Best Setting Powders 2023 For A Flawless Finish

Best for: Even skin tone

With micro-refined silica and light-reflecting particles, this setting powder gives a sheer matte finish with a healthy lit-from-within glow. Expect a shine-free complexion with zero dullness, caking or settling into fine lines, plus it will set your makeup for up to 12 hours. Press the puff into the powder, tap away the excess and firmly place it over your skin in rollings motion for evenly blended coverage. 

The hype: “This feels like air on your skin and it’s super blendable, so you can pile it on without worrying about it looking cakey. It also smooths out your skin and blurs your little fine lines.” - Cosmopolitan 

Best for: Oily skin

The ultimate T-zone mattifier, this loose setting powder will absorb excess oil, blend seamlessly into makeup and grant a long-lasting immaculate finish. How? Following Huda’s step-by-step guide you apply a generous amount of powder to your under the eye, T-zone, laugh lines, outer corners of the mouth, and chin - leave this to settle for three to five minutes, then dust away the excess. The refined pigments and silky smooth texture will blend seamlessly into your makeup creating an even luminous finish. 

The hype: “Well this is a game changer! Love love love. Sits in the skin perfectly. I have dry skin and it doesn’t leave me looking flakey or powdery.” - Ashley, customer review

Best for: Touch-ups

There’s a reason one of these sells every minute and it might just be down to the cashmere feel. This finishing powder sweeps across skin as soft as velvet, lending extra coverage for problem areas and touch-ups and a stay-in-place hold for your whole complexion. Packed with soft-focus nanoparticles, it works its magic without any product sitting in fine lines and the compact formula makes it an on-the-go essential for literally millions of women. This powder is their secret to a shine-free look all day. 

The hype: “I’m so happy this is part of my everyday makeup. It sets your makeup perfectly and especially leaves your under eyes smooth. It really does give you that airbrush finish - truly magical, I’m so impressed!” - Noshin, customer review

Best for: Illuminating and colour-correcting

Pairing four shades of flattering neutrals into every palette, a natural luminous finish is yours whatever your skin tone. Every contour is defined, highlight accented and imperfection blurred - basically it’s a cult-favourite for good reason. For an all over matte finish and to set your makeup, pick up all the shades on your brush and buff evenly over your complexion, then for areas that need a boost of radiance or err on the oily side, simply apply a little more. 

The hype: “The best finishing powder ever! It really gives the perfect matte highlighting on my skin and covers dullness. If there were any product I could fill my bedroom with, it's gonna be this!” - Muzi, customer review

Best for: Lightweight feel

Specifically designed to dispense just the right amount of product to apply to your face, you can avoid that talcum powder look for good. It’s actually completely talc-free and with a translucent formula, it’s ready to create a flawless finish on every skin tone. Using a tapered makeup brush, lightly dust the powder over your complexion and finish with a few swipes under the eyes. The result: Pores, fine lines and imperfections vanished, and an airbrushed finish in their wake. 

The hype: “This powder gives a beautiful dewy finish. It’s very light on the face, looks fab and lasts forever. My holy grail powder” - Kasia, customer review