Face mist quick picks
A soothing face mist: Avène Thermal Spring Water
An editor-favorite face mist: Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist
A face mist for acne-prone skin: Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
A face mist for dry and sensitive skin: Curél Japanese Skin Care Deep Moisture Spray
Whether you have a multistep skin care routine or prefer a more minimal approach, one of the simplest — and often most affordable — ways to get glowing, hydrated skin is by adding in a face mist. While you probably already have your favorite cleanser, serum, moisturizer and sunscreen on lock, we asked dermatologists and skin experts for their favorite face mists to help get your skin that dewy, never-dry look and feel.
Benefits of facial sprays
“Face mists are unique because they can be used as your first layer in your skin care routine, or they can be used as the last time or for retouches during the day,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s department of dermatology. He adds that “the benefit of a mist depends on the active ingredients of the formula, like a serum, a tonic or an essence.”
Heather Hickman, Dermalogica vice president of education, notes that the most common face mists are typically formulated with humectants like hyaluronic acid or ceramides for lasting hydration. “Still, face mists can also be formulated with active ingredients to combat acne breakouts, calm a sensitive skin or even shield the skin from free radical damage and prevent the signs of aging,” she says.
Are face mists for everyone?
The short answer is yes. “Anyone who’s prone to excessive sweating or cold weather dryness will benefit from a face mist,” says New York City-based board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ira Savetsky, who adds that the right face mist can even help the skin recover from trauma like surgery, when the skin is more prone to dryness. “It’s great as an on-demand adjunct to your skin care regimen to help boost your skin during these environmental changes, but also can be regularly incorporated into your skin care regimen. A moist environment has been shown to improve wound healing and decrease scar formation.”
Even those with reactive skin can benefit from a simple mist, as they can help keep the moisture barrier intact, Hickman says. Still, Zeichner says that while they’re not completely necessary, they’re “a great add-on for anyone looking for additional hydrating, toning, brightening or anti-aging benefits beyond their current routine.”
When should I use a face mist?
Ideally, it is used after the face is properly cleansed and just prior to the use of a moisturizer, which will then trap essential hydrating ingredients. “If you have dry skin and need to apply moisturizer more than twice daily, a mist may be a great fit for that purpose,” says Dr. Nava Greenfield, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. “I would carry it in my bag and apply throughout the day, and it can even be used on top of makeup and sunscreen.”
In hot weather, a face mist can help rehydrate and refresh the skin whenever you need it, but board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jenny Liu explains that the frequency of use will depend on your personal skin type and needs. “For example, those with dry skin may benefit from more frequent use, while those with oily skin may prefer to use it sparingly to avoid excess shine,” Liu says.
In addition to hyaluronic acid, which can help retain moisture, other ingredients to look for in a face mist include aloe vera for calming skin and reducing redness, antioxidants like vitamin C and green tea extract to help protect the skin from environmental damage, centella and cucumber extract for a cooling and refreshing effect and glycerin to draw moisture in, keeping skin extra hydrated.
For extra cooling on hot days or a more refreshing wake-up in the morning, Taylor Worden, celebrity esthetician and founder of Taylor Worden Skin, recommends keeping a face mist in your fridge. Just hold it about a foot away from your face and spritz generously.
Best face mists
"Known for its soothing and anti-irritating properties, this mist is excellent for sensitive skin and can help reduce redness and discomfort from heat," Liu says. This Avène spring water mist also has postbiotic microflora to calm the skin. You can use it as often as you need but should allow it to sit on the skin for two to three minutes before patting in the excess to dry.
“This French toning mist instantly transports you to the spa with its aromatic scent,” says CNN Underscored associate beauty editor Sophie Shaw. It’s light and relaxing, made with glycerin for hydration and plant oils for antioxidant benefits. Shaw also notes that it comes in a generously sized bottle that lasts a long time. While it’s super calming for most, those with sensitivity to essential oils may want to skip this one.
"Minerals and vitamins in thermal spring water can help fortify skin cells as the facial mist hydrates them," says Dr. Brendan Camp, a NYC-based dermatologist. Sourced in France, the spring water in this La Roche-Posay mist is naturally rich in minerals and antioxidants, such as selenium, to help tone and refresh skin from head to toe. Liu also recommends this mist, noting that it's "ideal for soothing and refreshing the skin, especially after sun exposure."
Kristin Gunn, a celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux MedSpa, explains that a true face mist shouldn't have any harmful ingredients that could damage the skin. “If you find a mist with active ingredients, treat it more like a toner and follow the directions for use,” Gunn says. As for this Mario Badescu mist, Gunn calls it lovely. "It’s perfect before bed with the calming lavender scent," she says. "It’s lightweight, doesn’t break me out and hydrates like crazy."
Curél is a Japanese brand Liu recommends since it's designed for sensitive skin. This moisturizing spray is packed with ceramides to protect the skin's moisture barrier, making it great for those trying to combat dry skin.
