4 Key Tips For Using Makeup Setting Spray — Plus 4 Products to Shop Now

If the only thing that doesn't excite you about warmer days ahead is makeup smears and smudges, you're surely not alone. Melting makeup, whether due to sweat, high temperatures, or humidity, is extremely frustrating and can be difficult to touch up. There is a product that can help prevent this issue though.

Enter: setting spray. These mists are designed to help lock makeup in place, therefore reducing the chances of it melting off your face, transferring to different parts of the face, or just smearing in general.

Of course, like any makeup formulation, there are some best practices to follow in order to get the most out of your setting spray. Read on for a few helpful tips, plus setting sprays to shop now.

First, let's cover the basics. Setting spray is designed to help increase your makeup's wear. Priming spray helps prep your skin for makeup, ultimately helping to increase your makeup's wear as well. Face mist is typically meant to either help provide your skin with a light veil of hydration or refresh your makeup.

Some products offer all of these benefits in one bottle while others specialize in only one thing. If you want your mist to secure your makeup and prevent smears, be sure it is a setting spray or has makeup-setting benefits.

Most setting sprays are designed to increase the wear of makeup, but they can offer other benefits to your makeup look too. For example, setting sprays can influence the finish of your makeup. If you want your makeup to be matte, you may want to purchase a setting spray that dries down to a matte finish. If you like dewy makeup, look for a dewy-finish setting spray or one that offers a glowy effect.

Spritzing a setting spray too close to your face has the potential to mess up your makeup. The goal is to hold it at enough of a distance so your makeup is touched by a very fine mist — not water droplets. While every formula has different recommendations, spritzing on a setting spray about eight to 10 inches away from your face is usually a good rule of thumb. Some brands recommend applying it in a certain motion. For instance, e.l.f. Cosmetics recommends applying the Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist in a "Z" formation. The goal is to evenly distribute the product on your face.

Remember: setting spray should be the final step in your skin-care routine, so be sure you've applied all of your makeup before misting it on. You may also want to make sure your mascara or liquid eyeliner has dried down slightly before misting on setting spray.