Are facial sprays necessary?

Facial sprays are the new toners. You need one to help boost skin’s radiance by helping skin better absorb good skincare ingredients. But you also need to know how to use the spray you choose. There are so many sprays that are on sale that aren’t effective. Equally, there are other facial mists that are total must-haves.

Especially convenient in spray form, toners restore skin’s pH balance after cleansing, and increase hydration levels when followed by moisturizer on still-damp skin. But before you stock up, here’s a primer on what’s available and how to use them to your best advantage.

There are a few different types of spray – moisturising, calming, cooling and so on. But there are a few rules regarding their use, with thanks to I’m a Beauty Geek.

For example, when it’s hot, a moisturising face spray with botanical extracts and essential oils can soothe and refresh heat-stressed skin of all types, including oily skin. All you need to so is mist your face liberally as needed.

In the winter, a spray can help skin absorb serum or moisturizing ingredients better. Mist cleansed skin, and while skin is still damp, apply serum, then moisturizer.

If you use a spray without essential oils, saccharides or hyaluronic acid, all of which help skin retain moisture, don’t let it dry on your face. That’s the wrong way to use your spray because, as water dries on the skin, it evaporates and draws some of the skin’s existing moisture out with it. This is particularly noteworthy on aeroplanes – where facial mists first made the headlines as a chance to freshen up on long flights. Unless you’re applying moisturizer immediately afterward, spritz your face, wait a few seconds, then pat off the excess.

Straight-up water sprays are particularly good for spritzing after you put on your face. It sets the makeup and helps it stay on and look fresh longer.

One of our favourites, Thalgo Eveil a la Mer Reviving Marine Mist, is a remineralising mist that boosts cell metabolism and renewal, and strengthens the skin’s defences. This is particularly great for dry and dehydrated skin.