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Have you ever felt the frustration that comes with taking your time to have your makeup done properly, only to have it wear off in a few hours? It is downright annoying! That’s why you need one of the top setting powders in 2024.
Setting powders are usually overlooked but are essential in ensuring that your makeup lasts for hours. If you're dissatisfied with the setting powder that you have, or you're looking to buy one for the first time, we've compiled a list of what we consider to be some of the leading setting powders on Amazon.
Comparing the Top Setting Powders of 2024 in Detail
IT Cosmetics Powder — Best Overall
Key Features
- Developed by plastic surgeons
- It is a universal shade
- Effective at making your pores disappear, smoothing away wrinkles, and giving you a shine-free look
- It contains peptides, antioxidants, and anti-aging properties
The IT cosmetics setting powder is a white translucent powder that provides full coverage for your foundation. It helps to set it in, giving it a smoother and more natural look.
Pros
- Fits all skin tones
- Has anti-aging properties
- Provides full coverage
Cons
- Can cause a mess when spilled
Sacha Buttercup Powder — Runner Up
Key Features
- Doesn’t cause makeup flashbacks but blends in perfectly on your skin
- Soft yellow color that has a smooth texture
- Long-lasting
- Non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic
The Sacha buttercup setting powder is a loose translucent powder used to set in concealers and foundations. This powder can be applied on all skin tones from light to medium to dark. It is silky smooth and provides full coverage.
Pros
- Brightens up your skin
- It is suitable for all skin tones, especially medium and dark
- Blurs fine lines and pores
Cons
- May not be suitable for all sensitive skin, so try sparingly first
NYX Professional Powder — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- This product is translucent and leaves a neutral finish
- Certified by PETA as safe and animal cruelty-free
- Made from 100% pure mineral silica that absorbs oil and sets your makeup perfectly
- When worn alone without foundation, it creates a blurred matte finish
The NYX HD studio setting powder is a professional setting and finishing powder that provides full coverage for your foundations and concealers. It is formulated for studio use and provides a radiant finish for your face.
Pros
- Ultra-sheer finish
- Great for all skin tones
- Can be used with or without foundations and concealers
- It complements your foundation radiantly
Cons
- Too much of it could create flashbacks on your face
Black Radiance Powder — Most Convenient
Key Features
- Blends effortlessly on your skin without leaving ashy makeup flashbacks
- Can be used to set in all liquid cosmetics, such as concealer, foundation, and highlighter
- Designed specially to meet the needs of women of color with darker skin tones
- Provides a matte finish on your skin
The Black Radiance setting powder is specially formulated for darker skin tones and provides full and smooth coverage for your face; it also helps to set in your foundation and create a smooth finish.
Pros
- Available in multiple shades
- Loose setting powder, so it won’t weigh you down
- Shine-free finish
- Silky smooth and blends properly
Cons
- It is only suitable for deeper skin tones
Dermablend Setting Powder — Also Consider
Key Features
- Ultra-sheer and provides a silky smooth finish
- Can be used for baking and setting your foundation
- Suitable for all skin tones
- Fragrance-free, lightweight, and suitable for both oily and dry skin
The Dermablend Professional setting powder is translucent and can be used on all skin tones. This powder blends in perfectly with all liquid make-up formulas such as concealers and foundations.
Pros
- Great for all skin types
- Meets dermatologist standards
- Can last up to 16 hours
Cons
- Might be a little too pricey
How to Find a High-Quality Setting Powder: A Buyer's Guide
True beauty enthusiasts know that setting powder is the glue to hold all your makeup in place. Whether you use a foundation made by the gods, and every other product approved by Hera herself, without a great setting powder to properly "lock in" your foundation, your carefully done makeup could fall apart in a matter of hours.
That’s why we’ve made this buying guide, so you can get all the must-have information needed to help you buy one of the top setting powders of 2024.
What Is the Difference Between a Setting Powder and a Finishing Powder?
A setting powder is used on your foundation when it is still damp to lock it in and make it last longer. This powder is applied with a damp beauty blender to help it seep into the skin and blend perfectly with your skin tone.
The finishing powder comes last, as it is the final piece in the puzzle before applying your setting spray. The finishing powder helps to even out all the colors on your face, giving it a more natural dewy look.
