best face mist

Why You Should Be Using A Face Mist In Your Skincare Routine

Misty water coloured memories...

Often dismissed as an unnecessary luxury, face mists may be the crucial step your skincare routine is missing. More than just fancy scented waters, a good facial mist can provide hydration, help prevent pilling when you apply your skincare, and refresh a dull complexion. 

What is a face mist?

A face mist is essentially a water-based liquid you spray onto your face. Good iterations are packed with skin-loving botanicals (think green tea, rosewater, and cucumber) and potentially other skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamins, and antioxidants.

What is the difference between a face mist and a toner?

Not to be confused with a toner, facial mists provide generalised hydrating and soothing effects to the skin and can be used at most points in your skincare routine as well as throughout the day when you feel like your skin could use an extra dose of hydration. Whereas, toners are designed to clean and rebalance your skin, and can potentially offer exfoliating benefits in the form of AHAs, BHA, or PHAs.

How to incorporate a facial mist into your skincare routine

The beauty of the face mist is its versatility. While toners should be used after cleansing, a face mist can be applied between serums to prevent pilling (they work particularly well applied prior to hyaluronic acid), before and after makeup, and throughout the day to refresh and rehydrate tired, thirsty skin. 

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The best face mists to buy right now

Convinced? These are our 7 favourite facial mists. 

1. Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist

jurlique lavender face mist

Calming and hydrating lavender refreshes dry skin, while marshmallow root and aloe vera soften and rebalance the skin. Plus, the potent smell of Jurlique’s lavender (grown on their own farm in South Australia) makes it perfect to spritz throughout the work day, working to calm your senses while providing hydration. 

2. YORA Refresh Face Mist

Refreshing and revitalising, this face mist lightly tones the skin with witch hazel and hydrates with rose water, while patented GENENCARE from sugar beet roots provides hydration. YORA’s facial mist contains Superox-C which forms a barrier to protect the skin from extreme weather conditions, making it ideal for use when out and about. 

3. NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist

Likely the most science-y mist on this list, the NIOD Superoxide Dismutase Saccharide Mist works to combat oxidative stress (caused by exposure to free radicals), water loss, and inflammation. Superoxide dismutase fights oxidation, four o’clock flower reduces the appearance of inflammation, and marine saccharides prevent water loss in the skin. Unlike other mists, this iteration is best used after cleansing and toning, not over other skincare.

4. Grown Alchemist Hydra-Mist+

To be used throughout the day, this Grown Alchemist Hydra-Mist+ teams famed skin hydrator hyaluronic acid with free-radical fighting antioxidants and anti-ageing peptides. Spritz on regularly to keep skin hydrated and prevent damage from external aggressors. 

5. Hylamide SubQ Mist

hylamide subq face mist

Designed for use after cleansing, Hylamide SubQ Mist supports the skin’s ability to retain water. Marine saccharides and glucuronic acid (which have the ability to retain more water than hyaluronic acid) offer immediate hydration, green tea soothes the skin, and tasmanian pepperberry reduces signs of inflammation and prevents redness. 

6. L’Occitane Immortelle Precious Mist

l'occitane imortelle face mist

Combining L’Occitane’s famous immortelle flower with rose water and low-weight hyaluronic acid, this mist calms and hydrates skin throughout the day. 

7. Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist

jurlique rosewater face mist

Rosewater helps improve skin barrier function and promotes water retention, while marshmallow root and aloe vera soothe and rebalance the skin. Like all Jurlique products, the rose scent provides a luxurious olfactory experience every time you spritz.


Words by Esmé Duggan