celebrity MUA! Its ability to be used in multiple ways is what gives the Prep + Prime Fix+ spray its HG status. You can use it to lessen the powdery look of your base, bring back hydration to the skin, intensify the color of powder eyeshadows, and more.
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Makeup Setting Spray, P1,800, Shopee and Lazada
SHOP: The Best Fixing Sprays
Issy True Flex All-Day Setting Spray
Despite being a newer release, this fixing spray from Issy has gained quite a following in the local beauty community for its ability to extend the wear time of your makeup look for up to 16 (!) hours without leaving your skin feeling dry or taut.
Issy True Flex All-Day Setting Spray, P699, Shopee and Lazada
GRWM Cosmetics Life-Proof Fixing Spray
One of the first local brands to release a fixing spray, this one from GRWM Cosmetics promises to be "life-proof." It's designed to withstand sweat, tears, and oil—all while keeping your makeup looking fresh AF! It's currently available in two variants (Radiant and Matte) and two sizes (30ml and 100ml).
GRWM Cosmetics Life-Proof Fixing Spray (30ml), P399, Shopee and Lazada
Happy Skin Fresh Morning Dew Micro-fine Matte Setting Spray
When it comes to sprays, we love a spritzer with a fine AF mist, and this one from Happy Skin gets top marks from us for having just that. Aside from locking your makeup in place, it also has a cooling effect that makes it the perfect product to use for banishing midday blues.
Happy Skin Fresh Morning Dew Micro-fine Matte Setting Spray, P899, Shopee and Lazada
Lovely Causemetics Grip Setter Fixing Spray
Another fixing spray with an ultra-fine mist, this one from Lovely Causemetics locks in your makeup for about 16 hours—perfect for long workdays or events! Plus, good news for the oily-skinned girlies: it can also control shine and greasiness, leaving you dewy not oily.
Lovely Causemetics Grip Setter Fixing Spray, P688, Shopee and Lazada
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