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Makeup
It's the last step but definitely not the least.
By Emily Rekstis and Deanna Pai
Unlike a good blush or an incredible lipstick, the best setting powders aren’t made to be noticed—which is why they’re an easy step to skip in your makeup routine when you’re pressed for time or money. The product’s bad rap for making your face look dry and cakey certainly doesn’t help either. But with the latest face powder formulas, your makeup could last twice as long and stay put without smearing, smudging, or feeling heavy.
Think of setting powder as a tool (and a highly underrated one at that) that can vastly extend the life of your (waterproof) foundation or tinted moisturizer, much as a topcoat does for your manicure. And unlike makeup setting spray, a single dusting can lock your makeup in place, keep shine to a minimum, and soak up sweat and oil—qualities that are undeniably useful in the sticky-sweaty dog days of summer.
Makeup powders can be especially helpful if you use a lightweight foundation. “In the heat, your cream or liquid foundation will not set without a setting powder,” explains Natasha Moor, makeup artist and founder of Natasha Moor Cosmetics. “It keeps your foundation locked in throughout the day and ensures that your skin looks smooth with an allover clean finish—never shiny or oily.”
Our top picks:
- Best Setting Powder Overall: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder
- Best Setting Powder for Airbrushed Finish: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
- Best Pressed Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Luminous Perfecting Talc-Free Pressed Powder
- Best Loose Setting Powder: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Setting Powder
- Best Translucent Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Setting your makeup starts with good skin care. Celebrity makeup artist J Guerra recommends using beauty products that will hydrate skin but avoiding anything too heavy. “Use undereye creams that absorb easily while still delivering maximum hydration,” he says. “Save richer, emollient creams or serums for your nighttime routine.”
Skin care prep is also the secret to preventing any texture and buildup. “The key to preventing a cakey face is making sure your skin is well hydrated before the application of your products,” says celebrity makeup artist and Jamie Makeup founder Jamie Greenberg. Meaning, spritz any face mists or smooth any moisturizers onto your skin before going in with makeup. And if you’re worried about inadvertently triggering a breakout, “look for [noncomedogenic] powders that aren’t overdrying and don’t cling to dry patches, which are best for acne-prone skin,” Greenberg says. Also key for keeping pores clear: knowing how to correctly remove makeup at the end of the day.
Apply setting powder on the T-zone area, on the undereye area, and under your cheekbones using a fluffy makeup brush. (Sponges work too—just don’t forget to clean your makeup sponge afterward to avoid a mix-up the next morning.)
What’s the difference between setting powder and setting spray?
The difference is minimal, but Greenberg says “powders typically work better for oily skin and setting sprays for drier skin.” Of course, you could combine the two for even longer-lasting wear, says Greenberg, who’s a fan of the Herbivore Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist.
What’s the difference between translucent powder and setting powder?
There are a few key characteristics that set the two apart. “While both translucent powder and setting powder help to set makeup and control shine, translucent powder is colorless or nearly colorless, whereas setting powder can come in various shades to match the skin tone and provide additional coverage,” says Guerra.
In addition, translucent powder functions more like a “finishing powder,” whereas setting powder sits on top of liquid and cream makeup, helping it to adhere to the skin. “Finishing powder, or translucent powder, perfects the skin by absorbing shine and blurring the appearance of pores, fine lines, or other imperfections,” he says. “If not used carefully, some translucent powders can cause ‘flashback’ in photos or leave a chalky cast on deeper skin tones.”
What face powder is right for me?
The type of formula you choose depends on your skin type. “It's important to consider your individual needs, such as your skin type (oily, dry, combination), the level of coverage you need, and the situation in which you'll be using the powder,” Guerra says.
If you're a fan of no-makeup makeup products, loose powder can provide a lightweight, natural finish and sheer yet buildable coverage. “Its versatility allows you to lightly dust the powder over a larger area or small crevices depending on the brush you use,” he says. “On the other hand, if you prioritize convenience, portability, and the ability to easily touch up your makeup on-the-go, pressed setting powder may be a better option.”
Is loose or packed setting powder better?
