How To Properly Use Facial Mists Without Drying Out Your Skin, According To Our Esthetician

To spritz or not to spritz? When it comes to facial mists, this is a recurring question that plagues skincare enthusiasts, especially when trying to maintain skin moisture in a dry environment. Some proponents adore these light, refreshing products. For instance, Mandy Moore can't live without her favorite facial mist, and even supermodel Cindy Crawford swears by a DIY facial mist. But facial mists have also accumulated some doubters, with experts debating whether they actually help hydration or just make matters worse.

To get the real scoop on facial mists, we spoke exclusively to Gregory Dylan, a licensed esthetician of 25 years and the owner of Gregory Dylan Skincare. In addition to his eponymous skincare line, Dylan sees clients at his West Hollywood studio and will be opening a new location in Palm Springs in 2024. Despite his busy schedule, we were lucky enough to steal a few minutes of Dylan's time to find out how to leverage facial mists the right way: without dehydrating your skin.

A lot of brands have created products to capitalize on the facial mist craze, but their hit-or-miss effectiveness means that facial mists have become a topic of debate. Are they hydrating or drying on the skin?

As with so many skincare mysteries, the answer lies in the ingredients list. "Facial mists are typically made with ingredients that help to calm and hydrate the skin as well as draw and bind water to the skin, helping to prevent transepidermal water loss," Gregory Dylan exclusively tells Glam. "Often we see ingredients like aloe, which is very hydrating and soothing, along with humectants like glycerin that attract and trap water in the skin."

These humectant ingredients are key. Not all facial mists are created equal, and if you pick a mist without ingredients that bind water to the skin, it can evaporate away and actually cause your skin to dry out faster. There's also the link between product formulation and technique. It turns out that how you use facial mists can play a part in their effectiveness, and vice versa, requiring a little thoughtfulness when adding them to your skincare regimen.

One of the best ways to get top performance out of any facial mist is to partner it with other moisturizing products to lock in hydration and prevent evaporation. "I like to use a facial mist in tandem with a hyaluronic acid serum and a good moisturizer. This is sometimes referred to as 'skin flooding,'" Gregory Dylan exclusively tells us. This term may already be familiar to social media mavens, as TikTok's skin-flooding hack makes the rounds regularly. 

To achieve this effect, Dylan walks us through the basic steps of skin flooding. "After your shower, apply a few spritzes of your facial mist, then apply your hyaluronic serum and blend in. Then add a few more spritzes, allowing everything to soak in, then seal it all in with your favorite moisturizer," Dylan explains. "This gives you an extra plump and radiant complexion for the day. It's great for when you're a bit fatigued and need a skin vitality boost or even to create a base for a dewy, glowing makeup look."

High-quality facial mists offer even more flexibility. If you've chosen a product that already ticks all the boxes with both soothing and water-binding ingredients, a facial mist can be a quick and handy tool in your skincare arsenal. "Facial mists can be used throughout the day whenever your skin feels like it needs a little boost or some extra hydration," Dylan adds. "They are also great to help set or refresh makeup."

The market for facial mists is crammed with offerings, which can make it difficult to find your holy grail product. Thankfully, Gregory Dylan offers a few professional recommendations to kick off your search. "My tried-and-true, all-time favorite facial mist is Caudalie Beauty Elixir," says Dylan. "I have been a fan for many years and I find the formula so refreshing and really helpful in giving the skin a little extra boost of radiance. The super-fine mist feels decadent and smells amazing. It's a bit of a splurge, ... but I have always felt it is worth it."

The Beauty Elixir is available for purchase on Caudalie's website for $49. However, Dylan also offers a less pricey alternative for anyone just wanting to dip their toe into the pool of facial mists. "For a more budget-friendly option, Pixi has a lovely range of facial mists for different skin types that address everything from clarity and glow to hydration," Dylan suggests. This range of mists includes options like the Hydrating Milky Mist, which is available on Pixi's website for only $15, making it possible to try out facial mists without breaking the bank. You can even DIY rose water for your skin, but we'd recommend trying a professional mist first.