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Not all setting powders are created equal, especially for those of us with extra oil living on our already oily skin. I’ve found the one setting powder that I feel is THE BEST of all the rest as well as several more that are also good that I like to use. It’s important to me to try and give you guys options because the product I feel might be the best might not be the best for you – but ALL of the products mentioned here will be good for oily skin (we gotta stick together!).
The Best Makeup Setting Powders for a Matte Finish on Oily Skin
First up I need to tell you about the one that I’m loving the most – the Urban Decay The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium. This powder is technically much more than just a setting powder, but I include it here because it’s my current fave and use it as a setting powder on the daily.
Urban Decay The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium & Finishing Powder. AWESOME for a matte finish on oily skin types!
The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium from Urban Decay retails for $34.00 and is described as an “ultra-fine, mix-in powder that gives foundation an extra velvety feel, a beautiful matte finish, and added coverage.” To use in with your foundation you just mix in a dime-sized amount for a more velvet-y matte finish and added coverage.
In addition to being able to mix it in with your foundation (INSANELY COOL) it also makes for a fabulous setting powder. You will truly look as airbrushed as possible when seeing people in person. This stuff is beyond words.
The best makeup setting powders for a matte finish on oily skin types.
I like this one the best because it gives me the most matte finish even when I don’t use it mixed in with my foundation. I’m always looking to be nearly completely matte. I only wanna glow where I put the glow. While my skin might not work with me on that one the Urban Decay The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium helps out so that I regain more control of the situation. Does it suck up the oil and shine for the entire day? No. Nothing ever will, you guys. Not for us oily peeps, anyway. BUT it does do the job better than any other product I’ve tried.
The best makeup setting powders for a matte finish on oily skin types.
more options
Maybe you don’t wanna be so matte or maybe you just don’t want to spend $34.00 on a setting powder. From luxury to drugstore the other setting powders I’ve tried and loved are:
- ELF High Definition Undereye Setting Powder ($3.00). The packaging is small, but you do not need a lot of this to set your undereyes! You can use it all over to set your makeup also.
- Maybelline FaceStudio Master Fix Setting + Perfecting Loose Powder ($8.99). A budget-friendly way to keep shine down. You’ll experience flashback so I wouldn’t use it to back and make sure you blend it well!
- Pixi Quick Fix Powder ($20.00). The little sponge on top makes it easy to apply this loose powder on-the-go and it does a fab job at setting the look/keeping it matte as long as possible.
- IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores™ Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder ($24.00). It feels incredible on the face when you apply it! It does the same as the Laura Mercier mentioned below (including some flashback when you bake) BUT it’s a lot cheaper (WIN).
- Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder ($30.00). Fantastic for baking and setting. This took the place of the Laura Mercier for me because it did all the things I needed without flashback.
- Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder ($33.00). Again, awesome for setting your makeup with for a matte finish – not good for baking because of flashback.
- Cover FX Matte Setting Powder ($35.00). This comes in 3 shades (I use the light) and it keeps you matte and is fantastic for baking!
- Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder ($36.00). Sets, hides and perfects! Awesome setting powder. Be careful with baking as this will cause flashback.
- NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder ($37.00). This was the first setting powder I ever tried that worked with my oily skin. It’s fab for setting the makeup but blend well and do not bake with this… because flashback.
- Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder ($38.00). This was my tried and true HG until Christmas when I saw how bad the flashback was on my bake. It still works well, but if you know you’re getting your picture taken you might want to steer clear of baking with it, especially at your under-eyes. That being said, it is great for a matte, creaseless finish.
Of course there are definitely more out there that would be good, these are just a few that I’ve tried and liked. I’m interested in trying out more from the drugstore as well as primers. If you have any recommendations please let me know in the comments!
oily girl tips
In terms of setting powder there are a few terms I live by when choosing a new one to try.
- Loose powder is your friend. Pressed is totally more travel friendly, but the loose setting powders will keep you a lot more matte and for a lot longer.
