15 best setting powders to set & blur your makeup, reviewed
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Having one of the best setting powders in your makeup kit could be the the defining factor when it comes to ensuring your look lasts all day. Without creasing or budging. Gone are the days of dreaded, cake-y setting powders that would leave behind a white cast, create excessive dryness or have your face feel uncomfortably dry and tight. Instead, today's clever formulations will subtly blur-out pores, and enhance your base. All while feeling featherlight on the skin.
“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 “team baking” or if you're someone who prefers to lightly set your T-zone for a more natural look, the good news is that there's no shortage of setting powders to choose from.
From finely-milled loose powders to a pressed compact iterations, the beauty space is full to the brim with innovative 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.
Skip to FAQs: What is setting powder? | Setting powder vs setting spray: what's the difference? | How to apply a setting powder | Which setting powder is right for my skin type? | Our full reviews.
Meet the experts:
- Delina Medhin, New York-based makeup artist.
- Tommy Napoli, , New York-based makeup artist.
- Emma Sykes, makeup trainer at Laura Mercier.
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.
Find out more about how we test here.
Ahead, the best setting powders to blur and set your base…
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 3.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: We wouldn’t exactly be doing our jobs if we put together a roundup of the best setting powders and didn’t include Laura Mercier. This long-lasting product puts a sparkling twist on more traditional setting powders by including pearl pigments to give your skin a natural glowing finish. The best part? It’s lightweight, silky, suitable for sensitive skin and perfect for blurring out imperfections without looking cakey. “Above all, I love how buildable it is. When I'm in the mood for a full glam moment, I'll do a little “baking” and my face will be blurred, but not cakey at all,” says GLAMOUR's Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet.
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e.l.f. Halo Glow Powder Filter
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 12.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: This ultra-fine powder effortlessly blurs imperfections while minimising the appearance of pores. Available in 12 shades to suit all skin tones, it offers light, buildable coverage with a crease-free finish. Plus, since this one is pressed instead of loose, you won’t have to worry about accidentally spilling powder in your bag if you take this compact on the go.
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 4.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: This pressed powder is great for touch-ups thanks to its convenient compact design. For a second-skin effect, makeup artist Rommy Najor relies on this very powder to set and blur the base. "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 calky," he says. “Also, it doesn't weigh down the skin.”
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 11.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: Leave it to Huda Kattan to bless the beauty community with one of the best blurring powders out there. Yes, we're talking about the iconic Easy Bake range. Featuring a total of 11 shades (including the brand-new Ube Birthday Cake), this clever formula delivers a soft, velvety matte finish that will seamlessly blend into the skin without resulting in any cake-y feel. Use it all over or strategically around your T-zone.
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Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Soft Blur Setting Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 7.
- Finish: Blurring.
Why we love it: One of the best talc-free formulas out there, the Makeup By Mario Surrealskin Soft Blur Setting Powder blurs and sets your makeup in place for up to 12 hours while smoothing imperfections and texture. Delivering a natural finish and a weightless feel, this formula also features skintone-enhancing and brightening hues to take your glam to the next level. Oh and did we mention that it's also non-comedogenic? Truth be told, we expected nothing less from Mario Dedivanovic. “I love the way it instantly blurs my complexion without that heavy feel. It's also one of the best-performing and most long-lasting setting powders I've tried,” says GLAMOUR's Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet.
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 5.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: This weightless, talc-free face powder from Hourglass is a must-buy. It delivers a pleasant soft-focus blurring effect that minimises the appearance of pores, fine lines and helps to set makeup for longer, which cuts down on having to do several touch-ups throughout your day. “The sheer texture is spot on, too, as it never looks cakey, even in the heat and despite mopping up excess oil, it never dries the skin out,” says GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director Fiona Embleton.
Rare Beauty True To Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 14.
- Finish: Blurring.
Why we love it: This multi-tasking pressed powder ticks off every box. It blurs, it sets, it reduces shine and it evens out your skin tone with the help of weightless, buildable coverage. This clever formulation is also infused with light-diffusing spheres, which helps deliver a soft-focused blurred result while still offering that natural radiant sheen to peek through the makeup. Plus, it scores extra points for offering one of the widest shade ranges we've seen in a setting powder. Suitable for all skin types.
Givenchy Prisme Libre Matte-Finish and Enhanced Radiance Loose Powder
- Type: Loose
- Shades: 7.
- Finish: Slightly shimmery yet blurring.
