Setting powders can be tricky for my 40+, dry, eczema-prone skin type. I can wear some foundations without powder, but I often benefit from powder to prolong the wear and minimize settling in pores and lines. On rare occasions, I can leave concealers unset, especially if I use them for spot-concealing on the face. However, 95% of the time, I have to set under-eye concealer. I use a moisturizing serum and a heavy moisturizer so that skin prep comes into play with how products perform. With that in mind, you may have different results if you use a lighter moisturizer. You may also have varying results if you use primer and setting spray, which I don’t. So, here are some powders that set my foundations and concealers for longevity without accentuating dryness or creating dryness where there was none.

• Best for Blur and Slight Luminosity: NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Matte Finish (adds no coverage): bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Matte Finish (adds coverage): Maybelline SuperStay up to 24HR Hybrid Powder Foundation – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder – Jump to Review
• Best Natural Finish (adds light coverage): MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural – Jump to Review
• Best Talc-Free Loose Powder (adds slight radiance): Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Jump to Review
• (Honorable Mention) Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder – Jump to Review
• (Honorable Mention) Natural Finish and Slight Luminosity (adds no coverage): Revlon PhotoReady Blurring Powder – Jump to Review

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Best for Blur and Slight Luminosity: **NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder (shade translucent crystal), $42, 10g

I like to pair the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder with foundations that feel tacky to the touch on my face. This powder sets the foundation for longevity without changing the finish much. So, by using this as a setting powder, I get the longevity and dried-down feeling, but it keeps my skin from looking dry or matte. I will note, however, that during the dryness of winter, I don’t experience the luminosity as much. It has been one of the best powders at preventing under-eye concealers from creasing badly throughout wear.

I know there are complaints about how firmly pressed this powder is, which makes it difficult for some people to pick up with a brush. I haven’t had this issue, but it is a baked formula that behaves differently from traditional powders. If you are experiencing that, give it another try with a dark-bristle brush. With darker bristles (and the translucent color), you can see how much powder is on the brush. You can also try a denser brush that can scratch the surface more than a soft and fluffy one. However, if you use a dense brush, be careful not to apply too much.

NARS Light Reflecting Comparison for Color and Finish Reference

This powder is designed to reflect light, so keep that in mind. It comes in 3 other tinted shades now. I have noticed that the Translucent Crystal shade can look a little too matte when my skin is driest. I started buying the shade Shore a couple of years ago and have noticed that it doesn’t look as dry in those situations. I use the shade Shore all over the face more often than the Translucent Crystal shade. I continue to use the Translucent Crystal shade for my under-eyes because I find it more blurring than Shore. I wear the Light Reflecting Powder the most often with NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, but surprisingly, I liked it over the Patrick Ta Hydra Luxe Luminous Foundation as well. The Lancome Care and Glow Serum Concealer and the Estee Lauder Futurist Skincealer are the only concealers (that come to mind) this powder didn’t work with. You can see me wearing the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder (Shore) over the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation by clicking here. You can also see me wearing it over the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation (Tahoe) by clicking here.

NARS Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• Sleeper Hits, Vol 3: NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed (Crystal Translucent)
• Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation – 18 Golden Neutral
• NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation (Syracuse and Tahoe)
• Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer (P7, YP11, NY12 Swatches)

**Ulta Website

	$ 42.00 Sale Price $ 42.00 Regular Price
NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder – Crystal

**NARS Website

	$ Sale Price $ 42.00 Regular Price
NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder – Pressed, Crystal

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Best Talc-Free Matte Finish (adds no coverage): **bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Powder (shade sheer tan), $35, 9g

The bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder (tinted) excels at smoothing out texture, but can feel drying when I pair it with matte foundation and concealer finishes. It has sheer coverage, so the color can slightly shift my foundation shade, but it isn’t very noticeable. The Sheer Tan shade leans slightly pink against my skin tone, which often works out for me since concealers and foundations can sometimes pull orange on my olive undertone. This powder is soft enough to pick up easily on a brush but isn’t messy. It works best for my dry skin with formulas that are either hydrating or have a more luminous finish. I most often pair it with the Estee Lauder Futurist Skincealer, Lancome Care and Glow Serum Concealer, Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, and the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation. It does a great job of improving the wear time of the L’oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation, but the combination is too dry for me to enjoy regularly. The bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder comes in 1 translucent shade and 5 tinted shades. You can see me wearing the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder (Sheer Tan) over the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation by clicking here. I also have a picture of me wearing it over the L’oreal True Match Foundation, in my L’oreal Foundation review post.

bareMinerals Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• L’oreal True Match Super Blendable Foundation Review (W7, Reformulated 2023 version)
• Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Care and Glow Serum Concealer 405W (Swatch)
• Estee Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer 4W (Swatch)
• NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation (Syracuse and Tahoe)
• Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer (P7, YP11, NY12 Swatches)

**Ulta Website

	$ 35.00 Sale Price $ 35.00 Regular Price
bareMinerals ORIGINAL Mineral Veil Talc-Free Pressed Setting Powder – Sheer Tan

