The 13 Best Setting Powders, as Ranked by a Beauty Editor With Oily Skin
This is the product for tackling shine in the summer months.


Setting powders are the Marmite of the makeup world—you either love them or you hate them. Yet despite having oily skin since being a teenager, setting powder has fallen by the wayside for me in recent years, with glowier makeup looks featuring glowing foundations and cream blushers dominating the beauty scene.
However, incorporating a setting powder into your routine doesn't mean compromising on radiance. "Ensure you use a hydrating base [as a part of your skincare routine] beforehand to keep your makeup looking fresh, but without that cakey look," advises celebrity makeup artist Brooke Simons. "Then use the powder sparingly and just on the areas that need setting. For example, avoid the cheekbone area, as you'll want this to look glowy, but use it on the T-zone where you may become oilier throughout the day."
And after recently rediscovering Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Powder during a particularly hot spell here in London recently, I was reminded of just how hardworking a decent setting powder is. My shiny skin was instantly transformed into a smooth, even and shine-free complexion with just a light dusting. Did I look dull? Not in the slightest. There was still radiance, but in a controlled way. And when I emerged from a humid tube journey later that afternoon, my makeup was still well and truly in check. Suffice to say, I have used a setting powder on my face every day since, and there are some seriously good ones on the market right now.
Ahead, these are the 13 best setting powders that I've tried and recommend for keeping oiliness at bay but radiance shining through.
Shop the Best Setting Powders
- Best overall setting powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, £39
- Best for oily skin: Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Matte Translucent Setting Powder, £30
- Best for smoothing skin: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish, £39
- Best for travel: Hourglass Vanish Airbrushed Pressed Powder, £57
- Best for coverage: Aime Skincare Powder Foundation, £39
- Best for longevity: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder, £26
- Best for adding radiance: E.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Setting Powder, £8
- Best for brightening skin: NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder, £35
- Best for shade range: MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish, £34
- Best for setting full makeup: Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder, £34
- Best for dry skin: By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 8HA, £42
- Best for people that hate powder: Refy Skin Finish, £22
- Best for natural makeup: Glossier Wowder, £24
1. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Probably one of the most iconic setting powders of all time, Laura Mercier's lightweight finishing powder is basically undetectable on the skin, which is why you'll spot it in the kits of so many makeup artists. The powder itself is infused with pearl pigments and vitamins to deliver a healthy skin finish while keeping oiliness at bay for up to 16 hours. It's a cult classic for a reason.
Pros
- Invisible on the skin
- Makeup artists swear by it
- Lasts for hours
Cons
- Can get a bit messy
2. Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Matte Translucent Setting Powder
I hadn't used a powder regularly in my routine for years until this launch from Milk Makeup made my acquaintance. Now? It's an everyday staple. At first, I was a little put off by the fact that it calls itself a matte powder. Yes, it keeps excessive shine on lockdown, but I'd describe the finish as much more velvety than totally matte. In fact, it's infused with skincare ingredients like bakuchiol and niacinamide, which means it really works to smooth the skin, even tone and diffuse texture. And it never, ever looks cakey. My only complaint? I would love to see even more shades available in this product—there are four stretchable tones, but an even more extensive offering would be wonderful.
Pros
- Soaks up excess oil
- Love the mess-free packaging
- Skin still looks healthy
Cons
- Would love even more skin tones
3. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish
Much like most of Charlotte Tilbury's makeup, luminosity is the name of the game with this pressed setting powder, and it certainly proves that using powder doesn't have to dull your skin's radiance. It contains light-reflecting particles to subtly infuse glow across your complexion while minimising unwanted shininess in areas that you don't want it. Available in four shades, it's the perfect final step to a long-lasting makeup look.
Pros
- Diffuses pores and fine lines
- Velvety finish
- Handy compact
Cons
- Really oily skin types might not love
4. Hourglass Vanish Airbrushed Pressed Powder
Yes, it’s eye-wateringly expensive, but I hate to say it—this powder is worth it. Not only has it become one of my most-used powders when doing my makeup at home, but it’s the one I immediately reach for if I’m heading out for a long day or travelling. It’s a beautiful powder that looks imperceptible on the skin despite its impressive capabilities. It blurs fine lines, diffuses pores and absorbs excess oil without totally mattifying and flattening the skin.
