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28 Best Setting Powders for Oily Skin: Reviews & Buying Guide

by  Doris Harris -  Last Updated On 30th December 2020
Best Powder for Oily Skin

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Powder makes makeup long-lasting.

It reduces shine, too.

But which is the best powder for oily skin?

Can you use powder on combination skin, too?

And for daily use, is it better to use a powder foundation or setting powder?

Let’s look at the answers below.

Makeup tips for oily skin

If you have naturally oily skin, there are four things you can do to keep it fresh and clean throughout the day.

The first is to apply a primer.

Before you use foundation or concealer, put on a mattifying primer. It preps the skin for makeup (1).

Some people prefer to wear primer all by themselves even if they don’t wear makeup.

It tightens the pores and keeps sebum production under control.

Second, put translucent setting powder on top of the primer.

This additional step absorbs excess oil. If you don’t want it across your whole face, put it on trouble spots like your nose and forehead.

Third, set your makeup with another layer of powder on top.

By finishing up the process with powder, you can reduce the number of times you need to blot.

It’s essential in warm, humid weather.

And fourth, spritz setting spray on your skin for maximum wear.

Should you need to blot, pat your face lightly with blotting paper. Don’t rub, and try not to touch your face for any other reason.

Quick Comparison

If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.

28 Top Setting Powders for Oily Skin (2021 Update)

Now, let’s review powders that reduce shine on oily skin.

1. ETUDE HOUSE Zero Sebum Drying Powder

What’s the best setting powder for oily skin?

That’s a tough question as everyone has their personal preferences and their own unique situation.

I discovered that many women love the Zero Sebum Drying Powder. It’s a K-beauty product manufactured in Korea.

The content is 80% mineral for maximum oil control without clumping and creasing.

Use it on your face or your hair to minimize shine and grease.

It’s free of talc, animal byproducts, and artificial fragrances. Avoiding these ingredients makes it safer for acne-prone skin.

Plus, it has a unique ingredient called sugar polymer that absorbs excess oil. It’s from plankton.

Then, it has cotton extract to keep the skin soft and smooth.

Finally, willow tree, oregano, cassia bark, and fermented soybean provide other benefits in managing sebum production.

2. L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Powder

If you’re on a budget, here’s an excellent choice.

L’Oreal makes one of the best drugstore powders for oily skin. Choose your favorite from a variety of shades.

The Pro-Matte Powder prevents shine for up to 16 hours straight.

It comes in a compact with a sponge, or you can apply it with a brush. Thus perfect for quick on the go touch-ups.

Happily, it’s matte but not flat or dry.

3. Maybelline New York Shine-Free Oil-Control Loose Powder

Maybelline’s makeup shine-free setting powder won’t trigger acne or clog pores.

It’s lightweight yet absorbs oil throughout the day with kaolin clay, silica, and talc.

There are two shades available.

4. Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder Makeup

Maybelline also makes a long-wear powder foundation with buildable coverage.

The shine control is long-lasting and stays up to 16 hours on normal or oily skin.

It contains perlite and talc to soak up oil. There is no scent or shimmer to it, but it does blur pores.

Some users apply it just to their eyelids, nose, chin, and forehead.

5. SKINFOOD Peach Cotton Multi-Finish Powder

Here’s another Korean-made powder to set your makeup. It also works like dry shampoo in a pinch.

It comes with a puff applicator.

The ultra-light texture is created by something they call the Air Jet Mill Method. The result is a powder that doesn’t cake at all.

Instead, the soft texture makes the skin look radiant and smooth.

6. Dermablend Intense Powder Camo Mattifying Foundation

The best powder for oily skin with blemishes is made by Dermablend.

The Camo Foundation comes in a compact with a mirror and an applicator sponge. It provides medium to full coverage.

Although there are many shades available, you can also blend colors easily.

It’s non-comedogenic, and it minimizes shine.

