Key ingredients: avobenzone, silica silylate, English field mustard, Chinawood oil, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) | Who it’s good for: people prone to excess shine throughout the day | Fragrance-free: yes
Fastest-Absorbing: Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Why It’s Worth It: Got grapes? This antioxidant-rich, 100% grape water, Best of Beauty-winning mist targets red and irritated skin for a soothing dose of hydration. The formula features key players like minerals, potassium, and polysaccharides for peak moisture, and it absorbs quickly, so no need to worry about wetness. Grab the mist in the TSA-friendly, 2.7-ounce size, too, so you can pack it in your carry-on.
Tester feedback: “The Caudalie Beauty Elixir has cemented itself as the beauty staple at my desk,” says social director Kassidy Silva. “A quick spritz every few hours keeps my skin dewy and hydrated without any of my makeup moving out of place.”
Key ingredients: grape water | Who it’s good for: people with sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Irritated Skin: Osea Sea Minerals Mist
Why it’s worth it: “Oh, say can you seaweed,” we sing in perfect harmony—and how could we not, with the Osea Sea Minerals Mist in our hands? This dewy, seaweed-infused formula delivers a powerful hit of hydration while doubling as a toner, primer, and setting spray. It’s a lifesaver for sun-irritated skin (yes, which can happen even in winter), soothing dryness, redness, and sensitivity with ease.
Key ingredients: seaweed extract, aloe vera, sea salt, sodium hyaluronate | Who it’s good for: people with irritated skin | Fragrance-free: yes
Most Ultrafine: Aestura Ceramide Cream Mist
Why it’s worth it: When your beloved Korean moisturizer is out of reach, Aestura’s Ceramide Cream Mist steps in as the ultimate—dare we say, even better—next-best thing. This ultrafine mist is packed with ceramides to fortify your skin barrier and undo dryness. Thanks to its specially emulsified formula, there’s no need to shake the bottle—the ceramides stay evenly dispersed and won’t settle to the bottom of the can. Use it anytime, anywhere, and thank us later.
Key ingredients: ceramides, squalane, glycerin | Who it’s good for: everyone | Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a face mist?
Besides feeling amazingly cooling, face mists offer some of the best benefits of your favorite skin-care products. “A face mist gives instant hydration to the skin and a boost of sun-protection, moisturization, and irritation-calming actives,” says cosmetic chemist Ginger King. Still, the benefits highly depend on the type of face mist you choose, Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, adds. “[Some mists] are formulated with humectants to hydrate the skin, some have emollients to support the skin barrier, and some have sunscreen ingredients to offer sun protection,” Dr. King says. “Some have hypochlorous acid to offer antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties.”