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The best setting powders to keep your makeup in place during heatwaves and sweaty commutes
Lock your makeup in place with these expert-tested setting powders
Tested by Orla BadgerFormer Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester
If you’re used to leaving the house with a full face of makeup, only to find it’s disappeared by the time you’ve reached your destination, you’re not alone. But, for a look that lasts, the best setting powders could be your saving grace.
Most setting powders are translucent, which means they won’t add any coverage or pigment to the skin. Some do offer shades to suit different skin tones, but their main function is – as the name suggests – to set your makeup to increase longevity, mattify skin, and absorb any excess oil.
The best setting powders
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To help you find the best setting powder to add to your makeup bag, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute recruited a panel of over 100 testers to assess their staying power all day, every day. You'll find a detailed breakdown of how we test below our reviews.
Score: 95/100
Testers loved this lightweight and luxurious setting powder from Hourglass. They said it left them with a luminous glow, rather than making their makeup look cakey and dry.
This is thanks to the powder’s soft-focus, light-reflecting particles, which work to blur any imperfections and minimise the appearance of pores. The product is also dispensed through a branded ‘H’ – a nice touch.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Score: 94/100
With one sold every 20 seconds according to the brand, it’s no surprise that Laura Mercier’s setting powder was a hit with our panel. It felt comfortable on the skin and was easy to apply, giving our testers a noticeable soft-focus finish.
The skin-friendly formula contains antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, which work to help even out the complexion. The finely milled powder helps to absorb excess oil and allows the product to melt into the skin undetected.
Everyone said they were pleased with the pay-off from this product – it could be used sparingly and still gave the desired finish – and they loved the “simple and elegant” packaging. The weightless formula layers well with other makeup, and according to all of our testers, makes it last longer too.
Score: 87/100
If you have oily skin, or prefer a matte finish to your foundation, then this pressed powder from Maybelline is a great choice. Its lightweight formula helps create a natural-looking finish, which our testers said lasted all day. The powder also eliminates any unwanted shine and minimises the appearance of pores.
The handy compact also includes a mirror and sponge applicator, making it a good pick for on-the-go touch-ups throughout the day. At under £8, this budget-friendly option will leave you with a soft-focus effect that’s even gentler on your purse strings.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Translucent Powder
Score: 81/100
IT Cosmetics has taken the airbrush effect and captured it in a compact. Not only will this setting powder leave your skin looking good, but it will also make it feel good, thanks to the product's skin-enhancing list of ingredients. This includes a blend of peptides and collagen – proteins that play a key role in smoothing fine lines and improving skin elasticity – as well as antioxidants that help deliver a dose of hydration and soothe the skin.
The compact is perfect for on-the-go for touch-ups, although all our testers found they didn’t actually need to reapply throughout the day. It kept any oiliness under control, and left testers with a blurred, smooth appearance, with one panellist praising the lack of white cast.
Score: 75/100
Anything water-based is a saving grace for those with dryer skin types, and not only does this powder have a high-water content, but it also has added glycerine and caprylyl glycol – humectants that help draw in moisture from the air and lock it into the skin. The loose powder particles also work to absorb any excess oil and create a smooth finish.
The product comes in two shades to target different undertones – 01 is better suited to those with a warmer, yellow undertone, while 02 is for those with a pink or cool undertone. Our testers said it offered good coverage and didn’t get stuck in any creases. Result.
Score: 74/100
By Terry also puts skincare first with this pressed powder, which is enriched with eight (!) types of hyaluronic acid. The different-sized molecules work to lock in moisture, leaving your skin looking radiant and hydrated. The powder also comes with a handy sponge applicator, for ease of application.
The result? A natural, matte-but-radiant finish that will keep your makeup in place all day. But don’t just take our word for it – all our testers agreed that it helped control oils from morning till night and made their makeup last longer.
Editors' picks
As the name suggests, this pressed powder from makeup maverick Charlotte Tilbury leaves your skin looking flawless and blurred – straight off an early 2000s magazine cover!
The soft-focus micro powders lock in foundation underneath and absorb any excess oil that causes unwanted shine. Hydrating and softening rose wax and omega-3 rich almond oil work to treat your actual skin, too.
When you undoubtedly hit the pan on this fine setting powder, you can also buy a refill to pop in. Our lifestyle writer, Madeleine, encourages having one to hand, so you’re not caught off guard on one of the hottest days of the year.