How Do I Choose the Right Setting Powder?
Foundation shade
The shade of your foundation determines the type of setting powder you should buy. When buying a setting powder, you need to ensure that you get a similar shade or a shade lighter than your foundation so that when you apply it, it will look natural and blend nicely onto your face. The right setting powder for you is one that matches the shade of your foundation and your skin tone.
Ingredients
When buying the perfect setting powder, you must take a look at the ingredients list. You need to do this to be sure that you're not getting a product that would not only bring bad juju to your makeup routine but could also lead to various skin problems. You definitely don't want that!
Ingredients such as rice or corn starch absorb oil and help set your foundation. Other essential ingredients to look out for are minerals such as zinc, silica, magnesium, and iron oxide. These minerals are gentle and suitable for all types of skin and may even brighten your complexion.
If you have oily skin, then setting powders with talc may be a hit or miss. If your skin is prone to creasing and caking when you apply makeup, you may want to go for a talc-free powder. Some setting powders contain light-diffusing ingredients such as Mica, trimethylol, and others.
What Are the Different Types of Setting Powders?
Loose setting powder
These are the most popular powder among professional makeup artists. Loose powders can be translucent (without any color) or may contain a small hint of color. But, this type of powder has a friendly relationship with your foundation. The loose setting powder doesn’t build up on the skin when applied, nor does it create a heavy, caked look. This powder is fine and smooth, making it very light and easily brushed off if too much is applied.
However, the loose setting powder is quite messy because of its texture. It is not the sort of powder you put in your purse for a quick hang out session with friends or a date. If the cover comes loose by any chance, then it’s going to rain setting powder everywhere in your purse, and you don’t want that!
Pressed setting powder
The one visible advantage that the pressed setting powder has over loose powder is that it is not messy at all and is compact enough to be carried anywhere. This means that you can quickly do a touch-up on your face anywhere and anytime.
The pressed setting powder has a wide variety of shades to choose from. When choosing the perfect pressed setting powder, ensure that the shade you choose is close to your foundation color. Also, when applying, apply sparingly until you get your desired look.
As the beauty evolves, you can now use multi-toned pressed powder to create a contrast on your face. It has been proven by beauticians that a one-toned powder could make your face look flat and pasty. Since not all the skin on the face is colored the same, a multi-toned pressed powder could highlight and give your face a more natural look.
How Do I Use a Setting Powder?
Setting powder is one makeup item that is overlooked but is vital to how your makeup will turn out and how long it’ll last. So, the question is, when do you use a setting powder?
Apply your primer and foundation. While your foundation is still wet on your face, apply the setting powder using a damp beauty sponge. The application process is pretty straightforward. For a dewy, natural look, a light layer should be applied. For a more professional and artistic look, a thicker layer can be applied.
The setting powder should be applied before you put on highlighters and contours. After applying with a damp makeup sponge, blend, blend, blend. Wait for a few minutes and lightly remove excess powder with a fluffy makeup brush, and voila! Your face is on its way to giving the red carpet queens a run for their money.
How Do I Apply a Setting Powder on Oily Skin?
Setting powders help to “set” your makeup, making it last longer and look more natural. Oily-skinned people usually have an extra shine around the T-zone area of their face. Setting powder is best applied after your foundation, to help lock it in.
Don’t use a brush to apply this powder on your face, especially on the T-zone. A damp beauty blender is the best tool to use, as it helps your skin absorb and evenly spread the setting powder, giving your face a matte finish and not irritating your oily skin.
How Do I Apply Setting Powder on Dry Skin?
The whole idea behind using a setting powder is to absorb excess oils on the face and remove shine. If you already have dry skin, you may make your skin even drier if you use the wrong setting powder.
To avoid having your skin dry out even more, you’ll need to use a setting powder for dry skin, as it will have hydrating properties. You may want to consider using a hydrating setting powder with hyaluronic acid or any other moisturizing properties. Also, consider adding a setting spray to your makeup arsenal, as it would give it a natural shine.
How Much Does a Setting Powder Cost?
The price of a setting powder varies according to the brand and quality. You can get a decent setting powder between the range of $10-$20. The more high-end ones could cost you anywhere between $50-$200.
