No, face mists aren’t just overpriced water — these are the 14 that actually work
Plus, everything derms want you to know about face mists.
Evian Brumisateur Moisturizing Facial Spray
$undefined
$16.99
Face mists are lightweight sprays that can help hydrate your skin, set makeup and replenish moisture throughout the day. Many have ingredients like hyaluronic acid, aloe vera and hypochlorous acid that can soothe and hydrate irritated, inflamed or sensitive skin, plus cool you down if you’re overheating, says Dr. Kristina Collins, a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon based in Austin, Texas.
Facial mists offer a variety of benefits, but do they actually work? It depends. “Their effectiveness depends entirely on the formulation, so a mist with active ingredients suited to your skin type can be beneficial, while plain water-based mists may temporarily hydrate but can also evaporate and lead to increased dryness,” says Dr. Anetta Reszko is a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon.
It’s also not strictly necessary to include in your routine, but can be beneficial. “Your moisturizer and serums typically provide enough hydration and treatment. Face mists are a nice boost if you want extra hydration, a quick refresh or soothing benefits,” says Collins.
Below are my experts’ tips to keep in mind when shopping for a face mist:
Six NBC Select editors put over a dozen face mists to the test for two weeks. When testing, we kept the following in mind:
Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.
Below, I rounded up our editors’ favorite face mists after two weeks of testing. For each product, I listed key ingredients, what skin concerns it targets and sizes available.
This mist’s creamy texture feels close to a light serum; however, it absorbs quickly, which is great for those with very dry skin, according to our reviewers. It leaves a perfectly hydrated, dewy finish on the skin that makes me and other editors feel confident, even without any makeup on our faces. “The Aestura spray is so delightfully light and airy,” says NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez. “It doesn’t startle me when I spray it, and it doesn’t have an unpleasant smell to it. It also helps prep my skin right before I put on moisturizer.”
The Tower 28 facial spray, another hypochlorous acid option, is a favorite among our NBC Select staffers. I keep it in my gym bag at all times to apply it after a sweaty workout, and it immediately soothes my irritated, rosacea-prone skin (the spray has the National Rosacea Society’s seal of approval).
“My esthetician said hypochlorous acid spray is like hand sanitizer for your face, and that really stuck with me as someone with acne-prone skin. Ever since, I’ve kept a mini bottle of Tower 28’s version in my purse and toiletry bag so I can reach for it at all times,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. “It’s super gentle and non-irritating, and I think everyone should have a bottle at home — I promise you’ll use it more than you think.” You can use this spray morning and night in place of your toner and before moisturizing, according to the brand.
“I’ve used this spray forever — it’s one of those drugstore products my mom had that I adopted,” says Malin. The fine mist coats your entire face with just a few spritzes, and it doesn’t feel heavy or overly wet after you apply it, according to our reviewers. I have several of the travel-sized bottles and I keep them in my purse, work tote and travel backpack to refresh my skin on hot, summer days. It’s a simple product with only one main ingredient — Evian water — but it goes a long way compared to just spraying water on your face; it feels cool and light on my skin, and it’s easy and convenient to apply and take on the go. Plus, it’s entirely fragrance-free, so it’s great for sensitive skin.
This Magic Molecule spray is a favorite among our NBC Select editors because it’s extremely soothing, especially for those with sensitive, rosacea-prone and eczema-prone skin. “I tell everyone with ears about this spray. I first learned about it from our former beauty reporter, and now I have three mini bottles at home, four at work and one in my bag,” says NBC Select editorial operations associate Jem Alabi.
Since she doesn’t wash her face in the mornings (based on her dermatologist’s recommendation) and vigorously double cleanses at night, Alabi uses this hypochlorous acid spray to help her skin feel clean after she wakes up. “I’ve noticed since using it that the texture of my skin has improved and the little bit of eczema on my cheeks doesn’t flare up like it once used to,” she says. It also doesn’t leave a residue, so there’s no need to rub it in or off.
