Smooth pores and banish shine with these setting powders for oily skin

If you have oily skin then you'll know the struggle of having to watch your makeup succumb to excess oils, and generally looking like a shiny oil slick, come midday. 

There are a myriad of oil-balancing serums and oil-free moisturisers on the market, but sometimes there's nothing better for banishing shine and blurring enlarged pores than a setting powder. Plus, they're always a worthy handbag companion for on-the-go touch-ups if you're desperately in need of mattifying. 

Although we'd recommend you steer clear of formulas infused with light-reflecting particles, which can make you look even shinier, the truth is most setting powders work well on oily skin types. However, there are a handful of setting powders for oily skin that outperform their peers, which we think you should try. Keep reading to discover BEAUTYcrew's top recommendations in the category...

2024's Top 3 Best Setting Powders For Oily Skin

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, $40.50, Selfridges
e.l.f cosmetics High Definition Powder, $14, Adore Beauty
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder, $59, Huda Beauty

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
from $40.50 at Selfridges

Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Setting Powder launched in 1996 and ever since it's been one of the most popular setting powders available. The finely-milled formula creates an undetectable natural matte finish on the skin, boasts 24 hour shine-free technology and lasts up to 16 hours after application. The buildable powder is a beloved staple in the makeup kits of dedicated 'bakers' and makeup artists alike, who all like to use the silky formula to set their makeup. 

Key features:

Soft-focus, matte finish
No flashback
16 hour shine-free wear time
Smooths texture and blurs imperfections

Available at:

• $40.50 from Selfridges
• $42.57 from Revolve
• $46 from MECCA

e.l.f cosmetics High Definition Powder
from $14 at Adore Beauty

This budget-friendly setting powder is a great pick if you have oily skin but can't imagine spending more than $20 on a makeup product. The formula has a soft-focus finish that blurs pores, fine lines and imperfections, and is perfect if you plan on spending any time in front of a camera. The powder itself feels soft and lightweight on the skin, with an invisible, radiant-matte finish. 

Key features:

Less than $20
Blurs pores, fine lines and imperfections
Soft and lightweight feel
Invisible radiant-matte finish

Available at:

• $14 at Adore Beauty
• $15 from Kmart
• $16 from e.l.f cosmetics

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Powder
from $59 at Huda Beauty

It's likely you've come across pink setting powders while scrolling through videos on your TikTok For You page; BeautyTok is currently obsessed with the brightening and blurring effects of pink-hued setting powders. Huda Beauty's Easy Bake Loose Powder in 'Cherry Blossom Cake' is easily our favourite, especially for oily skin. The finely-milled loose powder was formulated specifically for baking makeup and as a result it sets makeup beautifully without looking cakey on the skin when layered. Plus, the colour-correcting pink hue makes all skin types look radiant without the need for shimmer or glow-inducing ingredients, which might make oily skin look shinier. 

Key features:

Lightweight, silky, finely-milled formula
Controls shine and enhances radiance
Colour corrects and causes zero flashback
Doesn't crease or cake
Available in nine shades

Available at:

• $59 from Huda Beauty
• $64 from Selfridges
• $66 from Sephora

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder
from $73 at Charlotte Tilbury

Prefer a pressed powder? Nothing beats the airbrush effects of Charlotte Tilbury's best-selling setting powder. The lightweight formula blurs imperfections and pores, and smooths texture too. The pigmented powder imparts a light veil of complexion-correcting colour cosmetics on the skin, plus it comes in a range of shades to suit a myriad of skin tones.

Key features:

Pressed powder compact
Lightweight formula
Blurs imperfections and pores
Smooths skin texture
Available in 4 shades

Available at:

• $73 from Charlotte Tilbury
• $73 from MECCA
• $75.24 from Cult Beauty

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
From $51 at Fenty Beauty

Ever wondered how Rihanna's makeup always looks perfect under the glare of red carpet lights and the flash of paparazzi cameras? Introducing: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder. The Fenty Beauty founder specifically uses the banana powder-inspired shade 'Butter' to get that matte yet radiant glow she's always sporting.

Key features:

Superfine loose mattifying powder
Sets makeup for extended wear time
Perfects and brightens the complexion
Blurs pores and fine lines
Doesn't cake or settle into fine lines
Available in eight shades

Available at:

• $51 from Fenty Beauty
• $51 from Sephora

Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder
from $56 at Sephora

Givenchy's iconic Prisme Libre Loose Powder combines colour correctors with a finely milled setting powder formula, which helps to minimise the appearance of redness, dark circles and sallow skin. The soft powder blurs imperfections as well as smoothing texture, and minimising the appearance of pores. 

Key features:

Colour corrects
Minimises the appearance of redness, dark circles and sallow skin
Blurs imperfections and pores
Smooths texture
Infused with vitamin E
Doesn't cake or settle into fine lines
Available in five shades

Available at:

• $56 from Sephora (mini size)
• $105 from Sephora
• $108 from David Jones
• $108 from MYER

A setting powder is nothing without the right base; these 8 foundations will last all day on oily skin.

Main image credit: @fentybeauty