Believe It or Not, Celebrity Makeup Artists Love These Drugstore Setting Powders

Emma Leger Best Drugstore Setting Powders

(Image credit: @emmaleger)

Shopping for an effective setting powder may seem straightforward and painless, but it is often tricky. It begins with choosing between loose or pressed formulas, which, while virtually the same, work differently and lead to various results depending on the application tool you choose. Next comes the shade selection to avoid being stuck with a product that may read too cool or warm or result in a flashback that will leave you looking like a ghost in pictures.

When it comes to picking out your setting powder from thousands of drugstore brands, knowing which ones have continued to live up to and exceed customer expectations can be helpful (especially when glowing reviews come from someone who's based their career on creating stunning makeup looks). That's where celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo comes into play. He's worked with everyone from Wednesday star Jenna Ortega to Oppenheimer actor Florence Pugh. If you're ready to begin your journey through the world of setting powders from one of Hollywood's biggest makeup artists, we recommend you keep scrolling.

Finding and Using Your Setting Powder

Discovering the right setting powder for you isn't all work and no play. According to Oquendo, it takes some trial and error to know what will make the biggest difference in your finished look. When selecting the setting powders to work with, Oquendo favors products featuring silica. "It is considered an anti-caking agent, [and] pretty much it makes the powder look smooth and not heavy," he explains. While a number of his personal favorites come with a bigger price tag, he's not one to shy away from drugstore products that deliver major results, like Maybelline's Lasting Fix Translucent Setting Powder.

As you may have already guessed, setting powders are similar to other base makeup products in that you should prep your face before you apply it. "I like to keep skin light and sheer before my setting powder application because then it applies evenly," he says. Oquendo recommends skincare followed by using a smoothing and illuminating concealer (his favorite is the Tula Skincare Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Concealer) and a skin tint.

"I would use the Morphe X Ariel A21 Brush then to pick up the setting powder, and before you apply it, tap the bottom of the brush against the counter straight up so the powder settles into the base and body of the brush and is not just sitting on top," he explains. Finish the look with a setting spray to keep everything in check. Now that you know what to look for and how to apply setting powders for the best result, keep scrolling to find more setting powders makeup artists and beauty editors keep in their kits. You'll want to screenshot these before they disappear from the shelves of your neighborhood drugstore.

Allison Ho Best Drugstore Setting Powders

(Image credit: @alllisonho)

The Best Drugstore Setting Powders, Listed

Best Overall: Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder

Best Clean Formula: Covergirl Clean Invisible Loose Powder

Best Natural-Looking Glow: e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Pressed Powder

Best for Deep Skin Tones: Black Radiance True Complexion Loose Setting Powder

Best for All-Day Wear: Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder

Best Soft-Focus Finish: Black Opal Soft Velvet Finishing Powder

Best Blurring: Morphe Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder

Emmanuelle Koffi Best Drugstore Setting Powders

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Best for Multipurpose Use: Nyx Professional Makeup HD Finishing Powder

Best for Combination Skin Types: Almay Loose Finishing Powder

Best for All Skin Types: Airspun Loose Face Powder

Best for Normal and Oily Skin Types: Colourpop No Filter Setting Powder

Best for Dry Skin: Mented Cosmetics Skin Silk Loose Setting Powder

Best for Oil Management: Maybelline Fit Me! Loose Powder

Best Matte Finish: Milani Make It Last Setting Powder

Best Shade Range: Nyx Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Mattifying Pressed Powder

This article originally went live at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Maya Thomas
Assistant Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's assistant beauty editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.