There is no definitive answer, since both products have their pros and cons. For Guerra, it all comes down to your specific makeup needs. “Pressed powders are compact, mess-free, and provide a bit more coverage compared to loose powders," he says. “There’s also more control over application since the powder won’t float across other areas during application.”
But make sure not to overdo it when it comes to pressed formulas. “Pressed powders, especially if applied with a heavy hand or layered too much, can sometimes result in a heavier, more noticeable appearance on the skin,” he says. “It can add unwanted texture if layered too heavily. The compact format and denser texture can make it harder to control the amount of product that is deposited onto the skin.”
Loose powders are ideal for setting liquid and cream makeup. They also offer more precision but not as much coverage. “Loose powder typically sets makeup for a longer period of time,” Guerra says. “You can use a fluffy brush to lightly dust the powder over your face, targeting specific areas where you want to set your makeup or control shine. Loose powder allows you to build coverage gradually. You can apply multiple layers if needed without the risk of looking cakey or heavy.”
What’s the best way to set the undereye?
Another pro tip: Ditch makeup primer for setting spray, which works just as well and eliminates another layer of makeup. “Instead of adding additional product layers under the eyes with primers, softly apply setting spray onto a brush and sweep it under the eyes before applying concealer,” Guerra says. “This will adhere the makeup from underneath. After lightly setting with powder, mist a touch of setting spray onto a damp sponge and gently press over the undereye area. This will set your undereye makeup and melt down any excess powder. Try to look up with your eyes while blending to prevent any creases from forming during this process.”
From vegan makeup brand Cover FX’s talc-free formula—perfect for those withsensitive skin—to editor-tested options that double as the best bronzer, we compiled a list of the best highly reviewed finishing powders for every preference and concern.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
1/22
Best Setting Powder Overall: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Setting Powder
“This powder is so soft on the skin and blurs imperfections beautifully,” says Guerra. “It’s gorgeous on camera as well.” Setting powder can be tough for the eye area, since it can easily settle into lines and end up looking cakey. Not the case with this carefully formulated powder, which pairs a barely there texture with light-reflecting pigments to set undereye concealer. You can use it for the whole face too—it’s that good.
- Pros: No flashback; noncakey, lightweight
- Cons: Expensive
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2/22
Best Setting Powder for Coverage: It Cosmetics CC Airbrush Powder Foundation
Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose is all about a natural finish when it comes to setting powder. “The goal is to use the least amount of powder possible, so don’t powder right away when skin is still moist,” he says. “If you don’t need extra coverage, then a translucent invisible powder is great just to set and control shine. If you need more coverage, then a dual finish powder foundation compact like It Cosmetics CC Airbrush Powder Foundation is great to go over areas that need more coverage.”
- Pros: Smooth finish
- Cons: Can feel heavy.
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3/22
Best Setting Powder to Use With Setting Spray: Youngblood Mineral Rice Setting Powder
For long-lasting makeup, celebrity makeup artist Melissa Murdick combines setting powder with setting spray for extra hold. She recommends using Youngblood Mineral Rice Setting Powder with the BK Cosmetics Tapered Powder Brush. “I will sometimes combine the two—first applying powder and then setting spray to lock it all in and reduce the powdery-looking finish,” she says.
- Pros: Finely milled, blurring
- Cons: Limited shade range
4/22
Best Setting Powder for Warm Weather: Lawless Talc-Free Skin-Smoothing Perfecting Powder
Glamour senior West Coast editor Jessica Radloff knows a thing or two about makeup in hot climates. “I just discovered Lawless's talc-free powder, and it has immediately shot to the top of my summer (and year-round) must-haves,” she says. “It provides the medium coverage I want without looking cakey or feeling heavy. Plus, the rest of my makeup glides on so smoothly and lasts all day, whether I'm in a humid or dry climate.”
- Pros: Talc-free
- Cons: Can be chalky for some.
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5/22
Best Setting Powder for Body: Dior Backstage Face & Body Powder-No-Powder
Powdering your body may seem like a nightmare, but Dior's formula is so lightweight and finely milled you'll barely even notice you're wearing makeup. “My arms and legs look pretty much airbrushed every time I use this powder,” says Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco.
