Listen, when I tell you setting sprays have literally done wonders for my anxiety! Hear me out. OK so, if know only one thing about me you’ll know that I sweat…a lot…even when it’s freezing outside. It’s an issue I’ve suffered with since a child and ultimately was told by a dermatologist that I have “overactive sweat glands.” To many it may seem like such a trivial issue on the grand scale of disorders but overly sweating has been terrible for my self-esteem and mental health. Constantly having to avoid certain colored clothing because “they show sweat spots too much” or worrying about if people are staring at my sweated out armpits and back through my shirt.

Another layer of anxiety came when I start wearing a full face of make-up. As luck will have it, the universe blessed me with hyperactive sweat glands at the CENTER OF MY FACE, my T-zone. Do you know how miserable it makes you feel when you spend time applying make-up to perfection and you feel on top of the world walking out the house only to have your spirit crushed half an hour later because the middle of your face no longer has foundation on it because it bubbled away with your sweat!

Wow, OK…I said all that to say this, makeup setting sprays are amazing and I love them. They give me the little confidence boost I need to make it through the day. Like, yeah, my life is in shambles but makeup looks flawless! Here are a few of my all time favorites, how I use them, and the pros and cons of each.

Urban Decay All-Nighter & De-slick Setting Spray

Both Urban Decay setting sprays are number one on my list of best setting sprays. The “de-slick” version was marketed as providing “oil control” but I didn’t really see a difference between it and the original “All-nighter” spray. Either way, Urban Decay’s setting spray is the best. It has a light-weight feel that melts into your makeup to make it last literally through anything (even profusely sweating). My make-up stays in place even through constantly dabbing away sweat throughout the day.

The only con I can possibly find is that the nozzle can spray out product inconsistently at times. Because of that it can make application uneven on some areas of my face therefore leaving me with wet spots that threaten to disturb my make-up before it dries.

MAC Prep+Prime FIX+

My first ever experience with MAC FIX+ was on my way to the club to celebrate a friend’s birthday. My friend’s friend quickly sprayed me with a few pumps as we left to hit the town. I thought nothing of it other than “that’s really refreshing!” Fast-forward a few hours, I’m dancing living my best life..sweating…but I had not a care in the world because I was just having fun whatever. When we all get home after the long night and I got a glimpse of myself I was shook! Contrary to what I thought, I did not look like a troll. GLORY. I said to myself it was that dang FIX+! MAC has my heart forever.

These days I almost only use it to give me a refresher throughout the day or to make my eyeshadow shimmer shades more vibrant. A quick spritz on a brush before applying eyeshadow to my lids makes any metallic shade pop.

CoverFX High Performance Setting Spray & CoverFX Illuminating Setting Spray

The High Performance Setting Spray is stated to provide a very long lasting, almost unmovable, matte finish to your face. While I don’t think it lives up to all its hype, it is definitely a comparable setting spray to the Urban Decay All-Nighter. The nozzle on the CoverFX setting sprays are UNMATCHED! You barely feel the product dispensing on your face. The product has the most even delivery.

Now, the CoverFX Illuminating Setting Spray…the product is great…the application, not so much. This setting spray provides a natural dewy finish that doesn’t make you look oily or sweaty. Like I mentioned previously, the nozzle is great but the issue I have with the application is the product itself. While this setting spray does the job it can make you look a sparkly mess! I’m not sure what it is but the liquid product has visible sparkles or crystals or fairy dust or whatever so when you spray it on, you get just that. VISIBLE fairy dust all over your face. Which to outsiders just looks like a bunch of white dots all over your face. It’s frustrating but will I stop using it? Nope 🙂

E.L.F Active Post-Workout Cool Down Mist

OK, so this is not marketed as a setting spray but rules are meant to be broken. I use this product just like I use MAC FIX+, a refresher and for eyeshadows. But I swear this works as a setting spray! I did a long-wear test on the day of my graduate school graduation and it didn’t disappoint. It fought through all my nerves and stress sweating throughout the ceremony and kept my make-up in place. In my head, it makes your make-up waterproof but I could be exaggerating.

The only con with the E.L.F. Cool Down Mist is the nozzle. It’s not a mist at all, more like a shower! With this bottle you actually have to follow usual setting spray directions and hold it at least 12 inches away from your face to prevent drowning yourself in this stuff. I still love it though 🙂

Whew! OK, I made it through this long post!