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Urban Decay vs. Skindinavia Setting Spray: A Complete Comparison

What really sets them apart? Everything you need to know about Urban Decay and Skindinavia setting sprays—ingredients, performance, and real-world wear tests.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 30, 2025

What really sets them apart? Everything you need to know about Urban Decay and Skindinavia setting sprays—ingredients, performance, and real-world wear tests.

Urban Decay vs. Skindinavia Setting Spray: Does It Really Matter Which One You Use?

If you’re obsessed with keeping your makeup flawless all day or all night, you’ve likely heard of—or own—the iconic Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and its equally legendary makeup-artist favorite, the Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray. But what really sets them apart? Are they secretly the same thing in different packaging, or do their performances and features justify choosing one over the other? Below, we break down everything you need to know before buying.

Why Compare Urban Decay All Nighter and Skindinavia Setting Sprays?

Both Urban Decay and Skindinavia have earned cult status among beauty lovers. However, confusion emerges because Urban Decay’s celebrated All Nighter spray advertises a direct partnership with Skindinavia. This has left many wondering whether they are actually different—or simply private labels of the same formula presented to different audiences.

Urban Decay All Nighter claims up to 16 hours of flawless makeup hold.
Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray is lauded by makeup artists for its variety (including options for oil control and bridal wear) and its proven long-wear results.

Let’s dig into ingredient lists, formula performance, spraying mechanisms, and real-world tests to find out what makes them similar—and what details might make you prefer one over the other.

The Ingredient Comparison: Nearly Identical Formulas

Reading the ingredient lists of both the Urban Decay All Nighter and Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray reveals a striking similarity. In fact, the bulk of their ingredients overlap substantially.

Product	Number of Ingredients	Key Features
Urban Decay All Nighter	25	Vitamin E, alcohol-based for longevity, paraben-free
Skindinavia Finishing Spray	20	Vitamin E, alcohol-based, cruelty-free, paraben-free

Both are vegan, cruelty-free, and free from parabens, silicones, oils, and sulfates.
Alcohol features high on both lists, supporting superior hold but may be irritating for extremely sensitive skin.
Each offers antioxidant benefits from Vitamin E.
Neither includes common allergens or heavy fragrances.

Several third-party sources confirm that the difference between these formulas is minor, likely in the placement and percentages of key ingredients rather than a true difference in composition.

Packaging and Price: More Than Meets the Eye?

Packaging is where distinct branding comes into play. Urban Decay is marketed toward the prestige beauty consumer with edgy branding and sleek bottle design, while Skindinavia focuses on professional and bridal makeup artists with functional aesthetics.

Urban Decay All Nighter is available in full size (118ml/4oz) and travel size (30ml).
Skindinavia offers a standard size (118ml/4oz) and a professional 236ml (8oz) option.
Pricing is almost identical for comparable sizes, though Skindinavia’s larger size is marginally better value per ounce for heavy users.

Some beauty bloggers note Skindinavia can be slightly cheaper, especially at the larger size, which may be ideal for professional artists or bridal use.

Spray Mechanisms: Mist Quality and Its Impact

When it comes to daily experience, the spray nozzle matters more than you might think. Urban Decay’s newest All Nighter comes with a redesigned sprayer that dispenses a

very fine mist

—improving upon earlier versions that sometimes left visible droplets.

Urban Decay (new formula): Finer, more even mist for smooth application and a quick-dry feel.
Skindinavia: Mist quality sits between old and new Urban Decay sprays—gentle, but less ultra-fine, covering the face without large drops.

Urban Decay’s previous spray could sometimes deposit larger, uneven droplets, but the update now creates a softer, elegant experience. Skindinavia’s nozzle provides a balanced, smooth distribution, which many find effective and comfortable.

Performance: Real-World Wear Test Results

Both sprays promise to lock in makeup for hours, but how do they really perform in a side-by-side, all-day wear test?

Application Experience

Both feel essentially weightless upon application.
Urban Decay offers a subtle cooling effect upon contact.
Skindinavia is neutral and doesn’t distract from other sensations.

Longevity and Finish

After 12+ hours, both sprays keep makeup looking fresh and less prone to fading, smudging, or transferring.
Urban Decay All Nighter leans slightly more matte (demi-matte or soft matte finish) compared to the original formula or Skindinavia, controlling shine without over-drying.
Minor creasing (such as laugh lines and under the eyes) can appear with both after extended wear, especially in oily areas, but is minimal.
Both products perform well in high-heat, humid environments, though Skindinavia’s Bridal option reportedly outperforms Urban Decay for maximum longevity (especially for weddings and long events).

