It’s hot today in the North Bay (or, as we say in the Bay Area, it’s “HELLA hot here right now”). It’s a heat wave.
Weirdly, it’s been way hotter here in Novato than it was in Hawaii last week.
Super hot and super sweaty. Currently, my house is like an armpit, so baby and I are going to escape to air-conditioned pastures in a bit, but before we go, let’s talk makeup setting sprays…
When it’s hot like this, they’re a must for me, and here are a few I love.
1. Make Up For Ever Mist & Fix O2 ($30)
The best all-rounder. You can probably guess that this one’s my fave because — look, there’s only a teeny bit left in the bottle! 🙂 It doesn’t matter what type of finish I’m wearing (matte, dewy, glittery, shimmery, whatever!), it holds on to everything and keeps it in place.
I can sweat like crazy — even rub at my eyes or touch my face — and it keeps whatever I’m wearing from melting off or disappearing.
as in almost immediately
Also, I think Mist & Fix is the best spray for applying shimmer eyeshadows, glitter shadows and/or loose pigments with a wet brush because it’s almost like a lightweight liquid glue. It doesn’t leave your lids or your face feeling tacky or anything like that, and yet somehow binds those shimmery or glittery particles to the skin.
2. Urban Decay Chill ($31)
The best for dewy skin looks, and you know I’m all about that dewy skin. 🙂 I think Chill is the best spray for that type of look.
It’s weird, but there’s a very fine line between dewy skin and skin that looks oily, right? A little shine is good — great, even! — but too much shine starts to look greasy. Chill walks that line without crossing it, and it feels fab, too. There’s a slight cooling sensation, so when you spray it on a hot day, ah… It’s so refreshing.
Did I mention that it creates the finest mist ever? The droplets are finer than those of the other the sprays I use, and it’s a wide mist. A single spritz covers a lot of area.
3. Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist ($25)
The best for keeping shine in check. I use this spray when I do matte looks or when my combo skin is oilier than usual. It has what Shiseido calls an “Anti-Shine Complex” to keep greasy spots in check, and dang if doesn’t werk! When I use this, I feel like my skin looks like it did in the ’90s (from what I remember, haha) — uber-matte, with no shine whatsoever.
The mist kinda bugs me, though… Sometimes big droplets hit my face in random spots, but other than that, it’s good stuff.
Stay cool in the heat, babe!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I am quite unexperienced when it comes to makeup setting sprays, but with the heat wave we are experiencing right now I guess I need one to keep the makeup from melting off my face in the office.
I think they make a difference, especially in extreme heat. Give one a go sometime soon!
Know I want to try the Make Up For Ever setting spray!
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It’s great! I think they might also have samples sizes available so you don’t have to commit to the full-size one right away.
I just got a travel size of the UD Chill! I will have to take it on holidays and really test it out. 🙂
I like it a lot. I would’ve brought one with me on vacay but I didn’t have any extra room in my carry-on liquids bag.
Are you going on another trip soon?
Yes, shortly! And the weather there looks hot! My Hawaii trip was back in December, which now that I think about it, was actually six months ago. Time flew by so quickly, I didn’t even realize. That is how strong the Hawaii vibe is… it stays with you a long while. Maybe that’s why we keep wanting to go back.
Also, I’m a bit disappointed – the travel size that I have is UD Quick Fix and not Chill so I guess I won’t try it yet after all! 😮 One day I will, though. I love those UD sprays!
December is a good time to go to Hawaii because it’s the best time to surf. Hope you got to do some water sports while you were there!
I had only ever used Coola’s setting spray with spf until I received the classic UD one in my Sephora Play box a couple month ago. I tried it once and it made my mascara melt and smudge all over my under eyes. Like I opened my eyes after spraying and I had been magically turned into a panda. 🙁
What did I do wrong, Karen? Sprayed too much? Should I spray before applying mascara?
Hmmm! How far did you hold the bottle? I usually keep it an arm’s length and then I spray. I also try to do it before I apply mascara just because I don’t my lashes to get wet because it messes with the curl from the lash curler. Sometimes I do it afterward, though, when I’m in a hurry. If that’s the case I lightly cover my lashes with a hand or with a magazine cover and spray around them.
