Best Overall

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

$49

$42 at Amazon$42 at Sephora$49 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Rose wax, almond oil, light-reflecting pearls | Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The crème de la crème of setting powders manifests in this pressed powder from Charlotte Tilbury. Don’t be fooled by its moisturizing blend of rose wax and almond oil; this powder creates a (dare I say breathtaking?) airbrushed matte effect without looking cakey. It sits beautifully over concealer and foundation without disrupting the product or formula and creates a blurring wash of color that looks like your skin but better. Plus, it seamlessly blends under both cream blushes and bronzers. Unsurprisingly, former Associate Editor Caitlyn Martyn adores this aptly named product, reaching for it when her skin feels particularly oily or is being photographed. It truly is a filter IRL. While it doesn’t come with a powder puff, we found that it works great with one—or a fluffy brush will do the trick.

Caitlyn Martyn, former associate editor: “It took me a long time to commit to powders; I was always afraid they’d make me break out or look cakey. But this formula proved my fear wrong and is my secret to smoother, longer-lasting makeup without flashback. One particular standout moment was when I wore it to a Yankees game in a heat wave. My friends and I took photos, and I was the only one who didn’t have a shiny face.” 

Best for T-zone

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder

$48

$44 at Amazon$48 at Sephora$48 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, amino acid, silica powder | Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural, matte | Cruelty-Free: No

Laura Mercier’s setting powder is a classic for a reason. This editor-loved pick lightly coats the skin in a soft, powdery cloud that instantly vanishes any oil in the T-zone (although you can really use it anywhere). Infused with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and amino acids, this talc-free powder transforms the look of pores, texture, and imperfections. Editor Alyssa Kaplan appreciates its effectiveness at masking oil. She simply dabs it over her t-zone with a dense brush on oilier days or a fluffy brush for a lighter coating. Moreover, this standout comes in four shades—translucent, honey, medium-deep, and rose—ensuring there’s something for everyone. Plus, we appreciate that it doesn’t leave a residue that can show up in flash photography.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “I love using this powder to set my T-zone after foundation. It helps mattify oily areas without looking too heavy or cakey. I’ll have to reapply a bit throughout the day during hot or humid days, but typically, I’m good to go for most of the day when using this powder.”

Best Blurring

Haus Labs Bio-Blurring Loose Setting Powder

$48

$40 at Amazon$38 at SephoraView on Hauslabs.com

Key Ingredients: Fermented arnica, plant squalene, tourmaline | Shades: 1 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While there’s nothing quite as blurring as an Instagram filter, this wonder from Haus Labs is the next best thing. This finely milled powder uses an innovative gel-powder formula to mattify and control shine, creating a weightless veil that doesn’t cling to dry spots or settle into fine lines. Another benefit: this multitasking pick blends the benefits of skincare with the effects of makeup to create an oil-free complexion. A cocktail of arnica (to reduce redness), plant squalane (to hydrate), and tourmaline (to support cellular energy) deliver a translucent, mattifying display. Tester Shauna dotes on the long-lasting formula, highlighting that one application lasts about eight hours. The result is a flawless veil that gives your makeup a soft-focus finish. It’s worth noting that the sifter takes some work to get the product out, but we appreciate that it doesn’t waste product.

Shauna, tester: “One major difference I noticed when using this powder is that it doesn’t cling to any dry patches on my face (like under my eyes or on certain parts of my cheek). I love how light it feels and how blurring it makes my skin look.”

Best Matte

Ami Colé Skin Melt Loose Powder

$22

$20 at Amazon$22 at Sephora

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, baobab seed extract | Shades: 3 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s something so satisfying about pressing a mattifying powder over an oily area and watching as it coats the skin in a flawless, matte veil, and Ami Cole’s powder doesn’t miss a beat. As the name suggests, this fine powder magically melts into the skin, absorbing any remnants of oil sans settling into fine lines or looking cakey. The best part? This powder is infused with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and baobab seed extract, so while it conceals grease, it won’t dry out your skin or cling to dry patches. No wonder this is Byrdie Senior Beauty Editor Olivia Hancock’s go-to; She finds it adds a lovely radiance to her complexion thanks to a blend of powdered amethyst and rose quartz. While it’s not the most blurring pick on this list, we like that this mattifying powder still leaves a skin-like finish. Cue the compliments.

Olivia Hancock, senior beauty editor: “The Ami Colé Skin Melt Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder masterfully absorbs oil without drying out my skin. I also love that the powder adds a bit more brightness and luminosity to my skin since it’s made with powdered rose quartz.”

