Mattifying Setting Spray

4 Reviews

1. 

   excitedApples7

   Reply

   It does what it claims, but with a big con. No matter how I use this, it causes my makeup to cake up. Whether I wear it before or after I powder. It prevents my makeup from melting into the skin, so it ends up sitting on top of it all day. I always pair my setting sprays with a finishing spray (I use Mario’s rose water) and still…I had the same issue. It left my face with texture. I’ve never had this experience with a setting spray before.

   Will not repurchase.

2. 

   resolvedMoth9

   Reply

   Let me first say, I love most Cover FX products. I love their Illuminating Setting Spray, I didn’t love this. The sprayer is great and does a wonderful job dispensing the product evenly. I only have oily skin in my T-zone so this was far too drying for the rest of my face. In my opinion, only those with the most oily skin will benefit from this. Otherwise I think many people will find this to be too drying. My more detailed review video is here: 0

3. 

   blissfulBaboon1

   Reply

   I got the illuminating setting spray in my November 2017 boxycharm. It is a great setting spray! Much better than UD. MSRP $31USD ouch but I paid $21 for boxycharm I would not replace it for price alone but it sticks my makeup in place without looking cakey. I’ve only been using it a short time but I love it so far. I will update!!!

4. 

   pluckyBurritos0

   Reply

   I added this product because it kicks the crap out of Urban Decay De-Slick. My skin is VERY oily; I have to use an oil-control primer, pile on the powder, and top it all off with a mattifying setting spray if I want my makeup to survive my face. I know many people swear by De-Slick, but for whatever reason, my skin is just totally indifferent to it. It really never did anything for me by way of staying power, though it definitely didn’t mess up my makeup/skin, either. In fact, De-Slick was basically invisible on my skin. I mention this because Cover FX’s setting spray is the opposite, but in a good way. More on that later.

   I decided to buy this setting spray because of its impressive ingredients list. I won’t claim to recognize them all, but the key players I’m actually familiar with are kaolin, enatia chlorantha bark, and oleanolic acid. Of these three, kaolin is the highest in the listing, and I’m sure this setting spray has mostly kaolin to thank for its mattifying, oil-controlling properties. As someone who uses A LOT of clay-based face masks (for oil control, duh), I think it’s brilliant that Cover FX decided to harness the power of kaolin and shove it into a setting spray. On a similar note, I’m also quite glad that one ingredient is NOT on the list: alcohol.

   Now, I must follow my ode to kaolin with one minor gripe about the packaging. The instructions do specify that you must shake this setting spray “very well” before using. This is DEFINITELY true. But what you REALLY want to do is turn the bottle upside down and give a few raps on the bottom, as well. The bottle contains an agitator ball, which was a great decision on Cover FX’s part. Just be aware that the ball often becomes stuck to the bottom of the bottle and needs a few blows to break free. I can’t say for sure, but I suspect the ball gets “glued” to the bottle when the kaolin separates from the liquid and sinks to the bottom. (This was my experience with one awful, awful charcoal-based setting spray I used to own.) Other than that, the packaging is pretty unremarkable. I haven’t experienced any issues with the mister, and the spray is pretty fine and even–no big drops on my skin or anything like that. It’s a great setting spray; you just need to SHAKE IT like you mean it!

   As for performance, which is most important: in brief, it looks great and lasts long. As I started to mention before, this setting spray is visible on the skin, but in the best possible way. If you’re buying a mattifying setting spray, you’re probably trying to tame oily skin. And if your skin is oily, you likely worship the powder gods like me (setting powder, not cocaine). This setting spray makes powder disappear. To be quite frank, I powder my skin so much I look a little frightening for the first 30 minutes or so of wear. The “Marie Antoinette” look goes away when my skin warms up the powder, but I’m telling you… This setting spray makes powder INVISIBLE. The skin is still matte, but not paper-matte. I wouldn’t exactly call it a “natural” finish, but it’s pretty dang close for a mattifying product. The first time I used this setting spray, I went a little overboard and panicked a little, so I pressed it into my skin with a Beauty Blender. Friends, I looked like a smooth angel. Pores gone, powder gone, makeup blended *perfectly.* De-Slick never did ANY of that for me, which is what really sets Cover FX’s formula apart so much.

   Just as importantly, this setting spray will KEEP your skin looking great. Thus far, the longest I’ve worn makeup with this setting spray is about 11 hours. I did blot once in that time, but that was mostly just me being paranoid. I tend to freak out when I see any kind of shine because it usually signals that a meltdown is immanent, but with Cover FX’s formula, my face has never progressed beyond “dewy.” (Apparently, that’s what they call the “good” kind of shine.) No more does my foundation rub off, separate, or turn into hot, oily soup thanks to this setting spray. She’ll keep you going strong for hours.

   Lastly, the quick and dirty facts: $31 for four ounces, as of this writing. A buck cheaper than De-Slick for the same amount of product. Get it, shake it, beat it, spray it, love it, repeat. (I refuse to change a single word of that sentence.)