Initially, I thought makeup setting sprays were a hoax. Seemed like another useless step to add to an already busy morning. You see, I’ve always had shiny skin. No matter what powder, foundation or primer I put on first, my face was super shiny by lunchtime. I also tend to run hot and sweat more than the average girl. There I said it. I am a sweaty sweater. It’s out there and I can’t take it back.
On any given day I walk several miles at work, outside in the elements, and usually at a power-walk stride. My office is over a mile away from the medical center, where most of my meetings are. I joke with my colleagues that I always show up at my destination feeling like Chris Farley, totally sweaty and shoved into a tiny suit jacket. But I digress.
For almost 20 years, I’ve used MAC Blot Powder in Light as a temporary fix. It contains very little color, and the translucent, fine-milled powder doesn’t cover or change the color of the makeup underneath. It just magically soaks up the oil like a sponge, but it was more reactive than actually preventing the shine in the first place. By the end of the day, my face makeup and blush were all but gone. Even with the help of the blot powder, my makeup wasn’t sticking to my skin and slipping right off.
But I haven’t bought a blot powder in the last year. After receiving a trial size sample of Urban Decay Oil Control De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray, I didn’t need to. It CHANGED THE GAME.
Even after punishing my skin and makeup all day, it’s still on (and shine-free) when I head home after work since I started using setting spray. In fact, I recently had to get some heavier duty makeup wipes because my nighttime washcloth routine just wasn’t cutting it. I was taking that much off at the end of the day! I love De-Slick, but it isn’t cheap. Plus, I was probably using more of this stuff than I was supposed to. I read somewhere that applying a little before AND after makeup application (instead of just after) made all the difference for me. It was a splurge, though, at $30 a bottle for the full-size.
Enter NYX Cosmetics Matte Finish Makeup Setting Spray. The same idea as the De-slick, but it’s a steal at $8 a bottle. Naturally, I was skeptical to essentially downgrade something that had been so good to me. But let me tell you, it wasn’t a downgrade at all. Now I am not a scientist or anything, so I didn’t compare ingredients or have efficacy data. All I know is I have had the EXACT same results with the NYX. I cannot tell you of one difference between the way the two lock-down my make up for the day. I feel like it’s the dupe of the century, for real. It’s that good.
NYX isn’t great about giving directions with their products. Maybe that is the strategy for keeping prices so low–saving money on writers and packaging inserts. Here’s how I use it, which is the same way I used the De-Slick:
- Do your regular morning skin care routine and put on whatever you would use before primer or foundation application. Let those products kinda soak in a bit for a few minutes. This is usually when I brush my teeth or apply dry shampoo, or dry my hair if it’s wet. If you had a headband on from washing your face, leave it. If not, put one on or tie your hair outta your face. You want an even application without getting your hair damp with product. Am I getting too granular here?
- Take the spray and shake it a few times. Hold it about a foot away from your face, and spray. The idea is to apply a fine mist, so spritz too close to the skin and it’s crazy wet, and too far and the product doesn’t work. I do kind of a cross-shape that is focused mostly on the t-zone: one spray on my forehead, one on my nose, one on my chin, then one on each cheek and and final one from a little further away that gets anything you missed. Oh yeah, and close your eyes. Not only because it hurts when it gets in your eyes, but because it helps eye shadow stay put too. I KNOW! It’s a makeup miracle.
- Don’t touch it until it dries. Don’t try and blend it. Let it air dry totally before putting any makeup on top of it. I repeat–you do not want to try and apply makeup on top of this while it’s still damp. It will be an unblendable and semi-permanent mess. Unless that is the look you are going for then, I mean, whatever floats your boat.
- Apply your makeup until you are happy and want to wear it that way for the next 8 hours. Just don’t apply mascara and eyeliner yet.
- Now repeat step number 2. Don’t forget to close your eyes.
- Again, DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE, blah blah blah, air dry.
- NOW you c an apply liner and mascara and BAM! Perma-face.
Please note that I believe this is the very most spray you would ever need to apply. This is like the worst case scenario DEFCON 5 (or DEFCON 1, I can’t remember which level is the bad one) amount you would need. If you aren’t super shiny like me, or prefer more of a dewey look, there is another formula (for the same price) from NYX called Dewey Finish Makeup Setting Spray . Also, you may not need to do it before AND after if you aren’t a sweaty animal like me. You might also just need, say, one spritz post-makeup to keep your makeup in place–in which case I hate you. Just experiment a little to find the sweet spot for you.
Now, it’s your turn. Any tips to keep shine at bay and makeup from sliding off your face during the day?
Lashes and Cake 