By the end of the day, both sprays exhibit small areas of separation around oil-prone areas like the chin and laugh lines, but these are typically not noticeable unless closely inspected.

User Preferences: Which Spray is Right For You?

Because the formulas and results are so close, your choice comes down to personal priorities and skin type.

For oily or combination skin: Urban Decay All Nighter offers just a hint more mattifying control, keeping T-zones less shiny several hours longer.
For dry or sensitive skin: Both are safe picks, free from common irritants like parabens and silicones, but always patch-test if you react to alcohol.
For extended wear (e.g., weddings): Many pro artists recommend Skindinavia’s Bridal Finishing Spray for up to 18+ hours of absolutely locked-in makeup.
For best mist experience: Urban Decay’s newer spray has the edge with an ultra-fine mist for even coverage.
Value shoppers: Skindinavia’s large 8oz option is the superior deal for frequent use.

Breaking Down the Myths: Are They Really the Same?

Navigating beauty communities and blogs, a common refrain is that Urban Decay’s All Nighter and Skindinavia’s sprays are merely repackaged versions of one another. This belief stems from:

Urban Decay highlighting its development partnership with Skindinavia on the bottle and in marketing materials.
Near-identical ingredient lists, with only minor differences in ordering and proportion.
Similar performance and wear results.

However, minor tweaks in ingredient concentrations, nozzle design, and manufacturing controls may produce subtle divergences in matte-ness, dewiness, or mist feel. For many, though, the two are virtually interchangeable—unless you have strong preferences in packaging, mist texture, or want the absolute longest wear.

Application Tips: How to Get the Most from Your Setting Spray

Whichever spray you choose, correct application ensures optimal performance and staying power.

Always apply the spray as the final step after completing all makeup.
Shake the bottle vigorously before use to distribute ingredients evenly.
Hold 8–10 inches from the face, close your eyes, and spray 2–4 times in an “X” and “T” motion for even distribution.
Avoid spraying too close to prevent drips, and never use with eyes open (both contain alcohol, which can be irritating to eyes).
Let it dry naturally; do not pat or dab immediately after spraying.

Which Setting Spray Is Best For Your Skin Type?

Skin Type	Urban Decay All Nighter	Skindinavia Finishing Spray
Dry	Good (not overly mattifying)	Excellent especially for sensitive skin
Oily/Combination	Best (slightly more matte look)	Very Good oil control version available
Sensitive	Excellent no parabens, silicones	Excellent gentle and non-comedogenic
Event/Bridal	Great 16+ hours	Best extreme long-wearing Bridal formula

Expert & User Insights: What the Beauty Community Says

Urban Decay All Nighter has won countless awards, is universally popular, and praised for high-impact marketing and trendy packaging.
Pro artists appreciate the reliability and subtlety of Skindinavia, especially for demanding scenarios (weddings, photo shoots, hot climates).
Many frequent users consider them interchangeable due to the shared ingredient DNA, but having both on hand offers flexibility—especially for different mist preferences or event types.
Budget-conscious shoppers often choose Skindinavia’s larger bottles for their cost-effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are Urban Decay and Skindinavia setting sprays really the same formula?

A: Their ingredient lists are extremely similar, with only minor differences in proportions and mist mechanism. Both are developed via a partnership, so most users find performance to be virtually identical.

Q: Which spray lasts longer: Urban Decay All Nighter or Skindinavia?

A: Both are designed for long wear. However, Skindinavia’s Bridal spray is favored for ultra-long events (over 16 hours), marginally outlasting Urban Decay in demanding conditions.

Q: Is there any difference in finish (matte vs. dewy)?

A: Urban Decay’s updated All Nighter spray dries down to a demi-matte finish, while Skindinavia offers a slightly more natural finish. Choose oil-control or dewy variants for your preferred look.

Q: Can I use either spray on sensitive skin?

A: Yes. Both are free from common allergens, parabens, and oils, but do contain alcohol. Always patch test if you have sensitive skin or known allergies.

Final Thoughts: The Setting Spray Dilemma Solved

Whether you reach for Urban Decay All Nighter or a Skindinavia Setting Spray, you’re investing in a best-in-class product that will uphold your look through long days and longer nights. The choice comes down to nozzle preference, price-per-ounce, finish, and perhaps brand loyalty. Whichever you pick, flawless makeup is all but guaranteed.

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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