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Product Comparisons
Prep & Set was formulated with one principle: every ingredient at a concentration that earns its place. Before you spend money, it's worth knowing what's actually in the bottle — and what isn't.
Not all setting sprays are equal. Here's why.
The ingredient list on a cosmetic product is regulated. Every ingredient must be listed in descending order of concentration — but only down to 1%. Below that threshold, ingredients can appear in any order.
Which means a brand can lead their marketing with Green Tea, Chamomile, and Cucumber — and have each of those ingredients sitting at 0.1% or less. Present enough to appear on the label. Not present enough to do anything meaningful for your skin.
An example of this is one of the most popular setting sprays on the market — a $70 + product — has an ingredient list that reads: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol — then the botanicals. Then Tocopheryl Acetate. Everything from Tocopheryl Acetate onwards is below 1%. That includes the Caffeine, the Panthenol, the Arginine, and every botanical extract the product is marketed on. At its core: water, two humectants, and a fragrance blend.
How We Compare
What's Actually Inside the Bottle
Five products were selected based on the closest match to Prep & Set in terms of product claims and ingredient content, as verified against each product's INCI list. RMS Beauty Radiance Lock is the only comparable natural option on the market with a similar formulation approach. MAC Fix+, Urban Decay All Nighter, and Dior Forever Perfect Fix are synthetically formulated, but make comparable claims around hydration, skin benefits, and makeup longevity. NYX is included as a budget-friendly, widely available chemist brand with setting spray claims only.
* Prices are approximate NZD equivalents. Per-80ml prices calculated for direct comparison to MJ Prep & Set (80ml).
Setting sprays can rely on water, alcohol, and synthetic film formers. MJ Prep & Set is different — naturally derived, COSMOS-aligned, and designed to work with your skin, not just your makeup.