This spray comes recommended by double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist Dr. Morayo Adisa because it’s hydrating and feels refreshing on the skin. It’s one I use regularly when I need an extra boost of hydration during the day or before applying my makeup — and as a long-time La Roche-Posay fan, I know it won’t irritate my sensitive skin. It also soothes painful dry patches and flakes that tend to appear during the winter months. It dispenses a super fine, even mist, which feels lightweight on my skin and doesn’t leave an overly wet sensation afterward.
A recent release from Cocokind, this face mist is infused with magnesium, which helps calm skin, reduce redness and prevent breakouts, according to the brand. Our editors love how fine and even the mist feels on their faces, and every reviewer noticed less redness after using it. I usually take this spray with me when I walk my dog to the park, which turns into a very sweaty activity in the summer. Since my skin gets very red and irritated from heat and sweat, this mist helps calm it down and reduce those blotchy, red spots.
You can use this spray on your face and body to relieve irritation and itchiness, plus it helps clean cuts and scrapes. “I really enjoy the Prequel spray because the mist is so light that it doesn’t overwhelm my face and it doesn’t have a strong chemical smell,” says Fernandez. “It’s also the perfect size for traveling with or keeping in my bathroom cabinet. It doesn’t irritate my skin at all and doesn’t sting, even on the sensitive parts of my face.” I love using this spray post-workouts because it feels lightweight and cooling on my face, but I do notice it slightly stings my eyes, so you may want to stay away if you have sensitivity.
“This spray is a bit thicker than your average antimicrobial spray, and that’s definitely because of how hydrating it is. There was no need for me to put on moisturizer after spraying a generous amount on my face, which I love, especially during the summer,” says Alabi. “My face has an immediate glow and brightness after I use it.” The mist has a combination of glycerin (to look in moisture), squalane and ceramides (to support your skin barrier), and vitamin E and ectoin to protect your skin, according to the brand.
“My office air is drying, which irritates my skin and aggravates my rosacea. I keep this three-in-one mist close by to help hydrate my skin — it’s kind of like a liquified moisturizer and almost milky in texture. I love when a facial mist is function, as well as form,” says NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson. The spray hydrates, soothes and softens skin using key ingredients like squalane.
If you want a dewy, radiant finish to your bare skin or makeup look that lasts for hours, this popular face mist certainly delivers. “Rhode’s Glazing Mist is essentially a lightweight moisturizer in a spray bottle. I have combination skin that leans dry, and sometimes little flakes or dry spots pop up halfway through the day. Instead of rubbing cream all over my face, I use this mist to give my skin a hydration boost,” says Malin. “It immediately makes my skin feel softer and gives it a glowy look — I resemble a glazed donut, there’s no other way to describe it. I also spray this mist on my face before applying makeup to ensure everything goes on evenly and doesn’t cake.” The mist has soothing ingredients like ectoin and ceramides, and it’s safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin types. It also has the National Eczema Association seal of acceptance. You can apply it as the first step of your skin care routine after cleansing and the last step after your moisturizer.
“Thanks to rosacea, my skin always has a pinkish hue to it (which would have sent my high school self into a spiral). This Skinceuticals mist helps tremendously with soothing my skin and reducing redness. I keep it by my desk for a midday corrective spritz,” says Swanson. You can apply this lightweight mist before or after your makeup to boost moisture and reduce redness, according to the brand.
Medicube is one of our favorite K-beauty brands, and this spray manages to address most of our editors’ skin concerns, including redness, irritation and breakouts. Suitable for all skin types (including acne-prone skin), the spray combines my experts’ favorite hydrating and anti-inflammatory ingredients, including niacinamide, hypochlorous acid and panthenol. “My face feels extra clean after using this spray — a couple spritzes is all I need to get rid of the grime that builds up throughout the day,” says Malin. “My skin absorbs it quickly and it leaves behind a pretty matte finish, so I can layer products directly over it without worrying about looking shiny.”
