We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list. Don't be put off by the fact that there are only four shades to choose from; they all tout unique, color-adjusting pigments that blend in perfectly with your skin. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder, Reach for These 12 Finishing Powders for Beautiful-Looking Skin, Best for Dark Skin: But for a vegan mattifying option it does the job. It very affordable and is available in almost all pharmacies and supermarkets! If you're looking for serious staying power, Faller says you can even try adding a layer of powder in between primer and foundation. "It has a cooling sensation to it the minute it's applied, almost like a tall glass of water for your skin," says Hussein. I used the setting powder in Translucent, which was a good match for my fair/medium undertone, but there are two more colors for those with deeper tones.. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes. Makeup artist Kenyata Gant of Pink Lipps Cosmetics says setting powder should either match your skin tone or be colorless because if so, the setting powder wont show a white cast or a flashback after applying to the face. Allure. Coverage: Light | Shade Range: Medium to Medium Deep | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.21 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes. The packaging is beautiful and good quality! The OG of OGs, this has been a go-to for women sincewait for it1935. Completely sheer, the silky, barely-there powder does it all: It sets makeup, tamps down unwanted shine, and magically blurs away imperfections. The shade I received was fair/light which was a little light for me. The colour was a little light for my skin though. Coverage: Light | Shade Range: Ivory to Medium | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.31 oz. e.l.f. I definitely favored the ingredients of this more so than the Bobbi Brown setting powder, she says. I used a fluffy powder brush to sweep over my brows which I filled in with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and the color saturation stayed intact all day. What is translucent powder vs. setting powder? I loved this powder and the size of the compact was perfect to pop into a very small clutch! | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes. "Danessa Myricks Beauty is such an underrated brand, and their products work absolute wonders, including this setting powder. I enjoy that the product is vegan and cruelty free. Makeup artists rely on lots of tips and tricks that the rest of us simply aren't aware of (or, quite frankly, just couldn't replicate). Coverage: Buildable | Shade Range: Translucent Fair to Medium | Finish: Flawless, Natural | Size: 0.7 oz. Look for a setting powder that provides the coverage you need. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes. This setting powder was so subtle that I felt I had to apply multiple layers with my kabuki brush to actually notice any mattifying effect, St. Pierre says. Plus, the chic gold-tone packaging is a 10/10 and provides an ultra luxe look and feel. However, she did have a few mishaps with this setting powder. The applicator makes it easy to get the perfect amount of the luxe, fine-milled formula onto your brush. "It ticks all of the check marks I look for in a face powder: An undetectable translucent finish that controls shine and oil, as well as a non-comedogenic formula that won't congest my pores and cause acne.". Does it make your makeup water- and/or sweatproof. Nicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty. And while the coverage is light, it's still totally buildable should you prefer more. We think that this is the best way to apply it, but you do you! Quite literally the absolute antithesis of the chalky and skin-dulling powders of years past, this leaves behind the most gorgeous, glowy finish. "It's the closest thing I can get to a beauty filter IRL. Some setting powders are mineral-based, some are clean, while others are not. Regardless of the color you choose, you get the same soft and (true to the name) velvety formula. Choosing the correct shade for your setting powder will make all the difference to your finished result. It can also help absorb oil or prevent creasing. Melanie Rud is a Chicago-based writer with 10 years of experience covering beauty. Chances are you've probably owned this setting powder at least once in your life, and Daisy Hernandez, tester and former news editor for Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics, says you should definitely stock up on it again. She noted that this setting powder keeps makeup on "like glue" yet still gives your skin a natural look and feel. It did mattify well without looking dry or cakey so may use it for touch ups rather than initial application. I was lucky enough to receive a trial of this powder and I must say I was pretty impressed. