Editor Tip: This drugstore buy can be patted onto your face to set base makeup in place and swept away with a large fluffy brush for a white cast-free finish.
Type: Loose | Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte
Frequently Asked Questions
What is setting powder?
Basically, 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,” New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin tells Allure. “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 poreless, 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 minimizing 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.
Our favorite setting sprays:
How to apply a setting powder
Even if you prefer dewy looks (courtesy of BB creams or skin tints) over ones with a matte finish, setting powder applied strategically — in the T-zone, for example — can absorb excess oil and keep products in place longer, according to Medhin. Both artists we spoke to agree that, whether you have oily skin or dry skin, the less-is-more approach is best when it comes to powders. “This gives you more control of the product,” Medhin says. “Place your brush in the powder, then tap it off until it looks like nothing is left on the brush, then keep applying until you get to your desired matte look.” Tommy adds face powder to the forehead, nose, chin, and sides of the mouth to “help to mitigate any excess shine or oil breakthrough that can lead to a porous look.”
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
