Lock-in Your Makeup: Reasons a Good Setting Spray Makes a Difference

Are you tired of fixing your makeup every 10 minutes? Just think of how many hours you’ve spent in your life putting on makeup before going somewhere and how everything was ruined just because you’ve rubbed your eye without noticing. But maybe you are not the type of person who spends hours in front of the mirror perfecting their makeup, but you probably apply eyeliner and lipstick before going to work.

In any case, instead of running to the toilet to fix your smudged mascara or worrying that your perfect makeup will come off during a special occasion, you can use a setting spray as part of your face makeup and lock-in your look. But how to choose a good setting spray? Here’s some advice that may help you.

A Setting Spray with Natural Ingredients Is a Good Idea

There are so many different setting sprays on the market that you simply don’t know which one is better for your skin. Our face is the most exposed part of our body to different external conditions and that is why we should take special care of it. But what exactly is setting spray? Is there any risk for it to harm our skin?

A setting spray or “finishing spray” is the last step of a makeup look. It’s sprayed after you apply all your beauty products like powder, eyeliner, mascara, bronzer or whatever you use, to lock-in your makeup. Like with any face cosmetic product, there’s also a risk that the wrong choice of setting spray can harm your skin. This is usually the case with harsh formulas that can dry out your skin or cause inflammation. So, to be on the safe side, it’s best to opt for a face spray with natural ingredients.

Most natural setting sprays contain water to hydrate your skin and keep the makeup from looking cakey and polymers which hold your makeup firmly in place. If you have oily skin, there’s a high chance that your makeup magically disappears at the end of the day, so this spray may be the perfect solution for you.

Depending on your preferences, you can choose a setting spray that transforms your makeup look from dewy to matte or the opposite. But if you don’t know what you want to achieve by applying the setting spray, choose one that is suited for your skin type. If you have oily skin, look for a matte spray and if your skin is dry, you can choose extra hydrating setting spray.

As mentioned, it’s always better if you use face makeup formulated with botanical ingredients that will keep your skin hydrated and help to fight against premature aging. But you should also pay attention to cosmetic products containing paraben because even if they prevent bacteria growth, they also mimic the natural hormones in your body and may disrupt the estrogen level. So, when you choose a setting spray, make sure it is paraben-free.

Compared to chemical cosmetic products which only provide temporary effects, natural products can offer the skin additional health benefits and help it look plump and glowing. Let’s check out some natural ingredients that you may find in your setting spray and that can have a positive influence on your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar found naturally in our skin that has the ability to hold water and keeps your skin hydrated, plump and healthy. Our skin cells produce it in order to maintain moisture levels. But as we age, the level of hyaluronic acid decreases, and our skin dehydrates more easily, so to make up for the loss, it is better to use face cosmetics products containing this substance.

Furthermore, it is good for any skin type and doesn’t trigger allergic skin reactions or acne. Since the main purpose of a setting spray is to lock-in your makeup, if it doesn’t contain hyaluronic acid, it may dry your skin which can cause flakes and ruin your makeup. That is why is important to choose a setting spray that contains this ingredient because that way you will kill two birds with one stone: your makeup will last longer and your skin will stay hydrated and fresh.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a“miracle plant” that has been used to treat many different health conditions throughout the centuries. You can always grow your own aloe vera plant and use its gel directly from its leaves, or you can simply use face cosmetics products that are packed with aloe gel. Aloe contains antioxidants, vitamins A and C and is anti-inflammatory. It is widely known for its cooling properties and that it can treat sunburns or burnt skin. It is also used in healing wounds because it can speed up cell reproduction.

Moreover, aloe vera treats acne and dry skin, but it has more healing power on superficial surface acne than cystic or deeper acne. When used as a moisturising gel, aloe vera unclogs the pores and softens the skin. It may also be effective at preventing wrinkles from forming or getting deeper. That being said, your skin will really benefit if the make up for face that you use contains aloe vera, especially your setting spray.

Cucumber

Cucumber is 96% water which makes it a great hydrating solution for your dry skin and it is generally safe for sensitive skin due to its lack of potentially irritating ingredients. What’s more, cucumber juice is rich in vitamin C and folic acid, ingredients that have the ability to reduce swelling and puffiness in the eye area. And this can definitely contribute to a fresh makeup look.

Furthermore, cucumber can help calm the skin. So, if you’re worried that your skin will react badly to the many layers of makeup, a cucumber-based setting spray can help prevent irritations.

Green Tea

Green tea is known to have amazing healing and energising properties. You can enjoy green tea’s health benefits not just from drinking it, but also by applying it on your skin. Green tea contains antioxidants that are molecules with the ability to fight free radicals in the body. Free radicals, on the other hand, are compounds that can cause cellular damage if their levels get too high, which can lead to many diseases including cancer.

One of the main antioxidants found in green tea in abundance is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This ingredient fights DNA damage from UV rays in order to prevent skin cancer. It is also known as an anti-aging ingredient that combats signs of aging. Thanks to its high content of polyphenols called catechins, green tea has anti-inflammatory properties. Using a green tea setting spray may help you reduce skin redness and irritation.

Taking all of this into account, by opting for natural beauty products with potent ingredients, you may be able to get similar effects on your skin to those of professional treatments like microdermabrasion.