Now you can spray on all your skincare

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What if, instead of carefully rubbing in layers of creams and gels, your skincare routine consisted of just a few quick spritzes?

Easier, faster and certainly less messy, spray-on skincare is having a moment.

Toners, exfoliators, SPF, moisturisers and even face serums now come with a nozzle. But are they as effective as traditional formulas?

‘Spray-on skincare differs primarily from creams or lotions because sprays have to contain a much finer emulsion to be delivered in mist form. This means they are naturally lighter,’ explains dermatologist Dr Thuva Amuthan, of the Dr Derme Skin & Aesthetic Clinic (drderme.com).

‘Sprays are convenient, absorb easily and can feel less occlusive and heavy than creams.’

But, he warns, consider your skin type before you spritz.

‘Those with oily or acne-prone skin may benefit from spray-on formulas because these products are less likely to clog pores,’ he explains.

‘But very dry or sensitive skin types might find spray formulas don’t provide enough hydration or skin barrier protection.’

I’m keen to give the new sprays a go. Dr Amuthan recommends holding it at least six inches from the skin to get consistent coverage. ‘Spray in a sweeping motion, so you cover all intended areas thoroughly,’ he suggests.

Once you’ve spritzed, let the product settle for a few seconds before gently patting in any residue with clean hands.

Armed with this advice, I swapped my usual creams and serums for a spray-on skincare routine for two weeks. Here’s my expert guide to which sprays are really worth it...

Dr Hauschka Facial Toner Spray, £27 for 100ml

SOFT AND SOOTHING TONER

For my first foray into sprays, I plumped for Dr Hauschka Facial Toner Spray, £27 for 100ml, because it’s suitable for all skin types, even dry skin.

An added bonus is that it contains witch hazel, a skincare stalwart for soothing blemishes and irritation.

I loved how light this toner felt — the mist was very fine for a pump spray and sank in immediately with zero stickiness or shine. It left my skin soft and comfortable and helped to soothe a couple of pesky breakouts, too. 4/5

NECK SAVIOUR WITH NIACINAMIDE

Beauty Pie Uber Youth Neck & Chest Super Lift Serum-Spray (£17 for 95ml for members, £75 for non-members)

There was no way I was going to miss out on using a chest and neck product for a fortnight (those with a crepey decollete will understand), so Beauty Pie Uber Youth Neck & Chest Super Lift Serum-Spray (£17 for 95ml for members, £75 for non-members), seemed a solid substitute.

I found the texture a little sticky on application — I had to resort to rubbing it in. But there’s an impressive ingredients list: a hefty dose of niacinamide, a clinically proven active ingredient that brightens skin tone and diminishes sun-induced pigmentation, plus peptides to firm saggy skin.

After a couple of weeks, the redness on my chest, caused by sun damage, looked more even and felt smoother. I’ll keep using this. 3/5

JAPANESE BUDGET MOISTURE HIT

Curel’s Deep Moisture Spray, £19.50 for a 150ml aerosol can

At £19.50 for a jumbo-sized 150ml aerosol can, Japanese brand Curel’s Deep Moisture Spray is the best value spray I tested. It contains ceramides — a non-negotiable in moisturiser for me because they help to protect the skin barrier.

This was a doddle to apply and gave off the finest mist of all the sprays I tried. Surprisingly, given it’s designed for drier skin types, this felt feather-light, absorbed in seconds and was a great make-up base too — non-greasy but left my skin soft and plump. Since the mist is so fine, I also spritzed it over my make-up throughout the day whenever my skin needed a pick-me-up. Bonus points because it can be used as a body moisturiser too. 5/5

STICKY SERUM WITH A VITAMIN PUNCH

SkinGym’s Super Juicy Collagen Spray-On Serum, £20 for 100ml

I was panicking that swapping to a spray-on regime would mean I’d have to forgo my beloved night serum containing retinol, a vitamin A derivative that’s proven to help diminish fine lines. But I discovered SkinGym’s Super Juicy Collagen Spray-On Serum, £20 for 100ml, contains bakuchiol, a plant-based vitamin A, along with hydrating hyaluronic acid and peptides.

I didn’t love the texture – the spray landed in quite heavy droplets and felt viscous, but it did leave my skin feeling hydrated and nourished. 3/5

SPF THAT GOES OVER MAKE-UP

UltraSun SPF50 Face & Scalp Mist, £22 for 75ml

SPF is always the last step in my daytime routine, so I exchanged my usual SPF50 face cream for UltraSun SPF50 Face & Scalp Mist, £22 for 75ml. This gives high, broad-spectrum UV protection (a must) and is alcohol-free, so perfect for sensitive skin.

The spray itself is super-light and gives really even coverage — no large droplets. But I did find it felt a little greasy, even after I gave it time to absorb.

What I loved about this product, though, is that it can be used over make-up or along your parting to top up sun protection throughout the day. 4/5