There’s nothing worse than spending an hour perfecting your base, only for it to melt, smudge, and/or crease by lunchtime. Whether you’re team matte or dewy, there’s one product that keeps your look locked in no matter the weather: setting spray.
To help you find your perfect match, we’ve rounded up the best setting sprays on the market, featuring cult favourites, drugstore gems, and essentials from the Daily Vanity team.
Setting Sprays With a Natural Finish
Milani Make It Last Setting Spray (Original)
America’s #1 setting spray lives up to its reputation. With up to 24 hours of waterproof, sweatproof wear, this lightweight mist locks in your look for the long haul.
Infused with moisture-rich glycerin and 2% niacinamide, this vegan and cruelty-free formula not only sets makeup but also hydrates and preps skin, leaving a smooth, natural finish.
Milani, in particular, impressed me after a long event, as my makeup stayed intact all day. [It] has a light fragrance, but it’s not overpowering or irritating.” – Isabelle Tan, Marketing Intern
Milani Make It Last Setting Spray (Original) retails for S$25.90 (60ml) on Shopee.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray
When Urban Decay made its highly anticipated return to Sephora Singapore in October 2024, it brought this cult-favourite setting spray with it.
Loved for its ability to lock in makeup for up to 16 hours without smudging or fading, it even made a cameo on Single’s Inferno 4, used by none other than Si-an. If it helped her makeup survive the island heat and reality TV drama, your look will probably endure anything.
Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray retails for S$23 (30ml) and S$50 (118ml) on Sephora.sg.
Makeup By Mario Surrealskin™ Soft Setting Spray Alcohol-free! Fragrance-free!
With an ultra-fine mist that won’t disturb your makeup, this alcohol- and fragrance-free mist sets your look for up to 16 hours while delivering all-day hydration and a barely-there feel. Great for layering, it softens makeup for a naturally radiant, skin-like finish.
It works beautifully with my Make Up For Ever HD Skin and Fenty Skin Tint. I use it in between layers and after powder – it really helps my base absorb better and last longer.” – Galina Tan, Editorial Intern
She’s put it to the test in Singapore’s sweltering heat and even a concert, and her makeup stayed radiant and intact for over 10 hours.
Makeup By Mario Surrealskin™ Soft Setting Spray retails for S$56 (100ml) on Sephora.sg.
MAC Cosmetics Fix+ Alcohol-Free Multitasking Setting Spray Alcohol-free!
More than just a setting spray, this lightweight mist is packed with vitamins, minerals, and a calming blend of green tea, chamomile, and cucumber to soothe and refresh the skin.
It gives an instant boost of hydration and leaves a soft, dewy sheen – perfect for melting powders into skin for a natural, radiant finish or giving dull complexions a mid-day pick-me-up.
MAC Cosmetics Fix+ Alcohol-Free Multitasking Setting Spray retails for S$28 (30ml) and S$52 (100ml) on Sephora.sg.
Kosas Cloud Set Airy Setting + Smoothing Mist Alcohol-free! Fragrance-free!
This featherlight, alcohol-free mist is a dream for sensitive skin.
Made with 99.5% naturally derived ingredients, it hydrates, smooths, and locks in makeup for up to 12 hours – all without stickiness, tightness, or irritation. The oil-free, fragrance-free formula also claims to improve skin texture and reduce the look of pores over time.
It melts powder into cream seamlessly and kept my base intact during a humid walk through the Botanic Gardens. Even after blotting sweat, my makeup didn’t transfer. No alcohol, no fragrance, and no niacinamide, which are the usual triggers for me.” – Jade Yeo, Editor
A solid pick for reactive skin types and fans of natural-looking, breathable makeup.
Kosas Cloud Set Airy Setting + Smoothing Mist retails for S$55 (95ml) on Sephora.sg.
Setting Sprays With a Dewy Finish
SO NATURAL All Day Tight Make Up Setting Fixx Mist Spray
A K-beauty favourite that lives up to the hype, this ultra-fine mist was ranked #1 on Get It Beauty by industry pros. It hydrates and refreshes with a botanical blend of lemon, tea tree, and centella asiatica, while locking in makeup for over 12 hours.
It makes any glowy base glowier and turns matte foundation into the perfect luminous matte, skin-like finish.” – Cevin Ung, Editorial Intern
Expect a lightweight, moisturising formula with a soft floral scent and a dewy, radiant finish that lasts (even through a downpour, according to Cevin!). Just don’t forget to powder your T-zone if you’re shine-prone.
SO NATURAL All Day Tight Make Up Setting Fixx Mist Spray retails for S$23.20 (75ml) on Watsons.
