We Tested 32 Setting Powders—These 14 Are Worth Buying

Best Overall

Lys Beauty Triple Fix Pressed Setting Powder

5

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LYS Beauty Triple Fix clocked perfect scores all around in our lab tests. Our tester, who has combination skin with dry cheeks and an oily T-zone, tried the translucent shade. She said that it immediately eliminated shininess without making her face appear overly dry. Her skin didn't feel tight either. She was surprised to report that this pressed powder is also slightly moisturizing, likely due to the hyaluronic acid, a go-to skincare ingredient that famously holds more than 1,000 times its weight in water.

The mattifying finish was natural-looking with a subtle glow. It blended effortlessly with our tester's natural skin tone without any remaining residue or white cast in sight. This setting powder even smoothed out her pores and corrected for redness around her nostrils.

No matter how much she applied, our tester said the lightweight and breathable formula "went on like a second skin." What's more, it set her makeup with a photo-perfect finish and held up in the hot sun. Considering the accessible price point, there's nothing we don't like about this product.

Price at time of publish: $18

Type: Pressed | Shades: 6 | Finish: Matte/natural | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Budget

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder

5

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On a budget? Wet n Wild makes a great setting powder. Our tester said this wallet-friendly formula did wonders in soaking up oil on her skin. Not only that, but it smoothed out her complexion and delivered a natural-looking, mattified effect.

The universal translucent shade blended well into her fair skin without appearing chalky or patchy. Since it's a loose powder, the only thing to note is that the application can get slightly messy.

Price at time of publish: $6

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Natural/matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Drugstore

L'Oréal Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock Loose Powder

4.6

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L'Oréal Pro Sweep & Lock is a solid choice in the drugstore category. This universal translucent powder didn't appear chalky on our tester's medium-dark complexion, leaving her with nothing more than a smoother version of her natural skin tone.

The finely milled formula delivers a soft mattifying finish without feeling overly dry or appearing cakey. While you might need to retouch after a few hours, our tester loved how it helped set her makeup, made her pores less visible, and evened out her skin texture. The only other thing to note is that the sticker was really hard to remove upon first opening the container.

Price at time of publish: $14

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Soft matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Splurge

CHANEL POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE Natural Finish Loose Powder

5

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If you can swing the steep price, your complexion will thank you for investing in Chanel's Poudre Universelle Libre. This setting powder earned perfect scores in all categories, absorbing oil effortlessly and tackling excess shine.

After trying shade 30 (medium with neutral undertones), our tester said that it blended beautifully into her skin without feeling heavy or cakey. And at the end of the day, her makeup was "still very much intact." She also liked the included applicator, which makes it easy to press the loose powder onto oilier areas.

Price at time of publish: $52

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Natural/semi-matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Shade Range

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

5

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In terms of shade options, Fenty Pro Filt'r is a clear winner. With a diverse range of skin tones in mind, this loose setting powder comes in eight hues ranging from Coffee (very deep) to Butter (light with warm undertones) to universal translucent.

Our tester tried Butter on her oily/combination skin, and it did a fantastic job absorbing grease without feeling heavy or cakey. She liked the mattifying effect and said that it offers a natural finish when used for setting and baking makeup.

Price at time of publish: $34

Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte/natural | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best with SPF

Supergoop! (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder Sunscreen SPF 35 PA+++

4.3

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This sunscreen-infused setting powder makes it easy to reapply SPF throughout the day, even when you're rocking full glam. Our tester was pleasantly surprised by how well it absorbs oil and controls shine, noting that a little goes a long way.

She said that her skin and makeup looked visibly better under a light dusting of this powder, and she appreciated the additional SPF 35 sun protection. Though getting the product out of the container can be tricky, the built-in brush is convenient for touch-ups and on-the-go use.

Price at time of publish: $35

Type: Loose/brush-on | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Texture

Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder

5

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After trying shade 4 (medium deep), our tester said that Pat McGrath's Sublime Perfection blended effortlessly into her natural skin tone. It immediately soaked up excess oil and left her face smooth without a caked-on feeling.

Not too heavy or light, with a stunning radiant finish, this virtually flawless setting powder lives up to its name. In the end, we only wish the price were a little more accessible.

Price at time of publish: $39

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Best Matte Finish

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

4

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For a mattifying effect, reach for this pressed powder compact from Charlotte Tilbury. Our fair-skinned tester tried shade 1 and said that just a light dusting absorbed oil well and eliminated shine.

The ultra-fine powder blends well into a translucent finish, even when applied over cream blush. Our tester was left with natural-looking results that helped her makeup stay put. Having said that, you might need to touch it up every few hours if you're spending time outside in a particularly humid climate.

Price at time of publish: $46

Type: Pressed | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Radiant Finish

Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder

5

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Rare Beauty's Always an Optimist Powder was also a hit in The Lab. Our tester tried the lightest shade, a soft pink designed for fair complexions. She was worried that it would look too pink, but it blended beautifully into a truly translucent finish.

The application was slightly cakey, but once she dusted off all the powder, our tester said that the final look was seamless. Her skin was smooth and shine-free with a subtle hint of radiance.

Price at time of publish: $37

Type: Loose | Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Oily Skin

Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Translucent Setting Powder

5

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For oily complexions, we recommend Hourglass Veil. This translucent setting powder instantly absorbs excess grease, eliminates unwanted shine, and even blurs the appearance of pores.

Our tester said that it feels super-light on the skin and sets makeup beautifully without caking up or creasing under the eyes. Not only that, but the long-lasting results hold up all day. While we wish it were a little more affordable, this loose powder might be worth the investment.

Price at time of publish: $46

Type: Loose | Shades: Translucent | Finish: Natural | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Touch-Ups

BLK/OPL True Color Soft Velvet Finishing Powder

5

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If you need something for touch-ups, Black Opal's Soft Velvet Finishing Powder might be your best bet. After trying the Neutral Light shade, our tester said that it does an excellent job absorbing oil and covering shiny spots. Thanks to the brand's Shade IQ technology, the multi-colored pigments blended effortlessly with her natural skin tone and left her with a mattified complexion and a soft focus, airbrushed effect. The jet-milled formula also felt lightweight and breathable on top of your foundation.

Price at time of publish: $12

Type: Loose | Shades: 4 | Finish: Soft matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best for Under-Eyes

Saie Airest Radiant Loose Setting Powder

4.5

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Saie Airset is perfect for setting the under-eye area. Our tester tried the translucent shade and said that it delivered a smooth, invisible finish without any caking or creasing.

This loose setting powder was a little tricky to get out of the container, but we love how it instantly absorbs oil and keeps makeup in check. Our tester said that she was shiny again after about five hours on a humid day, but it still did the trick and felt comfortably lightweight over concealer and foundation.

Price at time of publish: $30

Type: Loose | Shades: 3 | Finish: Radiant | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Best Multi-Use

Beauty Bakerie Face Flour Baking Powder

5

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Beauty Bakerie's Face Flour earned perfect scores in all categories. After trying the light brown Almond shade, our tester said that it absorbed quickly into her skin, eliminated shine, and blended well with her natural skin tone.

In addition to setting makeup and controlling shine, this multi-use loose powder is clutch for face-baking. You can count on smooth, crease-free results with a soft-matte blurring effect that won't flashback in photos.

Price at time of publish: $24

Type: Loose | Shades: 6 | Finish: Soft matte | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes