La Roche Posay’s Thermal Spring Water is hydrating, soothing, and contains simple, natural ingredients.
Tight, dehydrated skin, cakey makeup, and even some skin irritations can benefit from the refreshing, enveloping spritz of a hydrating face mist. Depending on their ingredients, mists can serve various purposes, including hydration, anti-inflammation, and even sun protection, says Kristina Collins, M.D., double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Foy. They’re also a great first and finishing step in makeup application, and best of all, they’re portable and mess-free—the ideal bag staple for glowing on the go.
The best hydrating face mists contain humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. “These ingredients boost hydration and plump skin cells,” says Marisa Garshick, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery and advisor of BioRepublic. “They also help to hold in moisture and heal the damaged skin barrier.” Other ingredients to look for, she suggests, are soothers like rose water, aloe vera, and green tea extract. “Face mists may also be formulated with specialized thermal water rich in nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants,” Garshick adds.
Because most face mists contain universally nourishing, non-comedogenic ingredients, they’re safe for every skin type. “A good face mist is one of the few beauty products anyone and everyone could use,” says Dr. Garshick. However, those with dry, irritated skin will especially love the limitless dewy invigoration because there’s no such thing as too many sprays.
We consulted three dermatologists and dozens of product reviews to find the top performers. Here are the best hydrating face mists you can buy right now.
Best Overall: La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water
Why We Like It: Thermal spring water contains natural antioxidants and trace minerals that calm and restore hydration to the skin. A fine, continuous mist offers a cloud-like application.
It’s Worth Noting: The bottle cap can sometimes be loose, even when just purchased.
Whether you want to refresh your skin mid-day or calm sensitivity, you’ll like this spray. “The thermal spring water contains natural antioxidant properties and can be used by all skin types,” says Dr. Garshick. Rebecca Marcus, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maei MD, adds that the French water comes from the town of La Roche Posay (given the brand name) and contains a relatively high concentration of selenium, which has proven to be anti-inflammatory.
“In fact, La Roche Posay even operates a treatment center where those with inflammatory skin disorders receive high-pressure showers with this water, and it helps to clear their eczema!” Marcus adds.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Thermal spring water, selenium
- Size: 5.2 ounces
- Skin Type: All
- Benefit: Hydration, anti-inflammation
Best Budget: Curel Deep Moisture Spray
Why We Like It: Replenishing ceramides and glycerin helps protect and restore the skin barrier on your face and body.
It’s Worth Noting: Your skin may feel slightly sticky after application.
This affordable, no-frills spray is packed with hydrating ceramides and glycerin “that offer an extra layer of hydration and also serve to prepare skin for maximum absorption of moisturizing cream,” says Dr. Marcus.
It’s also fragrance- and alcohol-free, and the dispenser offers an ultra-fine, soothing continuous mist of product. Think of it as a moisturizer in spray form that gives your daily cream an added boost.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, glycerin
- Size: 5 ounces
- Skin Type: Dry, sensitive
- Benefit: Hydration, barrier repair
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Essence Mist 50ml
Why We Like It: Hydrating and calming ingredients work together to balance redness in the skin.
It’s Worth Noting: It has a strong scent, which may not appeal to everyone.
Dr. Collins recommends this spray because it “contains excellent skin hydration, including hyaluronic acid and glycerin.” What makes it ideal for those who are breakout-prone is its green tint—which is thanks to its phyto-botanical blend of boldus leaf, cucumber, thyme, and rosemary extracts—that helps to counteract and calm redness.
Even if you’re not breakout prone, but you, say, get red after working out, this could be a gym bag staple.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, botanical extracts
- Size: 1.7 ounces
- Skin Type: Acne-prone, red, dry
- Benefit: Hydration, anti-inflammation
Best for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water
Why We Like It: An ultra-fine mist of calming minerals soothes various types of inflammation, and the bottle is a good size.
It’s Worth Noting: Continuous sprayer can be finicky.
Similar to our Best Overall pick, the main ingredient in Avene’s facial spray is French thermal spring water, which contains naturally soothing minerals and silicates that help to soften the skin and restore the skin barrier, says Dr. Garshick. “It’s also thought to have the ideal ratio of calcium to magnesium, which can help with skin texture,” she adds.