Why we love it: With four corrective colours, you can mattify, blur and add glow with this Swiss knife of setting powders. The green shade can be used strategically to minimise redness, the peach to brighten and the purple to boost a sallow, lack-lustre complexion. Or swirl all shades together to absorb excess oil and help your skin look radiant from every angle. The best part? This newly reformulated powder also adds a healthy glow back into your skin thanks to the shimmery particles that are incorporated into the product.
NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 4.
- Finish: Blurred.
Why we love it: Available in four shades to flatter all skin tones (even the palest and the deepest), this product is translucent, undetectable and contains special photochromatic technology, which means it adjusts to new sources of light for a soft-focus effect. It will enhance any foundation you use without interfering with the overall appearance – you can even use it to set your lip colour, soften an intense eye or layer with smokey eyeshadow.
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Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder
- Type: Pressed.
- Shades: 10.
- Finish: Skin-like.
Why we love it: Super-soft and sheer with a skin-like finish – what more do you need? This setting powder does so much more than just bake, it adds a glowy and plump boost to your look. The best part is that it also feels hydrating, all the while blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines. “I like to reach for this formula whenever I'm in the mood for a more natural base as it delivers the most gorgeous skin-like semi-matte finish,” says GLAMOUR's Beauty Contributor Denise Primbet.
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 5.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: Beloved by makeup artists everywhere, this light-as-air setting powder has five translucent hues, that have been carefully calibrated so they work alongside the 36 shades of Sublime Perfection Foundation. Infused with light-reflecting pigments to blur imperfections, this velvety powder prevents caking and creasing, guaranteeing a very natural-looking finish. You'll likely even forget you put it on in the first place.
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 2.
- Finish: Skin-like.
Why we love it: Not into setting powders that make your face look unnaturally matte? Say no more. True to its name, the REFY Skin Finish creates a second-skin effect thanks to a formula with a high water content. Don't be alarmed by the pale shade of the powder, either. Available in two undertones - yellow or pink – it disappears on contact with all skin tones for a soft, blurred look without the cakiness. An added bonus is the glycerin in the formula to hydrate the skin.
Tarte Creaseless Setting Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 6.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love it: Smooth out your undereyes and set your makeup in place for up to 16 hours (yes, actually) with this diffusing powder from Tarte. Featuring six shades in total – from the classic translucent hue to your pinks, lavenders, caramel, yellow and honey tints to suit all skin tones – this formula is non-drying, blurring and does a great job at controlling shine throughout the day. Plus, it comes with a free powder puff so you won't have to worry about purchasing it separately. A must.
One/Size Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 4.
- Finish: Matte.
Why we love 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. 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.
Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF30
- Type: Loose.
- Shades: 1.
- Finish: Blurring.
Why we love it: A two-in-one solution for protected skin. This SPF30 formula is great for topping up your sun protection throughout the day when you've already applied a base layer of sunscreen and are wearing makeup. This being a mineral powder, it mattifies and is also kind to sensitive and acne-prone skin, while the handy brush dispenser makes it easy to use on-the-go.
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.
Setting powder vs setting spray: what's the difference?
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 minimising 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.
Which setting powder is right for my skin type?
As well as complementing your skin tone, keep in mind your skin type and preferences. Are you team oily skin? Or are you looking for a brightening product that will give you more radiance rather than a plain matte finish?
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.
How to apply setting powder
If you're after a more natural look, use a sponge or puff to press a small amount of setting powder over your T-zone to create a thin oil-absorbing veil. Then simply blend it in with a fluffy brush and you're all set. That way, the majority of your face will still stay radiant while the shiniest areas remain matte throughout the day.
Setting powders are also associated with “baking”, a technique where an excessive amount of powder is applied to certain areas of your face (such as under your eyes and under your contour) in order to achieve that filter-like snatched look.
Simply dab your damp sponge (or a powder puff) in setting powder and apply the product where you feel you need extra oomph. Let it “bake” for a few minutes and simply wipe the excess away with a large fluffy brush to prevent ‘flashback’ (or leftover white cast).
You can always apply setting powder to other parts of your face, too. For example, GLAMOUR's Beauty Commerce Writer Denise Primbet likes to set her cream eyeshadow with setting powder. While associate beauty director Fiona Embleton swears by placing a tissue over her lipstick and using a fluffy brush to tap the setting powder over the top as it stops the colour from transferring onto glasses and cups.
This article was originally syndicated from Allure.
