Setting Powder vs. Setting Spray: How to Pick the Best One for You

If you take the time to do your makeup, odds are you want it to last. You can elongate your makeup's longevity in many ways, such as using a gripping primer and long-wear foundation. However, one of the best ways to make your makeup last all day is by sealing the deal with a setting powder or setting spray.

According to makeup artist Kenny Screven, the two have key differences. "What they do and how they are applied are completely different," he says. Obviously, one is a spray, and the other is a powder. They have different finishes, but there's also the matter of personal preference and lifestyle.

For example, if you like to end your makeup routine with a refreshing and quick close, a spray may be more up your alley. If you're curious about the baking method and have a few minutes to spare, then try a powder. It's not quite as easy as that, though. So, we tapped three makeup experts to better understand the differences between both products and how to choose the best one for you. Read more for their tips ahead.

What Is Setting Powder?

Keri Blair, a senior national artist at MAC Cosmetics, says setting powder is typically used on the face in places where you want a matte finish. “Setting powder comes in a loose, generally jet-milled powder form and requires a brush or a puff to be applied,” she says. It essentially does just what it sounds like it does: sets your makeup in place throughout the day.

Depending on the look you want, setting powders are available in many shades or translucent. “Colorless versions are universal for all skin tones, while tinted kinds warm-up or deepen a foundation,” says Dino Dilio, a makeup instructor at CMU College of Makeup Art & Design.

What Are the Benefits of Setting Powder?

Screven says setting powders can be used to zap oil, often just where it's needed instead of all over. "Setting powder can help absorb the extra oil on your skin and is perfect for holding foundation in place," he says. "I like to apply setting powder after I apply concealer to help keep it in place — it helps to brighten the under-eye and to keep the concealer in place for a longer amount of time." Only a few swipes of powder are needed for dry skin, likely where most people are prone to oil, such as the nose or T-zone.

Dilio says talc or mineral-based powders have great staying power and oil-absorbing mechanisms. Blair is a fan of powders with ingredients like silica, mica, and cornstarch, which she says are great for creating a soft, texture-less effect on the skin that is transparent and almost undetectable.

She recommends Ilia's Soft Focus Finishing Powder ($36) for a blurred finish thanks to its light formula of organic powders and oils. "Interestingly enough, baby powder continues to be a go-to as an inexpensive alternative," Blair adds. We also love the Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Powder ($42), which is finely granulated and easy to apply for a light finish over foundation, concealer, and other face makeup.

How to Apply Setting Powder

After choosing your powder, you can apply it sparingly or all over, depending on your desired finish. Blair explains how it's done:

• Use a soft, fluffy brush with a tapered end to ensure even (but specific) placement, like MAC's 240 Synthetic Large Tapered Blending Brush ($36).
• Swirl your brush into your powder and apply it in circular motions, paying close attention to the areas around the sides of your nose and through your T-zone (where the skin gets oilier and the product can wear away faster).
• For a full face, use a large, flat powder brush like MAC's 135 Synthetic Large Flat Powder Brush ($46) or IT Cosmetics' Wand Ball Powder Brush ($50) for a softer touch.
• For a bargain buy, e.l.f.'s Powder Blurring Brush ($7) is also great for all-over coverage.

What Is Setting Spray?

A setting spray is a liquid misted onto the skin through an atomizer. While setting powder absorbs oil and has more of a matte finish, Blair says a setting spray gives a softer effect with a less visible texture.

Setting spray is used to keep your whole face of makeup in place—that includes setting powder, mascara, and even lipstick. "Setting spray is applied all over the skin, not just your face makeup," Screven says. "Some offer a more dewy finish, while others keep things matte."

What Are the Benefits of Setting Spray?

Different setting sprays work better for various skin conditions. Dilo says humectant mists are ideal for dry skin, as they attract and trap moisture into the skin. For example, Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($49) is formulated with 20 percent botanical oils, leaving the skin hydrated and soft. Then, there are illuminating mists that contain micro-fine, light-reflective particles that lend radiance and glow to the face.

MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ ($31), preferred by Dilio, comes in multiple formulations like soothing lavender, coconut, and rose. The lightweight mist is perfect for a mid-afternoon skin refresh.

ColourPop's Setting Spray extends the wear of makeup while moisturizing and softening skin with coconut water. "Mattifying mists are made for oily skin, and contain ingredients with properties to keep skin matte and control unwanted shine," adds Dilio,

How to Apply Setting Spray:

• Hold the spray at least 14 inches from your face—you don’t want large water droplets to disrupt your makeup.
• With your eyes closed, spritz the center of your face, then again over your forehead.
• Finish with two more sprays for the sides of your face, and one last time on your chin and neck.
• Once it dries, you're good to go.

The Final Takeaway

How you set your makeup depends entirely on your skin's needs and your desired look. Either way, experts recommend this "invisible" step in your makeup routine to yield long-lasting results from AM to PM.