Not only can it hydrate, soothe skin, and set makeup, but because it promotes healing and calms inflammation, the brand goes as far as to recommend it for use on sunburns, wounds, and even diaper rashes.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Thermal spring water, silicates
- Size: 10.1 ounces
- Skin Type: Sensitive, dry
- Benefit: Hydration, anti-inflammation
Best for Travel: Evian Facial Spray Travel Duo
Why We Like It: Air travel-friendly cans packed with cooling, hydrating mineral water make great travel companions in a dry plane cabin or during a warm-weather vacation.
It’s Worth Noting: It may run out quickly.
Most picks on this list won’t make it through airport security, and pressurized cans remove the option of decanting your full-sized bottle. Thankfully, Evian, a mist beloved by celebrities and makeup artists, offers travel-sized sprays to keep your skin hydrated and refreshed in the dry plane cabin and beyond.
The mineral water from the French Alps offers the skin a pure, pH-neutral drink. Especially great for those who run hot, the metal can give the application an added cooling sensation.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Mineral water
- Size: 1.7 ounces
- Skin Type: All
- Benefit: Hydration
Best for Toning: Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
Why We Like It: Hypochlorous acid is a natural disinfectant to prevent breakouts, irritation, and environmental stress from showing up on naturally reactive skin.
It’s Worth Noting: It does not contain any humectants.
A unique formula, this toning mist’s main ingredient is hypochlorous acid, a disinfectant also naturally created in the body to fight inflammation. Those who get regular flare-ups or have acne-prone skin can benefit from a spritz before makeup and at night to avoid irritation and environmental stress.
Don’t let the term “acid” scare you, either. The spray is delivered in water and sodium chloride to make it just as refreshing and hydrating as other face mists.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Hypochlorous acid
- Size: 4 ounces
- Skin Type: Reactive, sensitive, acne-prone
- Benefit: Disinfecting, protective, hydration
Best Anti-Aging: Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence
Why We Like It: It contains natural ingredients sourced on a farm in Vermont.
It’s Worth Noting: The price reflects its origins and luxurious packaging.
Dr. Marcus says this mist contains botanical ingredients that plump and hydrate skin while prepping it for additional skincare steps, like creams and oils. The botanicals include natural humectants and rose, lavender, and neroli hydrosols, which work together to hydrate, smooth, and deliver antioxidants to the skin, ultimately helping fight free radicals and minimize the look of wrinkles.
All botanical ingredients are organically sourced from Tata Harper’s Vermont farm, and its scent is beautifully floral, as the name implies.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, lavender, rose, and other botanicals
- Size: 1.7 ounces
- Skin Type: Dry, mature
- Benefit: Hydration
Best Splurge: Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist
Why We Like It: It contains soothing, refreshing botanicals and hydrating glycerin.
It’s Worth Noting: Nozzle does not deliver a continuous mist.
The Queen of Hungary Mist is more than a facial spray. It’s an experience, given that, according to legend, the formula was inspired by the world’s first recorded perfume made for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary in the 14th century. Dr. Garshick is a fan.
“Containing Hungarian thermal water, this can be used one to two times per day or whenever the skin needs a refresher, as it works to purify and hydrate the skin,” she says. “Afterward, the skin appears firmer and more supple.”
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Thermal water, glycerin, orange blossom, rose, sage
- Size: 3.4 ounces
- Skin Type: All
- Benefit: Hydration
Best for Glowing Skin: Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist
Why We Like It: A super-fine mist and pleasant rose scent create a relaxing application experience.
It’s Worth Noting: The strong scent may not appeal to everyone.
If your skin tends to dry throughout the day or your makeup easily loses its luster, this hydrating face mist will reset your complexion and leave behind the added glow. “Rose water calms inflammation, and the hyaluronic hydrates—a great combo!” says Dr. Collins.
It also contains replenishing coconut water and hibiscus extract, which helps soften the skin, so it looks and feels better over time.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rose, coconut water, hibiscus extract
- Size: 4 ounces
- Skin Type: All
- Benefit: Hydration
Best with SPF: Sun Bum Face Mist SPF 45
Why We Like It: A hydrating face mist that offers sun protection and hydration without feeling greasy or leaving behind a white cast.
