We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Beauty Products Makeup The 14 Best Setting Powders of 2024, Tested by Real Women Beauty Bakerie's Face Flour was the clear winner By Theresa Holland Theresa Holland Theresa Holland is a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE with several years of experience covering home, outdoor, pets, travel, and beauty. Her work has been featured in Byrdie, Travel + Leisure, The Spruce, Brides, and more. People Editorial Guidelines and Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 28, 2024 12:27PM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Add to Cart What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: PEOPLE / LETICIA ALMEIDA Whether you have oily skin, live in a humid climate, or just want your makeup to stay put, setting powder has a place in every beauty kit. Beyond locking in liquids and creams and mattifying your T-zone, the right formula can blur texture and help you achieve an airbrushed finish. So, which powders stand out from the rest? After putting over 30 powders to the test, we found a few that stood out. But to help you filter through your options, we picked only the most absorbent formulas with beautiful finishes. Check out the best setting powders that PEOPLE Tested below. Our Top Picks Best Loose Powder: Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder at Amazon $26 Jump to Review Best Loose Powder (Cheaper): Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Powder at Amazon $7 Jump to Review Best Pressed Powder: Lys Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder at Sephora $20 Jump to Review Best Pressed (Cheaper): Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Investment: Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Powder at Nordstrom $56 Jump to Review Best for Photos: Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder at Amazon $64 Jump to Review Best Blurring: One/Size by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder at Amazon $45 Jump to Review Best Shade Range: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Setting Powder at Amazon $40 Jump to Review Best with SPF: Supergoop! (Re)setting Mineral Setting Powder at Nordstrom $35 Jump to Review Best Pore-Minimizing: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder at Nordstrom $41 Jump to Review Best Loose Powder Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder PHOTO: Ulta $26 at Amazon $14 at Target $22 at Nordstrom Star Qualities Soaks up grease without leaving skin looking cakey Shiny spots were mattified and blurred No components of our makeup budged throughout the day Red Flags Powder somewhat messy After trying over 30 highly rated, best-selling formulas first-hand, Beauty Bakerie's Face Flour won our hearts. This finely milled loose powder earned perfect scores for absorbency and look. It instantly soaks up grease, corrects for shine, and leaves you with a stunning finish that blurs textures and enhances your complexion. Touting six different shades, these adjustable powders can blend into several skin tones due to their light pigment (or you can opt for the universal shade, a translucent powder named "Oat"). Though it offers a little more coverage than others, we didn't feel like it was heavy at all, but instead comfortably light on our skin. As the name suggests, this product can also be used for baking. (The makeup technique involves allowing loose powder to sit on top of creams and liquids for about 10 minutes, then dusting off the excess for a crease-free, long-wear finish.) What We Think Now We love this powder so much that we've gotten creative with other ways that we can incorporate it into our makeup routine. Aside from setting our foundation and concealer, we've also opted to press thin amounts of this powder onto separate layers of our lipstick to really keep it from budging. We wish it came with slightly more practical packaging and an included application puff, but overall, we keep singing praises for this "Face Flour." Shades: 7 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Sheer to medium | Size: 0.5 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best Loose Powder (Cheaper) Wet n Wild Photo Focus Setting Powder PHOTO: Amazon $7 $6 at Amazon $6 at Target $12 $7 at Walmart Star Qualities Excellent value for price Highly effective at absorbing oil and preventing future shine on our skin Sheer enough to act as a translucent powder, but buildable enough to provide a little extra coverage Red Flags We couldn't find any! You’re in a pinch and need to stop by your closest drugstore to pick up a powder that you know works — our suggestion? The Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder from Wet n Wild. You may have shopped this brand back in the day, but we were pretty impressed with the setting powder from the brand's current offerings. Aside from its arguably unbeatable price, this powder was a knockout when it came to oil absorption and control. It looked natural on our skin without feeling chalky and mattified our overly shiny spots without coming off as dry. Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 0.7 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best Pressed Powder Lys Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $20 at Sephora View on Thirteenlune.com View on Credo Beauty Star Qualities Can hold up all day, even in heat Several blendable shades for multiple skin tones Worked well on a variety of different skin types tested Red Flags Not ideal for “baking” Beauty Bakerie may have stolen the show when it came to loose powders, but the Triple Fix Setting Powder from LYS Beauty dominated in the pressed powder category. We appreciated the easy-to-use compact (which we can’t often say about loose powders) and the product’s longevity, seeing us through a full workday — in the heat, no less — with perfectly preserved makeup. Plus, we liked the fact that this formula was packed with skin-loving ingredients such as niacinamide and green tea to provide antioxidant benefits while still minimizing the appearance of pores. Another perk of this powder was the variety of shades — six, ranging from translucent to deep. Our tester particularly liked this product because it sheered out to seamlessly match her skin, which was previously a “struggle” for her, as her skin tone “typically falls in-between shades.” After the match was made, we found this powder to be blurring, and oil-controlling, but still natural in finish. What We Think Now It’s been six months since we started testing, but this one is still a go-to in our morning routines. This powder manages to diminish excess shine while still allowing our skin's natural radiance to shine through — a game changer for us. Our makeup lasts longer, looks fresher, and our skin looks more seamless than ever. Shades: 6 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Buildable | Size: 0.23 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best Pressed (Cheaper) Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder PHOTO: Amazon $10 $9 at Amazon $9 at Target $10 at Ulta Star Qualities Reduces shine as well as many high-end concealers Minimizes the look of pores for an airbrushed finish Sets the under-eyes well Has the most shades of any product on our list Red Flags Translucent shade has some pigment, which may be too light for many skin tones This pressed powder from Maybelline reduces shine with the best of them. In addition to mattifying, it smooths the skin’s appearance, giving an airbrushed finish comparable to many high-end powders. We love the wide shade range (it has 24 shades!), though we think it’s important to note that the translucent shade is not truly translucent, so it may be too light for many skin tones. Writers Say “I didn’t know the power of a pressed powder until I tried the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder! It reduces shine better than many high-end powders I’ve tried. When setting my under-eyes, I love to use it in combination with my favorite loose powder. The result is a truly creaseproof, airbrushed finish.”—Genevieve Cepeda, shopping writer Shades: 24 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Light to medium | Size: 0.29 ounces PHOTO: People / Genevieve Cepeda PHOTO: People / Genevieve Cepeda Best Investment Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Powder PHOTO: Ulta $56 at Nordstrom $56 at Ulta View on Chanel.com Star Qualities Left semi-matte, satiny finish that looked like our skin, just better Lasts all day, even on oily skin Significantly reduced appearance of skin's texture Red Flags We noticed a bit of flaking on dry parts of our skin If you're open to splurging on a high-end product, look no further than Chanel. The brand's Poudre Universelle Libre (which translates to universal setting powder) earned perfect scores for absorbency, look, and feel. We instantly noticed how quickly the oil was absorbed when we applied this loose powder, leaving us with a shine-free T-zone. Much appreciated was the included puff applicator, as it's ideal for pressing the powder into the skin exactly where you want it. It blended effortlessly into our complexions, and the semi-matte finish didn't look heavy or cakey. Save for some slight flaking in our under-eye areas, our makeup was still very much intact after a long day — no touch-ups needed. What We Think Now We tested this powder for several months and through weather changes, and we can confirm that it only gets better with time. While this powder required more touch-ups in the summer when our makeup tends to move around a bit more due to heat, we barely had to do any reapplications throughout the day as the weather cooled off, making this an annual staple for us. Shades: 8 | Finish: Natural to semi-matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 1 ounce PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best for Photos Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $64 at Amazon $27 at Nordstrom $27 at Sephora Star Qualities Powder effectively controlled shine throughout the day Matte finish offers a soft-focus blur that won't flashback in photos Two translucent shades suit a variety of skin tones Red Flags Swirling powder with a brush is slightly messy With a special occasion coming up, you'll want to make sure your makeup not only looks good but also photographs well. We're big fans of Laura Mercier's Loose Setting Powder, which delivers a soft-focus effect and promises not to flash back in photos (and we took pictures to prove it). When we tried the "honey" shade, we were left with a warm, golden hue that created a subtle sun-kissed glow on fair skin tones. It