With hot and humid weather lying ahead, having one of the best setting powders on hand is essential for combatting the dreaded ‘summer shine’. Designed to ensure that your look lasts all day, setting powders help to subtly blur-out pores, enhance your base, and stop sweat in its tracks. And gone are the days of those ashy, cake-y setting powders. Today’s sheer formulations are featherlight on the skin, barely leaving behind a visible trace.
“I find that the best way to apply a setting powder is with a velour powder puff, as it allows you to further break down any powder texture so that when it is pressed into the makeup, it becomes one with the skin. That’s instead of it sitting on top of the foundation, which can often happen when using a brush,” shares Emma Sykes, makeup trainer at Laura Mercier.
Whether you’re keen to bake your whole face, or just lightly set your t-zone, the beauty space is full to the brim with plenty of different loose and pressed setting powder formulas. To save you the trouble of testing, we’ve narrowed down the very best setting powders out there that come approved by makeup artists and beauty editors alike.
What is setting powder?
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,” shares New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin. “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 pore-less, and texture-less surface,” he explains.
What’s the difference between setting powder and translucent powder?
Setting powders can typically be broken down into two different sub-categories; tinted and translucent. As the name suggests, both types help ‘set’ the makeup in place — but a translucent power should be pretty much invisible on the skin, whereas a tinted powder will provide enhanced colour and coverage.
Essentially, all translucent powders are setting powders — but not all setting powders are translucent powders. Got it?
Is setting powder really neccessary?
While setting powders are great for extending the wear time of your makeup, you can probably skip applying one on those days when you’ve shunned the cream concealers and foundations in favour of a more minimal base.
But if you do want to lock in your makeup look — but aren’t a fan of setting powders — why not try a setting spray instead? Designed to seal your cosmetics in place, these formulas are a popular alternative for those who like a more dewy and lived-in look. Plus, they also don’t absorb moisture, and are packed with humectants — making them well-suited to dry skin.
How to choose the best setting powder for you:
When picking the right setting powder for you, there are a few different key features that you’ll need to take into account. For starters — your skin type. Oily skin will likely benefit from an absorbent matte formula that’ll counteract shine and mop up any excess oil. Meanwhile, a dewy or luminous finish will have a lovely brightening effect on dull skin that could do with a little extra radiance.
Thinking about the format of your powder is also pretty important. Loose powders are brilliant for baking, feel lovely and lightweight on the skin, and provide premium oil control — but they’re also super messy to apply. Alternatively, pressed powders work well for touch-ups on-the-go, and are far better suited to targeted application – but they’re generally a little less long-lasting than loose powders.
Finally, according to Emma, you should also “keep a look out for skin loving ingredients like antioxidants, vitamin E and vitamin C,” and if a setting powder also includes amino acids, it’s another big plus as they’re “ideal for blurring and smoothing” results.
Meet the experts:
How we tested the best setting powders:
Over the years, the GLAMOUR beauty team has tested hundreds of setting powders: both pressed and loose formulas. When reviewing each powder, we always pay attention to factors like ingredients (whether or not it features talc), efficacy and value for money.
We evaluate the product based on whether or not: A) it helped our makeup last longer B) it felt weightless on the skin and, C) it genuinely blurred out the base while looking natural on camera. Our editors also take note of equally important criteria such as an inclusive shade range that caters to a variety of skin tones. We’ve tested setting powders in real-life settings such as weddings, workouts, date nights or a office days.
- Number of powders tested: 20.
- Number of powders featured: 15.
- Testing period: a week.
- Find out more: about how we test.
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