"I’ve been a Glow Recipe fan since the beginning years, and one of my go-to products from the fruit-powered beauty brand is the refreshing Watermelon Glow Ultra-Fine Mist," says CNN Underscored senior lifestyle editor Tamara Kraus. "Not only does it have a perfect, subtle watermelon smell (not overpowering at all), the mist applicator is unlike any other. It’s super gentle, sprays evenly and feels so light and airy. Plus, it has a bunch of skin-nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid to hydrate thirsty skin and, of course, watermelon to soothe irritation."
This seaweed-infused mist is packed with ingredients such as dead sea salt and aloe vera for immediate hydration. Reviewers love that this refreshing and lightweight mist has a slight cooling effect and doesn't leave behind any sticky residue.
"This is from my line and it is almost always sold out," Gunn says. "People love the cucumber in this, as it reminds you of summer. It’s light, refreshing and will also help hydrate."
This is another great hypochlorous acid spray that Shaw recommends. Besides keeping breakouts at bay, it’s also beneficial for eczema (it has the National Eczema Association’s seal of approval), sunburns, rashes, redness and more. Plus, it comes in a big 8-ounce bottle, since you’ll be spritzing it all over.
Moisturize your skin with a double layer of serum and oil with this d'Alba spray formulated with white truffle oil. It's infused with vitamin E and antioxidants, and Liu says it can protect, refresh and moisturize, but recommends shaking up this mist first to mix the oil and water.
"A moisturizer and toner hybrid, this creamy, milky mist is a dream for dry and irritated skin," says CNN Underscored associate editor Jillian Tracy. "Recently, I've been struggling with on-and-off eczema flare-ups and this mist is my new go-to for soothing and calming my skin." Formulated with white tea leaf, ceramides and peptides, this mist helps to hydrate and firm skin. Just be sure to grab the additional mist pump top for your refillable bottle.
If you love the ultra-hydrating and viral snail mucin from CosRX, try the brand's ceramide-packed mist. Suitable for using as part of a skin care routine for an extra-moisturizing effect or over makeup for a refreshed, dewy finish, this lightweight mist promises to soothe and strengthen skin.
“If your skin is reactive, try the simpler Grape Water Moisturizing Face Mist from Caudalie instead,” says Ciucci, who jokes that she loves face mists so much that she keeps them scattered around her apartment. “It’s antioxidant-rich and hydrates like crazy but is 100% grape water so it’s more gentle for sensitive types.” This one’s also a favorite of Worden’s.
Zeichner recommends this one from Aveda, which has skin-balancing witch hazel for the oil-prone. “Since you don’t need to touch your face when applying a mist, it can be applied over makeup without messing it up,” he says.
Hickman recommends this peptide-rich “refreshing antioxidant toner that helps firm and hydrate while supplementing skin’s protective barrier by creating an active antioxidant shield to help fight free radical damage and help prevent the signs of aging.”
Makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci loves Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir Prep, Set, Glow Face Mist. “This mist tones with mint and lemon, boosts glow with rose and rosemary and hydrates with orange flower and grape extract,” she says. Ciucci notes that it does tingle a bit thanks to the mint, so it might not work for anyone who's super reactive. “I’m a big believer in not cleansing the skin in the morning (save those yummy overnight oils!), so a mist is how I start my a.m. skin care routine.”
Made with 13 essential oils to boost hydration, this mist from Pixi is majorly hydrating. Use it right out of the shower (and all over your body for extra points).
Shaw has been using this soothing face mist morning and night. With boldus leaf, cucumber, thyme and rosemary extracts, the botanical blend reduces redness and boosts hydration.
This mist is packed with hydrating ingredients like cucumber, licorice extract and aloe for a glassy, hydrated glow
“This mist has algae extract, which I love for hydration, as well as a peptide blend and niacinamide, both calming ingredients for the skin,” Greenfield says.
“This mist contains hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil and squalene, which act to hydrate and moisturize the skin. Great for sensitive skin,” Savetsky says.
“This mist saturates skin with hydration and locks in moisture to help bounce back. Long-lasting, hydrating hyaluronic acid and ceramides helps to smooth fine lines and strengthen skin’s barrier,” Hickman says.
One of the pricier face mists, this one from Tata Harper is packed with hyaluronic acid and ferulic acid to hydrate and protect against environmental stressors.
“Natural ingredients such as aloe, rosemary, turmeric and witch hazel act to hydrate and moisturize the skin while decreasing inflammation,” Savetsky says.
This fine mist from Clinique is intended to soothe the skin. It's formulated with chamomile and aloe as well as glycerin to help bind moisture to the skin.
This hypochlorous acid-based face mist might sound like it’s from the future, but it’s ideal for acne-prone types. Hypochlorous acid is naturally antimicrobial and calms irritated, reactive skin without drying it out.