Loreal Infallible Fixing Mist Review

I love setting sprays. They have the amazing ability to almost melt together makeup so that everything looks smooth, any chalky residues disappear and the longevity of your base is improved. Before now, I've always remained loyal to Urban Decay's selection, but with an influx of finishing mists flooding the high-street market recently, I thought I'd give some cheaper options a try. Starting with the Loreal Infallible Fixing Mist. 

Promising to set makeup so that it continues to look freshly applied all day, Loreal aren't afraid to brag about their anti-melt, anti-fade and anti-crack formula. But does it actually live up to those impressive claims? I must admit, I adore Loreal's latest addition to their Infallible line, but there's a niggling annoyance about it that I just can't get over. 

There's nothing wrong with the mist itself - it's light, gentle and doesn't leave me feeling soaked. When checking my makeup in the mirror after use, I'm always pleased to see that it softens the look of my base and creates an almost airbrushed effect. What puts me off, is that you can really feel it setting on contact with the skin. Straight away, it makes my face feel slightly tacky and tight, like I've just slathered a layer of glue onto it. It's not uncomfortable and it does disappear eventually, but it makes my makeup feel a lot heavier, even when wearing a sheer foundation or tinted moisturiser. Another thing I've noticed, is that any makeup you apply after using the spray, when touching-up for example, doesn't blend evenly. In particular, topping up with some concealer (which I've had to do a lot around my nose thanks to a recent bout of flu) is a nightmare. I'm often left with an obvious tide line that requires a lot of patience to buff out.

But, those minor negatives contribute to why it's so brilliant at boosting the wear-time of your makeup. I never have to blot when I use this spray. Bear in mind that I have a normal to dry skin-type, but I usually have to powder my shiny t-zone once or twice throughout the day. It seals every product into place and prevents makeup meltdown better than any other product I've tried. My colour cosmetics, like blush and bronzer, stay strongly pigmented all day and night, without fading. Through sweat, humidity, cold winds and rain, this spray allows makeup to hold tight and not budge whatsoever. 

All the setting sprays I've used previously really refresh the skin and add a glow of some sort, whether a full-on, dewy sheen or subtle radiance. Loreal's version, however, definitely sets everything matte. Not unflatteringly so, but it sucks up every drop of oil in the skin, leaving no greasiness or shine behind whatsoever. Continuing to keep the skin balanced as the day wears on, I often find my makeup looking exactly the same at 3pm, as it did at 8am. Not bad, right? I imagine this would be a god-send for anyone with very oily skin, who struggles to find a foundation that doesn't slide off after a couple of hours.

One thing you must remember to do before applying this setting spray, is to give the bottle a vigorous shake before spritzing. The formula tends to separate, leaving a powdery layer at the bottom of the bottle and it's imperative to shake it up, in order for the ball-bearing inside to combine the solution.

As the Loreal Infallible Fixing Mist really does what it says on the tin bottle, I'm seriously impressed with it and I'm sure it will be a coveted addition to most people's makeup bag. As I'm not keen on the feel of it and don't always want a matte finish, I will continue to use my Urban Decay All Nighter Spray on a daily basis, reaching for Loreal's version on special occasions, when I need my makeup to stay put all day and night.

Which is your favourite setting spray?

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