The 10 Best Setting Powders That Keep Your Makeup Looking Freshly Applied All Day Long

Best Overall

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

$48 at Amazon $48 at Sephora $48 at Sephora

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, amino acid, silica powder | Shades: 5 | Finish: Natural, matte | Cruelty-Free: No

This powder is as classic as it gets. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder has stood the test of time for a reason: It lightly coats the skin with a soft, powdery dusting that absorbs oil and improves the look of pores, texture, and imperfections. Infused with skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid and amino acids, this talc-free powder is our favorite, especially Editor Alyssa Kaplan, who says it does an excellent job of blotting oil when paired with a fluffy brush. Moreover, it’s a standout for its five shades—translucent, honey, medium-deep, rose, and mint—ensuring something for everyone’s undertone. Also nice: It doesn’t leave a residue (aka flash-back) in flash photography.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: “I love using this powder to set my T-zone after applying foundation. It helps mattify oily areas without looking too heavy or cakey. I’ll have to reapply a bit throughout the day—especially when it’s hot or humid—but, typically, I’m good to go for most of the day when using this powder.”

Best Budget

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Powder

$7 at Amazon $8 at Ulta $7 at Target

Key Ingredients: Cornstarch | Shades: 3 | Finish: Natural, matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This loose setting powder from Wet n Wild is fantastic and only costs a few bucks. The formula is incredibly lightweight and never makes skin look cakey or too powdery, even after applying multiple layers. Our tester loved that it effectively mattified shiny areas of her skin and noticeably prolonged the wear of her foundation. She also loved that it subtly blurred a few pronounced wrinkles on her forehead. The container, which is on the larger side, can get a bit messy. (So it’s probably not the best pick for travel.) However, the excellent performance and affordable price tag make it a win for budget-friendly beauty.

Victoria, tester with dry skin: “I was pretty blown away by how well this powder blurred fine lines and uneven texture. I didn't even need to apply a ton to notice a difference in the smoothness of my skin—a little goes a long way.”

Best for Under Eyes

L'Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder

$16 at Ulta $13 at Target $16 at CVS

Key Ingredients: Corn starch | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

When it comes to setting your under-eye area, look for a formula with a fine texture that won't appear heavy or accentuate lines. This one fits the bill, making it our favorite under-eye setting powder. The thin powder is super lightweight and does a nice job of reducing shine, smoothing texture, and minimizing concealer creasing. We love that it comes in two "translucent" shades (one for light skin tones and one for medium and deep skin tones), as well as two pink shades to counteract darkness under the eyes. While we wish it came with more than just six grams of product, a little bit goes a long way, and it's relatively affordable, so we think it's certainly worth trying.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor with combination skin: "I love that this powder has a super-fine texture that smooths the look of my under-eye area without over-drying it or looking cakey on the skin."

Best for Mature Skin

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Setting Powder

$32 at Amazon $32 at Ulta $32 at Nordstrom

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, silk, hydrolyzed collagen, vitamin E, and peptides | Shades: 1 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and hydrolyzed collagen, this setting powder simultaneously absorbs oil while still nourishing the skin. We love that it delivers an airbrush-like final look and doesn’t settle into fine lines. During testing, we found that the matte finish adequately controlled shine while smoothing texture and holding makeup in place. Our tester appreciated its long-lasting effects and its ease of use, even on hot days or at sweat-inducing events. It does have a slightly heavier texture, though, so it should be applied conservatively and may not be ideal for very dry skin. 

Toni, tester with mature, combination skin: “After applying, my makeup looked polished and refined with a natural-matte finish. It noticeably blurred pores and smoothed texture while helping foundation and concealer look more even and well set.”

Best for Dry Skin

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder

$54 at Amazon $55 at Sephora $55 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Silica, allantoin | Shades: 5 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with dry skin know that powder can sometimes exacerbate dryness, but a light layer of this one doesn't, making it our best powder for dry skin. It features an ultrafine consistency that seamlessly layers over foundation and concealer, mattifying shine and creating a natural, blurred finish that smooths pores and skin texture. We love that it’s housed in a beautiful compact, complete with a sponge for easy reapplication and a mirror for use on the go. With so much to brag about, there was one downside: We wish the shade range were more expansive, especially on the deeper end. If you can find a shade that works for you, we think it’s a great option suitable for all skin types.

Bianca, tester with combination skin: "The powder kept my oiliness tamped down without over-mattifying my skin. It blurred skin irritation and acne to the point where you couldn’t even see I was experiencing a breakout."

