When it comes to making your make-up last, everything from your skincare prep to the primer you choose can help you achieve a lasting finish. However, few products are as key as setting powders when it comes to ensuring your make-up doesn’t budge.
Available in pressed and loose forms, setting powders can also help control shine, explains celebrity make-up artist Zoë Taylor. “A pressed powder is lighter, and a more ‘on the go’ solution for keeping shine under control and maintaining your make-up,” she says. Meanwhile, a loose powder gives more coverage.
Application is also key, according to the MUA, whose clients include the likes of Rihanna, Julia Garner, Alexa Chung and Tilda Swinton. Taylor recommends applying powders with a brush, puff or sponge. “I like to set my make-up with a puff, and press it into the skin, never dragging it, as this can lift the make-up underneath,” she explains.
In a bid to find the best setting powders, I’ve spent weeks testing myriad options, both loose and pressed, to find out which ones make a difference and are worth a spot in your make-up bag. So, keep scrolling for my pick of the top powders.
How I tested
Over the course of six weeks, I’ve put a selection of powders to the test, and narrowed it down to the top nine by testing each one against some strict criteria. This included key factors such as:
- Finish: One of the key testing criteria is the product’s finish – whether it delivers a matte, natural, or radiant look. The finish plays a crucial role in how the powder complements different skin types and make-up goals. For example, a matte finish helps control shine for oily skin, while a radiant or luminous finish adds glow for dry or dull complexions.
- Coverage: This determines how well the product blurs imperfections, evens out skin tone, and enhances the overall complexion. Some powders offer sheer coverage, which is ideal for a light, natural look, while others provide buildable coverage that can subtly refine pores or even replace foundation.
- Longevity: This is vital when it comes to determining the performance of a setting powder, as it reflects how well the product holds up throughout the day without fading, creasing, or breaking down. To test this, each powder was worn for at least eight hours and in different environments – from indoor office settings to outdoor humidity and heat. I monitored for signs of oil breakthrough, make-up separation, and the need for touch-ups over time.
- Packaging: Packaging plays a surprisingly important role in the overall effectiveness of this kind of product, after all, no one wants to find their luxury powder spilled inside their handbag. During testing, each product’s packaging was evaluated for functionality, portability, and ease of use. Key factors included how well the container dispensed the right amount of product, whether it minimised mess and spillage, and if it included practical features like a secure lid, sifter, or puff.
- Price: As with all of IndyBest’s product review round-ups, I considered price and value for money. I assessed whether the results, packaging and ingredients were worth the higher price point and favoured those that checked all of the boxes, yet wouldn’t break the bank.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Louise Whitbread has spent years working in the beauty industry and has tested countless products for The Independent. From an expert-led feature on minimising acne scarring to the best body scrubs and night creams, she knows what to look for when it comes to finding beauty products that actually work.
The best setting powders for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless finish: £39, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Maybelline fit me matte & poreless oil control setting powder: £7.99, Boots.com
- Best translucent powder – Fenty Beauty invisimatte instant setting + blotting powder: £25, Cultbeauty.co.uk
- Best luxury powder – One/Size ultimate blurring setting powder: £34, Onesizebeauty.com
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Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless finish
Best: Setting powder overall
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, rose wax, almond oil
Size: 8g
Why we love it
- Noticeable improvement of longevity of make-up
- Holds up in all weather
- Compact and portable
Take note
- A pricey but worthwhile investment
When I want a blurred, poreless finish that stands up to heat, rain and muggy conditions, without going patchy or clinging to dry patches, I’ve repeatedly returned to this trusty pressed power from Charlotte Tilbury. It smooths texture, takes away shine instantly and fits in every bag – it even kept my make-up looking fresh during a wedding that started in the morning and ran well past 1am (for reference, I used the shade 1 fair/pale).
The slim compact even comes with a mirror inside. Granted it’s expensive, but you can buy it in the mini size if you want to try it for yourself before committing to the full-size version. Plus, despite using it as the last step before a setting mist almost daily, I’ve yet to even come close to hitting the pan. Just make sure to use a fluffy brush when applying this one, to avoid any cakiness.
Buy now £39.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Maybelline fit me matte & poreless oil control setting powder
Best: Budget setting powder
Key ingredients: Perlite mineral
Size: 9g
Why we love it
- Practical packaging
- Multipurpose
Take note
- Included sponge isn’t very useful
For extra coverage without the cakiness, Maybelline’s pressed powder does the job well. It’s quite a pigmented formula (without feeling heavy) and it does a great job at helping conceal dark circles, redness and breakouts. Oily areas are instantly mattified and smoothed, so if you love a fully matte look, this is your best bet.
The packaging is a nice, too - there are two layers: one pan with the powder and underather a small square mirror and sponge. I loved the addition of a mirror (especially considering the price) but found the sponge picked up too much product and felt a little drying during application (a fluffy, domed brush worked better).
Buy now £7.99, Boots.com
Fenty Beauty invisimatte instant setting + blotting powder
Best: Translucent setting powder
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, chia seed extract
Size: 8.5g
Why we love it
- It isn’t cakey and doesn’t crease into fine lines
Take note
- On the pricier side
- Packaging is quite chunky
Don’t be put off by this deceptively white powder – there’s no dryness or chalky finish, simply a thin layer of transparent powder that ticked every box when it came to keeping my oily skin free from shine for hours.
