Best Drugstore Setting Spray for Oily Skin

Oily and combination skin can turn a flawless base into a shiny, patchy mess halfway through the day. A good setting spray acts like an invisible topcoat that keeps foundation, concealer, and blush in place longer, so you blot less and touch up less. Here are the best drugstore setting sprays that actually help control shine without making your makeup look heavy or chalky.

Quick picks

• NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray – Best overall for oily skin. Reliable, long wearing, and truly mattifying without looking flat, this classic works for most oily and combination skin types and layers well with almost any foundation.
• Milani Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray – Best for very oily skin and long days. The charcoal infused formula gives stronger oil control and grip, ideal for humid weather, long shifts, or nights out when you need your makeup to stay put.
• e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist – Best alcohol free option. With a fine mist and a natural, soft matte finish, this is a great choice for combo or slightly oily skin that needs longevity without the extra dryness some sprays can cause.

In-depth reviews

NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray review

If you want one affordable setting spray that just works on oily skin, NYX Matte Finish is the safest bet. It gives a soft matte finish that tones down shine without making skin look chalky or lifeless. On most oily and combination skin, it noticeably reduces foundation breaking up around the nose and chin for at least several extra hours.

The formula uses film formers and alcohol to lock makeup in place, so it dries quickly and feels lightweight. The mister is not the absolute finest on the market, but it is consistent enough that you can get an even coat if you hold it about 8 to 10 inches from your face. There is little to no noticeable fragrance, which is a plus if scents bother you.

Where NYX Matte Finish can fall short is on extremely oily skin or in very hot, humid conditions, where you might still need midday blotting. If your skin is sensitive to alcohol or easily dehydrated, you may also prefer a gentler option like the e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist. Compared with Milani Make It Last Matte, NYX is slightly less intensely mattifying but more forgiving on combination or slightly textured skin.

Milani Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray review

Milani Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray is designed for very oily skin or for anyone who needs makeup to survive a long, hot day. It includes mattifying powders and charcoal that help absorb oil as you wear it, giving a more locked in, flat matte finish than many other drugstore options. If your T zone is shiny an hour after you apply foundation, this spray can stretch your look much farther.

Because it is so mattifying, Milani is especially helpful if you wear more emollient or glowy foundations but still want an overall matte effect. It grips makeup well around the nose, smile lines, and forehead, areas that often separate or get shiny first on oily skin. The spray pattern is reasonably fine, though you will want to shake it well and mist in a few light passes to avoid overloading one spot.

The tradeoff is that this formula can feel drying on normal or combination cheeks, particularly if you already use strong exfoliants or acne treatments. It also has a light fragrance that some people notice. If you find Milani too intense, NYX Matte Finish gives a more flexible soft matte effect that is easier to wear daily, while still offering good oil control.

e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist review

e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist is a great pick if you have combo to oily skin and want staying power without the dryness that can come with heavy alcohol based sprays. The formula is alcohol free and uses a mix of polymers and skin soothing ingredients like cucumber and green tea to help makeup last. The mist is very fine, so it settles evenly and is hard to overdo.

On the skin, this spray gives a natural to soft matte finish instead of a flat, ultra matte look. It works especially well if your T zone is oily but your cheeks are normal or a bit dry, since it is less likely to emphasize dry patches or fine lines. If your skin already feels tight at the end of the day, using an alcohol free formula like this can make a noticeable comfort difference.

Because the finish is not as intensely matte, very oily skin may still need blotting sheets or a touch of powder by mid afternoon. Compared with NYX Matte Finish and Milani Make It Last Matte, e.l.f. Stay All Night is the gentlest on the skin barrier but offers slightly less oil control. Pair it with a good mattifying primer or powder in the T zone if you want to maximize shine control without sacrificing comfort.

How to choose a drugstore setting spray for oily skin

When you have oily or combination skin, not every setting spray will help, and some can actually make things look greasier or more textured. A few key details can help you pick the right one more quickly.