Best for Oily Skin

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

$50 at Amazon $50 at Sephora $50 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Rose wax, almond oil, light-reflecting pearls | Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural, matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Charlotte Tilbury knows a thing or two about airbrushed skin (she formulated an entire line of successful makeup products to achieve such a finish). This setting powder is no exception. Light-reflecting pearls, rose wax, and almond oil create a blurring wash of airbrushed goodness that sits nicely over concealer and foundation. Unsurprisingly, this aptly named product not only tamps down shine and smooths the look of skin texture and pores, but it also looks gorgeous in photos. Note: It doesn’t come with a powder puff, but it works great with one—or a fluffy brush will do the trick.

Caitlyn, tester with oily skin: “The texture of this powder is so silky and lightweight; it feels like there’s nothing on my skin. When I first started using it, people began asking what changes I made to my skincare routine—my skin looked that much smoother.”

Best Blurring

One/Size by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder

$36 at Sephora $36 at Onesizebeauty.com $19 at Kohls.com

Key Ingredients: Powder microspheres, surface-treated pigments, soft focus powders | Shades: 7 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This loose setting powder is the finishing touch for an airbrushed look. It offers a matte finish in several shade options (color-correcting shades included) and works to smooth texture, leaving you with skin that looks like it could be a filter (in the best way possible)—hence why we crowned it the best blurring powder. It absorbs oil without settling into fine lines or attaching to dry spots, leaving skin looking even rather than cakey. During testing, we were also impressed by how long the powder worked throughout the day, and its incredible shine control. Overall, this is a winner in our book, but since the formula is so good at oil absorption, it may be too drying for those with very dry skin. 

Lauren Pardee, associate editorial director with combination skin: “If you are looking for a blurred, matte finish with a filter feel, this is the pick for you. It makes my glam look polished and complete—ready to last all day.”

Best Natural Finish

Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder

$11

$9 at Amazon $11 at Ulta $9 at Target

Key Ingredients: Talc, dimethicone, silica | Shades: 8 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: No

If your skin is on the drier side or you’re not a fan of a super-matte finish, this setting powder may be the one for you. Our tester with dry skin, who prefers glowy makeup, loved that this powder set her makeup in place and gave a natural, non-drying finish. She also noted that it didn’t settle into fine lines or cause her makeup to look cakey. 

While it’s a great product for those who prefer a natural finish and don’t need much oil control, it’s worth noting that it doesn’t provide significant blurring and may not be ideal for someone looking to control excess shine. 

Ashley, tester with dry skin and fine lines: “I think this powder absorbed just the right amount. I like a dewy finish, so I don't like super matte setting powders. This one absorbed excess product while still keeping that shine I like. It didn't look dry or cakey, and it didn't settle into my fine lines (a big factor for me).”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

Fenty Beauty Setting + Blotting Powder

$39 at Sephora $39 at Ulta $37 at Target

Key Ingredients: Squalane, mica | Shades: 1 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Blotting powders are specifically designed to absorb excess oil on the skin. This formula from Fenty Beauty mattifies shiny skin without feeling too heavy. In fact, the lightweight consistency feels so comfortable on the skin and doesn’t clog pores (a must for those with oily, acne-prone skin). Just don’t overdo it; we found that overapplying the powder led to a bit of chalkiness, especially on deep skin tones, so we recommend layering it slowly. The translucent shade works for all skin types and tones, though we’d love to see a deeper shade released so that those with deeper skin won’t have to worry about potential flashback.

Bianca, tester with combination skin: “This powder has excellent staying power and keeps the skin very matte for hours without the need for more blotting.”

Best for Glam Looks

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder

$54 at Amazon

$39

$23 at Sephora

$40

$39 at Hudabeauty.com

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, rice starch powder | Shades: 13 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those who love a full-glam moment will adore this baking and setting powder from Huda Beauty. It has an ultrafine texture that absorbs oil and blurs enlarged pores. You can dust it all over your face for a smoothing and mattifying finish or bake it with a makeup sponge to sculpt your features and ensure your makeup is completely set in place. It comes in 13 shades, including pink, to counteract blue tones in the under-eye area. Because it’s so oil-absorbing, it can be a bit drying. If you have dry skin, we recommend using a moisturizer and/or a dewy foundation underneath and applying the powder in light layers.

Eden, tester with combination skin (not shown): "While Huda Beauty definitely isn't exclusive to the full-beat girlies, I do think that's where it excels—this is the brand for when you want your makeup to look airbrushed and stay put."