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If you're not dusting the best pressed setting powder over your makeup to lock it in place and reduce excess oil, you’re neglecting “one of the most important steps of your routine,” according to experts like New York City-based makeup artist Delina Medhin. Not only can the best setting powder ensure a long-lasting finish, it can also reduce shine and prevent flashback in photos—giving skin a soft-focus finish at all times (your fave setting spray can’t do this!). In particular, "pressed face powder is one of the true superheroes in my pro kit," says New York City-based makeup artist Sara Talias of the mess-free, travel-friendly formulas that give loose setting powder a run for its money. To determine which formulas deliver on their promises, Allure editors tested a bunch of the best pressed setting powders that make their makeup go the extra mile.
Our Top Pressed Setting Powders
- Best Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, $49
- Best for Oily Skin: Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder, $42
- Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter, $15
- Best Shade Range: Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder, $32
- Best for Large Pores: Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder, $54
- Best for Dry Skin: Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder, $38
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What are the benefits of pressed powder?
- How do I apply pressed powder?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Revolve
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder is a staple for Talias. She notes the powder's "unique formula," which she credits with hydrating and brightening the skin, thanks to vitamin E-rich almond oil and rose wax. "I especially love this product under the eyes for keeping creasing to a minimum," she says. Thanks to its pearlescent pigments, which diffuse light as it hits your face to keep skin luminescent, it still offers a nice lit-from-within glow. Because the formula is ultra-fine and lightweight, it’s great for people with oily skin who may find other powders too heavy. We do wish it came in more than just four shades, but we find that the available options are flexible enough to use across many different tones.
Han before applying the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
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"I can't be bothered to deal with loose powders because of the inevitable mess (whether I'm at home or traveling, TBH). I love how natural of a finish this Charlotte Tilbury pressed powder provides—like a soft-blurring veil that doesn't totally negate my glow. (Thanks, light-reflecting particles!) To that point, it's not my pick for the mattest-of-matte powders, but I'm a-okay with that. I wear the shade 2 Medium, which I find complements my foundation and concealers perfectly without washing my East Asian skin tone out (as I presume Light would)." —Sarah Han, commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: almond oil, rose wax, mica
- Available shades: 4
Best for Oily Skin: Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Nars
Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Nordstrom
Ulta Beauty
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai using the Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Deanna Pai
Why it’s worth it: Similar to its loose setting powder sibling, Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder locks in makeup in seconds, complete with a subtly dewy finish that keeps oil at bay without completely ditching the glow. This lightweight formula is enriched with moisturizing skin-care powerhouses like glycerin, squalane, and vitamin E, to create a diffused effect. While there are only four shades, our testers say the range is pretty flexible, especially Crystal, the very-light-to-light hue.
Pai before using the Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Deanna Pai
Pai after using the Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder
Deanna Pai
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“My naturally oily skin looks shiny by mid-morning, but I've never committed to setting powder, since I felt they made my skin look dusty, for lack of a better word. This is the only one I ever wear, since it feels like nothing (a must for the acne-prone!) and creates a soft-focus effect, rather than sapping all the life and dewiness from my skin. Even though it comes in four shades, the translucent version (meant for pale skin tones) still works just as well for my medium-tan skin.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: glycerin, squalane, vitamin E
- Available shades: 4
Best Drugstore: e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter
E.L.F. Cosmetics
Halo Glow Powder Filter
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce writer Lily Wohlner applying the e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter
Lily Wohlner
Why it’s worth it: The Best of Beauty Award-winning e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter gives skin a soft-focus, lit-from-within glow, minus the luxury price tag. A blend of silica and skin-loving ingredients like squalane and sodium hyaluronate helps the weightless formula melt seamlessly into skin, blurring pores and fine lines without ever looking cakey. It even stands up to humidity, but if you do need a quick touch-up, the sleek compact, velour puff, and built-in mirror make on-the-go fixes effortless.
