Do You Really Need Setting Spray?

There are so many makeup products, but are all of them essential? When you’re building your makeup collection or learning how to do makeup, you’re bound to get overwhelmed. Do I need this? Or that? Is all of this a must? And one of those products is setting spray. While wildly popular amongst makeup artists, it’s not used by everyone daily. So, is it necessary? Let’s talk about it:

What is setting spray, & what does it do?

Setting spray is a cosmetic product used in makeup applications. Its primary function is to help makeup stay in place for an extended period.

Sweating, oils, eating and drinking, and other activities you do throughout your day can make your makeup run, smudge, or smear. Setting spray helps to keep it locked in place and looking good all day. Setting sprays can also achieve a specific finish to your makeup look. You can apply a dewy setting spray to help your face look less dry, and matte or a mattifying setting spray if you get shiny quickly. Some setting sprays can also help with makeup transfer to your clothing.

Here’s what setting spray does and how it works:

Longevity: Setting spray is designed to extend the wear time of makeup by creating a protective barrier on the skin. It helps prevent makeup from fading, creasing, or melting off due to humidity, heat, or natural skin oils.
Fixing Makeup: After applying makeup (foundation, concealer, powder, etc.), the setting spray is sprayed or misted over the face. This helps to lock in the makeup, ensuring it stays fresh and intact throughout the day or night.
Finishing Touch: Setting spray provides a final finish to the makeup look, often giving the skin a more natural, dewy, or matte appearance, depending on the setting spray used.
Refreshing: Some setting sprays also have refreshing or hydrating properties, which can help revitalize makeup or soothe the skin throughout the day.

Setting sprays usually come in spray bottles and contain ingredients that create a film over the makeup without feeling heavy or sticky. They are suitable for all skin types and can be used alongside other makeup products without affecting appearance or texture.

Do redheads need it?

While a makeup artist might tell you otherwise, setting spray isn’t a crucial step in your makeup process — with a few exceptions. If you’re wearing heavy makeup or at a special event where your makeup needs to look perfect in photos, it’s a must. Keeping your makeup looking great all day is no easy feat, and you need all the help you can get.

For your everyday makeup, or if you wear light makeup, you might not need it. You may also not need a setting spray if you use something else to set your makeup, like a setting powder. Or if you’re not wearing foundation, it’s not necessary. There may be times of year when setting spray is more essential than others. For example, it can help prevent smudging in the hot summer months. In the colder winter months, you might find you can go without.

Settings sprays can contain irritating ingredients like perfumes and drying agents, so they might not work for all redheads. That being said, some will work for you; you just have to find the right one. We recommend having a setting spray you like and know will work for your sensitive skin in your collection whenever you need it!