was so beautiful that we figured we could wear it alone for a no-makeup makeup look, and people with deeper skin tones can even use it to highlight the high points of their faces (think under eyes, forehead, and chin). Though swirling the loose powder around with a brush was slightly messy, the finely milled formula went on smoothly. It offered a mattifying effect and absorbed excess oil. Not only that, but it helped control shine throughout the day, even in humid weather. What We Think Now Even after six months of testing, we still reach for this whenever we're wearing makeup that we really want to last. We've been impressed with how it has been able to reduce our fine lines, smooth out our skin, and set our face makeup. In general, we couldn't be happier with this powder and think everyone should have it in their makeup stash. Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural/matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 1 ounce PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best Blurring One/Size by Patrick Starrr Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $45 at Amazon $18 at Sephora $18 at Kohls.com Star Qualities Effective, lightweight, smooth powder mattified skin Left complexion looking blurred with a reduced appearance of pores Red Flags After a few hours, oilier skin types might need to reapply to T-zone As the name suggests, One/Size Ultimate Blurring Powder visibly blurs pores and other textures. The soft-focus formula earned perfect scores for absorbency and finished look in our lab tests. We tried the universal translucent shade, which did an excellent job tackling excess oil and provided an instant mattifying effect. Despite its powder formula, the texture isn't gritty at all but rather light and smooth. After applying it over a dewy-finish foundation, this setting powder made our faces less shiny. While most of us need to retouch our makeup around midday, we were pleasantly surprised that it lasted until the afternoon. Still, oilier skin types might need to dust another layer onto their T-zones sooner rather than later. What We Think Now We still feel blown away by this truly blurring product, even months into using it. Blemishes, enlarged pores, or dark spots be warned — this powder really emulates the mystical soft focus of an old Hollywood film. We do find ourselves needing to spritz our skin with a setting spray to bring some life back to our skin (it can be a little drying), but overall we have close to no complaints surrounding One/Size's setting powder. Shades: 2 | Finish: Soft matte | Coverage: Buildable | Size: 1.2 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida The 14 Best Face Moisturizers for Oily Skin, Tested by Real People Best Shade Range Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $40 at Amazon $22 at Sephora $36 at Ulta Star Qualities Powder spans eight inclusive shades: pale to deep skin tones Buildable coverage for everything from natural to full glam Ultra-light fine powder formula Red Flags Packaging tough to take on-the-go Fenty strikes once again with its pristine formulations — in this case, a buildable, lightweight setting powder that makes any makeup look red carpet-ready. We appreciated the fact that this powder had an assortment of eight colors, ranging from “lavender” (a fair shade with cool undertones) to “coffee” (meant for deep skin with warm undertones). The variety of shades makes it possible to go lighter in case you want to conceal your under eyes with powder or deeper to bronze if you so choose. Our only complaint is the packaging — it’s sprinkle-out compact was just a bit too messy for us at times and feels difficult to travel with or throw in your bag for midday touch-ups. While loose powder makes clean application a bit difficult, this formula did sit beautifully on our skin and felt weightless every time we dusted it on. If you’re looking for a color match, this is the one to choose. Shades: 8 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 0.98 ounces PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best with SPF Supergoop! (Re)setting Mineral Setting Powder PHOTO: Amazon $35 at Nordstrom $35 at Sephora $35 at Ulta Star Qualities Boasts SPF 35 and instant protection from the sun's damaging rays Works overtime to control shine, even in the blistering heat Keeps skin hydrated Red Flags Built-in brush isn't user-friendly and product becomes wasted when tapping off the excess Less effective at blurring textures compared to others we tested Reapplying sunscreen throughout the day is easier said than done, especially when you're wearing a full face of makeup. Supergoop! has one solution in the form of SPF-infused setting powder. This mineral formula contains zinc oxide to instantly block the sun's damaging rays while keeping shine under control. We were pleasantly surprised by how absorbent this powder is and found out that a little goes a long way. Our skin was visibly less oily with a (mostly undetectable) natural-looking matte finish. While the built-in brush is convenient in theory, we didn't find the feature very user-friendly. Plus, you're supposed to coat the brush, and then tap off the excess powder, which results in a fair amount of wasted product. Although it doesn't do a great job of blurring pores and other textures, we still think