Do you really need a face mist? If you are someone who gets uncomfortably hot (why hello, we-just-skipped-spring-entirely Australian weather), or you like to look dewy, or your skin gets irritated, I would offer an emphatic yes. A well-formulated facial spray is different to water in a can, which may feel great when first applied in the heat, but is not such a good choice for your skin – like licking your lips versus applying a balm, using plain water can actually dry the skin out. Instead, a mist will usually contain humectants to help hydrate and soothe, and they’ll typically smell delightful, too. As you expand your spritz arsenal (having bought your first, you’ll find that they somewhat startlingly seem to multiply), you’ll come to see that ingredients matter but mechanics of the bottle and spray action do too, depending on whether you want something akin to a water gun to the face (say for a beach day), or a barely there mist to refresh makeup, or to help the next product penetrate more deeply into the skin.
The Utilitarian Option
La Roche-Posay Serozinc
This one isn’t concerned with winning you over with fine fragrance or posh packaging – in fact, it’s one of the few spritzes that doesn’t contain fragrance, natural or otherwise, and it comes housed in a hardy tin you can throw in your bag without thinking. Don’t be put off by the phrase ‘for oily skin’ on the packaging, as it’s not mattifying, harsh, or stripping, just a simple, soothing choice for any skin type, though especially great for those prone to spots or general irritation.
The Luxe Choice
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist
As the kids these days say “I can’t even” when it comes to the delightful packaging of Tatcha products. The experience of opening the packaging is like a cross between a Babushka doll and pass the parcel for beauty lovers, and is a treat in and of itself. Once opened, you’ll find yourself with a slim lavender glass bottle contains a milky liquid that has amassed a global following. It does give a subtle glow, and the whole feel of using it, right from the very moment you open the box, is enjoyable, but it just didn’t give me the brand new skin I felt as though the whole world had promised me it would. (Me, demanding, much?). It’s not my all-time favourite as it is for so many, but it is a lovely option to include in your arsenal.
The Ideal Staple
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist
Queen by name, queen by nature, this mist smells divinely of orange blossom, delicate and expensive. It was my first choice when doing my friend’s makeup for her summer wedding both to prep her skin, and set the finished look. It’s moisturising, hydrating, refreshing, and a joy to use, both at first spritz and as you feel its lasting impact on your skin. (Interestingly, unlike the Tatcha mist, it doesn’t contain any oils and yet still feels nourishing). It comes in two different sizes, 30ml or 50ml, and is released each year in various beautifully packaged holiday editions.
The Elevated Go-To
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Miracle Hydrating Mist
Reaching for this mist is always the right answer. It’s not startlingly expensive, but still feels luxurious, and in a decent-sized 100ml bottle, you can apply as frequently as you like and it will still last you an age. It’s worth noting that it disperses a particularly fine spray of product, which makes it an excellent option for use throughout the day, as it won’t disrupt makeup.
The Experience
May Lindstrom The Jasmine Garden Botanical Face Mist
Think you prefer your products unfragranced? Then I can categorically say you have not yet delved into the world of May Lindstrom, and her love for pure skincare scented only by its efficacious ingredients. One spritz of this transports you immediately to a lush garden of damp, trailing jasmine vines; truly, no other mist could come close to its ability to relax you with one spritz. It incorporates colloidal silver and witch hazel for their anti-inflammatory properties, but for me, it’s the scent that feels like it does all the hard work of soothing. The only downside for us Aussies is that, at the moment, the only place to buy this is directly from May’s US site, as she has temporarily pulled all product from her distributors in order to better control her supply during COVID. So shipping fees may be high, but if you can swing it, it’s a beautiful investment in your senses. I have to add that, four years ago now, I found myself splurging on my first bottle, using it every day in the lead up to my wedding, and finding I simply had no choice but to include trailing jasmine vines in my bouquet.