**Nordstrom Website

	$ 35.00 Sale Price $ 35.00 Regular Price
bareMinerals® ORIGINAL Mineral Veil Talc-Free Pressed Setting Powder in Sheer Tan at Nordstrom

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Best Matte Finish (adds coverage): **Maybelline SuperStay up to 24HR Hybrid Powder Foundation (shade 332), $15.99 @ Ulta, 6g/.21oz

I suspected this would be too drying, considering the talc, silica, and corn starch all fall within the first 6 ingredients.  Well, the Maybelline SuperStay Hybrid Powder Foundation surprised me because it has never felt drying, whether I’ve used it under my eyes or on my face. The shade 332 is too light for me to use all over as an actual powder foundation, but I have been able ot use this as a setting powder with foundation shades that are too dark. I’ve also used it to set my under eyes, even if the concealer is a good match, because it adds brightness. That can be good considering the shadow that my glasses cast on my under-eye area. Setting concealers that I wish had more coverage (e.g., Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, Lancome Care and Glow Serum Concealer) is another excellent use for this powder.

The Maybelline SuperStay Hybrid Powder Foundation has mica particles that are sometimes apparent, but only from up close. They don’t make it look less matte, but I wonder if that keeps this powder from looking dry on me. The Maybelline SuperStay Hybrid Powder Foundation comes in 16 shades. Since this does have coverage, the more you layer it, the more the color will matter. It would be nice if this came in shade 334 like some of their liquid foundations, but maybe they will expand the range. For now, it works well for me as a setting powder.

**

	$ 15.99 Sale Price $ 15.99 Regular Price
Maybelline Super Stay Up to 24HR Hybrid Powder-Foundation – 332

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Best Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): **Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder (shade translucent tan), $54, 10.5g/.37oz

The Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder comes in 5 shades, which is nice to see for this brand since they often fall short on their shade range. While I have a hard time recommending this due to the price and the fact that I have other powders that sit better over texture, it is a powder that does work for my dry skin. It doesn’t minimize the appearance of my pores as much as other powders, and, at times, it can cling to dry patches. However, the price is in line with other Hourglass products, and I appreciate its ability to keep concealers and foundations from sinking into pores and lines. In other words, I would like it a lot more if I weren’t comparing it to other powders I’ve tried. I have tested this powder a lot and paired it with different foundations and concealers, so if you want the complete picture, check out my review. ← That review also has pictures of me wearing the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder (Translucent Tan) over the L’oreal True Match, NARS Natural Radiant Longwear, and Patrick Ta Hydra-luxe Luminous foundations. But overall, it is mattifying, non-drying, and comfortable to wear. It also works with most things I paired it with, except the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer and the Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation.

Hourglass Pressed Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder (Translucent Tan)
• Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Concealer (P7, YP11, NY12 Swatches)

**Ulta Website

	$ 54.00 Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
HOURGLASS Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder – Translucent Deep

**Nordstrom Website

	$ 54.00 Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
HOURGLASS Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder in Translucent Tan at Nordstrom, Size 0.37 Oz

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Best Natural Finish (adds light coverage): **MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural (shades medium deep, dark, dark golden), $44, 10G/.35oz

The finish of the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural falls somewhere in between the slight luminosity of the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder and the smooth matte effect of the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Powder. This powder can add some luminosity if applied in buffing rather than patting motions, but it is still a natural verging on a matte finish on me. Its light coverage makes the shades forgiving, and the range of 13 skin tone shades and 1 bronzer shade (give me sun) makes it more versatile than the other pressed setting powders on this list.

The only issue with this powder is that it doesn’t actually “set” the foundation or concealer to a dried-down feeling. When I wear it, although I look matte, my skin remains slightly wet to the touch. This could be because I use heavy moisturizer, but I can’t be sure. The Mineralize Skinfinish Natural still manages to give a smooth appearance and help my products last on my face without drying me out. It is just odd that it still feels a little unset. You can see me wearing the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder (Dark) over the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation by clicking here. You can also see me wearing it over the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation (Syracuse) by clicking here.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder – Relevant Blog Posts

• Forgotten Best Sellers: MAC Cosmetics
• NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation (Syracuse and Tahoe)
• Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder Review (Dune)
• Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin (2020 version)

**Ulta Website

	$ 44.00 Sale Price $ 44.00 Regular Price
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Face Powder – Dark

**MAC Website

	$ Sale Price $ 44.00 Regular Price
MAC – Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

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Best Talc-Free Loose Powder (adds slight radiance): **Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Setting Powder (shade translucent), $52, 10.5g/.36oz

I’ve only tried a few loose powders, but the Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Powder is still a standout for me. I was pleased to see Hourglass expand the shade range for this powder, so it now has 3 shades.  Although it is called translucent and the colors are sheer, the tint can change the appearance of my foundation shade a little.  I never experienced any sort of white cast on my skin tone, but that may be more of an issue if you are darker than me.  That is why it is so great that they have two darker shades to choose from now. 