Wohlner before applying the e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter
Lily Wohlner
Wohlner after applying the e.l.f. Cosmetics Halo Glow Powder Filter
Lily Wohlner
Tester feedback from commerce writer Lily Wohlner
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“I have combination skin, which means I’m usually shiny by noon, no matter what I do. But when I use this powder at 8 a.m., my skin still looks fresh and controlled by lunchtime—and honestly, that’s more than I can say for some of my $100-plus powders. It can look a little cakey if you go overboard, so I use a light hand and a fluffy brush to sweep it over my T-zone. The result is smooth, natural-looking skin with just a hint of extra coverage for those not-so-great skin days.”—Lily Wohlner, commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: silica, squalane, sodium hyaluronate
- Available shades: 12
Best Shade Range: Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
Rare Beauty
True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
Sephora
Kohl's
Allure senior art director Ingrid Fowler applying the Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
Ingrid Fowler
Why it’s worth it: With 16 shades to choose from (the most options on this list!), Rare Beauty’s True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder is suitable for everyone, and the formula itself is just as versatile. The moment it meets skin, it blurs, smooths, and softens shine (thanks, mica and rice bran wax), leaving behind a natural finish that still looks like you, just a little more flawless. It keeps that lit-from-within radiance intact, never veering into flat or powdery territory, and even plays nicely over heavier foundations without a hint of cakiness. Bonus points for the sleek half-moon compact that tucks neatly into any bag for easy touch-ups whenever you need a quick refresh.
Fowler before applying the Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
Ingrid Fowler
Fowler after applying the Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Pressed Finishing Powder
Ingrid Fowler
Tester feedback from senior art director Ingrid Fowler
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"This powder is absolutely weightless on my skin, and provides the exact amount of tint and matte finish that I'm looking for. I tend to brush it on my T-zone, and it blends seamlessly with whatever other makeup I'm wearing. Plus, the packaging is cute and I personally love that it's talc-free."—Ingrid Fowler, senior art director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: mica, silica, rice bran wax
- Available shades: 16
Best for Large Pores: Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder
Hourglass
Pressed Setting Powder
Nordstrom
Bluemercury
Allure associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry applying the Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder
Melanie Curry
Why we love it: Whether you’re wearing a more full-coverage foundation or something sheer, this Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder instantly cuts shine and leaves your skin looking smooth and soft, without any weight. Like the rest of Hourglass’s base lineup, it’s made with light-reflecting powders that blur the look of pores, fine lines, and texture. The formula is super finely-milled, so it feels like nothing and blends in without leaving behind any white cast. We’ve tried it with both a sponge and a brush, and either way, it sets makeup beautifully while keeping skin matte (but not flat) for hours.
Curry before applying the Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder
Melanie Curry
Curry after applying the Hourglass Pressed Setting Powder
Melanie Curry
Tester feedback from associate manager of audience development Melanie Curry
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“I’m usually a diehard loose setting powder fan, but I carry this little powerhouse everywhere. I sweat easily, so during summer touchups (which are…frequent), it’s my go-to for covering sweat marks and blemishes. It blends everything seamlessly and mattifies, keeping my makeup looking fresh—even after hours of wear.” —Melanie Curry, associate manager of audience development
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Silica, mica
- Available shades: 6
Best Finish: Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
Kosas
Cloud Set Setting Powder
Nordstrom
Revolve
Allure contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee applying the Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
Christa Joanna Lee
Why it’s worth it: For a powder that sounds as airy and wispy as it feels, consider this formula. "The Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder provides a gorgeous sheer coverage, perfectly setting any look while keeping it fresh and natural," says Talias. Its talc-free, cruelty-free, and vegan formula—which contains nourishing glycerin, moisturizing jojoba seed oil, and fatty acid-laden sunflower seed oil—is just a bonus. The formula actually starts as a mousse, which is then baked to transform it into a supremely silky, super-lightweight powder. In our testing, we loved how it let our skin breathe—so your face still looks like real skin, not powdery, chalky, or, the worst offender…dry.