Use it alone or as a finishing powder for other makeup.

7. Dermablend Loose Setting Powder

Dermablend also makes this translucent setting powder that they recommend as a finishing step for all their other foundations.

It bakes the makeup to keep it looking freshly-applied for hours on end.

Not only that, but it also minimizes pores and decreases shine. It keeps your face looking its best for flash photography.

8. Neutrogena SkinClearing Mineral Acne-Concealing Pressed Powder

Meanwhile, the best face powder for oily skin that’s prone to acne is made by Neutrogena.

It’s recommended by dermatologists as it contains acne medication.

The 0.5% concentration of salicylic acid keeps pores clear but won’t irritate sensitive skin.

It’s also made with oil-absorbing minerals.

Choose from eight shades that offer buildable coverage.

9. Rimmel Insta Fix & Matte Setting Powder

Rimmel’s translucent setting powder is water-resistant. It won’t transfer to your clothes, either.

It’s a drugstore powder that works surprisingly well. It controls shine for hours to keep your makeup in place.

10. COVERGIRL Clean Matte Pressed Powder

Covergirl’s powder works well over the top of the Clean Matte BB cream or foundation.

It’s specifically made for oily skin, and it won’t cause breakouts.

Although there are products that reduce shine for longer, this one works very well for the price.

11. Catrice Prime & Fine Mattifying Powder

Catrice’s powder is waterproof.

It doesn’t just resist humidity and perspiration. It literally sends water rolling off the surface.

Plus, it provides a soft filter effect that disguises blemishes and pores.

The manufacturer says that the mattifying effect lasts for hours. In my experience, your mileage will differ depending on factors like the weather and how oily your skin is naturally.

On the downside, you’ll need your own sponge or brush to apply it.

12. Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder

Clinique’s powder is very absorbent and sheer.

It’s best for adding a matte finish to your skin and setting your makeup.

Users say that it’s ideal for humid weather and combination to oily skin.

13. Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder

Let’s look at another K-beauty product.

Innisfree’s mineral powder is 6-free. That means it doesn’t have harmful ingredients like artificial pigment, parabens, animal hair, talc, synthetic fragrances, or mineral oil in it.

It’s made with mint, mica, tea leaf, silica, and cornstarch. Together, they soak up excess oil and slow down sebum production.

14. NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Mineral Finishing Powder

The NYX loose setting powder has just a bit of color to enhance bare skin.

It minimizes shine during the day.

Unfortunately, you may need to reapply after a few hours. But on the bright side, it doesn’t clump in creases or look caked-on.

15. Milani Conceal + Perfect Shine-Proof Powder

Milani is a company based in Los Angeles.

Their long-lasting powder comes in 10 shades. It offers buildable coverage.

The vegan formula contains lily extract to shrink pores and bamboo powder to soak up oil.

16. PÜR Balancing Act Mattifying Skin Perfecting Powder for All Skin Tones

This translucent powder has something called Ceresin Complex to perfect your appearance.

It soaks up excess oil.

There’s also an Energy Complex made with ginseng, green tea, and Vitamin B to liven up your complexion.

The silky texture comes in an assortment of neutral hues for all skin tones. Wear it alone or as a setting powder for other makeup. They suggest using a fluffy brush to apply it.

17. LORAC POREfection Baked Perfecting Powder

The LORAC cosmetics line was created by a celebrity artist called Carol Shaw.

She was determined to create products that wouldn’t cause skin irritation or breakouts.

As a result, this powder is fragrance-free and doesn’t contain parabens, either. Instead, it has antioxidants and salicylic acid to promote healthy skin.

Even if you apply extra layers of the powder, it won’t settle into fine lines.

18. Loose Powder, Dr. Hauschka, Set and Finish

NATRUE certifies that this powder is 100% natural and cruelty-free compared to fellow loose powders in the market. It does not contain perfumes, preservatives, or artificial colors.

