12 best setting powders for a shine-free finish that won’t budge

Huda Kattan, Huda Beauty’s namesake founder, is known for her highly snatched eye make-up look, and this is the product that creates it. In a loose powder form, it’s incredibly easy to use under the eyes with a powder puff, or across the T-zone with a brush, giving the result of an air-brushed finish. Fine lines, pores and under-eye bags are instantly smoothed away, and it also stamps out shine, while making make-up last so much longer. Just remember, a little goes a long way, so better to build up than overdo it and try to remove.

For those who want to add more coverage without getting cakey, this setting powder is the one you should pick. With a highly pigmented formula, it’s lightweight yet leaves a trace of colour that conceals blemishes, redness and dark circles. Creating a matte face is the aim of the game, so, expect shine to disappear and the appearance of oil to be erased. Inside the square-shaped box is a mirror and make-up sponge for easy application, which our tester really appreciated.

Morphe is famous for its foundations, make-up brushes and eyeshadow palettes, so, it’s unsurprising the brand also sells a great powder to help everything stay in place. Talc-free, with a silky feel, this lightweight loose powder blends instantly into the skin, stamping out oil without any cakiness. Our tester noticed it did this while still leaving a natural finish (so long as you don’t apply too much) that they really loved the look of. Plus, it kept make-up in place all day, even during warm weather.

As a top tip, keep the protective sticker over the application holes, only peeling off a small part when needed to avoid too much product spilling out.

The first thing to note about the Fenty pro filt’r powder is it’s incredibly fine, meaning only the smallest amount is needed to achieve the perfect matte make-up look. In fact, we’ve been using ours for over a month now, and it still looks like it’s hardly been touched.

Taking a tiny amount on a powder puff or brush, it instantly melts into make-up, mattifying the face without any cakey finish and stamping out shine in a subtle, natural-looking way. The lavender shade worked wonders at brightening up the under-eye area, while the other skin tone options work best at blotting the rest of the face.

Unlike traditional translucent setting powders, this one does have a subtle shade. Being on the lighter side, it works wonders for brightening and is our favourite find for lightening dark circles.

Coming in at 29g, it is on the larger side, meaning you get more for your money, and a little goes a long way. Just a touch on the end of a powder puff or brush will blur pores, conceal shine and result in a more radiant complexion. It lasts an incredibly long time, thanks to its size, and extends the wear of your make-up for hours after application, which is certainly a good thing, as it’s a little large to take with you on the go.

If you’re the kind of person who pops their make-up on during their morning commute, we like your style. But finding products that can work with one hand while balancing the rest on your lap, often next to someone snoring on your shoulder, isn’t always the easiest. So, this KVD pick couldn’t be more perfect for you.

With a mirrored lid, small velvet powder puff and sleek snap-shut case, it’s the perfect on-the-go companion. Being a pressed powder, it stamps our shine in seconds and feels silky smooth to the touch.

Chanel make-up is a must-have for luxury-lovers. After all, how else can you get your hands on the House for less than £50? This setting powder is one of our favourite finds, too.

To start off with, it’s on the larger side of all the options in this line-up, meaning you get a lot of bang for your buck. There’s even a Chanel logo velvet powder puff inside, upping the bougie factor of the product. Incredibly lightweight, a little goes a long way, and it also has a subtle floral fragrance that our tester fell in love with. Application was easy with the included puff, and a full face of make-up lasted longer, looked fresher and had an airbrush-like finish. Need we say more?

You may have expected the Chanel option to be the most expensive setting powder on this list, but Hourglass actually takes the spot. Coming in at £57, this setting powder is certainly one for those who truly appreciate their make-up finds. Housed in a chic gold case, with a mirror and applicator inside, it certainly looks and feels luxe, contributing to the high price point.

The sponge applicator is super soft, and the powder is so finely milled that it blends instantly into the skin, becoming invisible.

Our tester loved how it’s nearly impossible to apply too much, thanks to the handy applicator, although, it does soak up quite a large amount of the product, which isn’t ideal, given the price point. Plus, the lightweight powder really makes a noticeable difference when it comes to airbrushing the face, smoothing out the appearance of pores and fine lines.

This is possibly the most famous setting powder of all time. Anyone who watched Rihanna’s Superbowl performance may recognise it from her sassy touch-up moment on stage, and it certainly has star potential.

Working as an invisible pressed powder, which is rather rare, it instantly blots out shine on all areas of the face without any kind of cakey finish, giving a flawless look to the face from all angles.

Included is a sponge for easy application, which our tester loved, and sodium hyaluronate has been included to prevent any drying. We’re marking it as a must-have for those looking to stamp out shine, reduce the appearance of pores and combat excess oil.

Coming in at just 7.2g, this Glossier option is the perfect pick for those who like little products that can be taken on the go. The smaller proportions actually make it easier to apply the powder to an area of the puff or brush, rather than coating the whole thing, meaning less spillage and more precise application. It instantly mattifies the face, stealing away shine yet without a cakey, crumbly finish, and sets make-up in place for a full day without any faff.

Translucent powders can be trusted to work over any make-up look, on any skin tone, making them one of the most versatile beauty products for any occasion. Coming with a mirrored lid and velvet powder puff, this one was easy to apply and just great for on-the-go application.

Being from Soap & Glory, it has the brand’s tongue-in-cheek packaging, which our tester loved, and this was even taken to the inside with “powder” pressed into the product. The powder itself instantly mattified the face with minimal effort, and it delivered results without leaving a trace of residue.

The worst thing about a loose setting powder is that if you open it at the wrong angle, it can go everywhere. But, this clever contraption from e.l.f. expertly covers up one side at all times, meaning no more pulling out too much powder onto your puff or dropping it all over the floor – genius.

Lightweight and silky, it feels a little like talcum powder (in a good way), and instantly soaks up any oil on the face, for a full matte finish. It feels weightless when on, so long as you don’t apply too much, and leaves the face with an airbrushed finish. What more could we ask for?