Best Overall

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

This powder is as classic as it gets. Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder has stood the test of time for a reason: It lightly coats the skin in a soft, powdery dusting that soaks up any oil and transforms the look of pores, texture, and imperfections. Infused with skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid and amino acids, this talc-free powder is our favorite, especially Editor Alyssa Kaplan, who says it does an excellent job of blotting oil when paired with a fluffy brush. Moreover, it’s a standout for its four shades—translucent, honey, medium-deep, and rose—ensuring something for everyone’s undertone. Also nice: It doesn’t leave a residue (aka flash-back) in flash photography.

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

Best Budget-Friendly

Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Powder

$7

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

Key Ingredients: Cornstarch | Shades: 3 | Finish: Natural, matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This powder from Wet n Wild is fantastic and only costs a few bucks. The formula is incredibly lightweight and never makes skin look cakey or too powdery, even after applying multiple layers. Our tester, Victoria, loved that it effectively mattified shiny areas of her skin and noticeably prolonged the wear of her foundation. She also loved that it subtly blurred a few pronounced wrinkles on her forehead. The container, which is on the larger side, can get a bit messy. (So it’s probably not the best pick for travel.) However, the excellent performance and affordable price tag make it a win for budget-friendly beauty.

Victoria, tester with dry skin: “I was pretty blown away by how well this powder blurred fine lines and uneven texture. I didn’t even need to apply a ton to notice a difference in the smoothness of my skin—a little goes a long way.” 

Best for Under-Eyes

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder

$16 at Ulta$14 at Target

$24

$13 at Walmart

Key Ingredients: Corn starch | Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: No

When it comes to setting your under-eye area, look for a formula with a fine texture that won’t appear heavy or accentuate lines. This one fits the bill, making it our favorite under-eye setting powder. The thin texture is super lightweight, and does a nice job of reducing shine, smoothing texture, and minimizing concealer creasing. We love that it comes in two “translucent” shades (one for light skin tones and one for medium and deep skin tones), as well as two pink shades to counteract darkness under the eyes. While we wish it came with more than just six grams of product, a little bit goes a long way, and it’s relatively affordable, so we think it’s certainly worth trying.

Alyssa Kaplan, editor: “I love that this powder has a super-fine texture that smooths the look of my under-eye area without over-drying it or looking cakey on the skin.”

Best for Dry Skin

Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder

$54 at Amazon$55 at Sephora$55 at Ulta

Key Ingredients: Silica, allantoin | Shades: 10 | Finish: Matte | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with dry skin know that powder can sometimes exacerbate dryness, but a light layer of this one doesn’t, making it our best powder for dry skin. It features an ultrafine consistency that seamlessly layers over foundation and concealer, mattifying shine and creating a natural, blurred finish that smooths pores and skin texture. We love that it’s housed in a beautiful compact, complete with a sponge for easy reapplication and a mirror for use on the go. With so much to brag about, there was one downside: We wish the shade range were more expansive, especially on the deeper end. If you can find a shade that works for you, we think it’s a great option suitable for all skin types.

Bianca, tester with combination skin: “The powder kept my oiliness tamped down without over-mattifying my skin. It blurred skin irritation and acne to the point where you couldn’t even see I was experiencing a breakout.”

Best for Oily Skin

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

$50 at Amazon$50 at Sephora$50 at Ulta

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

Charlotte Tilbury knows a thing or two about airbrushed skin (she formulated an entire line of successful makeup products to achieve such a finish). This setting powder is no exception. Light-reflecting pearls, rose wax, and almond oil create a blurring wash of airbrushed goodness that sits nicely over concealer and foundation. Unsurprisingly, I adore this aptly named product, reaching for it whenever my skin feels particularly oily or I know I’m being photographed. It keeps my forehead and under-eyes fresh and smooth. Note: It doesn’t come with a powder puff, but it works great with one—or a fluffy brush will do the trick.

Caitlyn Martyn, former associate editor with oily skin: “The texture of this powder is so silky and lightweight; it feels like there’s nothing on my skin. When I first started using it, people began asking what changes I made to my skincare routine—my skin looked that much smoother.”

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

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

Blotting powders are specifically designed to absorb excess oil on the skin. This formula from Fenty Beauty mattifies shiny skin without feeling too heavy. In fact, the lightweight consistency feels so comfortable on the skin and doesn’t clog pores (a must for those with oily, acne-prone skin). Just don’t overdo it; we found that over-applying the powder led to a bit of chalkiness, especially on deep skin tones, so we recommend layering it slowly. The translucent shade works for all skin types and tones, though we’d love to see a deeper shade released so that those with deeper skin won’t have to worry about potential flashback.

Bianca, tester with combination skin: “This powder has excellent staying power and keeps the skin very matte for hours without the need for more blotting.”

Best for Textured Skin

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

We realize there’s no such thing as an IRL filter, but Haus Labs powder is the next best thing. The finely milled powder harnesses a unique gel-powder technology to mattify and control shine without clinging to dry spots or settling into fine lines. With a slew of skincare ingredients (fermented arnica, squalene, and tourmaline), the formula reduces redness, hydrates, and supports the skin while delivering a translucent matte finish; this also makes it a great setting powder for dry skin. It looks like a soft-focused filter that is hard to beat. Just keep in mind that the sifter isn’t the easiest to deal with, but it’s worth it.

Shauna Beni-Haynes, senior editor with normal skin: “One major difference I noticed when using this powder is that it doesn’t cling to dry patches on my face (like under my eyes or on certain parts of my neck). I love how light it feels and how blurred it makes my skin look.” 

Best for Full Glam Makeup Looks

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder

$55

$50 at Amazon

$39

$23 at SephoraView on Onebioshop.com

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

Those who love a full-glam moment will adore this baking and setting powder from Huda Beauty. It has an ultrafine texture that absorbs oil and blurs uneven pores. You can dust it all over your face for a smoothing and mattifying finish or bake it with a makeup sponge to sculpt your features and ensure your makeup is completely set in place. It comes in nine shades, including pink, to counteract blue tones in the under-eye area. Because it’s so oil-absorbing, it can be a bit drying. If you have dry skin, we recommend using a moisturizer and/or a dewy foundation underneath and applying the powder in light layers.

Eden Stuart, editor with combination skin: “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.”