This is a fine setting powder that mattifies areas of oiliness (nose, forehead and chin) to lock down your foundation and stop it from budging. It comes with a thin rectangular sponge, which I’d usually dismiss in favour of a brush but, in this case, it’s actually helpful for touching up a shiny nose when out and about.
Buy now £25.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Saie airset radiant loose setting powder
Best: Loose setting powder
Key ingredients: Mica, squalane
Size: 4g
Why we love it
- Finely milled
- Lightweight finish that’s brightening
Take note
- Not one for your handbag
This loose powder has a subtle brightening effect, with a thin, lightweight finish that doesn’t add cakey coverage or make the skin feel dry. Stay away from the cheeks and concentrate on the centre of your face for a radiant finish that still keeps oiliness at bay and your carefully applied foundation in place.
The inclusion of hydrating squalane in the formula ensures it doesn’t cling to dry patches or settle in creases, especially around the nostrils and smile lines. While the loose powder format means it’s not one you’ll want to take out and about with you, I have taken this setting powder on holiday before, without any spills.
Buy now £26.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
Kosas cloud set setting powder
Best: Setting powder for oily, redness-prone skin
Key ingredients: Bamboo stem extract, Chinese peony
Size: 9.5g
Why we love it
- Doesn’t emphasise texture
- Blurring and smoothing finish
Take note
- Expensive
Offering a silky soft finish and smoothing effect, this is a great powder for applying on top of acne and redness-prone skin. The lightweight pressed powder doesn’t get chalky or bunch around dryness. Instead, it subtly blurs areas of enlarged pores (for me that’s the tip of my nose).
While it instantly mattifies, it doesn’t take away from any radiant complexion products, such as primer or foundation, that you may have applied underneath. A light dusting with a medium fluffy brush is all you need to add a light layer to seal your makeup all day.
Buy now £32.00, Spacenk.com
Huda Beauty easy bake loose baking & setting powder
Best: Setting powder for full-coverage make-up
Key ingredients: Vitamin E
Size: 20g
Why we love it
- A little goes a long way
- Mattifies for hours
- Doesn’t gather in fine lines
Take note
- Not suitable for travel
This loose powder best accompanies a fuller coverage make-up look, thanks to the air-brushed finish and skin smoothing effect it delivers. A little goes a long way, so I’d recommend using a small fluffy brush (instead of a powder puff, which can pick up a lot of product and leave you looking cakey) for precise control when applying it around your nose. A multi-purpose pick, this product will help smooth lines, blur pores and mattify shine, helping your makeup look flawless for hours.
My only gripe is that once you’ve broken the seal on the square pot, if you’re not very careful, a lot of product can gather, meaning every time you open the pot, a cloud of powder sometimes escapes – it is not one to travel with.
Buy now £34.00, Sephora.co.uk
SimiHazeBeauty soft blur moisture-lock setting powder
Best: Setting powder for all skin types
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, emollients
Size: 4.5g
Why we love it
- Natural finish
- No chalkiness or white cast
Take note
- Expensive for the size, compared with other luxury powders
When a light layer of this translucent powder is dusted onto oily areas, your skin still looks like skin, with freckles still showing through. It’s easy to blend and leaves a natural-looking matte finish, with the inclusion of hyaluronic acid helping to even skin tone and hydrate skin.
There’s no chalkiness, dryness or discomfort here, but this setting powder is on the pricey side.
Buy now £25.00, Cultbeauty.co.uk
One/Size ultimate blurring setting powder
Best: Luxury setting powder
Key ingredients: Powder microspheres for a smooth texture
Size: 34.5g
Why we love it
- No white cast
- Good amount of product
Take note
- Expensive
Most powders I tested come in pots of 9g or less, but One/Size’s blurring powder has a net weight of 34.5g, which helps to make the price tag a little more palatable. I tried the translucent option, which caters for fair to dark skin tones, but you can buy a pigmented version, too, if you’re looking for more coverage.
The packaging is well designed, with a thin, hinged plastic lid that prevents the powder from spilling everywhere. It doesn’t settle into fine lines or creases, nor did it highlight textured areas of my skin, and there’s no white cast or cakiness to be seen.
Buy now £34.00, Onesizebeauty.com
Sephora Collection 12hr setting & mattifying powder
Best: Value setting powder
Key ingredients: Synthetic fluorphlogopite
Size: 8g
Why we love it
- Compact packaging
- Natural finish
Take note
- Packaging feels cheaper than some other options
This is a great option if you’re looking to spend less than £20 on a powder for your make-up routine. It’s a pressed powder in a neat, slimline compact and, while it lacks luxury perks, such as a built-in mirror, it’s portable and practical. Despite its yellow colour, it’s a universal shade that doesn’t add coverage.
It does exactly what it promises: mattifies oiliness, smooths texture and controls shine throughout the day. With a silky soft, natural-looking finish, it’s versatile enough to set full coverage makeup but you can also use it for a lighter, everyday look.
Buy now £16.99, Sephora.co.uk
What is the best setting powder?
Taking the top spot for me was the Charlotte Tilbury airbrush flawless finish. Although expensive, there was a noticeable improvement in terms of how well my make-up lasted throughout the day. There was no cakiness, dryness or discomfort, either. If you’re shopping on a budget, the Maybelline fit me matte & poreless oil control setting powder is hard to fault. For less than a tenner, you can control shine, blur pores and top-up easily on the go.
For more complexion-boosting buys, read our guide to the best tinted moisturisers for a natural, glowy look
