We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. Every beauty regimen would be obsolete without a finishing step. What’s the point of painting on a manicure without a glossy, chip-resistant top coat?
Or a voluminous blowout without some hairspray to prevent it from falling limp in an hour? And a makeup routine is no different. There’s no point in spending all that time perfecting your glam if it's going to look cakey by noon, or disappear by the end of the day.
Luckily, that’s where a good setting spray comes in, locking your makeup in place while keeping it looking fresh, whether you want a blurred finish, extra hydration, or just some added insurance against sweat and humidity. But let's be real: Some setting sprays are basically glorified water. They might leave your skin looking a little dewier for a few minutes, but the best formulas actually meld your makeup together, prevent fading and creasing, and keep your look intact for hours on end, even on the sweatiest of days.
Don't know which one to choose? Team Cosmo tested just about every setting spray on the market across different skin types and makeup routines, and we have plenty of opinions. Keep reading for our 12 hour day-approved favorites.
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.
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