13 Best Setting Powders For Dark Skin, As Per A Cosmetologist (2024)
Pamper your skin with lightweight products specially crafted for holding your makeup in place all day.
Laura Dale is a Hair Expert and licensed Cosmetologist with over 20 years of experience. Laura has worked as a Global Education Director for Beauty Brands specializing in haircare and as a Beauty Editor she is passionate about sharing her love of beauty products and hair tools.
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Baishali is a beauty and lifestyle writer and holds a master's degree in English from Assam University. She specializes in makeup and fashion and is also a certified Style and Image Consultant. Prior to this, she was a part of a digital marketing company in Kolkata where she wrote stories on travel, beauty, and home décor.
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Experience: 3 yearsKrati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.
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Experience: 2.5 yearsShatabdi is an associate editor and an alumnus of Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, where she honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of the world of literature and expression. She has worked with various organizations and websites operating in different industries, ranging from education to lifestyle, showing her adaptability and drive to learn.
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If you are looking for the best setting powder for dark skin, we got you covered. While you may spend a lot of time on your makeup concealing, contouring, and highlighting your best features, all your efforts can melt away if you don’t seal your makeup with a setting powder. Make sure to select the right one that perfectly matches your skin tone. We have enlisted the top 13 setting powders that are meant to naturally blend into dark skin tones, for your reference. Keep reading to check them out.
In This Article
13 Best Setting Powders For Dark Skin (2024) – Prep, Set, And Go!
1. Best Non-Comedogenic: Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder
The Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder absorbs excess oil and gives you a matte-finished, airbrushed look for hours. The radiant formulation blends seamlessly with the medium to dark skin tones. It leaves no makeup build-up or creases. It is flash-friendly – it leaves no ashy cast or a white flashback while you take selfies. This silky, oil-controlled, lightweight powder is finer in texture. It smoothens the skin and blurs the fine lines and wrinkles. The product is not tested on animals, which makes it ideal for ethically conscious makeup lovers who are seeking cruelty-free options. You can also check this YouTube video to learn about a tester’s experience with the product for better understanding.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Blends easily
- Radiant finish
- No white orashy cast
- Non-comedogenic
- Cruelty-free
- Hypoallergenic
- Suitable for all skin types
- Blurs fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- May create bumps or rashes in super-sensitive areas
Quick Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
A whopping 15,648 reviews on Amazon make it obvious that users genuinely love this product.
2. Best Lightweight: Aesthetica Translucent Setting Powder
The Aesthetica Translucent Setting Powder is easy to apply. It sets the base makeup and absorbs excess oil, giving you a matte finish look. This diffusing and invisible powder blends seamlessly with the skin. It helps blur fine lines and wrinkles and masks, and, to some extent, minimizes pores. This lightweight formula absorbs oil primarily from the T-zone and the chin and gives you a luminous, airbrushed look. A powder sifter helps release the exact amount of powder you need to apply without increasing the makeup weight. This makeup setting powder is easy to apply and travel-friendly, making it great for special occasions too. Several reviewers have noted that it creates a sheer coverage that lasts all day long.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Blends easily
- Absorbs excess oil
- Packed with high-quality ingredients
- Hides large pores
- Blurs fine lines and wrinkles
- 100% vegan
- Travel-friendly
- Includes high-quality, luxurious velour powder puff
- Easy to apply
- Suitable for all skin tones
- Creates coverage that lasts all day long
Cons
- May irritate the skin
- Leaves a cakey look
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 1,523 reviews, this product has become a fan favorite among users.
3. Best Dermatologically Tested: Maybelline New York Fit Me Set + Smooth Powder Makeup
The Maybelline New York Fit Me Set naturally sets makeup for a smooth, crease-free look. This oil-free, breathable powder blends easily with dark skin tones and leaves a matte finish. Its breathable formula does not clog pores. This high-performance setting powder absorbs oil from the skin and leaves you with a gorgeous glow. The setting powder has excellent blending coverage and long-lasting wear. It is available in various shades to suit light and deep skin tones.
