My life follows a pretty familiar pattern:

Ergh.

This is precisely what happened with the little monster that is ‘setting spray’. Sneaky little bugger. I’ve seen a bunch of YouTubers discuss the stuff for, I don’t know, years? I think the term they mostly use to describe it is “absolute must have”.

And yet, every single time, I’d look at them dousing their pretty faces in transparent liquid and think, “PFFFFFFT what total bullshit.”

Mostly because setting sprays aren’t exactly budget friendly (the ones beauty gurus tend to spruik aren’t anyway). But also because, after an endless barrage of messaging that I ABSOLUTELY need to buy some setting spray, I still had ABSOLUTELY no idea what it does.

“It just… like… brings the look together,” Beauty Guru A would hum to me through the screen. “It… sets… it all in place.”

Sorry, wah?! Isn’t that the precise reason I bought that pricey settingpowder? The very same setting powder Beauty Guru A told me I needed last month? Why the hell do I need to set my setting powder? Isn’t that the whole fu-juckingpurpose of setting powder?

This “setting spray” movement made me a frustrated ball of confusion, which tends to happen whenever fancy makeup words are thrust in my direction. I care little for things like “contouring” and “strobing”. Hell, putting on eyeshadow is a stretch for me. I just want my makeup to be simple – I just want to know what the eff works and what doesn’t.

Well, reader friends. I can tell you this much: Setting spray works in that it provides a fine mist of glorious angel wings right across your face. And if you’re of the ‘makeup fanatic’ persuasion (reading to this point of the article suggests youare), I suggest you buy some. ESPECIALLY now that we’re heading into summer.

Here’s why.

Setting sprays act like a seal to all your hard work. Or a lock… lock works here too. It seamlessly dissolves that powdery look we can get across our foreheads and under our eyes, and gives our makeupso much extra staying power.

You see, I’m prone to looking a

little

lot shiny the moment I step out of the house ( see here), but setting sprays have really changed that for me. I find that I’m waiting hours before I touch up with powder; if I even need to touch up at all. This makes them perfect for a long day, like the spring races, day sessions, or weddings.

With a few healthy pumps of setting spray you’ll find your makeup looks next to brand new, even after hours in the sun or on the dance floor.(Post continues after the gallery of our favourite setting sprays).

The Glow's go-to setting sprays for any budget.

The other thing I adore is that setting sprays give you this gorgeous cooling sensation, which is very much needed after having hot tools like straighteners near your face. It needn’t be said, but considering our weather can be hellishly hot, cooling setting sprays are worth their weight in gold.

I apply my setting spray (my absolute personal favourite is Urban Decay’s All Nighter Setting Spray, which you can find in Mecca – I can’t recommend it highly enough) all over the face at arms-length as the final step of my ~proper~ makeup routine. It will look a little damp immediately after, sure, but I just leave it to set in and thenwhamI’m like a new woman in no time. (Not really – just with makeup that has the strength of a freakin’ suit of armour.)

I seriously recommend it to anyone who finds their makeup slipping and sliding off in the summer months.

Let’s all go buy some and then you can report back to me with your feels.

I mean it.

See you there.

Tell me your feels (… and other makeup recommendations… and life story) on my Facebook page here.