Christine KellerSetting powder and setting spray both come in handy to ensure that your makeup stays in place. However, it doesn’t mean that these two are also interchangeable. When it comes to the fierce battle of setting powder vs. setting spray, several notable differences make them ideal to extend the wear of your makeup but on very specific occasions.
So, should you use a setting powder, or would you be better off with a setting spray?
All about Setting Powder
A type of finely milled powder, setting powder may be tinted or translucent to match your natural skin tone. Meant to be applied once you are done with your makeup routine, setting powder can lock your makeup in place with the use of its ingredients such as silica, cornstarch, and talc.
Although setting powder is not the same as finishing powder with skin-perfecting and pore-minimizing abilities, it usually offers the same final smoothing and blending benefits that create an airbrushed and soft finish.
Who Should Use Setting Powder?
Anyone can use a setting powder, but it is especially useful for people with combination skin or oily skin. The powder also helps absorb all the excess oils around the T-zone of your face to keep your look radiant or matte instead of shiny.
This is also perfect for those who love baking their makeup. This makeup technique involves the application of a generous quantity of setting powder to the specific spots of your face that you want to highlight.
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Once the setting powder has baked over your skin for 5 to 10 minutes, dust off the excess to achieve a matte, crease-free, and poreless look.
How to Pick the Right Setting Powder for You
There are several important decisions you have to make to narrow down your options when searching for the right setting powder for you and your beauty needs.
A Luminous or Matte Finish
Setting powders are available in different finishes. The formulas that are meant to keep oil in check will probably form a matte finish. Although matte finishes are common for setting powders, these are not your only option. There are also formulas designed for setting makeup and boosting the natural glow of your skin. These formulas may contain illuminating ingredients such as pearl or mica.
Pressed Powder or Loose Powder
Less oil is present in loose setting powders compared to pressed powder which often makes them more suitable for people with oily or combination skin.
If you love to bake your makeup, you will also benefit more from loose powder since it is easier and faster to apply more products.
Pressed powders, on the other hand, have more tendency to create a luminous or radiant finish, and are easier to take with you no matter where you go.
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Tinted or Translucent
You can also choose between a powder that matches your own skin tone or a translucent powder. It is easier for beginners to use translucent powders because of their super easy application. Skin-toned tinted setting powders are better options for people with darker skin tones or those who wish to add some warmth to their overall makeup look.
How to Use Setting Powder
Setting powder will set your makeup so you should use it as the last step in your makeup routine right after a touch of your finishing powder if you also use that. Your foundation must still be a bit tacky when you apply setting powder.
Use a big buffing brush and buff in circular motions around your face for the powder to really melt into your skin. You can also spray a bit of hydrating or moisturizing toner on top of the buffed setting powder as a final touch to disguise the powder’s visible cakey appearance.
All about Setting Spray
Setting spray is a type of fine invisible liquid mist you spritz on your skin as the last step in the makeup routine to help set your full-face makeup. Although there are now mattifying sprays available, setting sprays can create a more dewy or natural finish with minimally noticeable texture refinement.
Who Should Use Setting Spray?
Applying setting spray on your face is easier and it is also perfect if you want to set your full-face makeup rather than face makeup alone. This product effectively sets everything, from your eyeshadow to your eyeliner, mascara, and lipstick.
These sprays are also suitable for those who have dry or mature skin since powders often tend to draw attention to dry patches, fine lines, and wrinkles. There are also setting sprays that contain hydrating ingredients such as aloe and hyaluronic acid to moisturize your skin and set your makeup at the same time.
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Setting sprays are also ideal for people with darker skin tones who have a hard time looking for a setting powder that will remain unseen on their complexion. These sprays are really invisible, seamlessly blending into any type of skin tone, deep and fair alike.
How to Pick the Right Setting Spray for You
It is important to pay close attention to the skincare benefits that the setting spray offers and the specific type of finish it can achieve.
If you have dry skin, watch out for formulas that include ingredients such as vitamin E, aloe, hyaluronic acid, and others. There are also setting spray formulas that contain anti-aging ingredients such as blue algae and antioxidants or pore-minimizing ingredients such as niacinamide.
There are also setting sprays that feature particles that reflect light and illuminate your skin to further amplify the dewy finish.
How to Use Setting Spray
If you prefer your makeup routine to be sweet and short, you will appreciate how fast it is to use a setting spray. All you have to do is hold the spray bottle 8 to 10 inches away from your face. Close your mouth and eyes and mist your face with an even layer. That’s how simple it is.
You can spritz a small amount of setting spray on a blending sponge or foundation brush to further boost its long-wear benefits.
Choose between a setting powder and setting spray and flaunt your makeup look with pride!
