Do you work long hours in an air-conditioned office, with dry air that relentlessly sucks all moisture from your skin? Do you often try to avoid battle with the sun once you step outdoors (hello shades and cap), only to be rewarded with over-heated skin and signs of redness? If you said yes to both, you should consider adding a face mist to your skincare wardrobe.
Essentially a toner or essence in spray form, a face mist is great for mid-day refreshes. Use it when you need a little pick-me-up, when you feel your skin getting dry, when your face gets a little red after walking back to the office post-lunch, or just whenever you feel like it.
Don’t know which face mist to buy? We’ve put together a list of face mists that target different skin concerns. And best of all, they’re all under $30, so you won’t break the bank any time soon.
1. Caudalie Grape Water, $11 for 75ml, $24 for 200ml from Sephora
No face mist list is complete without at least one mention of Caudalie’s famed Grape Water mist. As its name suggests, this mist uses water extracted from grapes. It’s 100 per cent organic, soothes redness and rosacea, and can be used before and after makeup. No wonder it’s a cult favourite amongst makeup artists.
2. Avene Thermal Spring Water, $19.90 for 2x150ml from Guardian
Avene is famed for its skin-soothing products enriched with thermal spring water. The Thermal Spring Water mist calms redness and soothes itching sensations. It’s rich in silicate and trace elements, and has a low salt mineral content so your skin won’t be dried out after using the mist.
3. Innisfree Green Tea Mineral Mist, $8 for 50ml from Innisfree
Did you know that Innisfree cultivates its very own strain of green tea, called “Beauty Green Tea”, on its Jeju plantations? This Jeju green tea spray is rich in amino acids, minerals and antioxidants to intensely hydrate the skin and strengthen the moisture barrier. It’s also great for soothing skin that has been overly exposed to sunlight, so keep one on your desk for post-lunch spritzing.
4. Mamonde Floral Hydro Narcissus Mist, $20 for 120ml from Sephora
The revamped Mamonde Floral Hydro Narcissus Mist (what a mouthful!) contains something the brand calls “Watercycle Technology” that helps skin quickly absorb the mist – handy if you don’t want to spend ages patting the mist in or tissue-ing it off. It’s also free from mineral oil, dyes, triethanolamine and animal raw materials.
5. Fresh Rose Floral Toner, $24 for 60ml from Sephora
Indulge yourself at work, even as you struggle with endless Excel spreadsheets, with this aromatic Rose Floral Toner from Fresh. It contains rosewater, commonly used in toners thanks to its hydrating and calming properties. There’s no alcohol, so you don’t have to worry about drying your skin out.
6. Herbivore Botanicals Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist, $25 for 60ml from Sephora
What do you get when you combine rose extract, coconut water, witch hazel, aloe water, hibiscus extract and radish root ferment? That’s right – you get a multi-tasking face mist from Herbivore Botanicals. This mist smells like a rose. Plus, the packaging is gorgeous and would look oh so pretty on your desk.
7. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater, $15 for 118ml from Sephora
It would be a travesty if we didn’t mention Mario Badescu in a list of facial sprays. After all, it’s a cult favourite amongst beauty insiders for good reason. It’s gentle on the skin, smells amazing and is very affordable. What’s not to love?
8. Pixi Rose Glow Mist, $22 for 80ml from Sephora
If you love a glowy complexion, you should definitely check out the Rose Glow Mist from Pixi. Enriched with seven types of floral oils, this facial mist will impart a glow to your skin post-spritz. Just be careful if you aren’t wearing smudge-proof mascara, as there’s a small chance the oil may cause it to smear.
ALSO READ: THE UNDERRATED SKINCARE STEP YOU’VE BEEN MISSING OUT TO GET CLEARER SKIN