I Hate Sunscreen but Love This SPF Setting Spray

Kopari’s setting mist was the first formula I bought. I immediately noticed that when you shake the Sunglaze bottle, you can see what looks to be glitter floating around inside, but it’s actually flecks of mica (finely ground silicate minerals). After applying about five to six spritzes of the mist over my makeup, I found that it does give a glowy shine, but there was also some initial stinging around my eyes. I should note that a few months ago, I switched from using SkinBetter’s AlphaRet Overnight Cream to prescription-strength retinol (tretinoin), so my skin has been slightly more sensitive than usual. Applying facial sunscreen hasn’t caused any irritation or stinging lately. Still, since the Kopari contains alcohol and a few citrus oils (including lime and orange peel), it’s not surprising that the non-aerosol spray had a stinging effect, though I’d expect it more from an aerosol. Along with SPF 50, it contains a few skin-care ingredients, including hyaluronic acid for hydration and vitamin C. If you have oily skin, this might not be the right choice for you because the finish is quite shimmery due to the combination of sunscreen and mica.

I tested the All Set for Sun spray over three very sunny days and found it to have a clear, lightweight finish. It contains broad-spectrum SPF 45, which is excellent since it exceeds the recommended SPF of 30 or higher for daily sun protection, along with watermelon fruit extract, prickly pear seed oil, and bisabolol to help hydrate and soothe the skin. Unfortunately, similar to the Kopari, this one burned my eyes. I even tried to wait until my skin felt dry to open my eyes, but the texture is greasy, almost like other spray sunscreens I’ve used. And then, throughout the day, I could feel that my eyes were more sensitive and watery, and by the evening, my mascara was starting to flake. It also seemed to sit on top of my makeup, and my skin began to look a bit too slick. It’s fragrance-free — which is a rarity considering all the other sunscreen setting sprays on this list contain fragrance — but honestly, it smelled too much like alcohol (or bug spray) for my liking.

I’ve tried a few regular sunscreens from the Southern California–based brand Coola over the years, which means I had high hopes for its setting mist. The bottle instructs you to hold it ten to 12 inches from your face with your eyes completely closed. Although I followed the directions each time, this one burned my makeup-covered skin quite a bit during each application. It also had a pretty noticeable alcohol odor with floral and berry notes that helped to mask it as it dried. After reapplying a few times, my makeup appeared patchy in the areas where I’m most dry, such as around my nose and at the corners of my mouth. If you’re prone to facial sweating or planning on going outside in higher humidity, this might be one to avoid, as it already has a slippery texture.

Vacation’s Super Spritz isn’t technically a setting spray, but I wanted to give it a try since the brand says it’s makeup-friendly. Like most of the brand’s products, it smells incredibly yummy with notes of coconut and banana. Instead of a fine mist, this one is relatively dense, so it felt like the product was hitting my face a bit unevenly. Once I got the hang of applying it, I learned that holding it farther away than directed helps to get a nice, uniform layer. Along with testing the Vacation during my workday, I also tried it out during exercise while wearing light makeup, such as when I went cycling or running, since it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. It kept my makeup in place and felt moisturizing on my skin. It’s also a nice size for someone on the go, and I found it easy to throw into my small shoulder bag or a fanny pack for a refresh while at the pool, on a hike, or running errands.

I’m a longtime fan of the On ‘Til Dawn setting spray from One/Size, so I was super-excited when I heard the brand was launching this new SPF-infused version last month. To my delight, compared to the original formula, it performedverysimilarly: It’s an aerosol mist, so it still feels like you’re taking a can of hairspray to your face, and it lived up to its promise of a matte finish. All the sunscreen sprays added a subtle sheen to the skin (some more so than others), but this one left me without any greasy residue or oiliness. While I was super-pleased with the One/Size and how it kept my makeup perfectly in place, I was somewhat disappointed by its relatively low SPF 28. If you’re already in the habit of layering a facial sunscreen under your makeup and using this setting spray as a final bonus step, you might be able to get away with it. However, since I have fairer skin and was hoping to use this as my only sunscreen layer, I wanted something with a higher sun protection factor.

Naked Sundays is an Australian skin-care brand known for its SPF products. Of all the formulas I tried, the Glow Mist Setting Spray had the smoothest mist. When I sprayed it onto my wrist for a quick spot test, the mist was airy and cloudlike. I wore it over my makeup to the movies, on a few long cycling rides, and while working from home. This spray was one of the smallest and lightest to tote around, as it comes in a compact plastic bottle. When I remembered to reapply during the day, it always felt refreshing and moisturizing on my often tight, dehydrated skin, likely thanks to the hydrating hyaluronic acid. It also contains anti-inflammatory watermelon extract and Australian Kakadu plum, which contains vitamins C and E. It helped minimize those dry, flaky makeup patches that usually form around my mouth by late afternoon. It also smells like a blue raspberry Slush Puppy (or an Icee, depending on where you grew up), and I don’t get any notes of alcohol or sunscreen.

As for the finish, this gave my skin a beautiful glow without feeling greasy or sticky. Though I loved On ‘Til Dawn’s sunscreen setting spray and how similarly it performed compared to its original formula (which I already use regularly), the fact that the Naked Sundays contains SPF 50 is what sealed the deal. Overall, I can see myself incorporating it into my routine for the rest of the summerandusing it as my primary form of sun protection. The thin, lightweight texture makes the formula a solid option for everyday use. There are times when I might opt for regular liquid sunscreen, like when I’m on a tropical vacation and getting a lot of sun. In that case, I think I would be more wary of an SPF setting spray and prefer a mineral block.