19 Best Setting Powders for Shine-Free Makeup Looks

Editor Tip: Despite it only having three shades, this powder has achieved such fan-favorite status because, unlike certain powders, it's actually translucent and works on all skin tones, including dark and deep complexions.

Type: Loose | Shades: 3 | Finish: Matte

Best for Baking: One/Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: If you're constantly on the move, One/Size's Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder by Patrick Starrr is a product you'll want in your makeup bag, stat. It boasts up to 14 hours of lasting power, blurs fine lines, and is fantastic for baking and ensuring that your foundation lasts from sunup to sundown.

Editor Tip: This is the best for baking because of how little falls off the skin. Apply a generous amount to the under-eye area, let it sit, and then whip the product away for a matte, flawless finish with no creases. P.S. Beyoncé's a fan of the One/Size setting spray, so we wouldn't be surprised if she also uses this setting powder to seal the deal.

Type: Loose | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte

Best Pressed Formula: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

Why It's Worth It: For a second-skin effect, makeup artist Rommy Najor relies on the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish. "It's lightweight and hugs the skin," he explains. And it doesn't make the skin look like it's covered in powder. For the same reason, makeup artist Vincent Oquendo calls it his favorite pressed powder. "It isn't talc-y or chalky," he says. “Also, it doesn't weigh down the skin.”

Editor Tip: Apply the pressed formula around the nose, T-zone, and any other oily areas that you want to be mattified instantly.

Type: Pressed | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte

Best Texture: Youngblood Natural Loose Mineral Rice Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: Youngblood's Natural Loose Mineral Rice Setting Powder took over faces across TikTok for its velvety, silky feel on the skin. This loose setting powder minimizes oiliness without making skin feel dry, thanks to the addition of rice powder in its airy formulation.

Editor Tip: To get a secure, mattifying hold on full-coverage makeup, you can apply this powder after applying your usual primer, and then once again after applying your complexion products.

Type: Loose | Shades: Three | Finish: Matte

Best Sheer Formula: Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: The Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder has earned a spot in many an Allure editor's makeup bag for its sheer, buildable formula. Its lightweight formula effortlessly dusts onto skin, toning down oiliness without minimizing your skin's natural glow. Since it's formula can be layered without creating flashback or a white cast, feel free to apply as many mattifying layers as you'd like.

Editor Tip: Its packaging is gorgeous, but it also has a purpose. This setting powder's deep chamber keeps the powder from spilling or making any unwanted messes.

Type: Loose | Shades: Three | Finish: Natural

Best SPF Setting Powder: Supergoop (Glow)setting Powder 100% Mineral SPF 35

Why It's Worth It: Touch up your daily UV protection and makeup with Supergoop's (Glow)setting Powder 100% Mineral SPF 35. This luminous formula contains broad-spectrum SPF 35 to guard your skin against harsh sun rays while leaving behind a sheer, luminous finish. It also comes in an easy-to-use brush dispenser that easily fits in your smallest purses.

Editor Tip: Though this formula contains SPF 35, we recommend wearing a base layer of sunscreen under your makeup to ensure your skin is properly protected against UV rays.

Type: Loose | Shades: One | Finish: Radiant

Best for Beginners: LYS Beauty Pressed Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: Thanks to its extensive shade range, the LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder blends seamlessly onto the skin while simultaneously setting makeup, blurring skin, and absorbing excess oil. As you wear this pressed powder, its enhanced formula treats your skin with a brightening dose of niacinamide and antioxidant-rich green tea extract.

Editor Tip: If you're a makeup newbie, we recommend using pressed powders like this one since they're more user-friendly and less messy to use than most loose formulas.

Type: Pressed | Shades: Six | Finish: Matte

Best Shade Range: Gucci Poudre De Beaute Mat Naturel Beauty Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: The Gucci Poudre De Beaute Mat Naturel Beauty Setting Powder's extensive shade range is impressive, but that's not the only reason why we love it. This pressed powder can subtly tone down oiliness without making your skin entirely matte. Instead, it leaves behind a filter-like, airbrushed finish with a touch of radiance-boosting shimmer — perfect for concealing dark circles and hyperpigmentation.