Best Shade Range

Kosas Cloud Set Brightening Powder

View on Kosas.com

Key Ingredients: Bamboo stem extract, passionfruit leaf extract, Chinese peony | Shades: 13 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With an impressive shade range—13 options with varying undertones, including a sheer pink—Kosas Cloud Set Brightening Powder truly has something for everyone. A blend of bamboo stem and passionfruit extract work together to set your base and smooth any fine lines or textures. This fluffy but not powdery pick also has a slight illuminating effect that gives the skin an awakened look that we adore. Tester Allison reaches for the shade ‘candy,’ which gives her skin a radiant, airbrushed effect. We also love the deeper hues for darker skin tones and the peachy shades for combatting darker circles. It’s worth noting that this packaging isn’t the most durable, so pack with care.

Allison, tester: “The powder absorbs shine well on my oily skin, especially in the summertime. It gives me a slight brightening effect (especially under my eyes) without leading to creasing or folding.”

Best for Mature Skin

Makeup By Mario SurrealSkin Soft Blur Setting Powder

View on Makeupbymario.com

Key Ingredients: Squalane, kaolin, amino acid | Shades: 7 | Finish: Natural | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Makeup By Mario is known for its stellar, high-quality products and gorgeous finishes; this setting powder is no exception. The ultrafine powder diffuses light and coats the skin in a silky, smooth, natural finish. Formulated to soak up all-day shine (thanks to kaolin, a natural oil-absorbing ingredient), this gem effortlessly controls grease and creates an even complexion. It’s also buildable without ever appearing cakey. Tester Ally raves about the lightweight pick and how well it works on her fine lines. It doesn’t settle or call attention to those areas. Instead, it gives her base a flawless flare that doesn’t require any touch-ups.

Ally, tester: “As I get older, I’ve noticed more fine lines around my under-eye area, so it’s become key for me to use makeup that mitigates product settling or migrating into those lines. This does that beautifully, and the effect lasts all day.”

Best for Sensitive Skin

Tower 28 GetSet Pressed Powder

$28 at SephoraView on Tower28beauty.com$28 at Revolve

Key Ingredients: Squalane, kaolin, hydrophobic silica | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Finding a suitable setting powder for sensitive skin types may seem like a challenge, but Tower28 makes it easy. This breathable, nonirritating formula whisps away any shine and blurs pores. The gentler formula works wonders on sensitive skin types; hydrophobic silica, an anti-inflammatory ingredient, is combined with squalane (for some nourishment) to provide the skin with a matte finish that won’t cause any flare-ups or breakouts. News Editor Bella Cacciatore reaches for this baby daily, praising it for tamping down shine and blurring her texture. Just be sure to fully blend out the product to avoid a white cast.

Bella Cacciatore, news editor: “I love that this powder stops the shine, but it doesn’t suck the life out of your skin. The first time I applied this one, I was a little shook. Yes, it instantly tamps down shine, but the blurring effect is truly wild. Just a swipe makes me look like I have a filter on my skin, all my pores were gone.”

Best for Baking

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder

$55

$52 at Amazon$39 at SephoraView on Walmart

Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, rice starch powder | Shades: 10 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to baking, Huda Beauty’s Easy Bake easily takes the cake. Dab a puff or sponge into the silky powder and simply press the product under your eyes, any areas prone to creasing, or under your cheekbones for a snatched look. Then, using a fluffy brush, lightly dust away the excess powder to reveal a brighter, diffused complexion. The silky powder is loved by tester Eden. While she doesn’t reach for this every day, she uses it when creating a full-glam look. It sets her makeup in place for hours, and the slight tint of color evens out the complexion.

Eden, tester: “While Huda Beauty definitely isn’t exclusive to the full-beat girlies, I do think that’s where it excels—this is the brand for when you want your makeup to look airbrushed and stay put.”

Best Blotting

Fenty Beauty Setting + Blotting Powder

$39 at Sephora$39 at Ulta$38 at Target

Key Ingredients: Squalane, mica | Shades: 1 | Finish: Matte| Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to blotting and on-the-go touch-ups, nothing is better than this travel-friendly pick for oily skin. It sets makeup, prevents shine, and can eliminate any oil that might pop up. Tester Jasmine loves the compact packaging and mess-free pressed-powder formula, which she finds universally flattering for every skin tone. This powder is incredibly lightweight on the skin and will not cake, so achieving a smooth and shine-free base is more than possible. Fair warning: This product works best with a powder puff, and due to the tightly packed powder, it cannot be successfully transferred to a brush.

Jasmine, tester: “I love this setting powder because as someone who has an oily t-zone, it’s great for setting as well as blotting throughout the day if needed thanks to its compact packaging.”