Just a decade or two ago, few people even knew what setting powder was. Today, though, most of us can’t imagine life without the best drugstore setting powder in our makeup kit.
Whether you prefer to reach for a cream or liquid foundation when painting your face, these products can settle in fine lines and pores throughout the day. Even the natural oils of your skin can disrupt your foundation and make it look greasy or uneven.
Fortunately, a good setting powder can help lock everything into place.Like most makeup products, not all setting powders are created the same. Depending on your chosen brand, you could end up spending an arm and a leg for a single compact of powder.
But with the best drugstore setting powder, you can have the best of both worlds. These products will keep your makeup looking fresh all day, and they come at a price anyone can afford.So which powders lock in your foundation and stand up to a full day of wear? Let's find out.
Comparison Table
Product | Image | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder |  | ||
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder |  | ||
Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder |  | ||
Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder |  | ||
e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder |  | ||
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder |  | ||
Black Opal True Color Velvet Finishing Powder |  | ||
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder |  |
How We Reviewed
When narrowing down the best drugstore setting powder options currently on the market, the list of contenders can seem endless.
Because there are so many different makeup brands vying for consumer attention (with new companies popping up almost every day), it can be hard to determine which products are winners and which are duds.
To help make your shopping a little easier, our picks for the best drugstore setting powder mostly come from makeup companies you already know and love.
Of course, our favorites weren't chosen just based on brand name recognition. We also referenced numerous customer reviews to see how real people feel about each product’s formula and performance.
Image via Pixabay
Best Drugstore Setting Powder: Top 8 Picks
In your search for the best drugstore setting powder, you've likely come across many different types of setting powder. Not only can different products vary in finish or color, but they can also feature fragrances, textures, and beneficial ingredients.
Ultimately, you will need to decide which of our favorite formulas you and your skin prefer. However, it seems that loose setting powders are the most popular at the moment.
But regardless of which setting powder you choose to add to your makeup routine, you can rest easy knowing you're using one of the best drugstore setting powder formulas available.
CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder
- SMOOTH FINISH: Silky-fine loose powder provides beautiful finish
- SMALL COMPACT: Small enough to take with you for touch-ups on the go
- LIGHTWEIGHT FORMULA: Allows for buildable coverage so you can easily layer it to create your dream look
you want an affordable-but-effective setting powder, the CoverGirl Professional formula is a great choice. While not completely translucent, this loose powder has just enough color to even out your skin tone when worn alone.
This CoverGirl setting powder has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. Customers stated that this powder offers excellent shine control, but the packaging feels cheap and fragile.
You can purchase this setting powder on Amazon or find it at your local drugstore.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$ |
Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
- Hide lines & wrinkles: Coty Airspun face powder in translucent extra coverage is a loose face & setting powder that...
- Foundation or setting powder: Coty Airspun face powder can be used to help smooth & soften the appearance of your skin...
- Lightweight long lasting coverage: Airspun Loose Face Powder is long lasting & helps give full coverage that feels...
Coty may be a lesser-known makeup brand, but their loose translucent setting powder delivers fantastic results. Despite its lack of name recognition, this product has quickly claimed its place as one of the best drugstore setting powder formulas out there.
Plus, this setting powder is extremely versatile. You can wear it over your base makeup for a setting effect. Or, you can wear it alone to smooth out wrinkles, blemishes, and uneven skin tone.
This Coty setting powder has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers.
This formula's biggest issue, at least according to customer reviews, is that its slight beige tint can make those with deep skin tones look ashy and pale. However, this shouldn't be an issue for those with lighter complexions.
You can find this powder on Amazon and at select drugstores.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$ |
Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
- Provides the perfect finishing touch to your makeup base
- Mineral-based formula helps to control shine and smooth skin’s texture
- Helps keep foundation set
Next on our list is the Maybelline New York Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder. This is the best drugstore setting powder for many reasons, but most notably because it comes in a variety of shades suitable for all skin tones.
This Maybelline setting powder has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. Customers stated that this powder provides a soft, matte finish that beats out even high-end setting powders.
However, some reported that this powder accentuates their skin's fine lines and uneven texture. You can remedy the texture issue with regular exfoliation, but there’s only so much you can do for wrinkles.
You can purchase this setting powder from Amazon or find it at your local drugstore.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$ |
Image via Pixabay
e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder
The e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder is a loose, translucent powder that works well for finishing any makeup look. Unlike some powders, it also doesn't leave behind a cakey texture on the skin.
This e.l.f. setting powder has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. Many customers report that this powder has a lightening effect that doesn't always work on dark skin tones. And if you're looking for a matte formula, this powder probably won't meet your expectations.
