The 13 Best Setting Powders, as Ranked by a Beauty Editor With Oily Skin

Setting powders are the Marmite of the makeup world—you either love them or you hate them. Yet despite having oily skin since my teenage years (and Rimmel's iconic Stay Matte Pressed Powder being one of the first makeup products that I ever purchased) setting powder has fallen by the wayside for me in recent years, with glowier makeup looks dominating the beauty scene.

However, incorporating a setting powder into your routine doesn't mean compromising on radiance. "Ensure you use a hydrating skincare base beforehand to keep your make up looking fresh, but without that cakey look," advises celebrity makeup artist Brooke Simons. "Then use the powder sparingly and just on the areas that need setting. For example, avoid the cheekbone area as you'll want this to look glowy, but use in the T-zone where you may become oilier throughout the day."

And after recently having the Milk Makeup's Pore Eclipse Powder applied to my skin at the launch a few weeks back, I was reminded of just how hardworking a decent setting powder is. My shiny skin was instantly transformed into a smooth, even and shine-free complexion with just a light dusting. Did I look dull? Not in the slightest. There was still radiance, but in a controlled way. And when I emerged from a humid tube journey later that afternoon, my makeup was still well and truly in check. Suffice to say, I have used a setting powder on my face every day since—and there are some seriously good ones on the market right now.

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(Image credit: @sabinasocol)

Ahead, these are the 13 best setting powders that I've tried and recommend for keeping oiliness at bay but radiance shining through.

Shop the Best Setting Powders:

1. Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Matte Translucent Setting Powder

2. Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

3. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

4. Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

5. Aime Skincare Powder Foundation

6. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

7. E.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Setting Powder

8. NARS After Party Light Reflecting Setting Powder

9. MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Skin Finish

10. Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder

11. ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder

12. Refy Skin Finish

13. Glossier Wowder

This story was previously published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

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Mica Ricketts

Mica Ricketts is a freelance beauty editor, copywriter and regular contributor to Who What Wear UK. She also writes for titles including Marie Claire Refinery 29 and Cosmopolitan, and previously worked at Who What Wear UK as Beauty Editor. With experience in both editorial and content management, she also works with beauty brands and small businesses on brand messaging and content strategy. As a busy mum of two, she is passionate about finding efficacious beauty products that can disguise all signs of tiredness with minimal effort.