this product is worth buying for on-the-go touch-ups on sunny days. What We Think Now We like to keep this skin-friendly powder on hand as we go about our days in the sun, as it's nice knowing that we have instant sun protection whenever we need it (while still keeping our makeup looking seamless). Shades: 4 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 0.15 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida The 13 Best Sunscreens from Neutrogena, Supergoop, and More, Tested on the Beach Best Pore-Minimizing Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $41 at Nordstrom $41 at Nordstrom $28 at Sephora Star Qualities Powder blurred pores, fine lines, and other uneven texture Felt incredibly lightweight on skin Compact packaging and pressed powder formula easy to take on the go Red Flags Didn’t hold up in humidity This ultrafine Charlotte Tilbury powder is comparable to the LYS Beauty formula — a weightless, compacted powder that dusts over the skin like a mattifying cloud, masking any and all oiliness. But what really sticks out about this product is its ability to seemingly zap our pores, minimizing their appearance along with blemishes, fine lines, and more with one sweep of a fluffy brush. Unfortunately, it was no match for the heat, as our own sweat from particularly humid days of testing seemed to overtake this mattifying powder. But in the right conditions (and with opportunities to touch up on hot days), this compact from Charlotte Tilbury is a game changer. You’ll be searching for your pores after you use this one. What We Think Now After months of testing, we’re still using this powder every time we apply our makeup, and we slip it into our bags when we’re on the go. It continued to make our skin look luxurious every time we dusted it on and even stayed smooth in the compact despite us making quite a dent over the months of use — no pilling or caking in the pan at all. Shades: 4 | Finish: Natural | Coverage: Medium/buildable | Size: 0.28 ounces People / Leticia Almeida Best for Mature Skin Saie Airset Radiant Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $30 at Amazon $30 at Sephora View on Saiehello.com Star Qualities Hydrating ingredients plump instead of making skin appear dry Mica particles left skin with a luminous glow that wasn't shiny or oily Red Flags Not overly mattifying, so it wears off quicker If you’re looking for a powder that won’t settle into wrinkles or accentuate fine lines, then the Saie Airset Powder is one of the best options out there. This formula is packed with skin-loving squalane, which locks in moisture and plumps your skin while delivering an airbrushed look. It controlled the shine of our complexions when applied on top of our dewy foundation and left us with an ultra-smooth finish — no caking or pilling at all. The formula even has a little bit of mica in it, which provides our skin with a lit-from-within glow instead of an oily shine. However, since this is a more hydrating product than many of the other setting powders we tried, our skin tended to get shiny a little faster. It kept our complexions looking fairly matte until about the five-hour mark when we needed to go back in for an extra application. But when it comes to mature skin, we’ll take this hydrating powder that requires a little more touchup over a dry, chalky formula any day. What We Think Now Months later, we still enjoy using this powder in our everyday routines. It doesn’t cling onto any of our pre-existing dry patches and even leaves us with a nice glow, even during the dry months. We like how weightless it is on our skin, which makes it great for both natural and full glam days — no matter the amount of makeup on our skin, our complexions will always look blurred and naturally luminous when this powder is in the mix. Shades: 3 | Finish: Radiant | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 0.14 ounces Byrdie / Leticia Almeida Best Matte Finish Hourglass Cosmetics Veil Translucent Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $49 at Amazon $25 at Nordstrom $25 at Sephora Star Qualities Oil-absorbing formula erased excess shine from skin Powder doesn’t settle under the eyes or into fine lines Wore well through full work days without many touch-ups Red Flags Easy to accidentally dump a lot of the powder out at once If your skin is especially oily or you simply favor a more matte complexion, then the Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder is the one for you. While feeling light as air on our skin, this powder definitely puts in the work to minimize naturally-produced shine without the dry, cakey look of a typical matte powder. Our testers never noticed any caking or creasing underneath their eyes, nor any powder separating and settling into the lines of our faces. And what was truly impressive was its longevity — this powder kept our tester's makeup looking fresh all through the work day, with only a bit of shine beginning to peek through in the mid-afternoon because it was a particularly humid day. (For reference, they had applied it at six in the morning.) It was a little too easy to accidentally dump too much powder out, which made us worry about wasting some of this precious product. Though this is arguably on the pricey side, we think that it’s worth the splurge for a dependable, oil-absorbing