- Pros: Weightless feel; mattifying
- Cons: None
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6/22
Best Setting Powder Packaging: Uoma Beauty Trippin' Smooth Powder
Afraid of making a mess? Uoma Beauty's innovative packaging allows you to control how much product comes out of the compact. “I'm in love with this packaging, which uses a chamber to release small amounts of powder,” says Yaptangco. “Simply twist out the amount you need and apply mess-free.”
- Pros: Great product control, fuss-free application
- Cons: Limited shade range
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7/22
Best Setting Powder for Vacation: (Glow)setting Powder 100% Mineral SPF 35
Touch up makeup and reapply sunscreen all in one. Supergoop fortified this face powder with SPF 35 to keep skin protected 24/7. “Whenever I'm on vacation, I throw this brush in my bag,” says Yaptangco. “It's easy to use, never creates a mess, and most important, helps me keep up with SPF reapplication without messing up my makeup.”
- Pros: Travel-friendly; luminous finish; includes brush.
- Cons: None
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8/22
Best Setting Powder for Radiance: Tatcha The Silk Powder
Talc-free and lightweight, Tatcha's setting powder is beloved for its glowy finish and skin-loving ingredients. “What makes it truly special is the filtered, luminous glow it leaves behind, thanks to the luxurious inclusion of pink and gold Japanese pearl powder,” says beauty contributor Sarah Wu. “I'm also obsessed with how comfortably it wears on skin: It's formulated with silk extracts that create a protective veil of hydration so it never clings to dry patches or makes my foundation look cakey.”
- Pros: Lightweight, good for dry skin; pearlescent finish
- Cons: Can be too shiny for oily skin.
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9/22
Best Luxury Setting Powder: Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre
Both Wu and Guerra are big fans of Chanel's natural-looking setting powder. Wu loves the smooth formula, which “glides on soft and blends in instantly.” Guerra agrees: “It’s very finely milled and feels luxurious on the skin. It leaves a natural, smooth satin finish while keeping your makeup in place all day.”
- Pros: Wide shade range
- Cons: Expensive
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10/22
Best Pressed Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Luminous Perfecting Talc-Free Pressed Powder
Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay swears by this talc-free pressed powder for eliminating oil and fighting humidity. "My makeup doesn’t budge once I’ve set it with this powder—it even survived a Miami thunderstorm—and it doesn’t leave a chalky or matte finish,” she says. “Instead, it imparts a radiant, natural-looking glow, sans any unwanted oil. Truly a summer staple.”
- Pros: Wide shade range
- Cons: Expensive
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11/22
Best Setting Powder for Airbrushed Skin: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder
There’s a reason one of these fan-fave Charlotte Tilbury products sells every minute: Sweet almond oil and rose wax nourish skin, while pearlescent pigments have a luminizing effect. The beautifully airbrushed effect blurs lines or imperfections for a soft-focus finish that lasts all day long. Makeup artist Cnarik Aloyan swears by it, calling it her all-time favorite. “It also works great to throw in your bag if in need of light touch-ups,” she says.
- Pros: Soft focus finish; diffuses texture.
- Cons: Can appear cakey if you apply too much.
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12/22
Best Loose Setting Powder: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Setting Powder
It’s obvious with this product that Rihanna knows a thing or two about being camera-ready, because its pore-blurring, mattifying effect would be worthy of the digital-camera days of the early aughts—or even the brightest of Lumee Lights. Plus, true to Fenty form, the brand came through with a wide range of pigments to choose from. “The finish and wear of this powder is just as impressive as the shade range,” says Guerra.
- Pros: Wide shade range
- Cons: Flashback, messy
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13/22
Best Translucent Setting Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Some people avoid translucent powder for fear of looking blotchy or ghostlike, but with its weightless feel and seamless finish, Laura Mercier’s loose powder will convert even the most skeptical among us. In fact, it’s a favorite of Moor’s, who says: “I’ve tried several others and always go back to this staple in my makeup kit.”
- Pros: Lightweight; skinlike finish
- Cons: Can get messy.
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14/22
Best Setting Powder for Combination Skin: Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
It might look and feel like a loose powder, but—psych!—this is actually a patented aerated cream that gives skin a slightly dewy finish. Better yet, it’s infused with hydrating squalane for a hit of moisture and to help resist creasing. The TL;DR? As one happy reviewer put it, it “removes the shine but not the glow.”