Editor Tip: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this powder is a must-have in her makeup routine. "It provides the blemish-concealing benefits of a buildable foundation and the oil-reducing finish of a setting powder," she says. "I use it every day to minimize the oily look of my usually shiny T-zone."

Type: Pressed | Shades: 11 | Finish: Radiant

Best Sweat-Resistant: MAC Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder

Why It's Worth It: No matter how much you're sweating, the MAC Studio Fix Pro Set + Blur Weightless Loose Powder ensures your makeup won't slip and slide off your face throughout the day. Its sweat-resistant formula means you can sprint in a full face of makeup (why you would ever do that is another story) without worrying about sweat-induced makeup streaks. This loose powder is available in five flesh-toned pigments and a transparent iteration that seamlessly blends into most skin tones.

Editor Tip: This setting powder comes with its own application puff, but if you want to upgrade to a brush that gets every nook and cranny of your face without causing any creasing, we recommend the Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Saie The Fluffy Brush.

Type: Loose | Shades: 6 | Finish: Matte

Makeup Artist Pick: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: Beauty editors and makeup artists like Medhin alike won't flinch when they tell you that Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder (a 2020 Best of Beauty Award winner) is one of the best they've ever used. With such a finely milled formula and a variety of shades to choose from, it's no shocker.

Editor Tip: A lot of powder comes out of the tiny holes in the retro jar's plastic separator. Be careful when dispensing and tap the extra product back into the jar, so you don't waste anything.

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte

Best Drugstore: E.L.F. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: There are quite a few drugstore setting powders that give their costlier counterparts a run for their money, like the E.L.F. Halo Glow Setting Powder. This formula comes in five blendable shades that minimize greasiness and prevent smudging, fading, and smearing throughout the day for long-wearing results.

Editor Tip: For ultimate ease of application, snag the brand's Halo Glow Powder Puff to apply this powder.

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant

Most Natural: Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre

Why It's Worth It: The beauty of Chanel's Poudre Universelle Libre is its barely-there feel and natural finish that blends seamlessly with a wide range of skin tones. This luxurious powder formula is available in eight pearlescent shades that have a brightening and blurring effect for an air-brushed finish to your everyday makeup.

Editor Tip: With the included powder puff, pick up a generous amount of powder and lightly tap it onto the skin anywhere you want to blur the appearance of pores.

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Radiant

Best for Full Glam: Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: Life is all about the little luxuries, like the Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder. This finely milled powder blends like a white cast-free dream. As each of its five tone-complementing shades locks makeup into place, its featherweight powder texture creates a soft-focus effect that's the closest thing to real-life FaceTune you can get.

Editor Tip: This powder is buildable so bring it out with you for when you need touch-ups — and never fear it messing up your base.

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Matte

Best for Textured Skin: Danessa Myricks Beauty Evolution Powder

Why It's Worth It: Even on the hottest days, British makeup artist Giselle Ali can depend on the Danessa Myricks Beauty Evolution Powder to help makeup stay put. Ali says that it works for all skin tones as it comes in five different shades. Plus, it reduces the appearance of pores and smooths textured skin.

Editor Tip: Ali presses it into her brows with a dry Beautyblender and brushes it through before applying her go-to brow product." It helps them stay on longer in the heat," she says.

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Matte

Best Splurge: La Mer The Powder

Why It's Worth It: Those who follow makeup artist Nam Vo on Instagram know that she's all about the glow — or as she calls it, the "dewy dumpling" look. With that in mind, she's picky about powder. "I love the La Mer The Powder because it is as fine as silk, sets makeup in place, but still lets the glow and natural beauty of skin shine through, rather than making it look flat like pancakes as other powders often do," she says.

Editor Tip: Made with Miracle Broth, the brand's cell-renewing formula that reduces signs of inflammation and keeps skin calm and soothed. This powder may be a splurge but let us tell you, if you have the coins, it's worth it.