powder that will keep your makeup looking fresh all day long. What We Think Now This powder has continued to be magnificent at controlling our shine, especially on oily skin. We’ve found ourselves reaching for it daily, though we think we’d need to spritz a setting spray on and use a primer to really make sure our makeup doesn’t go anywhere throughout the day. All in all, it’s a standout when it comes to oil control. Shades: 3 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Sheer | Size: 0.36 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best Radiant Finish Rare Beauty Always an Optimist Setting Powder PHOTO: Sephora $25 at Sephora $18 at Kohls.com View on Rarebeauty.com Star Qualities Glowy finish that's not oily or shiny Lasts all day Shade options for several skin tones Red Flags A little cakey upon first application This setting powder from Rare Beauty stayed true to the brand’s message of letting your inner light shine through — without excess oil, of course. While we did experience a bit of a cakey application at first, after a bit of buffing with a fluffy brush, the excess powder was removed. It worked beautifully with all of our skin types, from oily to combination, controlling our shine but allowing a softly focused glow. We noticed that this powder wasn’t necessarily as fine as some of the others, but this didn’t seem to hinder its performance. The final result after both swiping it on with a brush and baking it under our eyes was seamless and blurred, refining our pores and making our skin look filtered in real life. If you’re a Rare Beauty fan, this one is a must. What We Think Now We particularly loved wearing this setting powder with the Always an Optimist 4-in-1 Prime and Set Mist (coincidentally the best-scoring setting spray that we tested in our lab), which kept our looks fresh and in place all day long. There was never a cakey spot, settled line, or creased under-eye when we blended in this powder; it cemented a spot in our makeup stashes. Shades: 5 | Finish: Radiant/natural | Coverage: Light | Size: 0.33 ounces PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Best for Baking Huda Beauty Easy Bake Powder PHOTO: Sephora $22 at Sephora View on Hudabeauty.com $22 at Kohls.com Star Qualities Absorbs oil instantly, removing shine without looking completely matte Brightens and smooths skin when used on the under-eyes Made for “baking,” so you can apply a lot of product without it getting cakey Red Flags We couldn’t find any! The Huda Beauty Easy Bake powder might be made for baking, but you don’t have to use a lot of product to see its full effects. In testing, we found it absorbs oil and lessens shine instantly, so it’s great for normal to oily skin. Since it’s designed for baking, you can use a lot of product without it ever getting cakey on the skin. Plus, as you apply more product, the powder has a brightening effect. Writers Say “This has been my go-to powder for years. I apply it everywhere I use concealer (my under-eyes, forehead, chin, and around the nose), but its effects are really apparent under the eyes. It brightens and sets my makeup for an all-day hold, so I don’t have to worry about my favorite under-eye concealer creasing.”—Genevieve Cepeda, shopping writer Shades: 9 | Finish: Matte | Coverage: Medium | Size: 0.71 ounces People / Genevieve Cepeda Add to Cart While adding setting powder to your cart, complete your makeup routine with some of our favorite PEOPLE-Tested beauty winners. Each product has been thoroughly tested by our team of editors and independent testers so you can be sure they are the best of the best. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation $54 at Amazon $49 at Nordstrom $49 at Sephora NYX Professional Makeup Bare with Me Concealer Serum $12 $11 at Amazon $12 at Target $12 at Walmart MAC Cosmetics Contour Palette $45 at Amazon View on Maccosmetics.com $42 at Macy's Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Triclone Skin Tech Concealer $45 $43 at Amazon $32 at Sephora View on Hauslabs.com What to Know About Setting Powder Loose vs. Pressed There are two main categories of setting powder: loose and pressed. The latter is slightly less messy and may be better for travel. However, celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman recommends finely milled formulas, which are typically loose and tend to be a bit smoother and lighter. Indeed, loose powders ended up faring best in our lab tests (i.e., the champion Beauty Bakerie Face Flour). Shade Many formulas come in a universal translucent shade that should be invisible on all skin tones. However, some setting powders like the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre are available in multiple shades. In addition to complementing a range of skin tones, darker and lighter colors can be used for other purposes, like bronzing, contouring, and highlighting. Finish Since one of the primary purposes of setting powder is to absorb excess oil and control shine, most have a matte finish. That said, you'll find some variations, such as soft-focus matte, which typically implies a blurring effect (our One/Size pick executed this well), and semi-matte, which will let some natural dewiness show through. Coverage Most setting powders offer sheer coverage, meaning they won't cover or change the look of your makeup