You can find this setting powder on Amazon or at your local drugstore.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$$ |
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder
- OIL FREE, SHINE MINIMIZING POWDER: Provides an all day flawless finish with shine control. This oil-free noncomedogenic...
- LONG LASTING MAKEUP: Our 16-hour longwear REVLON ColorStay Pressed Powder is never cakey and wonâ€t dry or crack
- MEDIUM/BUILDABLE COVERAGE: Glides on weightlessly and blends evenly for medium to full buildable coverage. Provides a...
The Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder comes in a variety of shades, as well as a translucent version. Also, the formula is oil-free and fragrance-free, making it the best drugstore setting powder for those with sensitive skin. The formula also won’t clog your pores or cause breakouts.
This Revlon setting powder has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. Customers reported good results from this product's mattifying formula. However, it can settle into wrinkles and accentuate them with extended wear.
You can order this powder from Amazon or find it at your local drugstore.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$ |
Black Opal True Color Velvet Finishing Powder
- SOFT-FOCUS RADIANCE. Jet-milled for a velvety texture, this powder softens and sets without caking
- TRUE-TO-TONE SHADE MATCH. Shade ID technology balances multi-colored chromatic pigments to adjust to your unique skin...
- LIGHTWEIGHT COVERAGE. Airy, oil-absorbing formula works for all skin types
If you struggle to find products that match your skin tone, Black Opal's True Color Velvet Finishing Powder might be the best drugstore setting powder to add to your collection.
This Black Opal setting powder has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. According to customers, the formula matches most dark tones without being too red. And it does not produce flashback when taking photos.
Some customers also state that the colored powder oxidizes, which can make it difficult to decide which color is best for you.
You can find this setting powder on Amazon or at select drugstores.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$ |
Image via Pixabay
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Face Powder
- MINERAL FACE POWDER: Our talc-free, paraben-free mineral formula provides smooth, buildable coverage that diminishes the...
- DERMATOLOGIST APPROVED: Our gentle, minimalist formula helps reduce irritation & breakout while providing SPF...
- BEST FACE FORWARD: With primers, highlighters, bronzers, & mineral powders we have a full line of makeup to help you...
Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Face Powder is another great option for those with sensitive skin. The lightweight formula is free of talc and parabens, and the ingredients list is entirely cruelty-free.
If you want to minimize your skin's sun exposure, this setting powder even includes a small amount of SPF protection.
This Physicians Formula powder has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from Amazon customers. While most customers reported good results from this powder, some complained about the limited shade range.
You can find this setting powder on Amazon and at your local drugstore.
Quality | Check Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
$$ |
Everything You Need to Know About Setting Powder
Image via Pixabay
Anyone can walk into a drugstore and pick up a setting powder. However, not all of these powders work the same.
Some powders fight shine and leave your skin with a matte finish. Others add additional color and coverage, replacing or beefing up your regular foundation.
If you aren’t sure which is the best drugstore setting powder for you, learning a bit more about these cosmetics and how they work might help:
What does setting powder do?
While your foundation looks flawless right after you apply it, it doesn't always stay that way for long.
The best drugstore setting powder will help keep your base makeup from moving around. Some setting powders will even absorb excess oil from your t-zone or entire face.
With a high-quality setting powder that suits your skin type, your foundation will maintain a natural-looking finish throughout the entire day.
What are the different types of setting powders?
There are a few different types of setting powders you might see in your local beauty aisle. First, you can purchase either a loose or a pressed powder.
Some people prefer a loose powder because they can pick up the product with a makeup sponge. On the other hand, a pressed powder requires using a makeup brush. When it comes to choosing the best drugstore setting powder in this regard, it will ultimately depend on your personal preference.
Second, you can choose between colored or translucent setting powder. You can use translucent powder on any skin tone because it does not add color to your skin. On the other hand, you will have to match colored powders to your skin to make sure you don’t appear too dark or too light.
Again, whether you opt for a colored or translucent setting powder will depend on your preference for how much coverage you like to wear over your skin.
Do all setting powders have a matte finish?
The matte look isn't for everyone, especially those with dry skin. Thankfully, you can find a variety of semi-matte and matte setting powders that will provide your desired finish.
While semi-matte formulas are better for dry skin, matte powders do a great job keeping oily skin under control. In the end, we suggest reaching for the formula that you think will work best for your skin type.
Stay Oil-Free with the Best Drugstore Setting Powder
The best drugstore setting powder will deliver high-quality results at a great price. Plus, with the growing popularity of setting powder as part of a daily makeup routine, there's no shortage of options.
The hardest part is trying different setting powders until you find one that works for you and your skin.Did your favorite drugstore setting powder make the list? Tell us about your go-to powder in the comments section below!
Featured Image via Pixabay
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