I picked up my first facial mister at Charles de Gaulle airport in 2014. I’d just come off that tiresome flight from Auckland with a pit stop in Hong Kong and could feel my eyeballs about to fall out of their sockets; my skin felt like crusty, day-old baguette. Stopping at the chemist, I came across a 50ml bottle of Evian facial spray. I remember going to the bathroom, spraying it on my face liberally and feeling human again.
Since then, I’ve advocated the benefits of face mists to anyone who will listen. A quick and easy way to look a little more alert, they also smell great and put me in a good mood. They’re especially soothing for those who work in a building with constant air-con exposure and are often staring at a screen (i.e. me).
A relatively simple solution to skincare, a face mist is a convenient way to look after skin outside of sunblock, water and sleep - especially so in summer when your skin needs all the support and hydration it can get.
I’ve tried a few other misters over the years, and over summer I keep them in the fridge to spray night and day, for maximum effect.
Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea, $21, from Mecca
One of the follow up misters I graduated to in 2018; I later discovered it was a cult brand that every VSCO kid was queuing up for. I liked the green colour because it looked soothing, and that it had cucumber in it which sounded refreshing. I liked the idea of spritzing a cucumber gin and tonic on my face, which is what this is, really.
Scent is a great memory tool, and this mister reminds me of one of the best times of my life - on honeymoon in Jamaica without a care in the world. It’s a mister I’ve continued to use - it’s great when I need a pick me up, especially at my desk while under fluorescent lights.
Described as “invigorating dull, tired skin with an infusion of nutrient-rich botanicals and Cucumber Essential Water”, this is a light and refreshing spritz on the skin. I would recommend it for days by the pool or at a picnic, rather than intense days at the beach where you’ll ideally want a mister that is longer lasting.
Spritz rating: 10 /10 - Evenly sprays across the face and neck, great coverage.
Shiseido Ultimune Defense Refresh Mist Limited Edition, $99
The iconic Japanese brand hits the right notes with this crisp mister. When I first sprayed it on my face, I could immediately feel a nice tingling sensation and a tightening effect. What’s clever about this compact size is that it is accompanied by a complimentary refill - which I think is super helpful considering it’s smaller than the others I tried and is on the more expensive side for a mister (although maybe not so good in terms of waste concerns).
The cooling effect on my skin stayed throughout the day. It has a strong peppermint smell and because it’s infused with ginkgo biloba leaf extract, it’s perfect when you need perking up. Ginkgo is great for alertness, so I’d recommend this mister to anyone heading back to the office. I quite like the cool packaging too - it has the innovative and futuristic feel we’ve come to expect from a brand like Shiseido, and makes me miss Ginza.
Spritz rating: 7/10 - You need to hold this close to your face to feel the spray spread evenly across. It takes a few sprays to really feel like you’re getting the most out of it.
Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, $135, from Mecca
The Ferrari of facial misters, inspired by Queen of Hungary Water, the world’s first recorded perfume formulated for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary in the 14th century. Unboxing this felt very special and is the type of mister you could even use as a toner, if you’re the type of person who can be bothered using a toner.
It contains the citrus essential oil of Neroli, which is often used in aromatherapy and helps alleviate stress - so if you’re looking to incorporate a mister into your back to work routine, this is a great option to consider. It also contains mineral-rich Hungarian thermal waters - the earth’s crust is thinner there, which is why the waters are apparently full of benefits for youthful looking skin. I like the way it felt, very calming. A light spray for when you need to chill out, I’d also recommend this one before bedtime on hot summer nights.
Spritz rating: 8/10 - This has an even coverage and while on the subtle side, you can immediately feel the calming effect on your skin. It’s a ‘tight’ spritz, so you need to do it closer to your face - a good thing as this is $135; you don’t want to spritz your surroundings.
Coola Refreshing Water Mist Organic Face Sunscreen SPF18, $65
This alcohol-free formula infuses organic aloe, coconut water and Coola’s plant-derived SPF technology. Designed to help mitigate the effects of today's modern skin aggressors, including HEV light (aka blue light), IR and pollution, I think this one is perfect for the beach and comes in an easy to use bottle. A face mist with an SPF: cooling AND sun smart.
It’s a very light spray on the face, and you can instantly smell the sunscreen infused with coconut and Indian Jasmine plant. Feels very light and subtle. Vegan and Reef friendly, this is a well-priced option for those that prefer their skincare to be kinder to the planet too. I like the straightforward, sporty packaging; it feels like something I’d take in my gym bag.
Spritz rating: 7/10 - Very subtle feeling; you would need to spray a few times to feel like you were getting value for spray.
MAC Fix+ Magic Radiance All-Day Hydrating Spray + Vitamin C, $45
While this mister is often used by makeup artists to set make-up or intensify makeup by spraying on brushes pre-application, anyone can in fact use this simply to feel hydrated and refreshed. Loaded with vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and essential oils, it has a distinctive scent that smells a bit like the drink Raro; evoking sunny memories for me. It leaves a little bit of a sheen to your skin so you feel like you’ve just stepped out of a sauna with a permanent glow. Could be good for when you're going out in the evening and want to look extra dewy.
Spritz rating: 8.5/10 - Has good, even coverage and you don’t have to hold it so close to your face.
MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Coconut, $45
This reminds me of the drink Malibu, which I actually don’t mind. If you want to feel like you’re on holiday somewhere hot and tropical, this might be the option for you. Like the Fix + Magic mister, it is paraben-free which is great and includes caffeine which is good for tired skin and reducing inflammation; and the soothing qualities of chamomile. Definitely refreshing, and somehow made me feel thirsty for a beverage. It’s a fun and vibrant mister that makes me feel a little silly which is perfect for summer.
Spritz rating: As above
The majority of product in our beauty reviews is gifted to our reviewers with the requirement it be trialled over a period of time. Editorial opinions are the writer's own. Is there a product you’d like to see reviewed? Let us know!