underneath. However, others are more buildable up to medium-level coverage (Beauty Bakerie excelled here, too). With the latter, you can typically apply slightly more powder, then dust off the excess without it looking cakey. Application Though pressed formulas sometimes come with round puffs or pads, loose powders don't usually come with an applicator tool. In either case, the best way to apply setting powder is with a large, fluffy makeup brush. Swirl the brush head around to pick up powder and gently tap off the excess. Then dust it onto your skin, either all over your face or just in shine-prone areas. Makeup sponges can also work for stamping on the powder and blending it out. People / Letica Almeida Behind the Scenes Setup: In order to fairly test each of the (32!) setting powders that were curated, we came into the lab bare-faced, each toting a bag of our own makeup. We selected our powders and read the instructions to see what each brand's recommended application method was in order to benefit the performance of each product.Absorbency: While fresh-faced, we put each powder's absorbency skills to the test by adding a small drop of oil to our skin and rubbing it in, only to then try to mattify it with the powder. If it worked, great. If not, it was scored poorly, and we moved on. We then cleansed our faces to remove the powder and oil from our skin and started from the top.Blending: Using a moisturizer and then our personal makeup products to go about our normal routines. From there, we applied the powder to one side of our faces and left the other as it was, comparing the before and after in real-time. Did it blend into our skin well or leave us looking cakey? Do we look more airbrushed, or instead dried out? All of these thoughts were recorded as we set the other sides of our faces.Assessment: After a full day of wear, we took note of each product's blendability and whether the finish and formula were a fit for our skin type and tone. The powders were scored on a scale of one to five (one being the poorest performance and five being the highest) for oil absorbency, finished look, feel, wear, and shade range, and those with the highest overall ratings were ultimately selected for this roundup.Long-Term Insights: But we didn't just stop there — later, we took home top-performing powders to test consistently for six months, checking in with our thoughts, feelings, and feedback on each product at the one, three, and six-month marks of the trial. These insights mattered greatly in the selection (and preservation) of the products in this list, as we keep them updated in order to give you the best recommendations on the internet. PHOTO: People / Tamara Staples PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida PHOTO: People / Leticia Almeida Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between setting powder and finishing powder? Setting powder is a product that helps you get the longest wear out of your makeup by controlling oil production and "setting" your look in place. Finishing powder, on the other hand, is meant to blur lines and other textures to give you an airbrushed look and is typically translucent. Should setting powder be lighter or darker than your foundation? Choosing a setting powder that is one shade lighter than your foundation is a good idea. Because it is worn on top of other makeup, a setting powder can get darker throughout the day. Do you apply blush before or after setting powder? It depends on which type of blush you are using. If you choose a powder blush, apply it after setting your foundation. If you are using a cream formula, apply this before setting. Do you need primer and setting powder? You don't necessarily need to use both primer and setting powder as a rule. As these products are used to address different concerns, one may be more useful than the other. Primer helps prep your skin to wear face makeup by creating a smoother surface and setting powder helps lock your makeup in place. If you notice your foundation does not apply smoothly over your moisturizer, try a primer. If you have oily skin and it affects your foundation throughout the day, go for a setting powder. Why Trust PEOPLE? Theresa Holland is a freelance writer for PEOPLE who also regularly contributes to Byrdie, Travel + Leisure, VeryWell Family, and The Spruce. She has been in the beauty space for many years, holding robust knowledge of cosmetics and the qualities that products have to possess to be PEOPLE-approved. For this article, she analyzed the tester insights from the PEOPLE Tested lab and our long-term test, which was conducted over the span of six months. She also consulted with celebrity makeup artist Jamie Dorman for expert tips on how to achieve red-carpet-ready skin with setting powders. Alyssa Brascia, a staff shopping writer at PEOPLE and makeup expert, later updated this story with our testers' long-term insights and a fresh look at the best powders on the market today. Meet Our Expert Jamie Dorman is a celebrity makeup artist who's worked with the likes of Bella Hadid, Noah Cyrus, and Sadie Sink. She's also a creative director who has done commercial branding work with Betsey Johnson, Alice and Olivia, Vogue, and is the beauty editor at Lucire, a global fashion magazine. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.