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6 silky face powders perfect for setting your makeup

Trust us, your makeup kit needs these

By Delaney Loane

April 26 2022

Setting powders are truly one of the most underrated products in our makeup kits. While they might not be as pretty as a snazzy eyeshadow palette, and they don’t tend to make you feel as powerful as a bright red lipstick does, they’re integral to keeping your complexion looking flawless and shine-free throughout the day.

But as with any beauty product, there are some that are brilliant and some that fall short. To find out which ones are worthy of your hand-earned dollars, we did some worthwhile research (AKA a whole lot of powdering), and found these six star-status setting options...

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra Powder

Powders aren't solely designed for oil-prone complexions, and this hyaluronic acid-powered one proves it. It's so moisturising we swear you can feel it melt into your skin, but don't worry, your foundation certainly won't be melting off once it's applied.

$89 at MECCA

Surratt Beauty Diaphane Loose Powder

This multipurpose perfector is a favourite of Rae Morris’s (the go-to makeup artist for celebs like Shanina Shaik and Jessica Mauboy), because it’s brilliant when used to set makeup as well as a velvety base under eyeshadow. It also comes in both luminous and matte finishes, so the choice is totally yours.

$48 at MECCA

Covergirl Clean Fresh Powder

This velvety vegan pressed powder swaps talc for tapioca to keep your face looking and feeling fresh sans nasties. It snaps shine out of your life, but doesn't dull your skin while doing it, so you can ditch the oil-slick vibe without losing your natural luminosity.

$18.95 at Covergirl

M.A.C Cosmetics Blot Powder/Pressed Compact

We like to refer to this guy as 'old faithful'; it's truly never let us down. It's compact and portable so it's perfect for touch-ups on the go, and with its colourless formula, you won't be caught looking muddy even if you apply in the back of a pitch black Uber.

$49 at M.A.C

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder

Ah yes, the kind of baking we are capable of. Our favourite thing about this shine-controlling brightening powder (yes, we swear that finish is a thing) is the built-in net; it helps you to get the perfect amount of product every single time. The translucent option is our fave, but with eight shades, the range is definitely more inclusive than most.

$52 at Sephora

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish

Putting both 'airbrush' and 'flawless' in one product name is bold, but this unbelievably silky almond oil-infused option truly lives up to its promises. It delivers a soft-focus blurring effect that looks like you've thrown a 'Paris' filter over your real life face, and for that we are forever grateful. It also happens to be the very product Bridgerton star Simone Ashley keeps in her bag for on-the-go touch-ups.

$70 at Charlotte Tilbury