Shop Setting Powder

Put the perfect finishing touch on your makeup with a setting powder. Designed to be applied as the final step after foundation, setting powders can help your makeup last longer and look more flawless. 

Pressed or loose, tinted or transparent, there’s a makeup setting powder to suit every need. Read on to find some of our favourites.

Our favourite setting powders

Best setting powders for oily skin

For the oily-skinned amongst us, setting powders can be an essential step in our makeup routines. They help lock makeup in place, while absorbing excess oil and cutting down on shine. 

For undetectable oil control, there’s MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra HD Setting Powder. Designed to be even high-definition camera friendly, it provides up to 12 hours of shine-free wear, and helps keep makeup in place for up to 24 hours. Even better, it’s available in 15 shades to suit a wide range of skin tones. We took it for a road test on oily/combination skin to see if it stacked up to a certain global best seller, and - spoiler alert - it did.

We also love Innisfree’s Matte Mineral Setting Powder. Made with mint extract and Jeju Minerals, this K-beauty fave will help control oil throughout the day. The portable container includes a powder puff too, so you can easily touch up while you’re out and about.

Best setting powders for dry skin

If your skin tends to be on the drier side, setting powders aren’t always needed, but they can still be a useful tool in your beauty arsenal.

MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skinfinish Natural is a popular option, with a cashmere-like feel, sheer coverage and a satin finish. Slow-baked for an ultra-silky texture, it contains subtle pearlized pigments that add dimension to skin without looking shimmery or shiny.

We’ve compiled even more of our top setting powders for dry skin, or maybe you’re looking for the best under-eye setting powders - we’ve got that covered too.

How to use setting powder

When it comes to applying setting powder the techniques are endless, but we think it’s always good to get the basics down first.

You can apply setting powder with either a brush, powder puff or sponge - we like brushes for a lighter touch and effortless blending, or a puff for concentrated, precision coverage.

After applying your base makeup, as well as blush, bronzer, highlighter or contour, take a small amount of setting powder and apply to the skin with a gentle tapping motion. If you’ve opted for a loose setting powder, make sure you tap off any excess before applying!