Setting Powders Are Key to Long-Lasting Makeup, We Tested Dozens to Find the Best (2024)

TL;DR

Our favorite setting powder, overall, is LYS Beauty’s highly absorbent, easy-to-blend, skin-perfectingTriple Fix Setting Powder. However, if you’re on a budget, Wet n Wild’s mattifyingPhoto Focus Loose Setting Powdermight be your best bet. And if you’re willing to spend a little more on a high-quality formula, you can’t go wrong withChanel Poudre Universelle Libre.

Our Top Picks

Type:Pressed |Shades:6 |Finish:Matte/natural|Cruelty-Free:Yes

Our tester, Danielle, has combination skin with dry cheeks and an oily T-zone. When she tried the translucent shade, it immediately eliminated shininess without making her face appear overly dry. Her skin didn’t feel tight either. She was surprised to report that this pressed powder is also slightly moisturizing, likely due to the hyaluronic acid, a go-to skincare ingredient that famously holds more than 1,000 times its weight in water.

The mattifying finish looked natural with a subtle glow. It blended effortlessly with Danielle’s skin tone without any remaining residue or white cast in sight. This setting powder even smoothed out her pores and corrected for redness around her nostrils.

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Natural/matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

On a budget? Wet n Wild makes a great setting powder. Our tester, Sara, said this wallet-friendly formula did wonders soaking up oil on her skin. Not only that, but it smoothed out her complexion and delivered a natural, mattified effect.

Sara | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: The universal translucent shade blended well into Sara’s fair skin without appearing chalky or patchy. Since it’s a loose powder, the only thing to note is that the application can get slightly messy.

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re looking for a drugstore setting powder, L’Oréal Pro Sweep & Lock is a solid choice. This universal translucent powder didn’t appear chalky on our tester, Kiara’s, medium-dark complexion, leaving her with nothing more than a smoother version of her natural skin tone.

Tester’s Verdict: The finely milled formula delivers a soft mattifying finish without feeling overly dry or appearing cakey. While you might need to retouch after a few hours, Kiara loved how it helped set her makeup, made her pores less visible, and evened her skin texture. The only other thing to note is that the sticker was really hard to remove upon first opening the container.

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Natural/semi-matte | Cruelty-Free: No

If you can swing the steep price, your complexion will thank you for investing in Chanel’s Poudre Universelle Libre. This setting powder earned perfect scores in all categories, absorbing oil effortlessly and tackling excess shine. After trying shade 30 (medium with neutral undertones), our tester, Gibreel, said that it blended beautifully into her skin without feeling heavy or cakey. And at the end of the day, her makeup was still intact. She also liked the included applicator, which makes it easy to press the loose powder onto oilier areas.

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte/natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

In terms of shade options, Fenty Pro Filt’r is a clear winner. With a diverse range of skin tones in mind, this loose setting powder comes in eight hues ranging from Coffee (very deep) to Butter (light with warm undertones) to universal translucent. Our tester, Jessica, tried Butter on her combination skin and it did a fantastic job absorbing grease without feeling heavy or cakey.She liked the mattifying effect and said that it offers a natural finish when used for setting and baking makeup.

Type: Loose/brush-on | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This sunscreen-infused setting powder makes it easy to reapply SPF throughout the day, even when you’re rocking full glam. Our tester, Sasha, was pleasantly surprised by how well it absorbs oil and controls shine, noting that a little goes a long way.

Sasha | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: Sasha said that her skin and makeup looked visibly better under a light dusting of this powder, and she appreciated the additional SPF 35 sun protection. Though getting the product out of the container can be tricky, the built-in brush is convenient for touch-ups and on-the-go use.

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: No

After trying shade 4 (medium deep), our tester, Jaryee, said that Pat McGrath’s Sublime Perfection blended effortlessly into her natural skin tone. It immediately soaked up excess oil and left her face smooth without a caked-on feeling. Not too heavy or light, with a stunning radiant finish, this virtually flawless setting powder lives up to its name.

Type: Pressed | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For a mattifying effect, reach for this Charlotte Tilbury setting powder compact. Our fair-skinned tester, Nora, tried shade 1 and said that just a light dusting absorbed oil well and eliminated shine. The ultra-fine powder blends well into a translucent finish, even when applied over cream blush.

Nora | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: Nora was left with a natural makeup look that stayed put. Having said that, you might need to touch it up every few hours if you’re spending time outside in a particularly humid climate.

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Rare Beauty’s Always an Optimist Powder was also a hit. Our tester, Chloe, tried the lightest shade, a soft pink designed for fair complexions. She was worried that it would look too pink, but it blended beautifully into a truly translucent finish.