How is the Coola spray?
I tried to hold it at arm’s length but maybe I was a little closer. Of course that day I was late for an event and I didn’t have time to redo everything so it was a mess!
The Coola spray never did that for me, it contains alcohol and the smell is sharp for a few seconds, but it works pretty well in my experience. I don’t like alcohol on my face, but since I use it on top of foundation + powder, I think not much actually comes in contact with my skin, it evaporates on the surface.
I have to do the UD spray before mascara, otherwise panda eyes every time.
Have you tried the Kate Somervile setting spray/spf combo? I love me a multi-tasking product. I think I may have to try that one out.
Hi Lexi!
I tried it once and remember the spray coming out pretty forcefully, almost like hairspray. I need to take it on a few more runs before I can make a fair assessment.
I think I saw on FB or Instagram and that you’re starting a new job. Are you at your new gig yet?
Ha – hairspray! That’s hella scary hahaha!
Yes, I am working for a digital marketing firm by the Embarcadero…side note…I’m 5 minutes away from the new Sephora at Embarcadero 2. This will not bode well for my wallet.
Oh that’s great! Congratulations. I hope that you like your co-workers and your work. If you guys ever work with beauty bloggers you know where to find me. 😉
Umm… being 5 minutes away from a Sephora is both a good and a bad thing, LOL!
I think I want to try the Shiseido spray. I’m oily times 1,000 during the summer.
I have the Urban Decay and love it! Would like to try ibuki by Shiseido though, I like he range. I also use Fix + a lot these days, it’s amazing how it brings all my make up together even if not the most long lasting x
I like Fix+ and use it all the time but consider it more as a straight up moisturizing spray. I like using it to prep skin before putting on makeup, and I also like to use it after applying powder to take the edge off. It’s good stuff!
I’ve never tried a makeup setting spray. When it gets really hot, I just pare back the makeup to the bare minimum. Bare being the operative word. Sunblock, waterproof mascara and a tinted lip balm. Maybe some powder to keep the shine in check.
I’ve seen gals ride in the heat with a full face on and I always wondered how they did it without it all melting into their eyes and all over the place. I guess the secret ingredient is a setting spray. Then again, they never seem to sweat as much as I do either. I take my helmet off and there a rivers of sweat traveling down from my head.
I’m guessing that they’re wearing waterproof and long-wearing products combined with industrial strength primers. I know stage performers and dancers who use various long-wearing combos and daaaaang, talk about makeup that could withstand a monsoon!
How do these compare to the Skindinavia Makeup Primer Spray and Finishing Sprays? I currently get them from B-Glowing and love them. Is a Setting Spray different from a Primer and Finishing Spray?
I’m not much of a setting spray expert but got a sample of the Supergoop and have been using that a bunch lately because of the SPF 50. It’s done a great job as a sunscreen, is super easy to apply – though not an ultra fine mist by any means – and seems to do a decent job keeping my makeup in place. The boys generally have baseball all day on the weekends so it’s convenient to spray a few times throughout the day. 🙂
Thank you. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve done full face in the summer and I’m out of the loop when it comes to setting sprays. I’m a tight budget right now, so I bought a $5 drugstore version but when I get my money right, I’ll graduate to one of your suggestions. —
I’m with you, girl. Reno has been in the 90s to 100 almost every day for the past 10 days, and the forecast looks like it’s not letting up anytime soon! Ugh, normally it’s only in the 80s now. At least we don’t have your humidity! I’ve been using NYX’s Matte setting spray, and darn if it’s not pretty damn good. I still love Urban Decay’s the most, I remembering ordering Skindinavia’s spray back before they started partnering with UD, but NYX is just so much friendlier to my wallet. I just keep a travel size of UD around for when I know I’ll need my makeup to look good 12+ hours.
Ya know, I don’t think I’ve ever visited Reno in the summer. I didn’t realize it got so hot!
I think I tired that NYX spray ages ago and vaguely remember liking it.
MUFE’s setting spray works really well with the damp brush technique with their liquid/cream foundations too. Admittedly I did this on top of MUFE primers too. But I was able to cover serious redness with the most ease I’d ever had.