Lee before applying the Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
Christa Joanna Lee
Lee after applying the Kosas Cloud Set Setting Powder
Christa Joanna Lee
Tester feedback from contributing commerce writer Christa Joanna Lee
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“I’ve avoided setting powders for years because I always worried they’d make my dry skin look flat or cakey—as a Korean, I’m all about chasing the glass glow. But the Kosas Cloud Set changed my bias about setting powders! This swept away excess shine without stealing my glow, and lately, when my foundation has been looking a little streaky, this powder helps blur and even everything out. The texture is so bouncy, and it feels weightless going on.” —Christa Joanna Lee, contributing commerce writer
More to know
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- Key ingredients: bamboo stem extract, passionfruit leaf extract, peony extract
- Available shades: 10
More Setting Powders We Love
Best Blurring: Fenty Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder
Fenty Beauty
Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Invisible, matte, instant, setting…we love a product name that makes its benefits obvious. Fenty’s Invisimatte Instant Setting + Blotting Powder is a translucent, no-flashback powder that mattifies shine on contact, whether you’re touching up at the office midday or performing at the Super Bowl. “This absorbs shine beautifully without making your makeup cakey or disturbing the makeup beneath,” says Kasey Spickard, a makeup artist based in New York City. “I use this on my clients for big events and have seen how it doesn't budge all night.”Bonus: The universal shade takes the guesswork out of shade matching.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: squalane, mica, radish root extract, chia seed extract
- Available shades: 1
Best for Redness: Givenchy Prisme Libre Blurring & Color Correcting Matte Pressed Powder
Givenchy
Prisme Libre Blurring & Color-Correcting Matte Pressed Powder
Nordstrom
Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Each Givenchy Prisme Libre Blurring & Color Correcting Matte Pressed Powder features a mosaic of four color-correcting tones to neutralize redness, brighten dullness, and balance uneven skin tone. To thank is peony root extract, which visibly improves dullness and uneven tone, and the powder’s color-correcting pigments. The silky, microfine texture sets makeup without looking flat or dry, giving your skin a naturally matte (but never lifeless) finish. “This pressed powder version of the beloved Prisme Libre loose powder has become a must-have in my kit,” says Spickard. Like its predecessor, it also includes kaolin, a shine-absorbing ingredient often found in pore-purifying face masks, to help control oil throughout the day so your makeup doesn’t slip and slide. “It really does blur and lock makeup in,” adds Spickard.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: mica, kaolin, peony root extract
- Available shades: 6
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of pressed powder?
For one, they lend staying power to cream and liquid foundation formulas. What's more, explains New York City-based makeup artist Suzy Gerstein, pressed powders are more user-friendly than loose powders since "they're perfect for throwing in your bag for on-the-go touch-ups without the potential mess of loose powder particle spillage." The best pressed setting powders also work by absorbing excess oil (especially in the T-zone) to create a smoother, shine-free complexion.
Gerstein also notes that the best pressed setting powders on the market are "incredibly finely milled and featherlight," which makes them suitable for all skin types. These days, they also offer skin-care benefits—which, in some cases, can help "bind moisture to the skin," she says. This makes them an especially ideal choice for those with dry or mature skin, on whom traditional powders can look cakey.
How do I apply pressed powder?
Remember that less is more when it comes to pressed powder—after all, it's not bronzer or blush. "Place your brush in the powder, then tap it off until it looks like nothing is left on the brush, then keep applying until you get to your desired matte look," Medhin previously said. Similarly, Talias recommends using a small brush and "diffusing the product in certain areas of the face," such as the nose, chin, and forehead, which tend to collect the most shine.
Meet the experts
- Delina Medhin, a makeup artist based in New York City
- Kasey Spickard, a makeup artist based in New York City
- Sara Talias, a makeup artist based in New York City
- Suzy Gerstein, a makeup artist based in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best pressed powders, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and professional makeup artists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