Chloe | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: The application was slightly cakey, but once Chloe dusted off all the powder, she said that the final look was seamless. Her skin was smooth and shine-free with a subtle hint of radiance.

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For oily complexions, we recommend Hourglass Veil. This translucent setting powder instantly absorbs excess grease, eliminates unwanted shine, and even blurs the appearance of pores. The packaging can be finicky—making it hard to get the product out—but it’s worth the extra effort.

Sophie | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: Sophie said that it feels light and sets makeup beautifully without caking or creasing under the eyes. Not only that, but the long-lasting results hold up all day.

Type: Loose | Shades: 4 | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you need something for touch-ups, Black Opal’s Soft Velvet Finishing Powder might be your best bet. After trying the Neutral Light shade, our tester, Amber, said that it does an excellent job absorbing oil and covering shiny spots. The finely milled formula felt lightweight and breathable on top of Amber’s foundation. Thanks to the brand’s Shade IQ technology, the multi-colored pigments blended effortlessly with her natural skin tone and left her with a mattified complexion and a soft focus, airbrushed effect.

Type: Loose | Shades: 3 | Finish: Radiant | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Saie Airset is perfect for setting the under-eye area. Our tester, Ella, tried the translucent shade and said that it delivered a smooth, invisible finish without any caking or creasing. This loose setting powder was a little tricky to get out of the container, but we love how it instantly absorbs oil and keeps makeup in check.

Ella | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: Ella said that she was shiny again after about five hours on a humid day, but it still did the trick and felt comfortably lightweight over concealer and foundation.

Type: Loose | Shades: 6 | Finish: Soft matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Beauty Bakerie’s Face Flour earned perfect scores in all categories. In addition to setting makeup and controlling shine, this multiuse loose powder is clutch for face-baking. You can count on smooth, crease-free results with a soft-matte blurring effect that won’t flashback in photos.

Nadia | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: After trying the light brown Almond shade, Nadia said that it absorbed quickly into her skin, eliminated shine, and blended well with her natural skin tone.

Type: Loose | Shades: 3 | Finish: Natural/matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This setting powder from Juvia’s Place is very reasonably priced, especially considering how well it works. Our tester, Danielle, used the lightest White Sands shade. She loved the lightweight and breathable feel, mattifying effect, and natural finish. The loose powder did impressive work absorbing oil and dried into a smooth, slightly matte finish. Though Danielle noticed a slight white cast at first, it blended out with minimal effort. A light dusting would prevent it from getting cakey.

Type: Loose | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This setting powder by makeup artist Patrick Starrr is said to be the very best baking powder around. The finely milled texture smoothes creases, blurs imperfections, controls shine, and keeps your makeup base looking perfect all day long—which our tester, Nilgul, can attest to. She loved that the translucent finish absorbed oil quickly and made dewy foundation look more natural. Plus, since it’s basically invisible, it won’t create any flashback in photos.

Type: Loose | Shades: 1 | Finish: Matte, translucent | Cruelty-Free: Yes

One of the most common ingredients in setting powders is talc, which some studies link to cancer due to possible contamination with asbestos. This option from natural skincare company ILIA uses unharmful alternatives including corn starch and silica, which are milled five times to create a feathery feel and soft-focus finish. Meanwhile, oil-balancing bamboo extract keeps shine under control while rosemary and aloe work to soothe and soften the complexion. The one complaint is that it only comes in a translucent option, which doesn’t provide the same highlighter effect that some finishing powders do.

Mettie | Setting Powder Tester’s Verdict: Mettie said that this powder effectively absorbed skin oils while still keeping a glowy finish.

FAQ

• What does setting powder do?

  As the name suggests, setting powder sets your makeup in place. The invisible layer preserves the finish and helps your creams and powders last longer. Beyond that, setting powders absorb excess oil, control shine, and leave you with a smoother, airbrushed-looking finish.

• How do you apply setting powder?

  You can dust setting powder all over your face with a fluffy brush for a mattifying effect or apply it only to designated areas. Looking to absorb grease and minimize shine? “I recommend using a damp beauty blender to dip into the powder and press into the oily areas,” says makeup artist Shay Zeinali. You can dust off any excess powder with a large brush and buff it out with a flat brush or makeup sponge if it needs additional blending.

• What setting powder is best for my skin type?

  If you have oily skin, you’ll want to look for a highly absorbent, talc-free setting powder that keeps shine at bay. Those with combination skin types can use a similar formula, though they may only want to apply the powder to shinier areas. As Zeinali notes, “People are normally the oiliest in their T-zone.”

  If your skin is on the drier side, or you prefer a dewy finish, opt for a setting powder with hydrating ingredients, like hyaluronic acid. It sounds like an oxymoron, but a powder can be both absorbent and moisturizing at the same time.