- Steer clear of mineral based products. Look, I get it. We like mineral. For me any loose, mineral powder just disappears within 5 minutes. No matter what the brand. I put it on and it looks fab. I look away, look back and it’s GONE. My skin ate it. However, if it’s pressed mineral makeup I’m fine. For example, I love the bareMinerals pressed eyeshadows, but even their loose shadows crease and fade on me no matter what. Pressed mineral = good, loose mineral = bad (just my opinion.. I’ve had some people jump on me for that one, but I will always be honest about my personal experiences).
- Blotting sheets… blotting sheets everywhere. I keep blotting sheets everywhere like how I keep lip balms everywhere. It’s important to wear a good foundation so when you blot the paper doesn’t also strip off your makeup (it happens). My HG favorite is Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation (doesn’t budge). I keep affordable ELF Blotting Papers all over (car, vanity, coat pockets) and the beautyblender blotterazzi pro (reusable) in my makeup bag.
- Use a setting spray first. You heard me. After you moisturize spritz on a setting spray with mattifying properties. Currently I’m using and loving Urban Decay De-Slick Oil Control Makeup Setting Spray.
- Use eye cream. I’m oily, but my undereye area is so dry. I prep under my eyes before baking by putting on a light eye cream. Here are my faves.
SHOP MY FAVES
What is your favorite setting powder? Let us know in the comments and be sure to say what your skin type is!
Be sure to check out my Sweat-Proof, Budge-Proof Full Coverage Makeup Routine!
I have such oily skin and finding the perfect setting powder can sometimes be a challenge. Thank you for this list. This is going to be really helpful.
Please forgive my ignorance…but what is “baking”?
Not a problem! It’s when you pack a ton of the setting powder on with a beautyblender (or something like it) to keep your undereye concealer from creasing and/or to keep oil down.
You’ve got to try ILIA setting powder too, it’s amazing!
I will check it out!! =D
The Velvetizer is my pick for innovative product for 2017.
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They really raised the bar!
Thank you for this post! I have super-oily skin and need all the mattifying powders. I think my best bet would be the Kat von D, since I’ve tried Laura Mercier, IT Cos, and Laura Geller, with flashback.
CosmetopiaDigest recently posted..No Make No Life Beauty Box July 2017 Review, Unboxing
That flashback is killer. And really if you’re doing full glam like that 9 times out of 10 someone will be taking your picture whether it’s a party, dinner.. etc. They can totally be done without the flashback and still be good. I hope a few reformulate to remove it but still keep them as effective!
I’ll remember these to pass on to oily friends. I need hydrating setting powder!
Never Say Die Beauty recently posted..Taking Care of My Hands and Nails
I no longer have oily skin luckily but there are times I need to use a setting powder and I’ve been turning to IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores as well as the Pixi Quick Fix Powder. The UD one sounds amazing.
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I’ve been wanting to try The UD powder – you just sold me on it! I need that in my oily life!
These look like great choices, fortunately, I don’t need to sop up oil anymore.
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Thanks for the recommendations! And I agree with all your oily girl tips-I need to remember to spray before my makeup. My HG powder is the Laura Mercier translucent setting powder with Estee Lauder Doube Wear in the Houston heat and humidity. But, I want to give the Urban Decay a try.
That Double Wear is worth it’s weight in gold!
I have to try the UD one and the Cover FX one!
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Perfect timing for me! It’s summer in North Carolina (last week we were over 100 degrees for 4 days). Thanks for including the notes on flashback. Last year I went to a 3-day weekend event and one night I knew I’d need a good oil absorber for a 3-hr concert and used Laura Mercier – I didn’t expect photo’s at the informal after party and as soon as I walked in, boom – flash right in my face. You know the result, ugh. Gonna pick up the UD Velvetizer and Kat Von D Lock It.
Oh man… seriously it happened to me during family Christmas pics and I had to edit the crap out of them, which I’m not good at so it took FOREVER lol Luckily it was my camera we used and not someone elses would wouldn’t have bothered to edit my bright white under eyes lmao