14 Best Setting Powders 2025: Best Setting Powders Reviewed By Vogue Editors
Make-up melting down your face? It’s time to invest in a good setting powder. But the best setting powders don’t just hold your make-up in place – they can smooth texture, conceal breakouts and prevent excess shine from creeping in.
Vogue’s best setting powder shortlist
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Whether you like a loose powder that can be buffed in with your best make-up brush, or are more inclined to compacts that can take down shine on the go, you’re in luck. We’ve tested all the hyped formulas to find you the best setting powders available in 2025. More on that below.
In this article:
How we chose the best setting powders
Every setting powder in our round-up is tried and tested and comes recommended by our editors for their blurring, brightening and oil-controlling properties. We put popular formulas through their paces by testing them over several hours of wear, noting their initial finish and feel on the skin, as well as how they held up in hot weather. Only the setting powders that were long-lasting and comfortable with a cake-free, natural finish made our list.
Below, Vogue rounds up the best setting powders to help you get the most out of your make-up.
Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
Pat McGrath Labs
Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
- Why we love it: A swish of this setting powder will leave skin glowy and radiant, while getting rid of any unwanted shine. It feels delicate and imparts a soft-focus veil over skin thanks to amino acid pigments that work with your skin, rather than against it. Best of all, it’s made with micro-fine pigments that can layer without looking cakey and (designed for the runway) guarantee a finish that won’t flashback in photos.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: Anyone who has tried Pat McGrath’s make-up formulas will be familiar with the brand’s superior textures. For this product, that’s a velvety powder that doesn’t feel like a powder at all – it’s incredibly fine and buttery on the skin,” says Tracy Achonwa, Vogue beauty writer. “The result is the kind of mesmerising skin finish that McGrath has broken the internet with again and again – think impossibly smooth, with a suggestion of luminosity that will have people lining up to ask you what is on your skin. As for it’s setting power, it is as excellent as you might expect from a make-up artist of Pat’s calibre, locking make-up in place but while still being flexible enough not to cause unsightly creases. If you’re after an elegant, long-wearing formula that gives make-up a professional-looking finish, this is the setting powder I’d recommend.”
Pros
- lightweight
- wide shade range that caters to the deepest skin tones
- zero flashback
- extremely smoothing
Cons
- it’s pricey, but worth the spend
Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
Saie
Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder
- Why we love it: Here, Saie Beauty presents its unique cream-powder formula, full of complexion-caring ingredients, that will set make-up in place without any cakiness.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: “This is the powder to reach for if you want to extend the wear of your make-up, but still want a lit-from-within look. Milled with squalane, it is actually a novel formula that includes a trademarked aerated cream – and when I wear it, I can both feel and see the difference that technology makes. It helps to hydrate drier patches on my skin while still setting make-up in place, and when I’m finished powdering, there is none of that tell-tale chalkiness that powders can sometimes leave. In fact, thanks to mica in the blend, it leaves behind a subtle radiance. Pro tip: apply it in tapping motions with a fan brush (I use and recommend Danessa Myricks x Mykitco’s M7 shaper brush) and you’ll get the most out of the weightless formula.” – Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer
Pros
- preserves dewy glow
- hydrates skin with squalane
Cons
- best for dry skin that does not need extensive shine control
Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Laura Mercier
Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Why we love it: Much like the OG formula that came before it, Laura Mercier’s latest powder locks make-up under a lightweight, flawless veil. This iteration, however, has been made talc-free and boasts an ultra-blurring infusion of amino acid and silica powders that doesn’t crease or cake. Proof that cult classics are hard to beat, it’s the setting powder of choice for those who need their glam to last.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: “Of all the many setting powders and sprays that have made their way into my make-up bag over the years, Laura Mercier’s is the one I keep coming back to. It’s feather-light on the skin and really does absorb oil all day long, as several wear tests I’ve conducted prove. What makes it so exceptional is the finely-milled formula, which doesn’t amplify texture – it lays incredibly smoothly on top of other products, without a cakey finish. Every shade in the range is the perfect combo of skin-similar pigment and transparency, meaning it looks just as good on me as it has on my lighter and darker make-up clients.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer
Pros
- controls shine for up to 16 hours
- infused with skincare
- is talc-free
Cons
- powder puff is sold separately
Jones Road Setting Powder
Jones Road
Pink Tinted Setting Powder
- Why we love it: For all their virtues, even the best-setting powders can leave you looking a little flat. Enter this rose-tinted creation from Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road, which brings life back to the face with a wash of sheer coverage. Perfect for keeping dewy cream blushes exactly where you put them, it also controls oil and shine for added longevity.
