Choosing a Setting Powder Color Is Easier Than You Think—Just Ask the Experts

A Quick Breakdown of Setting Powder Shade Options

Setting powder shades are endless; it feels like a new colorful pressed powder is popping up every day to help even out your skin texture in some way shape or form. So, we wanted to give a quick rundown on the most popular types of setting powder on the market to help you better understand your makeup product options.

Translucent Setting Powder

Translucent powder is likely what you picture when you hear the words setting powder. A staple in many makeup routines, translucent setting powders “give you that blurred, mattified effect without changing the color or undertone of the cream products you have applied,” Ashley West, a Texas-based beauty and lifestyle creator, tells IPSY. One of the benefits of a translucent powder is that they don’t add extra coverage, so it tends to feel lighter on the skin than heavier finishing powders. “It’s perfect for keeping everything in place and controlling oily skin while still looking natural,” says seasoned makeup artist Erica Taylor. “Whether you’re going for a no-makeup makeup look or just want a natural finish without changing the color of your foundation or concealer,” translucent setting powders create a mattifying finish on any skin tone.

Of course, we have some options for you to test out in your routine as well. The BEAUTY BAKERIE Flour Setting Powder in Oat Translucent has been a go-to for many of our Ipsters because it ensures your makeup doesn’t get cakey throughout the day. It also comes in the most adorable packaging, which is a bonus. The SAINT LUXE Setting Powder creates a soft-focus finish for your makeup, blurring fine lines and wrinkles without creasing. For something that’s skincare-focused, the STUDIOMAKEUP Hyaluronic Acid Translucent Setting Powder mattifies, minimizes pores, and blurs imperfections.

Tinted Setting Powder

Tinted powder has spiked in popularity recently, with brands like ONE/SIZE and HUDA BEAUTY launching various shades of loose setting powders to not only set your makeup and provide long-lasting coverage, but also to help brighten and blur imperfections for a flawless finish. The key to knowing which pigment is right for your skin type is to understand color theory. “By understanding the color wheel and complementary tones, we can use tinted setting powders to neutralize specific concerns and enhance the overall complexion,” says Taylor. “For example, orange or peach-toned powders help cancel out blue or darker under eyes, making them ideal for correcting dark circles. Pink powders are great for brightening, especially in areas that appear dull or shadowed. Yellow powders help with mild redness, while green correctors are more targeted for reducing intense redness.”

The ONE/SIZE Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder comes in seven shades, including Ultra Pink and Ultra Peach. HUDA BEAUTY popularized purple loose powder with their Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder in Ube Birthday Cake (you’ve likely seen it all over TikTok), which lifts and brightens while also doubling as a muted blush. The MORPHE Bake & Set Setting Powder in Banana comes in a talc-free, yellow hue to minimize redness and set makeup for up to 16 hours.

Skin Tone Setting Powder

Skin tone-colored face powder generally offers more coverage than translucent setting powder. And while it works for all skin tones from fair skin to dark skin, it’s especially ideal for darker complexions. Translucent powder may be “translucent,” though it can sometimes still leave a white cast on dark skin types, which is why a skin tone setting powder is ideal for those with deeper complexions. “Skin tone powders give you extra coverage and match your skin’s color, so if you want a fuller finish or more coverage from your setting powder, this is the way to go,” says Taylor. The MUA says they’re ideal for when you “want to set your makeup without changing the color or undertone of your foundation. They help everything stay in place, control shine, and give you a smooth, matte finish.”

The LAURA MERCIER Translucent Loose Setting Powder comes in shades for light, medium, and deep skin tones, which seamlessly blend into your makeup for 24-hour shine control that’s lightweight. Another fave of ours is the FENTY BEAUTY Pro Filt'r Instant Retouch Setting Powder, which comes in eight superfine, weightless, loose setting powder shades that extend makeup wear for that filtered, photo-ready finish. They’re also available in mini sizes, which makes traveling with them a breeze.

Determining the Best Setting Powder for Your Skin Tone and Makeup Look

Knowing all these options exist, how do you determine the right shade for you? It ultimately comes down to the final look you’re hoping to achieve. Both Taylor and West agree that translucent setting powder is ideal for light coverage. “If I want a more natural makeup day, I’ll opt for a translucent setting powder,” shares West.

For days when you’re looking for full coverage or want to create an ultra-glam makeup look, color or skin tone-tinted setting powder is the way to go. “If you’ve got uneven skin tone or discoloration, a tinted powder can help even things out while still locking everything in,” shares Taylor. “And if you’re into that full glam, a setting powder with coverage gives you that smooth, flawless finish that really pulls the whole look together, especially if you are looking for a full glam makeup look.”

Final Makeup Tips and Tricks From the Experts

Aside from the color of your setting powder, application also plays a role in how your final look turns out. West reminds us of the importance of using a makeup brush over a puff. “Using a brush versus a puff can change the application and overall coverage,” she says. “Typically, a brush will distribute product in a lighter manner, as opposed to a puff.” We use the F.A.R.A.H Powder & Go Brush for loose powder because the dual-ended brush features a larger brush that works on the entire face and a smaller brush that’s ideal for pressing and locking powder into smaller places like the under eyes and T-zone. We use the F.A.R.A.H Pressed Powder Brush 620F for pressed setting powder because it helps apply the powder in a way that won’t streak or cake.

Taylor shares that it’s important to consider your skin type and texture when selecting a powder formula. She recommends a talc-free powder for mature and dry skin because they “tend to be softer and less drying, so they don’t settle into fine lines or emphasize texture. For mature or drier skin, that makes a big difference in how smooth and natural the finish looks.” Most setting powders these days tend to be talc-free, though it’s important to look at the formulation to ensure the ingredient isn’t lingering in the product. One of our fave formulations is the BAREMINERALS Mineral Veil® Talc-Free Loose Setting Powder, which uses corn starch to deliver a weightless, blurred effect.

Choosing between pressed and loose powder can also feel tricky, which is why we brought our experts in to help determine which is right for your skin type. West says that “pressed powder is a great option to set the entire face.” And Taylor says that “pressed powder is a great option [for oily skin types or anyone looking to make touch-ups throughout the day] because it's more compact and helps control shine.” For that reason, we keep the CIATÉ LONDON Mini Extraordinary Pressed Setting Powder on us at all times.

Taylor mentions that she “recommends loose powder for normal to dry or mature skin [because] it’s lighter and gives more of that soft-focus effect.” The KIMCHI CHIC BEAUTY Puff Puff Pass Set & Bake Powder uses rice powder and vitamin E to help mature and dry skin types maintain their glow without settling into the skin and looking cakey over your makeup.