I’ve been using this spray since my college days, and it’s always come in handy during the unbearable Florida heat. It’s not only extremely cooling, but it also helps soothe irritation and redness caused by hot, sweaty days. Plus, it’s approved by the National Eczema Association, so it’s safe for sensitive skin (not surprising since it only has one ingredient — the brand’s proprietary thermal spring water). “It’s a good pick-me-up and soothes the skin. With non-irritating properties, even the most sensitive skin types can use this,” says Adisa. Keep in mind a lot comes out at once, so your face will get drenched if you aren’t careful, in my experience.
If you want to splurge on a skin mist that looks as good as it performs, consider this one from Tatcha. It takes three to four spritzes to make your skin feel hydrated and look radiant and dewy. “The packaging makes this skin mist feel luxurious, and each spritz adds a refreshing glow to my skin,” says NBC page Riley Atkinson. “I didn’t love the scent or the slightly sticky feel, but neither of those attributes was overpowering.” Though the packaging is small, it lets you take it with you on a flight.
You can apply a face mist in the morning and at night, after cleansing and before your serum or moisturizer, says Reszko. You can use one before makeup as a hydrating primer to prep your skin, or after makeup to reduce a powdery finish and give a natural, dewy glow, says Collins.
But there’s really no specific time where you should use a face mist in your routine — you can spritz it on at any point of the day. “Whenever your skin feels dry, tight or dull, especially in dry environments, air conditioning or heated rooms,” says Collins.
You can use a face mist to hydrate your skin on dry days, refresh during or after a long flight, and calm redness and irritation after procedures, according to Adisa.
Here are some common ingredients in facial mists to look for based on your skin type and concerns:
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a naturally occurring molecule in our immune system that has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. When formulated correctly, it can reduce surface bacteria, calm redness and support wound healing, says Reszko. Hypochlorous sprays are particularly helpful for people with inflammatory acne, folliculitis, eczema or other skin conditions prone to infection and inflammation, says Collins.
“[Hypochlorous acid sprays] are effective and gentle enough for daily use, even on sensitive or acne-prone skin, making them one of the most versatile mist options available,” says Halim.
Since a face mist’s main function is to hydrate and refresh your skin, you can spray it on anytime, whether you’re wearing makeup or not. You can also apply face mists on your body, like your back or shoulders, where dryness may occur, says Reszko. A setting spray, on the other hand, is made to keep your makeup in place and usually has ingredients, like alcohol and polymers, that’ll help your makeup stay on longer to stop it from smudging or melting off, she says.
Toners, essences and face mists are all very similar, especially if they have active ingredients. A toner primarily helps clean off any leftover dirt or makeup and balances your skin before you apply other products. An essence is more like a lightweight treatment that helps with things like dryness, dullness or uneven texture and helps improve your skin over time, says Reszko. It’s often packed with ingredients that focus on things like hydration, brightening or smoothing texture. So, a face mist is more about giving your skin a quick refresh, while toners and essences are more focused on helping your skin look and feel better in the long run, says Reszko.
“While convenient for touch-ups, most SPF mists aren’t applied in a thick enough layer to offer full protection,” says Reszko. You can use them to reapply or touch up your coverage during the day, but they shouldn’t replace your daily sunscreen.
In general, avoid denatured alcohol (which can dry out your skin), synthetic fragrance (a common irritant) and essential oils (may be too harsh for the skin). People with very sensitive skin that’s easily prone to irritation may want to avoid face mists unless cleared by a dermatologist, says Adisa.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I’m an updates editor at NBC Select who focuses on skin care, wellness and personal care. For this article, I interviewed four dermatologists and physicians about how to shop for a facial mist. I, along with five other NBC Select editors, also tested over a dozen face mists to narrow down the best ones to shop.
Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.