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Check out the best drugstore setting powders below. The best setting powder, in our opinion, is the L'Oral Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Highlighting Face Powder. They usually come translucent and are a bit heavier, makeup artist Pamela Faller tells us. She says this setting powder is especially great if your makeup creates an oily sheen on your skin. Vegan and cruelty free certified. It doesnt mattify things too much, which I prefer in a powder as I still like my skin to have a natural finish. Though the setting powder didn't waterproof her makeup, she does say that it did a great job of mattifying her pores. Loved the colour of this powder - perfect for my skin tone! The purpose of setting powder is to help preserve your makeup and create a specific finish. Who else recommends it? finish.". | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No. I bought the Covergirl Clean Fresh Healthy Look Pressed Powder in colour Light pale (140) sometime last year but didn't really use it much until recently as I usually use a mineral loose powder foundation but I have been trying to finish up some liquid foundations this year and I always use a pressed powder over liquid foundation to "set" the look. I tend to use my own powder brush when using pressed foundation as I find it applies a lot more even. Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder, The 13 Best Pressed Powders for a Next Level Airbrushed Finish, Best for Medium Skin: The best part? Whether you prefer a loose powder, in which loose pigments are contained in a jar, or a pressed powder, which is patted down onto a smooth surface, this step is essential to long-wearing, flawless-looking makeup. As for foundation, it stayed in place well, too.". ATTENTION BEAUTIES: WE'RE LEAPING BUNNY APPROVED CRUELTY FREE BY CRUELTY FREE INTERNATIONAL. Would have been 5 stars but I felt it was a little too drying! Some setting powders provide pigment, which helps provide additional coverage or can be worn alone. I really liked this powder as it was lightweight and didnt feel heavy on my skin. This is an excellent powder for the price. Lakota Gambill, tester and former photographer at Hearst Magazines, says that this setting powder truly does it all. The container is quite sturdy, and has a mirror inside, which is handy when you need touch ups during the day! BLK/OPL True Color Soft Velvet Finishing Powder, Best for Olive Skin: Linder noted that this setting powder's mattifying effects don't necessarily last for long, and lasted for 90 minutes before having a greasy feel on her T-zone and sides of her nose, so she recommends taking it with you to reapply throughout the day, especially if your skin is on the oilier side of the complexion spectrum. Two, they have just a hint of luminosity to them, making skin look fresh and glowy, though not overly or unnaturally shimmery. It has good coverage, the powder is not as fine as I like, but not cakey as far as some pressed powders can be. As the largest makeup brand to be Leaping Bunny Certified by Cruelty Free International, all of our pretty powders are cruelty free. Though not in a cakey way honestly, it just felt light and natural.. Face powder is a classic piece of any makeup collection, perfect for helping oily skin look its best or for setting looks so they last through special events like weddings or prom. The perfect topper for any foundation, this formula delivers a wash of sheer color that blends in beautifully. | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: Yes. As with any powder it reduced the 'dewiness' but did help foundation stay out for longer. They're the choice for absorbing excess oil and sheen and are perfect to use as a quickie touch-up. When I first started using this powder I used a brush but changed my method to the puff as I felt it gave a better, more "pressed" matte look. IMAN Second to None Semi Loose Powder, The 7 Best Vegan, Cruelty-Free Setting Powders for Black and Brown Skin Tones, Best for Sensitive Skin: Probably! The effects lasted for a full 8-hour workday in humid and rainy weather, which is a serious feat.. I would like to see what it looks like over the Covergirl foundation . Check for fine-milled formulas that will not look gritty or obvious. Best For: all skin types; lighter skin tones. When I use blush, for instance, it normally tends to fade really quickly throughout the day, leaving my skin kind of sickly pale looking from whatever foundation Im wearing. It does set makeup, but this wouldnt be my go-to to set a full face of makeup for a night out since its quite minimal.. We just wish it came in more than two colors. I found the undertone for this was very pink and did not match my skin at all. According to Gant, a setting powders formulation also impacts your shade match. I find that the powder helps set the foundation and means that my makeup will last all day at work and into the evening. Big thanks to the Review crew for giving me the opportunity to try this out. If you have oilier skin, you may wish to look for one that is mattifying. I dont like the powder puff it came with, Id prefer it didnt come with anything to apply it, but if you touch up your powder throughout the day you may like it. On top of being totally transparent on her skin, Gambill was also surprised by how well this setting powder held her makeup during a particularly sweaty day of moving into her new home and says that it made her makeup look freshly applied through the strenuous 8-plus-hour ordeal.