It’s Worth Noting: It has a strong banana scent.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends reapplying sunscreen every two hours, but it’s not always convenient to slather on more lotion—especially if you’re wearing makeup. That’s where a spray SPF like this one comes in handy.
Formulated specifically for the face, this non-aerosol sunscreen spray is clear and lightweight. It’s hydrating but won’t cause your mascara to run or burn your eyes. Best of all, it boasts a UV protection level of SPF 45, which surpasses the AAD’s recommended SPF 30.
Product Details:
- Key Ingredients: Homosalate, octisalate, avobenzone, witch hazel
- Size: 3.4 ounces
- Skin Type: All
- Benefit: Sun protection
How We Selected
We consulted three dermatologists for advice on ingredients to look for, how to use, and what skin types benefit from hydrating face mists. Those we spoke with included:
- Kristina Collins, MD, double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Foy
- Marisa Garshick, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery and advisor of BioRepublic
- Rebecca Marcus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Maei MD
They also shared product recommendations, and best-selling face mists were researched to narrow down the top picks.
What to Know About Face Mists
Skin Type
“Really, anyone of any skin type can use a face mist,” says Dr. Collins. “They are completely non-comedogenic and can be a great way to get a more dewy, refreshed, hydrated look. Even those with very sensitive skin or multiple allergies can enjoy a variety of face mists because they typically have less complex ingredient lists.”
Dr. Marcus adds that mineral water face mists can be particularly helpful for those with inflammatory skin disorders such as atopic dermatitis.
Ingredients to Look for
A good face mist contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides. “Hyaluronic acid is a low molecular weight product, meaning it is very tiny, so it can function really well applied in this way and absorbs easily into the skin,” says Dr. Collins. “From there, hyaluronic acid is a powerful hydrator and even helps increase collagen synthesis.”
Bonus ingredients to consider are naturally soothing and hydrating thermal spring water and other calming botanicals like rose, green tea, and aloe vera. As for what to avoid, Dr. Garshick advises staying away from artificial fragrances, certain essential oils, and drying alcohols “which may lead to dryness and irritation, making them counterproductive for a face mist.”
How to Use Face Mist
There’s really no wrong way to use a face mist. It’s as simple as spritzing as needed. “Face mists are incredibly versatile products. If you use a face mist after cleansing, it will actually improve the absorption of your serum or moisturizer,” explains Dr. Collins. “If you use the mist after moisturizer, it can help prime your skin for makeup application, and if you wait and use it after makeup application, it can help set your look.”
Collins continues: “One of my favorite times to use face mist is when I need to ‘revamp’ myself, for example, when I have an event after work. I find that face mist works great to spray and refresh before and after touching up makeup, especially when there’s no time to completely wash off and reapply. However, if you are using the face mist to take advantage of its active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, then application after cleansing but before moisturizing is a must.”
Your Questions, Answered
What does a face mist do?
There are several types of face mists ranging from simple, clean water mists to products that deliver active ingredients in a mist form, explains Collins. There are also face mists that serve to prime or set makeup applications.
Most of them are great for a mood boost and also help hydrate the skin, and many also have soothing, anti-inflammatory properties to balance skin and calm redness. So, depending on the product, mists may function to hydrate, reduce inflammation, protect from UV or environmental stressors, prime or set makeup, or create a more dewy, refreshed look.
When should I apply face mist?
In short, whenever you want, but mists are optimally applied before moisturizer to help nurturing ingredients more easily penetrate and hydrate the skin. In addition, you can spray a face mist when you wake up, before and after makeup, throughout the day, after working out, and more.
Are toner and face mist the same?
Some toners come in the form of face mists, but most of them don’t. And it’s important to note that most toners aren’t meant for hydration. “Toner is an astringent product, often made with alcohol, that is intended to help clean skin and especially pores,” says Dr. Collins. More often than not, toner is applied using a cotton round or something similar.
You may also see the term “essence” on certain face mists, which usually means the spray contains a concentration of active ingredients, often for hydration, in a very lightweight product that is applied after cleansing but before moisturizer, Collins adds.
Does face mist go on before or after makeup?
“For hydration, a mist should be used before makeup,” says Dr. Marcus. “But, even once makeup has been applied, you can still use a face mist throughout the day to help replenish moisture in extra dry skin or to impart a dewy glow to your makeup look.”