The first four ingredients are tapioca starch, silk powder, mica, and diatomaceous earth. These absorb excess oil to reduce shine for hours.

After that, witch hazel and botanical ingredients tighten pores and strengthen the skin.

19. Mario Badescu Special Healing Powder

Clear up your acne with this powder that contains sulfur, kaolin clay, and zinc oxide.

The first two ingredients soak up oil and impurities to detoxify the pores. Then, the latter component calms irritation.

Get this product if you need to dry up infected pimples and minimize a breakout ASAP.

20. Temptu Invisible Difference Finishing Powder

Temptu’s finishing powder is jet-milled to give it an airy, invisible texture.

The result is a filtered appearance where pores and fine lines disappear.

It comes in three shades that create a matte finish. Apply it with a powder brush once your makeup is completely dry.

21. Physicians Formula Powder Palette

Physicians Formula creates hypoallergenic cosmetics for sensitive skin and eyes.

Their translucent pressed powder sets makeup and reduces shine and uneven coloring.

You can also use it in place of a liquid foundation to enhance your natural look.

Since the palette has a blend of colors, it looks more natural than a monochrome powder.

22. e.l.f. Perfect Finish HD Powder

The e.l.f. powder is vegan, cruelty-free, and doesn’t contain but phthalates, parabens, or other harsh chemicals.

It’s best applied with a sponge.

The powder reduces oiliness throughout the day while it blurs fine lines and uneven texture. Although it looks white in the compact, it’s sheer and disappears into the skin.

23. Aesthetica Translucent Setting Powder

Here’s a loose powder with realistic expectations.

It doesn’t promise to keep you shine-free all day. Instead, it recommends that you bring it along for midday touch ups.

It comes in a container with a velour puff.

On the bright side, it’s vegan and free of parabens and gluten.

24. Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder

Did you know that Sacha was the official makeup brand for the 2019 Miss Panama Pageant? It’s also been a part of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.

This powder is “flash friendly.”  In other words, your skin won’t look ashy or pale in bright light.

It’s also mattifying for oily skin. The fine texture doesn’t cake or highlight wrinkles.

For best results, bake your makeup.

After you’ve applied foundation and concealer, dust on a thick layer of the powder.

Let it sit for at least five minutes before you brush off the excess. Then your makeup is fixed in place for hours.

25. Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder

Revlon’s powder extends the staying power of your foundation for up to 16 hours.

There are 14 medium-coverage shades available, including universal banana. This latter one is handy for highlighting.

26. Colorescience Sunforgettable SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen

Get two benefits with one product. It comes with its own anti-microbial brush applicator.

The Colorscience powder is a water-resistant mineral sunscreen.

It contains calcified red algae and minerals to slow down premature aging.

Concurrently, it conceals rosacea, acne, and hyperpigmentation.

The active ingredients include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

27. bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Broad Spectrum SPF25

Any skin type can wear this powder without looking too dry.

It’s talc-free.

Because it contains a fair amount of titanium dioxide, it reflects UV rays and acts as a sunscreen.

Users say it gives them an air-brushed finish.

28. WUNDER2 PERFECT SELFIE HD Photo Finishing Powder

This American-made translucent powder has won awards around the globe.

Not only does it reduce shine, but it also helps makeup endure longer.

The universal shade perfects your complexion, just like the beauty filter on your phone.

Plus, it’s free of parabens and Leaping Bunny-certified.

Also Read: Best BB Creams for Oily Skin

Conclusion

When you have combination or oily skin, your makeup will become long-lasting with powder.

Both powder foundation and setting powder reduce shine so that your skin looks fresh and clean for hours.

If I helped you find your new favorite powder from my list of top powders for oily skin today, please tell me about it in the comments below.

Source:

1 https://www.buzzfeed.com/jamedjackson/makeup-tips-for-oily-skin by Jame Jackson, published May 5, 2018, accessed March 22, 2020

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