We love the Double Wear Foundation, and now we love the accompanying setting powder, too. Like the face base, it’s definitely one for those who prefer a full-coverage look.
Packed into this luxurious pot is a fine, lightweight powder that sets your makeup in place and stops any shine creeping in throughout the day. It’s one for those who prefer a matte finish to their makeup.
How we test setting powders
The Good Housekeeping Institute recruited a panel of over 100 at-home testers to test out a range of market-leading setting powders over a minimum of two weeks.
We asked them to give us detailed feedback on a range of factors, including ease of application, blendability, how well the product sat on the skin, its staying power and the overall look on the skin.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
We’ve been testing products here for over 100 years – from the best fake tans to the best hairdryers – so we know a thing or two about what to look for in a reliable beauty buy.
With cosmetic science degrees and extensive industry experience to rely on, our beauty testers are experts in the field. They ensure that all products are tested against strict protocols in the lab, and work with our panel of at-home testers to gather real-world feedback on how products perform, day in, day out.
Does setting powder really work?
Setting powders are a great option for locking in your makeup for the day and keeping shine under control, but don’t just take our word for it – we spoke to makeup artist Aimee Connolly about whether they really work.
“Yes, absolutely!” she says. “The majority of customers are looking for a dewy, natural finish and some are afraid of using setting powder for fear of their skin looking too dry. But fear not, there’s lots of ways to use powder to reduce shine and make sure your makeup lasts all day without compromising on the glow. Setting powders work wonders for keeping makeup in place and smoothing out skin texture, but the placement is everything.
"Dusting powder into the T-zone and areas that are more prone to shine, such as the centre of the forehead, smile lines and chin, will allow your makeup to look its very best all day."
How do I choose a good setting powder?
This will depend on your skin type. Powders have a bad rep with those who have dry skin, as their main function is to absorb moisture from the face, which can mean the product clings to dryer areas. But it's all about the formulation and how you use it.
“For on-the-go touch-ups, a pressed setting powder is a handbag-essential of mine,” says Connolly. “It’s less messy than a loose powder and works perfectly for a quick fix to add coverage and minimise shine throughout the day. As a more densely packed formula, I would suggest pressed powders for those looking for oil control.
“Loose powder is usually a more sheer, velvety formula, which works wonders for blurring, shine control and adding radiance. Some people like loose powders for baking, a technique used to smooth the skin, involving applying large amounts of powder and leaving them to sit on the skin before dusting away.
“I tend to steer clear of this technique as it can lead to creasing and a cakey look. As a lighter option, I would recommend lightly applying a soft-focus loose powder for dry or mature skin to promote that ‘glow from within’.”
How do I apply setting powder?
Setting powder should be the final step in your makeup routine, to help hold your look in place. Once you’ve applied your base, blush, highlighter etc., it’s time for the setting powder to step in and solidify the look.
Take a brush – we’d advise using a large, fluffy one – and dip it into your loose or pressed powder. Tap the brush on the side to remove any excess and start by applying it to the oiliest part of the face, which tends to be the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin), before moving onto any other areas you think you need a little mattifying.
Allow the powder to sit for a minute or two, so it has a chance to really set into your face and absorb those oils. Then take another clean brush to dust off any excess, and voila, your makeup is set.
The verdict on the best setting powders
Our winner, the Hourglass Veil Transluscent Setting Powder, was a favourite among testers for its illuminating properties, which set their makeup in place all day without looking cakey.
Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder has had a cult-following for years thanks to its ability to extend the lifeline of your makeup throughout the day. Our testers loved how it layered with other cosmetics, such as highlighter and blush, too.
An effective setting powder doesn’t need to break the bank either, as Maybelline’s Fit Me setting powder was named best in test for mattifying, and is under £10.
Madeleine is our Lifestyle Writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and round-ups on the latest beauty Beauty and Health & Wellness products. From skincare to protein powders, Maddie is committed to providing honest and helpful reviews to help guide readers to the best product for them. Maddie has a BA in English Literature and Language, which stemmed from her lifelong interest in reading and writing. She started her post graduate life at Hearst UK within a marketing capacity, which quickly turned into a desire to fulfil a writing career.
When she is not writing about the latest expert reviewed products, you can find her rifling through vintage shops or car boots, reading a print magazine, or capturing portraits on her film camera.
Orla was our Former Senior Beauty and Grooming Tester.
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