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The Best Waterproof Setting Sprays
Rain, tears, and sweat don’t stand a chance.
It's frustrating taking the time to get your makeup just right, only to have it start disappearing from your face mere hours later. That's where a makeup setting spray comes in to help. But not all setting sprays are created equal, and many boast completely different abilities. If long-lasting makeup is your goal, you need one of the best waterproof setting sprays to keep your makeup in place through rain, sweat, and really long days at the office.
If you've never used a setting spray before, the good news is that they couldn't be easier to use. Apply your makeup like you normally would, then give the bottle a shake before misting the setting spray over your face in the recommended “X” and “T” motions to cover your whole face. You'll also want to be sure that you hold the bottle at least 8 inches away from your face and keep your eyes closed to avoid any potential irritation.
When you're not planning to actually swim, but need something to hold up to humidity (and the sweat and shine that comes with it), try reinforcing your setting spray with a mattifying setting powder. You'll still want to save the spray for the final step, so once you've applied your makeup, dust some powder over the top (concentrating on areas that get the oiliest, like the T-zone), and give it a once over with your setting spray.
The next time you need your makeup to work overtime, reach for one of the best waterproof setting sprays on this list.
1Writer’s Pick: Best Waterproof Setting Spray
What We Like:
- Helps blur pores
- Refreshing scent
- Free from drying alcohols
- Available in a travel-size bottle
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
I’ve tried a lot of makeup setting sprays in my time, and nothing has topped this one. While I’ve not yet put it to the test in actual water, the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray has seen me through the hottest, most humid days in New York City (yes, including standing on the subway platform). No matter how sweaty things get, my makeup is always still intact, which is no small feat considering I have oily skin to begin with. The spray itself is a super-fine mist that feels weightless on the skin, and it somehow improves the finish of my makeup, adding — as the name suggests — an airbrush-like finish.
Relevant Review: “This setting spray is literally magical. Tear-proof, waterproof, weatherproof – my makeup stays on forever.”
Beneficial Ingredients: Aloe Vera, Glycerin, Green Tea Leaf Extract, Radish Root Ferment | Available Sizes: 1.1 oz., 3.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
2Best Waterproof Setting Spray With Vitamin C
What We Like:
- Refreshing scent
- Brightens skin with vitamin C
- Available in a travel-size bottle
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
- Contains alcohol
Sure, there’s the original (and also waterproof) All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray from Urban Decay, but this vitamin C-infused version imparts your skin with a glow. Not only does the waterproof formula keep your makeup protected for up to 16 hours, but the vitamin C in here also gives you an antioxidant boost that helps to keep your skin protected from the sun (along with your broad-spectrum SPF, of course). The setting spray was designed to give you an immediate luminescent glow, and in keeping with the vitamin C theme, it has a refreshing citrus scent.
Relevant Review: “Easy to apply, gives my skin a lovely glow and really works! My job involves 12hr, customer facing shifts and my makeup still looks good at the end of the day!”
Beneficial Ingredients: Glycerin, Vitamin C, Cactus Flower Water | Available Sizes: 1 oz., 4 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
3Best Waterproof Setting Spray For Oily Skin
What We Like:
- Helps absorb excess oil
- Free from drying alcohols
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
- Not Cruelty-free
For oily skin types, makeup setting sprays are a year-round staple for keeping makeup in place as that midday shine starts to set in. This waterproof mist amps up the benefits with ingredients like bentonite clay and tea tree leaf extract to help stop excess oil from ever popping up. Even with the oil-absorbing ingredients, the setting spray still manages to be hydrating — in part because it’s free from drying alcohols, but it also includes glycerin, aloe vera, and panthenol.
Relevant Review: “The mist is super fine and doesn’t disturb my makeup at all. It has a natural finish, somewhere between matte and dewy I’d say. I have oily skin and usually opt for more matte sprays (which usually contain very drying alcohol), but this kept my shine at bay all day and kept my makeup looking fresh. [...]”
Beneficial Ingredients: Glycerin, Aloe Vera, Bentonite, Panthenol, Chamomile Flower Extract, Tea Tree Leaf Extract, Green Tea Leaf Extract | Size: 2.7 oz. | Cruelty-Free: No
4Best Waterproof Setting Spray With Temperature Control Technology
What We Like:
- Designed to last through excessive heat and moisture
- Available in a travel-size bottle
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Noncomedogenic
What We Don’t Like:
- Expensive
- Contains alcohol
On the list of occasions where a no-fail makeup setting spray is necessary, I’d venture to guess that your wedding would top the list. Skindinavia literally created their Bridal Makeup Finishing Spray with the toughest clients in mind, so you know it holds up. The brand uses its own patented temperature control technology to help prevent excess moisture and shine from ever showing up in the first place, while aloe vera provides a bit of soothing hydration. Plus, it’s available in several size options — including a super-convenient travel-size — depending on how often you rely on a makeup setting spray.
Relevant Review: “Wore this the entire weekend I got engaged, during which I sobbed SO MUCH! Kept my makeup PERFECTLY intact even for engagement photos immediately after. No streaks, no weird smell, even lasts super hot days. Best setting spray ever!”
Beneficial Ingredients: Aloe Vera | Available Sizes: 2 oz., 4 oz., 8 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
5Best Drugstore Waterproof Setting Spray
What We Like:
- Under $20
- Sets makeup for 24 hours
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
What We Don’t Like:
- Contains alcohol
For a pick that performs like a prestige product but is well under the $20 mark, there’s this 24-hour setting spray from Milani. Not only does it promise the longest-lasting results, but the setting spray also includes a 2% concentration of niacinamide, a skin care multi-tasker that’s credited with helping to calm redness and irritation, among other things. Niacinamide offers its own antioxidant boost, as does the watermelon fruit extract that’s also included to protect and hydrate.
Relevant Review: “This stuff works amazing. It literally makes my face completely waterproof. So much better than the high-end brands.”
Beneficial Ingredients: Glycerin, Niacinamide, Watermelon Fruit Extract | Size: 2 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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