Pros
- Beautiful compact with large mirror
- Lightweight texture
- Leaves skin even and smooth
Cons
- Super expensive
5. Aime Skincare Powder Foundation
This product from chic French beauty brand Aime is coined as a foundation, but I've been using it as a setting powder thanks to the versatility of its coverage—you can wear this sheer or build it up. Enriched with hyaluronic acid and prebiotics, it works to strengthen your skin's barrier while you wear it and leaves skin tone even and with a subtly fresh glow. Even better? There are eight shades available.
Pros
- A powder-foundation hybrid
- Great skincare ingredients
- Layers well
Cons
- Not the most readily available
6. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
This skin-brightening face powder comes in eight versatile shades and is particularly great for deeper skin tones. It's so finely-milled that it almost melts into the skin with a silky-soft, photo-ready finish that is invisible to the naked eye. And while it takes shine down a notch, your skin still looks fresh, healthy and vibrant.
Pros
- Great shade range
- Stays put for hours
- Works for all skin types
Cons
- The loose powder is so fine that it can get a bit messy
7. E.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Setting Powder
If you like your powder with a bit of glow, then this loose formulation will be right up your street. It uses lab-created, finely-milled sapphire particles for a subtly radiant finish without any hint of oiliness. Plus, as someone with a lot of texture on their skin, it does a brilliant job of blurring over uneven areas for a smooth finish.
Pros
- As glowy as a powder can be
- Pearly pigments add radiance
- Affordable
Cons
- Would love in a pressed version
8. NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder
A lot of this list is made up of loose powders, as I find them to be (in general) less cloying and cakey than a pressed powder. This pressed setting powder from NARS, however, is a delight. It uses photochromic technology to diffuse light so your skin looks bright all day long. Plus, it sets makeup in place and actually enhances its finish. Dry skin? It's infused with glycerin and vitamin E, so it won't cling to dry patches, either.
Pros
- Illuminating finish
- Great for drier skin types
- Non-cakey or drying
Cons
- The compact is teeny
9. MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish
One of the most versatile setting powders on the market, this slow-baked mineralised powder contains a subtle amount of pearlised pigments to create a soft, radiant finish on the skin. It can be used to set makeup, on bare skin to dial down oiliness, or to touch up during the day. The best thing about it, though, is that it's available in 15 versatile shades, so there's an option for every skin tone.
Pros
- 15 versatile shades
- Layers up well
- Nice natural finish
Cons
- Has been reformulated and not everyone loves it
10. Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder
While this setting powder was created to help "bake" your makeup—if you're not familiar with the practice, it involves letting a thick layer of powder sit over your foundation before dusting it off after a few minutes—I think it does a brilliant job when used the regular way, too. It lends skin a really smooth, velvety appearance while preserving makeup and keeping shiny patches locked down. There are nine shades, too—including one that's totally transparent.
Pros
- A real heavy-duty powder
- Smooths and perfect skin
- Improves longevity of make-up underneath
Cons
- It is a little heavier than other powders on the list
11. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder 8HA
Dry skin types often avoid powder because it can be understandably drying. By Terry has the solution in the form of this hyaluronic acid-infused powder, which sets makeup in place and smooths the appearance of skin without any hint of chalkiness or powderiness. Instead, you’re left with a soft and smooth yet shine-free complexion. Genius.
Pros
- Infused with hyaluronic acid
- Lightweight texture that melts into skin
- So featherlight
Cons
- Doesn’t last the longest
12. Refy Skin Finish
This loose powder from Refy is unique in the fact that it has a water-based formula and a somewhat 'wet' texture. Don't let that put you off, however, it's the perfect setting powder for absorbing excess oil while helping skin to maintain a subtly glowy finish.
Pros
- Hydrating texture
- Looks so natural on the skin
Cons
- Pot is a bit small and fiddly
13. Glossier Wowder
When you want skin to look matte but still skin-like, this powder never fails. It smooths and sets makeup without settling into fine lines or clinging to dry patches.
Pros
- Leaves skin looking like skin
- Not heavy in the slightest
- Nice range of skin tones
Cons
- Might need to touch up during the day if really oily/hot weather
This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.
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