When most girls picked up their first makeup brush and eye shadow palette, it was no secret their eyelids had over-pigmented eyeshadow and lipstick that strayed outside the lines. The more accustomed to makeup girls became, the more advanced the makeup regimens grew. “Setting your face” was converted into a vital step that had us muddled, thinking, “Now, what is this magical mist?”
So, let’s set things straight: Does setting spray actually work?
The Debate
It can be convincing when we see a shiny, new product on the market that claims it will “fix” all our problems. Depending on your view, setting spray can fall under the category of necessary or unnecessary. Some believe that the spray blends makeup layers and results in smudges rather than increasing your makeup’s wear time. Others say that it makes their face oily due to their skin texture and the ingredients in the spray.
The Ingreidents
Its effectiveness to some is trivial to others, but the ingredients don’t lie. The most common ingredient in setting spray is denatured alcohol. Alcohol helps the product dry quickly for the applied makeup to set in place without smudging. Another ingredient is polymers that create a protective film that holds products in place. Humectants (glycerin) are an additional ingredient to hold moisture in the skin for that desired dewy look.
The Verdict
According to an article from Women’s Health, “I Tested This Makeup-Setting Spray For A Week—Here’s What Happened,” author Julia Sullivan’s verdict came to be that setting spray is, in fact a helpful product to have handy in your bag. Keep in mind this is only one person’s perspective, so if you’re not convinced, don’t go running to your nearest Sephora for the priciest setting spray known to man. Although there are many reasons your makeup could be smudging, her view is that using setting spray can only help, not hurt you.
“Was my face greasy on the third day of experimenting because I drank the night before—or because I skipped my spray? It’s hard to say for sure. But even on the most humid, boozy, and sweaty of days, MAC’s Prime + Prep Fix spray made a noticeable difference to my look.”
– Julia Sullivan (Women’s Health)
Is setting spray your friend or enemy? Let us know how you feel by tweeting us @VALLEYmag on X!
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