Type: Loose | Shades: 1 | Finish: Radiant

Best for Deeper Complexions: Blk/Opl True Color Soft Velvet Finishing Powder

Why It's Worth It: If you plan on 'gramming this weekend, be sure to finish off your look with a few swipes of Blk/Opl's True Color Soft Velvet Finishing Powder. It's lightweight and oil-absorbing but ​​the tone-evening formula ensures there's no flashback present in photos. It's also hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and caps at a reasonable $13.

Editor Tip: Wear this powder over makeup or alone to keep oily skin matte all day.

Type: Loose | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte

Best for Dewy Finish: Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: If you want a soft-matte look but have a complexion that errs on the dry side, Saie's Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder may get fast-tracked onto your list of staple makeup products, thanks to a hydrating squalane-infused formula. The brand's patented "aerated-cream technology" ensures a weightless, radiant finish for a fresh-faced glow.

Editor Tip: We know, a glowy setting powder may seem scary, but have no fear — this one adds moisture without looking heavy on the skin.

Type: Loose | Shades: 3 | Finish: Radiant

Best for Mature Skin: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Translucent Pressed Setting Powder

Why It's Worth It: The IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Translucent Pressed Setting Powder uses silk, collagen, antioxidants, and peptides to mattify without enhancing texture or fine lines. It's also incredibly easy to travel with, thanks to a pressed-powder compact that won't explode the second you twist open the lid.

Editor Tip: If you're planning to go all natural but don't want oil seeping through throughout the day, this powder layers great over skin-care products.

Type: Pressed | Shades: 3 | Finish: Matte

Best for Sensitive Skin: Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder

Why It's Worth It: Calling all sensitive skin types: The Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder was practically made for easily irritated complexions. It's also worth noting that this formula comes in eight shades, so finding the perfect match for your skin tone and undertone is a total breeze.

Editor Tip: This drugstore buy can be patted onto your face to set base makeup in place and swept away with a large fluffy brush for a white cast-free finish.

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte

Frequently Asked Questions

Basically, a setting powder is used on top of complexion products like concealer to ensure it won't budge, crease, or develop an oily sheen throughout the day. "Setting your makeup is one of the most important steps of your routine," New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin tells Allure. “When you set the makeup, it has longevity, because who wants to carry a touch-up kit everywhere?”

But oil absorption and longevity aren't the only things setting powders are good for, according to fellow New York City-based makeup artist Tommy Napoli. "Setting powder is not only used to lock in your makeup but to 'finish' the look of makeup — to create a smoother, more poreless, and texture-less surface," he explains.

Both products elongate the wear power of your final makeup look, but setting powders and setting sprays are quite different. While the former focuses on decreasing the look of pores and minimizing oil, the latter acts more as a film around your skin. Setting sprays are basically cling wrap for your makeup, and they usually contain a blend of water, alcohol, and a film-former to create a barrier and seal your cosmetics in place.

Even if you prefer dewy looks (courtesy of BB creams or skin tints) over ones with a matte finish, setting powder applied strategically — in the T-zone, for example — can absorb excess oil and keep products in place longer, according to Medhin. Both artists we spoke to agree that, whether you have oily skin or dry skin, the less-is-more approach is best when it comes to powders. "This gives you more control of the product," Medhin says. "Place your brush in the powder, then tap it off until it looks like nothing is left on the brush, then keep applying until you get to your desired matte look." Tommy adds face powder to the forehead, nose, chin, and sides of the mouth to "help to mitigate any excess shine or oil breakthrough that can lead to a porous look."

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best setting powders, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from makeup artists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Find more Allure editor-approved picks below:

• 14 Best False Lashes for a Fluttery Finish
• 9 Best Contour Sticks for a Sculpted, Chiseled Look
• We Found the Best Mascaras So You Don't Have To
• 11 Best Contour Brushes for Flawlessly Sculpted Cheekbones and Jawlines

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