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By Sophie Joaman • March 25, 2024 • 7 mins read
Here’s a crazy beauty fact for you- Setting powder was used all the way back in Ancient Egypt! Yepp, even Queen Cleopatra kept her makeup looking gorgeous with a little setting powder.
Over the millenia since, setting powder has been one of the most important parts of makeup rituals everywhere.
In the middle ages, setting powder became a whole lot more dangerous, when women would apply setting powders that contained lead and bleach on to their skin. The things people did for beauty!
Thankfully, today’s setting powders are completely safe to use and can actually benefit the health of our skin more than just for the purpose of aesthetics.
Which brings us onto the whole point of this article- is setting powder still a necessary companion in our modern makeup routines or can we let it slide without out makeup also sliding?
What if your skin doesn’t always (or ever agree) with setting powder? Is there an alternative? Well, we’re about to spill the secrets of setting powder and whether we should all be using it in our makeup routines.
The best way to think of setting powder is like the security guard of your makeup routine. It is essentially what it says on the tin- a fine powder that is applied over your foundation and concealer to lock it all in place, setting it there and stopping it from budging, slipping or melting off during the day.
Using a setting powder helps to control shine, reduce oiliness on the skin and keep your makeup looking flawless for much, much longer.
Usually used at the end of your makeup routine, or at the very least, after your foundation and concealer, the effect of setting powder is a smooth finish that will leave you feeling your best most, confident self.
As with anything, if you have sensitive skin, then it is always worth checking the ingredients of the product and trying it out first to see how your skin reacts. However, setting powder is absolutely fine for the skin.
In fact, many brands are now working to create makeup products that help keep the skin healthy whilst wearing them.
This includes setting powders with vitamins and antioxidants in them, that work with the skin and help improve some of those skin concerns that we all have from time to time.
Old formulas of setting powders often used talcum powder, which looked and felt heavy on the skin, not to mention contributed to clogged pores. In comparison, most setting powders today are made to feel light-weight on the skin.
Which, if you’re someone who doesn’t like the feeling of heavy products on your face is good news for you.
So you decide to skip on the setting powder when applying your makeup? It’s not a must for everyone and whether you set your makeup or not is completely up to you.
In our humble experience though, by not setting your makeup you are risking it smudging, melting, budging and just not vibing. Which, after you’ve put time into, is not what you want.
Often, by not setting your makeup in place, you are allowing your skin’s natural oils to wreak havoc on your skin and mess up your makeup. This is more true for people with oilier skin, but it’s not exclusive to that skin type alone.
In our day-to-day lives we all go through a lot: sweating, the elements, pollution, touching our faces (consciously or subconsciously). Our makeup isn’t made from titanitum. It can still rub off or move, even with setting powder.
The difference with setting powder, is that it is likely to keep your makeup going and looking fresher for much longer than if you were to skip out on it.
Luckily, applying setting powder can take seconds and can even be done on the go. All you need is your powder, a mirror and a brush/sponge.
Still not gelling with setting powder? No worries, because there is a great alternative- setting sprays. For those with drier skin or combination skin that tends to air more on the dry side then powder can in some cases, make makeup and skin look flakier and drier.
Setting sprays on the other hand work in the exact same way as powders and keep makeup in place, whilst also keeping the skin hydrated and looking fresher all day long. The only difference is that they are liquid based, which, for drier skin types might be a better match.
Whilst setting sprays are a fantastic alternative to powders, we happen to know of three amazing setting powders that are perfect for every skin type.
The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a heavenly product and works incredibly well on every skin type. Whether you have dry or oily skin, this product will work with your particular skin type and help keep your makeup looking its best.
One of the reasons why we love it so much is down to the fine powder becoming one with the skin to leave you with utterly natural results.
The result is a very light-weight, silky and skin- like finish that looks like you’re not really wearing anything on your skin. Perfect if you like your makeup to look and feel light on your skin.
With this product, there certainly is no cakeyness. Nor does it settle into the fine lines of the face like old fashioned talc formula setting powders used to do.
Infused with diamond powder, the Hourglass Cosmetics, Veils Translucent Powder is as luxurious as it sounds.
This setting powder is finely-milled giving the skin an invisible, light-weight ‘veil’ result, whilst locking in makeup and hydration (but keeping oils out) so that your makeup looks fresher, more flawless and vibrant for a lot longer.
This powder is also the perfect ‘photo-finsish product’ as it blurs imperfections and pores for smoother skin.
For lightweight setting and baking with flawless results, then the Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking and Setting Powder is a great option to consider purchasing.
The ultra-refined pigments give the skin a luminosity, which is amazing if you skin is more on the dry side and you’re looking for a powder that will give you that glowy finish. This powder is also a bit of a super hero.
Not only does it control shine and oils on the skin, but it also helps to colour correct areas of imperfection AND highlights the face in all the right ways.
In addition, if you’re looking for the perfect powder for baking then this is the one for you. Baking works by applying a little powder over your under eye concealer, leaving for a few minutes and then blending in.
This helps keep your makeup from shifting from your face and keeps it looking fresher and brighter all day. The problem with some powders is that they can settle into the fine lines of the eyes.
With the Huda Beauty Easy bake powder however, this formulation aims for a seamless finish so that your makeup really does stay flawless.
Setting powder is not only a makeup bag essential, but it’s kind of a big deal in makeup. We think it is an extremely important step in any makeup routine today and always.
Not only does it control shine and keep your makeup from smudging and budging but it also keeps your makeup from dulling throughout the day. Setting powders are so worth the thousands of years of hype if you ask us!