• Finish: Look for words like matte, oil control, or shine free. Dewy and glowy sprays are better for dry skin, and often make oily skin look slick within hours.
• Oil control ingredients: Powders like silica or charcoal, and film forming polymers, help keep makeup in place and absorb excess oil as you wear it.
• Alcohol level: Alcohol helps sprays dry quickly and lock in makeup, which can be helpful for very oily skin. If your skin gets dehydrated or sensitive, consider a lower alcohol formula or an alcohol free option like the e.l.f. spray, and rely on powder for extra oil control instead.
• Mister quality: A fine, even mist lays product down smoothly. If a tester unit is available, check that it sprays a cloud, not big droplets that can spot your foundation.
• Fragrance: Strong fragrance can irritate some skin. If you are sensitive, choose a lightly scented or fragrance free formula and do a patch test before using it daily.

Application tips for better shine control

Technique matters almost as much as the spray itself when you are fighting oil breakthrough. These simple steps help you get the most from any of the picks above.

• Use a thin base: Apply foundation in light layers and set oily areas with a small amount of translucent powder before spraying. Too much product underneath can still move, even with a great setting spray.
• Hold the bottle far enough away: Aim for about 8 to 10 inches from your face and spray in an X and T pattern. This helps cover the whole face evenly without soaking one area.
• Let each layer dry: After spraying, let the mist fully dry before touching your face or adding more products. This gives the film forming ingredients time to set.
• Target the T zone: If your cheeks are normal but your forehead, nose, and chin get shiny, you can do a second light pass just over the T zone with a more mattifying spray like NYX Matte Finish or Milani Make It Last Matte.
• Blot, do not rub: Later in the day, use blotting papers or a tissue pressed gently onto shiny areas, then add a light dusting of powder if needed. Rubbing can disturb the set layer of makeup and spray.

Final thoughts

For most people with oily or combination skin, NYX Professional Makeup Matte Finish Setting Spray is the best all around drugstore choice that balances shine control with a natural look. If your skin is very oily or you live in a hot climate, Milani Make It Last Matte Charcoal Setting Spray offers stronger mattifying power and grip, at the cost of being a bit more drying. If you prefer to avoid alcohol or your cheeks lean normal to dry, e.l.f. Stay All Night Micro-Fine Setting Mist is a comfortable, everyday option that still noticeably improves wear time.

Whichever you choose, remember that a setting spray works best as part of a full routine with the right foundation, primer, and a little strategic powder. Start with the spray that fits your skin type and comfort level, then fine tune your technique until your makeup lasts through your longest, busiest days.

See also

To see how setting sprays fit into your full routine, read our guide to setting powder vs setting spray and pair it with our picks for the best foundation for oily skin.

• Read our deep dive review of Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray if you are curious how high end compares to drugstore options.
• For stubborn T zone shine, consider layering with the Covergirl Outlast Extreme Wear powder to lock in oily areas.
• Maximize longevity on oily skin by pairing your spray with the gripping base in our e.l.f. Power Grip primer review.

FAQ

Is setting spray or setting powder better for oily skin?

For oily skin, powder and setting spray do slightly different jobs, and using both together usually gives the best result. Powder helps absorb immediate surface oil and smooth texture, while setting spray locks the whole makeup layer in place so it moves less and looks fresher longer. If you have to pick one, choose powder if you are extremely oily and need instant shine control, and choose setting spray if your makeup tends to separate, crack, or transfer during the day.

Can drugstore setting sprays really keep makeup on all day?

Good drugstore setting sprays can absolutely extend wear on oily skin for several hours, especially when paired with a long wearing foundation. You may not get a perfect, just applied look for a 12 hour day, but formulas like NYX Matte Finish and Milani Make It Last Matte noticeably reduce fading, creasing, and foundation sliding off the T zone. You will still likely need a quick blot or tiny touch up, but far less often than with no spray at all.

Where in my routine should I use setting spray on oily skin?

Most people will get the best results by applying setting spray as the final step after all cream and powder products. Once your base, concealer, blush, bronzer, and powder are in place, mist your face in a light, even layer and let it fully dry. If you need extra staying power for a long event, you can also lightly mist after foundation, set with powder, then mist again for a locked in, layered effect.

Will a mattifying setting spray dry out my skin?

Very mattifying, alcohol heavy setting sprays can feel drying if your skin is only slightly oily or if your skincare routine already includes strong exfoliants or acne treatments. Signs that a spray is too drying include tightness, flaking, or your skin feeling rough even after cleansing. If that happens, switch to a gentler option like an alcohol free spray, use your mattifying spray only on the T zone, and focus on hydrating your skin well at night so it can handle daytime oil control better.

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