Sephora Collection Makeup Setting Spray Fragrance-free!
Don’t sleep on this underrated gem. Enriched with energising ginseng extract, this spray boosts your makeup’s performance and helps it last up to 16 hours. It creates a transfer-proof barrier that resists heat and humidity, preventing your makeup from sliding into pores or fine lines.
On days when my skin feels dry, I go for the Sephora one – it gives a dewy, natural finish that makes my makeup look more fresh and hydrated.” – Ridzvaani Nagarajen, Writer
She also recommends misting it both before and after foundation for longer wear and better blendability.
Sephora Collection Makeup Setting Spray retails for S$28 (80ml) on Sephora.sg.
KOSÉ Make Keep Mist
It has sold over 10 million bottles and scored a COSME Japan No. 1 Award; this mist is a J-beauty icon for a reason.
Now upgraded with an even finer mist, it creates a lightweight, uniform layer that’s sweatproof, waterproof, and transfer-proof – ideal for Singapore’s heat and humidity. It features a soft rose floral scent with a subtle fruity top note for a refreshing spritz.
It helps my makeup last all day without touch-ups and gives a natural, glowy finish. It holds up on sweaty, humid days and keeps my base looking fresh rather than cakey.” – Isabelle Tan, Marketing Intern
While it does contain alcohol and fragrance, she didn’t experience any irritation, though those with sensitive skin may want to patch test first.
KOSÉ Make Keep Mist retails for S$8.90 (35ml) and S$18 (80ml) on Shopee.
Setting Sprays With a Matte Finish
NYX Makeup Setting Spray (Matte) Fragrance-free!
With one bottle sold every minute, this cult-classic mist is a must-have, especially for oily skin types.
The breathable, water-based formula controls shine and keeps your makeup locked in for up to 16 hours without caking, creasing, or settling into fine lines. Infused with niacinamide, it helps smooth and refine the skin while keeping your look fresh all day.
NYX Makeup Setting Spray (Matte) retails for S$17.90 (60ml) on Shopee.
Sea Makeup Stayput Prime & Set Continuous Setting Spray – Velvet Matte
A multitasking priming and setting spray, this lightweight mist keeps your makeup smudge-proof, transfer-resistant, and fresh all day. With a velvet matte finish that still feels breathable, it works double duty: prepping the skin before makeup and locking everything in after.
It’s long-lasting, sweat-proof, and keeps my matte foundation intact with minimal transfer. I use it both before and after makeup to prime and set – it really holds up through a full sweaty day out.” – Nazirah Nasri, Senior Marketing Executive
She notes it performs best when paired with matte or semi-matte foundations.
Sea Makeup Stayput Prime & Set Continuous Setting Spray – Velvet Matte retails for S$22.66 (100ml) on Shopee.
Sea Makeup Lock It Matte Acne Setting Spray Alcohol-free! Fragrance-free!
Formulated for acne-prone skin, this mist that’s also from Sea Makeup locks in your look while treating breakouts. Infused with succinic acid, resveratrol, and bisabolol, it helps soothe, heal, and prevent blemishes without irritating sensitive skin.
Expect a smudge- and transfer-resistant matte finish that wears comfortably all day. Use it before makeup to prime or after to set your look in place.
Even after sweating a lot, my makeup barely budged. It gives a natural finish – matte but not drying – and controls oil throughout the day.” – Nabilah Awang, Marketing Executive
She loves it with both cushion and liquid foundations but recommends holding the bottle farther away for a finer mist, as the spray can sometimes dispense unevenly.
Sea Makeup Lock It Matte Acne Setting Spray retails for S$15.26 (100ml) on Shopee.
What Does a Setting Spray Do?
Designed to prolong the wear of your makeup and sometimes even enhance its finish, a good setting spray is like a topcoat for your makeup. Some mattify, others hydrate, and a few add that elusive glow that makes skin look like you were born with it.
A few spritzes can help:
- Lock your base products in place
- Prevent smudging, creasing, or fading
- Add radiance or reduce shine, depending on the formula
- Blend powdery textures for a more natural finish
Some formulas are also infused with skincare ingredients – hydrating your skin, calming irritation, or controlling oil while keeping your makeup intact.
How to Use a Setting Spray
To get the most out of your setting spray, hold the bottle about 20 to 25cm away from your face. Close your eyes, then mist in an “X” and “T” motion to cover all areas evenly.
DV tip: For extra staying power, lightly spritz your sponge or brush with the mist before applying foundation or highlighter. It helps products grip better and look more seamless.
