How it works:
Share your skin goals and snap selfies
Your dermatology provider prescribes your formula
Apply nightly for happy, healthy skin
How it works:
How it works:
Share your skin goals and snap selfies
Your dermatology provider prescribes your formula
Apply nightly for happy, healthy skin
How it works:
Updated June 2021
Setting powders just might be my secret weapon. Dust it over full-coverage makeup or just my naked skin and, instantly, my pores look smaller and my skin looks smoother. Not to mention they’re an absolute necessity in my makeup routine. Setting powder keeps my foundation from rubbing off on my glasses or sweating off in the Florida heat.
That said? A poorly formulated powder can ruin a good day. Not only do many contain potentially pore-clogging ingredients that might cause breakouts, but a lot of them contain a high concentration of talc. While talc is safe to use in cosmetics, it doesn’t tend to blend easily. Instead, it sits on top of your face, where it soaks up oils from your skin and other makeup products. So talc-based setting powders can cause your makeup to separate and your products to clump.
But you don’t have to worry about bad setting powders. I took a look at some of the best setting powders from the drugstore to the department store. Here are the top 10 setting powders that are non-talc and non-comedogenic.
3 translucent formulas (original, hydrating, or illuminating)
1 tinted shade for deeper skin tones
Luminous, semi-matte finish
My personal go-to for all makeup looks
$27 for .3 oz
3 semi-translucent formulas ranging from light to deep
Light coverage with a matte finish
Designed to prevent ashiness and pilling
$29 for .87 oz
Flashback-free drugstore powder
6 shades ranging from translucent to medium-deep
Natural finish
$12 for .21 oz
5 light coverage shades ranging from light to rich
Natural finish
Doubles as a light-weight foundation
$22 for .25 oz
Image via Glossier
5 versatile shades for setting and color-correcting
Matte finish
Best value in this review (most product per ounce)
$12 for .31 oz
1 translucent shade
Matte finish
Works best with oily skin types
$19.99 for .56 oz
3 semi-translucent shades ranging from pearl to caramel
Luminous, shimmery finish
Smells like watermelon — and includes added fragrance
$33 for .31 oz
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1 translucent shade
Matte finish
Smells like cherry — and includes added fragrance
$12 for .45 oz
10 versatile shades ranging from translucent to deep dark
Can be used as a light-coverage foundation or color corrector
Matte finish
$11 for .45 oz
In translucent or banana
Semi-matte finish
Great drugstore setting powder for setting under-eyes
$7 for .17 oz
So that’s what I know, as Curology’s resident beauty geek. For what it’s worth, we’re not affiliated with any of the above brands, and we never make a commission off of products we recommend on the blog. But do feel free to sign up for your 30-day trial of Curology, if you haven’t yet!
Stephanie Papanikolas