- Pros: Contains skin-loving ingredients like squalane.
- Cons: Has a dewy finish that won't suit oily skin.
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15/22
Best Setting Powder for a Radiant Complexion: Glossier Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder
Worth the hype? Absolutely, per the Glamour editors who tested the Glossier Wowder when it first launched in 2017. If you want to add an extra glow to your usual complexion products, then this is the makeup setting powder for you. The long-wearing formula delivers a satiny finish while also controlling any excess shine on the T-zone and chin.
- Pros: Affordable; no flashback
- Cons: Limited shade range
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16/22
Best Setting Powder for Deeper Skin Tones: LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder
With initials that stand for Love Your Self, LYS’s talc-free setting powder won’t leave a white cast on skin; it also has a more robust range of shades—think banana for olive undertones—than its peers. Plus, the formula, which contains niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, smooths on like a dream. “It feels light on the skin but locks in your makeup look all day long,” says Greenberg.
- Pros: Wide shade range, skin-loving ingredients
- Cons: Some claim it's not long-lasting.
Save when you shop for the best setting powders with these Sephora promo codes.
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17/22
Best Setting Powder for Photos and Selfies: Pür Cosmetics Skin Perfecting Balancing Act Shine Control Powder
Greenberg is a fan of this translucent powder, which nixes shine without leaving skin looking dusty—making it a winner if you’re always trying to filter out the shiny spot on your forehead. “It helps control oil and shine without feeling heavy on the skin,” Greenberg says. “It’s also formulated with skin care ingredients, like niacinamide and vitamin B5, that help to hydrate and balance the skin.”
- Pros: Lightweight; controls shine.
- Cons: Light coverage
18/22
Most Loved Setting Powder on TikTok: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Both Glamour social media manager Jazmin Gathers and beauty contributor Lisa DeSantis swear by this TikTok-approved loose powder. Gathers says it's the “absolute best setting powder, especially for oily skin,” and loves its smoothing effects, while DeSantis is a fan of the“super finely milled” formula that prevents any caking.
- Pros: Wide shade range
- Cons: Can be too blurring for some.
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19/22
Most Versatile Setting Powder: Makeup by Mario SoftSculpt Transforming Skin Perfector
If you don’t want to spring for a standalone setting powder, no sweat: Celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic has got you covered. This weightless powder works as a bronzer, highlighter, and setting powder, leaving skin looking luminous and more sculpted all day long. Yaptangco is a fan of the formula, which “is so smooth and has a flattering blurring effect.”
- Pros: Luminous finish
- Cons: Contains bronze and shimmer.
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20/22
Best Talc-Free Setting Powder: Ami Colé Skin Melt Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder
Yaptangco uses this powder to extend makeup’s wear and absorb excess oil. It keeps skin comfortable too, thanks to a blend of baobab seed extract and hyaluronic acid, and doesn’t require touch-ups. “The universal shade I used was never ashy or chalky, which is rare to find,” she says. “I liked the way it smoothed my skin and eliminated any oiliness.”
- Pros: Skin-loving ingredients; talc-free
- Cons: Messy
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21/22
Best Color-Correcting Setting Powder: Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder
Redness, dark spots, and dullness have nothing on this clever formula. Each jar houses four shades, with two for color-correcting and two for giving skin a lit-from-within glow. “I use this power often to color correct certain areas of the skin with a small fluffy blending brush,” Guerra says. “It’s so convenient to have all of these correcting shades in one packaging inside my kit.”
- Pros: Finely milled, color-correcting
- Cons: Expensive
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22/22
Best Setting Powder for Undereyes: By Terry Hyaluronic Tinted Hydra-Powder
Loaded with hyaluronic acid, this super setting powder works as both makeup and skin care. “It's been a staple in my kit for years,” says Guerra. “It’s the best for setting under eyes since it’s formulated with hyaluronic acid. It sets and blurs concealer under the eyes while still maintaining moisture levels and never feels drying.”
- Pros: Skin-loving ingredients, wide shade range
- Cons: Messy
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