Best Overall

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Powder

$7

$7 at Amazon$8 at Ulta$7 at Target

Coverage: Translucent/light | Shade Range: Translucent to deep | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This powder impressed us as much as many of the high-end powders we tested. We love how weightless the formula is—it’s one of the most finely milled powders we’ve ever tried. It glides onto the skin seamlessly, setting makeup in place and tempering shine while creating an airbrushed finish. It comes in a banana shade to brighten skin and a darker shade for those with tan and deep skin tones. We love that the translucent shade is completely colorless, making it a great option regardless of your skin tone.

Best Breathable

Coty Airspun Face Powder

$7

$7 at AmazonView on IHerb

Coverage: Full | Shade Range: Fair/light | Finish: Translucent, flawless | Size: 2.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

This loose powder has been a go-to for women since—wait for it—1935. (We appreciate that the vintage packaging speaks to that old-school history.) The product was ahead of its time before the term ‘baking’ was used in makeup. As the name suggests, the pigments are blended with air so that this feels totally featherweight. It tames oily spots and sets makeup in place without leaving a heavy or cakey finish. We also like that it doesn’t alter foundation color when applied on top of it. It does have a stronger scent, though, so it’s not a great choice if you’re sensitive to that.

Best Radiant

e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Setting Powder

$9

$9 at Amazon$9 at Ulta$9 at Target

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: Light to deep | Finish: Radiant | Size: 0.24 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This is the perfect pick for anyone who wants to maintain a radiant complexion while tempering excess oil. It uses finely milled synthetic sapphire particles to set your skin while providing luminosity. These babies do two things: One, they blur away pretty much every line, pore, and whatever else needs blurring for a gorgeous soft-focus finish (hence the filter comparison). Two, they have just a hint of brightness, making skin look fresh and glowy, though not overly shimmery.

Best Pressed

NYX Professional Makeup Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Mattifying Powder

$10

$7 at Amazon$10 at Ulta$10 at Target

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: Fair to dark | Finish: Natural matte | Size: 0.21 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love pressed powders because they’re less messy than loose powders (and if you’re accident-prone, you know how important that can be). This pressed formula is mess-free, easy to take with you on the go, and great for all skin types. It does a nice job of mattifying shine without looking chalky, and we appreciate that it feels lightweight and comes in a wide variety of shades.

“I have oily-combination skin, and this powder not only gives me a matte finish but also keeps shine at bay for hours,” says Ashley Jimenez, former editorial assistant. “Plus, it has a natural matte finish, which I love.”

Best Lightweight

Blk/Opl Finishing Powder

$13

$12 at AmazonView on Ulta$13 at Target

Coverage: Transparent | Shade Range: Medium | Finish: Velvet-matte | Size: 0.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This loose powder performed extremely well in our test—we were impressed by how weightless it felt on the skin while still doing an excellent job of setting makeup in place and toning down oily spots. It gave the complexion a soft finish that looked skin-like and natural, and while we do think the shades work best for medium and dark skin tones, there is one shade that works with light skin tones, too. If you’ve been craving a powder that feels undetectable on your skin, this one is totally worth checking out.

Best Shade Range

Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder

$11

$8 at Amazon

$11

$8 at Ulta$9 at Target

Coverage: Light | Shade Range: Fair to dark | Finish: Natural | Size: 0.7 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

The perfect topper for any foundation, this formula delivers a wash of sheer color that blends in beautifully. It comes in eight shades, which is extensive for a drugstore brand. We loved how well it set the skin without looking dry. If you apply it with a large fluffy brush, it feels lightweight on the skin and looks airbrushed, but it’s worth noting that if you over-apply, it can appear a bit cakey. Still, we highly recommend this formula, especially if you’re looking for a powder that closely matches your skin tone.

Best With Buildable Coverage

L’Oréal Infallible Powder Foundation

$19

$15 at AmazonView on UltaView on Target

Coverage: Buildable/full | Shade Range: Fair to dark | Finish: Matte | Size: 0.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Setting powders are often on the translucent side so they don’t override your makeup underneath, but if you’re looking for one that adds more coverage to your makeup look, we love this one. It’s technically a foundation and can be used all on its own, but it can also be layered on top of a liquid foundation for even more coverage. It comes in a large selection of shades that range from fair to dark, and we love that you can build it up for some serious coverage. It’s also waterproof, aka perfect for summer, humid climates, or stressful days.

“If I’m looking to set my concealer or foundation in place on top of a blemish, while also adding even more coverage, this is a powder that I reach for,” says Byrdie Editor Alyssa Kaplan. “I like that I can customize the coverage—applying it with a fluffy brush creates just a hint of coverage, while tapping it on with a dry sponge adds a lot more.”