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Byrdie / Alli Waataja
TL;DR
Our favorite setting powder, overall, is LYS Beauty’s highly absorbent, easy-to-blend, skin-perfecting Triple Fix Setting Powder. However, if you’re on a budget, Wet n Wild’s mattifying Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder might be your best bet. And if you’re willing to spend a little more on a high-quality formula, you can’t go wrong with Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre.
When you’ve spent ages creating a makeup look that’s practically a work of art, it’s beyond frustrating when the skin’s natural oils, environmental humidity, or general wear undo all your handiwork—which is where a good translucent powder comes in. A setting powder sits atop your makeup base (foundations, concealers, bronzers, etc.), absorbing excess oil, preventing creasing or smudging, and reducing transfer. Powdered formulas come in two formats: travel-friendly pressed compacts that reduce shine and buildable loose powders that are great for highlighting. Whichever you prefer, professional makeup artist Jamie Dorman recommends looking for a finely milled powder that won’t settle into lines.
To help narrow your options, we tested nearly three dozen setting powders in our Manhattan lab, evaluating each formula for its absorbency, look, feel, wear, and shade range. Additionally, we added some of the most positively reviewed products available online. Finally, we combined this insight with guidance from a professional makeup artist before naming these the best setting powders.
Best Overall
Lys Beauty Pressed Setting Powder
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Sephora
Eliminates shine
Blends effortlessly
Doesn't feel dry or tight
Some testers say it made their makeup patchy
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.
Danielle | Setting Powder Tester
No matter how much she applied, Danielle said the product felt lightweight and breathable, “Like the softest feather against my skin,” she added. What’s more, it set her makeup with a photo-perfect finish and held up in the hot sun. Considering the accessible price point, there’s nothing she didn’t like about this product.
Best Budget
Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder
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Amazon
Affordable
Excellent absorbency
Mattifying effect
Slightly messy
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.
Best Drugstore
L'Oréal Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Loose Powder
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Amazon
Affordable
Excellent absorbency
Not chalky or cakey
Hard to remove sticker
May need retouching
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.
Kiara | Setting Powder Tester
“I expected to look ashy once I put it on, but instead, my skin still looks full of color without being oily or dry.”
Best Splurge
Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder
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Ulta
Included applicator
Not heavy or cakey
Extends makeup wear
Contains fragrance which might irritate sensitive skin
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.
Gibreel | Setting Powder Tester
“It was easy to blend everything into the skin, and the container has a little filter, which helps to not use excess powder.”
Best Shade Range
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Setting Powder
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Sephora
Excellent absorbency
Not heavy or cakey
Good for baking
Contains fragrance which might irritate sensitive skin
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.
Jessica | Setting Powder Tester
“Even after baking my face with the powder, it doesn’t look caked-on and provides a great natural look.”
Best with SPF
Supergoop! Mineral Setting Powder
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Amazon
Made with SPF 35
Controls shine
Good for touch-ups
Excellent absorbency
Finicky container
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.
Best Texture
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
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Not too heavy or light
Blends effortlessly
Excellent absorbency
Contains talc, a controversial ingredient that may contain the known carcinogen asbestos
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.
Jaryee | Setting Powder Tester
“I absolutely love this powder. It blended so well with my skin, and it feels amazing.”
Best Matte Finish
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
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Sephora
Controls oil
Eliminates shine
Natural-looking results
May need retouching
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.
Best Radiant Finish
Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder
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Sephora
Blends effortlessly
Seamless results
Controls shine
Slightly cakey application
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.
Best for Oily Skin
Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Translucent Setting Powder
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Sephora
Controls shine
Long-lasting formula
Lightweight feel
Finicky packaging
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.
Best for Touch-Ups
Blk/Opl Finishing Powder
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Amazon
Excellent absorbency
Controls shine
Lightweight and breathable
Slightly messy
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.
Amber | Setting Powder Tester
“This powder is wonderful for covering up any shiny spots. It sits on my skin pretty lightly and doesn't feel heavy at all.”
Best for Under-Eyes
Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
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Sephora
Smooth, cake-free results
Controls shine
Lightweight feel
Finicky container
May need retouching
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.
Best Multiuse
Beauty Bakerie Baking Powder
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Ulta
Extends makeup wear
Good for face-baking
Excellent absorbency
Slightly messy
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.
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Ulta
Reasonably priced
Excellent absorbency
Lightweight and breathable
Can get cakey
Minor white cast
Slightly messy
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.
Danielle | Setting Powder Tester
“There wasn’t even the slightest glimmer of shine in my oily T-zone.”
Best for Baking
One/Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder
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Sephora
Good for face-baking
Blurs and smoothes
No flashback
Packaging is hard to use
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.
Nilgul | Setting Powder Tester
“It lasted a long time; I usually get shiny around 11 a.m. but my skin looked shine-free until late afternoon. Even then, I was just slightly shiny around my T-zone.”
Best Natural
ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder
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Sephora
Natural ingredients
Featherlight texture
Blurring, soft-focus finish
Very Sheer
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.
What to Look for When Buying Setting Powder
- Ingredients: When shopping around for a setting powder, check the ingredients list. Rice starch, cornstarch, silica, and talc often account for the bulk of the product, as they’re highly absorbent and generally non-irritating on most skin types. Bear in mind that talc can be hit or miss with oily skin, so you might want to steer clear to avoid caking and creasing. Many formulas also contain various minerals like zinc, calcium silicate, and iron oxide, which can offer complexion-enhancing benefits.
- Finish: You’ll want to consider the finish as well. Like foundation and concealer, setting powders offer various finishes, including matte, radiant, natural, and even dewy. If you are looking to control shine, look for a setting powder for oily skin that delivers a mattifying effect. Other than that, it’s mostly a matter of preference.
- Pressed vs. Loose: Two main types of setting powder are pressed and loose. Pressed powders typically come in convenient mirrored compacts, making them travel-friendly and easy to stash in a purse or makeup bag. Dorman recommends finely milled loose powders, as they’re less likely to settle into fine lines. Just keep in mind that loose powders tend to be a little messier than their pressed counterparts.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a seasoned commerce writer and product tester specializing in cosmetics. She is keenly familiar with most brands on this list and has personally tried powders from LYS Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Wet n Wild, L'Oréal, Supergoop!, Hourglass, and Kosas. Since 2020, Theresa has been a regular contributor at Byrdie, where she covers makeup, haircare, skincare, and beauty tools.
Esme Benjamin, a wellness writer and editor, updated this article and contributed additional products in 2024.
For this story, we spoke to the following experts:
- Jamie Dorman is a makeup artist, based in New York.
- Shay Zeinali is a makeup artist, based in LA.