I can use the Hourglass Loose Powder all over the face and for my under eye area.  It mattifies without feeling dry and adds a slight radiance to my skin. That radiance comes from the mica and diamond powder in the formula.  I can see fine shimmer particles in it, but it is not apparent. However, I can see it if I go looking for it.  If I use too much of this, it can start to look dry, but since the sifter on this packaging is small, it is harder to go overboard.

Hourglass Loose Powder – Relevant Blog Post

• The Most Surprising Products of 2022

**Ulta Website

	$ 52.00 Sale Price $ 52.00 Regular Price
HOURGLASS Veil Translucent Setting Powder – Translucent Medium

**Nordstrom Website

	$ 52.00 Sale Price $ 52.00 Regular Price
HOURGLASS Veil Translucent Setting Powder at Nordstrom, Size 0.36 Oz

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Honorable Mention – Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): **Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder (dune), $75, 5g/.17oz

The price, small quantity, and the fact that the brand still has not released refills have pushed the Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder onto the honorable mention list. With only 5g of product, the $75 price tag won’t take you very far. I assume the Westman Atelier is keeping the quantity low on this powder because it is infused with skincare (vitamin C, quinoa seed extract, and probiotics) and only has a 12-month shelf life. So maybe they determined that 5 grams of product can be used up before the skincare ingredients degrade. Regardless of the reason, the value isn’t great with this powder. But when it comes to performance, it is a good powder. It does mattify my skin without feeling dry. And although it feels dry to the touch after setting with it, there is no visible look of powder. I prefer this powder for setting my face; it doesn’t work well for minimizing my under-eye creasing. Considering the cost, it is a shame that the brand hasn’t released refills yet. I am starting to wonder if they might be altering the compact due to many complaints about its difficulty to open. Only time will tell.

The Westman Atelier Pressed Powder range has 5 shades, one translucent and one pink, leaving only 3 “skin tone” shades. I don’t think the shade options are too bad, but more shades are always helpful. I have seen the brand regularly adding shades to its range, so maybe this powder will get an expansion at some point.

Westman Atelier Pressed Skincare Powder Relevant Blog Posts

• Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder Review (Dune)

**Nordstrom Website

	$ 75.00 Sale Price $ 75.00 Regular Price
Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skin Care Powder in Dune at Nordstrom

**COS BAR Website

	$ Sale Price $ 75.00 Regular Price
Vital Pressed Skincare Powder, Pink Bubble

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Honorable Mention – Natural Finish and Slight Luminosity (adds no coverage): Revlon PhotoReady Blurring Powder (shade 30 medium/deep), $19.99 @ CVS, 7.1g/.25oz

The Revlon PhotoReady Blurring Powder is another good powder to pair with foundations that feel tacky on the skin. It does not keep my under-eye concealer from creasing, but it does a decent job of setting foundations without being drying. I don’t consider this powder to be very blurring. Another issue I have with this powder is the shimmer running through it. It is not that noticeable when a light layer is applied, but when I build it up for more oil control, it starts to look metallic, which is not flattering. It looks especially bad on the sides of my nose, where my pores are more prominent. My problems with this powder could be the limited shade range working against me. Sometimes, texture can be accentuated rather than smoothed if something is too light or has the wrong undertone.

As you can see, there are only 3 tinted shades in this powder range. I have the “darkest” shade, which shouldn’t have the word “deep” anywhere on it. The price in my photo is only $16 (vs $19.99 @ CVS) because I purchased mine at the Hanscom AFB Base Exchange.

If I reach for a blurring powder, it is because I have texture issues or want to minimize the appearance of pores. So, I’m giving this an honorable mention because when I use a foundation that isn’t too dewy, a light layer of this powder can help longevity. However, since it is marketed as a blurring powder, and I don’t see that, it doesn’t stack up against other powders. And the shade range needs work.

Revlon PhotoReady Powder Relevant Blog Post

• Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Luminous Skin Perfecting Foundation – 18 Golden Neutral

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Other Powder Reviews

For those curious, here are some reviews on other powders that don’t work as well for me. I am not linking the MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation and the bareMinerals Barepro Powder Foundation because they have both been reformulated since my reviews.

• One Size Boucle Silk Airbrushed Talc-Free Finishing Powder Medium Dark (review with comparisons)
• Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Powder Review (swatch with comparisons)
• Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Pressed Powder
• NYX HD Finishing Powder – Banana
• Estee Lauder Double Wear Matte Powder Foundation (reformulated April 2025)
• NARS Talc-Free Soft Matte Advanced Perfecting Powder

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What is your favorite setting powder, and what do you like about it?

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If you’d like to check out more of my content, here are some places to start. 

• Blush Index
• Brands A-Z
• Bronzer & Highlighter Index
• Brush Index
• Concealer Ranking
• Eyeshadow Index
• Foundation Round-Up
• Lipstick Index
• Powder Round-Up

Disclaimer:  I purchased all products featured with my own money.  This site receives a minimal commission from participating in the WordAds program and using affiliate links.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.