Review: Wet n Wild Photofocus Matte setting spray

I really like trying out products from Wet n Wild because they are so affordable. I bought this setting spray for INR 349 while it retails for INR 499. It houses 45ml of product; that seems like a fair deal to me.

The packaging is pretty cool. It looks like some professional photographer’s apparatus. It is a short but stout spray bottle made of plastic. It is not extremely sturdy, but it is of a fairly decent quality.

I have noticed the ‘cruelty free‘ claim on every wet n wild product I have purchased an this one is no different. It claims to be paraben free too.

This is how you use it. Hold it about 10 inches away from your face and spray all over once you are done with makeup application. Wait a few seconds for it to dry. If you wish to layer up makeup for longer time or make your cake eyeliner or baked eye shadow last longer, mix these products with this setting spray instead of water and use accordingly. Please don’t spritz this into your eyes.

This one gives a matte finish and does not contain any micro particles for a luminous sheer glow. It is absolutely matte which is something I really like. They have another variant which looks very similar to this one but is white in colour, not black like this. That one gives a natural dewey look. I prefer the matte finish because I live in place where the climate is always hot and humid. My face naturally gets dewey and luminous with the sweltering heat 😉 and one of the reasons I’m using a setting spray is to combat and negate the effects of makeup meltdown in such harsh conditions. And quite honestly, I think a powder highlighter gives a more controlled application of glow instead of spritzing the entire face and ending up like a shiny disco ball 😉 But hey, it’s a matter of preference. Maybe for an Indian wedding I’d want to go glam and shiny all over. Or even for a pool party, the white bottle (natural finish) would be perfect for that sunkissed beach look.

As far as longevity is concerned, it is the only thing that is disappointing. It does not really increase the life of your makeup. But then again, remember I live and commute in rather harsh conditions that are not ideal for any product to latch on to my face. If you have cooler climatic conditions, this should not be a problem at all for you.

Most setting sprays have alcohol as one of the main ingredients. You see, although alcohol is drying and not a preferred ingredient for the naturalists, it is a very good binding agent which is what you need in a setting spray. The alcohol in the spray binds with your makeup and makes it stay put longer. That’s how it works.

As mentioned in my previous point, because of the alcohol content, this product may irritate sensitive skin or dry skin. I have combination skin which is like an oil rig in the T-zone and a parched desert elsewhere. It does not irritate my skin at all.

There are similar products in the market available at 5-7times the price of this one. So, I’d definitely repurchase this. It is true there is no remarkable fragrance. But, that’s the only downside to this otherwise-awesome product.

I hope my review helps you make an informed decision. This is not a sponsored review and this product was purchased for my personal use. Please keep your specific skin conditions in mind while trying out new products.

Stay Beautiful, inside out!

RUELHA