You've taken your time, whether it's 15 mins or even an hour, to ensure that your face looks exactly like you'd like it to. The only thing left is putting on that powder formula that will keep everything in place.
The best drugstore setting powder can be considered one product that definitely works overtime. It's a must-have and go-to product in your makeup bag. The best drugstore setting powders can immediately erase any unwanted shine, help hide imperfections while providing extra coverage. Other powders help diffuse light, provide a soft-focus finish that leaves your skin looking radiant and glowing.
This article lists the 5 best drugstore setting powders and factors to consider when buying them.
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Best Drugstore Setting Powders
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Best Drugstore Setting Powders - Reviews
The fit me loose finishing powder is a perfect choice as it doesn't disturb the foundation underneath and blends in beautifully. Maybelline's fit me loose powder makes any foundation long-lasting and matte.
The mineral-based formula helps to smooth skin's texture and control shine, making it ideal for oily skin or anyone who needs to control the shine. The finishing powder comes in eight shades and, when applied, delivers a sheer hint of color.
If you're not a foundation person, you can use sunscreen, moisturizer, and this loose powder, and you're good to go. The Maybelline Loose Powder provides coverage like any BB cream or medium coverage foundation.
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The pressed formula is lightweight, allowing you to keep layering it as you go about your day. It doesn't have a cakey effect and comes inclusive of 14 shades with a translucent powder. The pressed powder provides medium to full buildable coverage. It's great as it minimizes shine, and it's also oil-free.
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The Neutrogena Loose Powder is dermatologist approved making it the best drugstore setting powder for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin. It's free of many ingredients that can stress out your skin ( including sulfates and fragrance). The loose powder is made of naturally derived minerals and contains Vitamins A, C, & E, thus assuring a natural and flawless finish.
The setting powder helps to cover and minimize imperfections, reduces the appearance of redness, and provides sheer to medium buildable coverage. The loose powder lightweight and breathable, making it a great choice for most skin types.
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Black Opal Velvet is the best drugstore setting powder for deeper and darker skin tones. The finishing powder has an airy, oil-absorbing fine milled texture that glides over any foundation. It's super versatile as it can be used to contour and highlight. All you have to do is dust it over your entire face to help stay put throughout the day or on your T zone to get rid of excess oil.
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This is the best drugstore setting powder if looking for a formula that won't change the other shades of your makeup. The setting powder features a silky mineral-based pressed color correcting powder that provides translucent coverage. The Finishing powder is very lightweight and reduces the appearance of fine lines.
You can lightly swirl with a tapered brush, dust it onto your face, or use a sponge applicator.
The translucent formula is great for setting makeup, minimizing unwanted shine, and blurs away prominent pores and other imperfections. The setting powder lasts throughout the day and is finely milled.
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If you've got dry skin, you should consider checking out the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Powder. The setting powder is slow-baked with Vitamin E to nourish and hydrate the skin; hence you don't have to worry about the powder leaving behind an ashy finish.
It's quite the opposite; actually, you can expect a natural finish. The powder has low-level pearlized pigments that give your skin that radiant finish. You can apply the setting powder to the high planes of your face with a brush for a soft shimmery highlight. You can also use a brush to pick up the product, mist it with your primer spray and apply it on the high planes of your face for a more intense metallic highlight.
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Looking for a product that can help prevent the midday oil attack whilst also serving as a foundation? This setting powder is great for when you want a little bit more coverage. It's great for a full coverage makeup look and can be considered a must-have for your makeup bag.
The setting powder will help cover any imperfections and controls shine as you go about your day without making you look dry and dull. It features the full coverage of a liquid foundation with the effortless ease and light finish of a powder. The setting powder comes in 12 shades.
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Factors To Consider When Buying Best Drugstore Setting Powders
a) Match The Right Shade
The drugstore setting powder you consider you be the same color/shade as your skin. Breaking this rule could result in you having a white or gray cast. You should also avoid drugstore powders with shades that have undertones of extreme orange or pink. Instead, opt for neutral beiges, rich browns, or tan browns. You can always consider a translucent powder if you cannot find an exact match for your skin tone.
