This Setting Spray Kept My Makeup in Place and Skin Hydrated For 11 Hours

My makeup routine is incomplete without a setting spray. A few spritzes melt the powders and cream-based products together for a blended, streak-free look. It prolongs the wear of your makeup taking you from day to night, and keeps it looking fresh as ever. It's something I truly depend on as the finishing touch that pulls the whole look together. When I run out of my go-to setting spray, I venture out and try something new. To my disappointment, nothing has stacked up to Urban Decay's All Nighter Setting Spray except one, MAC's new Fix+ Stay Over Alcohol-Free 16HR Setting Spray ($33).

I've been a big fan of MAC's makeup for quite some time. I've been using the brand's Studio Fix foundation since I was a teenager and the Macstack Mascara gives my lashes dramatic length and fluttery volume. I love using the original Prep+Prime Fix+ Spray, so when MAC debuted its Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray, I was curious to see what made it different.

The MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray is a lightweight hydrating setting spray that is supposed to set and keep your makeup intact for up to 16 hours with transfer-resistant wear. It's an alcohol-free formula that contains skin-soothing ingredients and antioxidants like cucumber extract, chamomile extract, green tea extract, glycerin, caffeine, and vitamin E. I put it to the test and was blown away by the quality and wear.

The MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray has a fine mist pump that lets the formula evenly coat your face without a blotchy, sticky application. It does not drench your complexion with rain-like drops where you have to wait for it to evaporate and fan it out. This is something that I appreciated a ton because I love to use setting spray throughout my routine; that means a few spritzes after I apply foundation and concealer, a few spritzes after bronzer and blush, and then a few more once the whole look is complete. The microscopic droplets feel refreshing and weightless on the skin, but it's also quite hydrating.

My skin can sometimes feel parched as the day goes on. As a result, my makeup looks cakey and powdery. The Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray keeps my skin looking and feeling hydrated all day and night long. It gives my complexion a natural, skin-like finish with dewiness in all the right places without looking oily or sweaty. I tested it out during a humid, 80-degree day, and it helped my makeup stay intact throughout a picnic and a stroll at Central Park, a quest for the best espresso martini in NYC, and a quick outfit change for dinner. It definitely has long-lasting wear and minimizes creasing.

The brand points out that the original Prep+Prime Fix+ Spray is a hydrating setting spray that can prep and prime the skin as well as set it. The new Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray is a makeup-locking setting spray, although I still like to use it to set my priming base as well. A big difference I noticed is that the original Prep+Prime Fix+ Spray does not have a fine mist application. It's also not as hydrating as the new Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray, which feels more lightweight and airy as well.

Although The MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray feels weightless and light, it is best for those with drier skin types. It leaves your skin feeling hydrated with a dewy appearance. If you prefer a matte look, this setting spray might not be a great fit. However, you can always dust on a setting powder to give your complexion a matte finish.

The MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray is available on QVC.

Rating:
★★★★