Setting powder does one job: it takes the slip and shine out of liquid makeup so it stays put. The differences are finish, texture and how much color it adds.
By Sawyer V. · Published September 10, 2026 · Last updated September 10, 2026
The short answer
A setting powder sets liquid foundation and concealer and controls shine. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is the classic matte loose powder, RCMA No-Color Powder is a two-ingredient powder, e.l.f. Halo Glow gives a soft-focus glow, and Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Flattery comes in matte shades. Use a little, pressed in where you crease or shine.
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How We Picked
We chose loose and pressed powders across finishes, recording each one's format, finish and key ingredients from the brand or a major retailer. We have not tested any of these.
Everyone in this category says they tested twenty of these. We have not tested any, and we say so. What we did instead: compiled the published concentrations and ingredient lists, checked each claim against what the formula can actually support, and wrote down who each product is wrong for. The full method is published so you can check it.
Loose vs Pressed, Matte vs Glow
Loose powder
Pressed powder
Texture
Fine and airy
Compact
Best for
Setting at home, under the eyes
Touch-ups on the go
Mess
More
Less
On this page
Laura Mercier, RCMA, e.l.f., Estée Lauder
Charlotte Tilbury
Finish matters more than format. Matte powders suit oily skin and long days; glow or soft-focus powders suit dry and mature skin, which can look dry under a flat matte layer. Translucent powders add little color, but on deeper skin tones some can look ashy — a tinted or shade-matched powder avoids that.
How to Use Setting Powder
Apply liquid makeup first and give it a minute to settle.
Use a little, tapping the excess off your brush or puff.
Press rather than sweep on the areas that crease or shine — under the eyes, around the nose, the forehead.
Finish with a setting spray if you want a less powdery look — see setting sprays.
If your makeup slides off before lunch, the fix may start earlier, with a primer. If your skin is very dry, powder only where you need it and let the rest of your face keep its natural finish.
1 — The classic matte loose powder
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
What’s in it
Matte finish
Talc as the first ingredient
Sold in four shades
A matte loose powder that sets makeup without adding much color — the benchmark most others are measured against.
Who it’s not for
Very dry skin, and anyone avoiding talc — the brand sells a separate talc-free version.
When makeup slips or shines, it is tempting to press powder over everything, thickly. Heavy powder settles into lines and texture, can look flat and dry on dry or mature skin, and translucent powders can leave a pale cast on deeper skin tones. Use a small amount only where you crease or shine, and let the rest of your face keep its natural finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if your makeup creases, shines or slides. Many people skip it with a tinted moisturizer.
Loose for setting at home, pressed for touch-ups during the day.
Some can look ashy on deeper skin tones. A tinted or shade-matched powder avoids that.
Not if you use a little, only where needed, and choose a glow finish.
Many do, because it absorbs moisture and prevents caking. Talc-free options exist if you prefer to avoid it.
By Sawyer V.. An enthusiast who’s genuinely into this: I read the manufacturer documentation, compile the published percentages, and do the arithmetic. No lab coat.
What I don’t do: test products, accept free product, or accept payment for placement. I hold no clinical credential and don’t claim one. How we pick.
Published September 10, 2026 · Last updated September 10, 2026