- Pros: brings healthy colour back to the face | keeps shine under control | gives staying power to cream blush products | available in several shades
- Cons: not the best for full face use, unless you like a tickled pink look
Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
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Hourglass
Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
- Why we love it: Hourglass’s sleek pressed powder is the perfect companion for your handbag, coming in a chic compact that’s complete with a blotting sponge. A typically refined offering from the brand best known for its stellar complexion products, this powder comes in five translucent shades to suit all skin tones. As for its oil control, it mattifies without leaving an unnatural finish and is a great choice for quick touch-ups throughout the day.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: “Velvety to the touch, this powder doesn’t sit on the skin, but almost seems to flex with it, meaning it doesn’t cake over texture or settle into fine lines. I’ve found the deep shades to have the perfect combination of rich pigment and translucency, so I’ve taken to using them to set the perimeter of my face – they bring back dimension and sculpt subtly without an overbearing, shimmery bronzer look.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer
- Pros: travel-friendly | uses microspherical powders for a smooth finish | the compact includes a mirror
- Cons: on the expensive side | the sponge is great for blotting, but you’ll need to invest in a make-up brush to set the rest of your face
Read more: The Best Setting Sprays For A Base That Stays Put All Summer
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder
Chanel
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder
- Why we love it: A glow isn’t the first thing you’d usually associate with powder, but Chanel has somehow created a formula that reduces shine while retaining radiance. Natural-looking, flattering, and best for when you need to add a subtle hint of warmth to a pale complexion.
Pros
- natural finish
- adds a slight bronzy glow
- brush included
Cons
- very sheer – best for non-oily skin types
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Powder
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Brightening Powder
- Why we love it: If you favour a bright under-eye, this microfine pressed powder from Charlotte Tilbury is the setting powder for you. Swept over concealer, it forms a smooth and brightening veil that immediately banishes eye bags and dark circles. It’s also great for brightening discolouration anywhere on the face, as well as reverse contouring for a sculpted, lifted look.
Pros
- smooths texture and lines under the eye
- immediately brightens dark circles and shadows
- soft texture that feels comfortable on the skin
- sustainable packaging that is refillable
Cons
Morphe Bake & Set Setting Powder
Morphe
Bake & Set Setting Powder
- Why we love it: An excellent choice for setting your make-up without straining your budget, Morphe’s powder works just as well as its pricier counterparts. Calling on mica, silicones and dimethicone polymers, it fixes make-up in place for up to 16 hours, creating a barrier that doesn’t budge even when oils start to seep through. There are four flashback-free shades in the range, including a brightening pink that’s a game-changer for correcting dark circles on fair skin tones.
Pros
Cons
- the stopper-less lid can dispense too much powder at times – ensure it’s stored upright
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder
- Why we love it: Buttery soft and super smooth, Charlotte Tilbury’s powder is made with rose wax and almond oil which effortlessly glide onto skin. Milled with pearlescent pigments that reflect light, it also gives a brightened, airbrushed look wherever it’s applied. We love it as a finishing layer for under-eye concealer – it sets comfortably without creasing to give a flawless, filter-like finish.
Pros
- blurs texture for an airbrushed complexion
- brightens dull skin
- feels imperceptible
Cons
- contains oil so may become more glowy throughout the day
Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Blotting Powder
Fenty Beauty
Invisimatte Blotting Powder
- Why we love it: Consider this a must-have for midday make-up meltdowns. Housed in a sleek mirrored compact that’s easily stashed in your purse, Fenty’s powder takes down shine with an invisible talc-free formula. Bonus points for the handy blotting sponge and sustainable case, which you can buy refills for once you hit the pan.
Pros
- transparent finish works on all skin tones and can be used to blot lipstick without adding pigment
- perfect for on-the-go touch ups
Cons
- sponge needs some finessing to fit the under-eye area, but is great for setting around the face
Glossier Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder
Glossier
Wowder Weightless Finishing Powder
- Why we love it: Since Glossier is a brand dedicated to dewy skin, the launch of Wowder was somewhat unexpected. The loose, light-reflecting powder won’t leave you without a glow, though – it’s designed to set make-up whilst maintaining a radiant complexion.
Pros
- mattifies without flattening the complexion
- is lightweight & buildable
Cons
- dispensing powder is tricky with the cushion packaging
M.A.C Mineralise Skin Finish
MAC
M.A.C Mineralise Skin Finish
- Why we love it: This classic pick from M.A.C. has subtle pearl pigments baked into its formula, which impart a luminous skin-like finish. As well as locking in your foundation, the vast range of shades available can also be called upon to bronze your look. Pro tip: buy a shade darker than your skin tone match, and you’ll have the perfect finishing powder for correcting any ashy complexion products. You’re welcome.