For darker and deeper skin tones though the setting powder is considered necessary by most major makeup artists, it's not always easy for those with darker and deeper skin tones to find the right one. Most powders on the market are white or translucent and can sometimes leave an ashy cast or grey cast. Since most cosmetic companies are yet to make a universally true translucent formula, it's advisable to look for drugstore setting powder that has been finely milled and tinted with your complexion in mind.
b) Choose The Right Finish
When choosing the best drugstore setting powder, it's important to pay attention to the right finish. The finish you'll select will be dependent on your skin type. If you have very oily skin or combination skin, the best drugstore setting powder would be one with a matte finish as it will help counter the excess oil. Matte finishes are great as they help with shine control and will absorb the oil. However, they are not ideal for people with dry skin as the extra absorption will likely make their skin feel tighter and uncomfortable.
If you have dry skin, the best drugstore setting powder would be one that's lighter on the absorbent ingredients like clays and starches. You're looking for products that feature words like "brightening," "glow," and "luminous" in their descriptions. These setting powders generally have mineral pigments that reflect light off the face and have a softer texture.
If your skin is more sensitive, you're better off with products that are free of any sulfates and fragrances. The best ones tend to use natural minerals.
c) Pick The Right Texture
The best drugstore setting powder has a lightweight, finely milled texture that smoothly glides on the skin and blends evenly without looking cakey or accentuating fine lines.
d) Type of Powder
Drugstore powders come in different forms:
- Translucent Powder
It can come as either a loose powder or pressed. The powder is commonly used to mattify and prevent shine and is preferred as it does not change the colors of your concealer or foundation because it’s see-through.
The powder can be can also be used to bake. This means applying an extra thick layer of translucent powder underneath your eyes or in areas, you’d like some extra refinement in and letting it sit for a few minutes. This allows the product to warm up on your skin, with the final step being simply dusting off what’s left visible. The final result is a fabulous matte complexion.
- Mineral Powder
If you prefer makeup products with fewer chemicals, mineral powders would be ideal. The powder is retrieved from minerals, while some come with added vitamins. It can either come as a pressed powder or loose. You can use it in place of a foundation and use it to cover your base if going for a full coverage look.
- Banana Powder
The product derives its name from its shade. It's a yellow-toned powder that doubles up as both a concealer and color corrector. It's a great choice for hiding dark circles and blemishes.
- Finishing Powder
Finishing powders are best suited for concealing pores and fine lines. They are also great for baking. Some finishing powders are translucent, while others have beautiful pigments that can further enhance your complexion.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drugstore Setting Powders (FAQs)
a) What is the difference between pressed powder and loose powder?
Pressed powders are mostly used to set liquid foundation/concealer so that the makeup lasts longer, stays intact, and doesn't rub off your skin. They can be used as foundations and as a base for your entire makeup routine. They can also be added to a liquid foundation to build up coverage.
Those with dry skin prefer pressed powder as it has more oil.
Loose powders are also used to set liquid foundation/concealer so that your makeup lasts longer, stays intact, and doesn't rub off your skin. It's mostly used when in the “baking” step of setting your foundation. The powder is great for defining contour lines - or creating a “chiseled” makeup look. Loose powders can also be used for setting heavy makeup looks, and one mostly uses a powder puff when achieving these types of looks.
A loose setting powder tends to be more finely milled; hence it contains less oil and is typically used on oily skin. Once you've applied it, it needs to be brushed out after it's set to prevent your foundation from looking powdery or cakey.
b) What's the difference between Setting Powder and Finishing Powder?
Setting Powders are designed to set your makeup while finishing powders enhance your makeup. They tend to be translucent and are used to blur pores, soften texture, give an overall glow to the skin. A finishing powder is ideal for makeup looks, while setting powders helps you get more hours out of your foundation, concealer, and other face makeup.
When applying setting powder, it's recommended to use a damp beauty blender to press the powder on your T- zone and under-eye and for an airbrushed look. Always remember to press and roll and not to blend or rub aggressively.
When applying a finishing powder, it should be lightly dusted on. It is advisable to use a large, fluffy powder brush to apply the finishing powder, but you can use a damp beauty sponge on your cheeks where the pores tend to be larger.