Pros
- weightless soft-touch formula
- tinted pigments for a healthy wash of colour
- does not accentuate lines on mature skin
- unifies make-up and helps it stay put for longer
- is not overly powdery or mattifying
Cons
- take care – the superfine baked formula can crumble easily when dropped
Givenchy Prisme Libre 4 in 1 Loose Powder
Givenchy
Prisme Libre 4 in 1 Loose Powder
- Why we love it: More than just a pretty face, Givenchy’s chic quad works hard to blur texture, control oil, and colour correct the complexion. Coming in six shades for every skin tone, each houses four hues of velvety powder that set and brighten for a luxurious, luminous finish.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: “Don’t be intimidated by Givenchy’s multicoloured quad – each hue works in harmony to cancel out discolouration, producing a bright and unified skin tone. What’s more, it’s made with micronised powders that feel imperceptible on the skin and give your make-up a filter-like effect. The fact that it looks gorgeous both on the skin and on your vanity – is only a plus.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer
Pros
- non-comedogenic
- feels soft and airy on the face
- evens skin with balancing, blurring and brightening pigments
- contains a copolymer complex that absorbs excess oil
Cons
By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder
- Why we love it: You can both smooth skin or lock your make-up in place with this translucent powder from By Terry. Containing hyaluronic acid microspheres, it’s designed to plump lines and iron out pores for a more even complexion. A great setting powder for mature skin, it feels comfortable on the face and improves the appearance of texture thanks to the weightless formula that sets and smooths without looking overdone.
Pros
- attracts moisture to the skin
- hyaluronic acid in the formula helps it to blend seamlessly on skin as opposed to sitting on top of make-up
Cons
- super fine-particle formula is so lightweight that it often escapes in a cloud on opening the jar
FAQs
What is the best setting powder?
With the advent of “glass skin” and our general preoccupation with looking dewy at all times, powder has fallen by the wayside. However, powder formulas have advanced at a rate of knots in recent years. By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder is infused with skincare-favourite hyaluronic acid. The HA microspheres attract water and so help to “blur” and “fill” imperfections, without looking ashy or settling into creases. It’s gossamer-light, so don’t be perturbed by the opaque white colour, as it settles to a soft-focus effect on all skin tones.
What is better: loose or pressed setting powder?
It depends on what you are looking for and where you’re applying it. Make-up artist India Excell prefers to use loose powders to set the make-up and then press under the eyes and on the T-zone to help blur pores and texture. “I would opt for loose powder when wanting a more natural finish,” she says. “But I would wear pressed powder in the evenings when going out, usually on the areas that I have more texture, like under the eyes and on the forehead. I also always take a pressed powder out with me for touch-ups.” Make-up brushes play an important role here. Excell recommends using a fluffy brush for loose powder and then a smaller brush for the pressed powder to enable more precision.
Is translucent powder the same as setting powder?
The short answer is yes, and of course, the “go big or go home” option is surely Laura Mercier’s Loose Powder. A brand already beloved by make-up artists for its classic translucent setting powders, this product sits somewhere between the original formula and a highlighter. Infused with pearl pigments and micro-refined silica, it offers an incredibly light-reflecting finish that still grips onto make-up for dear life.
Laura Mercier
Ultra Blur Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Why we love it: Much like the OG formula that came before it, Laura Mercier’s latest powder locks make-up under a lightweight, flawless veil. This iteration, however, has been made talc-free and boasts an ultra-blurring infusion of amino acid and silica powders that doesn’t crease or cake. Proof that cult classics are hard to beat, it’s the setting powder of choice for those who need their glam to last.
- The Vogue editor’s verdict: “Of all the many setting powders and sprays that have made their way into my make-up bag over the years, Laura Mercier’s is the one I keep coming back to. It’s feather-light on the skin and really does absorb oil all day long, as several wear tests I’ve conducted prove. What makes it so exceptional is the finely-milled formula, which doesn’t amplify texture – it lays incredibly smoothly on top of other products, without a cakey finish. Every shade in the range is the perfect combo of skin-similar pigment and transparency, meaning it looks just as good on me as it has on my lighter and darker make-up clients.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer
Pros
- controls shine for up to 16 hours
- infused with skincare
- is talc-free
Cons
- powder puff is sold separately
Aside from the additions of microspheres and luxurious-sounding crushed gem particles, one thing that makes 2025’s powders better is the notable absence of talcum powder. Apart from the health concerns around its inclusion, many cosmetic chemists have chosen to remove it from their products altogether, as it can lead to a chalky finish. In the ’90s, super-matte was considered chic, but now that dewy skin is in, talc is fast becoming a thing of the past. Instead, additions like silk, peptides and collagens (like the hydrating and firming complex found in It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder) offer a healthier-looking fix that still helps tackle shine.
Read more: The Best Foundations For Every Skin Type, Tested By Vogue
Do you use setting powder all over your face?
As the name suggests, setting powder is used to set your make-up, but it’s in no way limited to just the base. It can be used to control shine on bare skin, set your concealer, your eyelid to prep it for eyeshadow and even on top of your lipstick. In fact, a slew of recent lip products demonstrates the power of the setting powder revolution. Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet gives a featherweight wash of colour over the lips with a finish that resembles the effect created by that classic make-up artist trick: blotting a richly pigmented lipstick, while MAC Powder Kiss lipsticks also offer a softly diffused, just-been-kissed look.
Blurring but not masking, hydrating but not greasy, and shine-controlling while still offering a healthy glow, powder can finally sit in that sweet spot between functional and fun. And remember, when it comes to powder – if in doubt, buff it out.