Pros
- Dermatologically-tested
- Non-comedogenic
- Lightweight
- Suitable for all skin types
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Long-lasting
- Free from fragrances
- Breathable setting powder
- Gives a crease-free look
- Available in different shades
Cons
- May look dry on the skin
"This powder spreads evenly on my skin and refreshes it. It helps set my makeup for hours. I find it very effective for touch-ups too. The best part is that it never cakes up my base makeup."
| Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder Best Non-Comedogenic | Aesthetica Translucent Setting Powder Best Lightweight | Maybelline New York Fit Me Set + Smooth Powder Makeup Best Dermatologically Tested | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin Type | Oily | - | Dry; Normal |
| Color | Buttercup | - | 355 Coconut |
| Dimensions | 2.56 x 2.56 x 1.57 inches | 3.3 x 3.3 x 1.8 inches | 0.78 x 2.56 x 2.56 inches |
| Weight | 1.25 Ounces | 4.5 Ounces | 1.82 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 15,648 | 1,523 | 2,750 |
| Price | $25.0 | $21.97 | $12.95 |
4. Best Crease-Free: Black Radiance True Complexion Loose Setting Powder
The Black Radiance True Complexion Loose Setting Powder minimizes skin imperfections and provides all-day wear with no creases. The silky, lightweight, loose powder blends perfectly with the skin tone and leaves a smooth finish with a flawless complexion. Several reviews on online forums indicate that it provides a soft-focus appearance on combination skin without any flashback.
Pros
- Lightweight
- No flashback
- Provides all-day wear
- Minimizes skin imperfections
- No white or ashy cast
Cons
- Has a chemical smell
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has more than 6,465 reviews claiming its efficacy.
5. Best Transfer-Resistant: Dermablend Professional Illuminating Banana Powder
The Dermablend Professional Illuminating Banana Powder is a weightless formula that flatters your skin tone. This professional-grade setting powder is formulated with banana shade and pearl pigments that give a warm, luminous sheen to one’s complexion, restoring the natural skin glow. The yellow-toned banana shade gives a naturally flawless HD finish. It helps blur imperfections and fine lines with no creasing. Reviewers have noted that it provides up to sixteen hours of long wear that is smudge-free and transfer-resistant.
Pros
- Up to sixteen hours of makeup wear
- Natural finish
- Smudge-free
- Transfer-resistant
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologically-tested
- Non-allergenic
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Cruelty-free
- Fragrance-free
- Phthalate-free
- SLS-free
- Triclosan-free
- Contains high-performance pigments
- Blurs imperfections
Cons
- May leave a cakey look
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 1,540 rave reviews on Amazon.
6. Best Sheer Coverage: NYX Professional Makeup Mineral Finishing Powder
The NYX Professional Makeup Mineral Finishing Powder provides a matte finish with a hint of coverage. Lock in the long-wear look as this setting powder restores a radiant glow and makes your makeup feel lighter. You need to apply this lightweight sheer powder over the foundation or directly to your face after moisturizing. This statement-making powder offers a sheer, matte finish.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Sheer coverage
- Suitable for light makeup
- Gives a matte finish
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Absorbs excess oil
Cons
- Creates a flashback effect
- Contains parabens
"This product controls excess oil production without triggering breakouts. It mattifies my oily, acne-prone skin and provides a soft finish. It offers lasting hold and never cakes up. However, it may settle into fine lines, so careful touch-ups are necessary."
7. Best Anti-Aging: Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder
The Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder provides a light coverage and creates a healthy, radiant complexion for long-day wear. The patented hydration technology gives you a soft, hydrated, natural, and airbrushed look. It is infused with pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids, and a potent peptide that blurs the signs of aging. The breathable, pressed powder with a built-in powderizer allows you to grind the perfect amount for a single application. The hydration system continuously hydrates, revitalizes, and restores the youthful glow. This loose finishing powder easily blends with the dark skin tone. It never looks cakey or over-powdering.
Pros
- Oil-free
- Lightweight
- Dewy finish
- Non-comedogenic
- Suitable for all skin types
- Non-drying formula
- Restores hydration
- Blurs fine lines and wrinkles
- Long-day wear
- Provides light-coverage
- Dermatologically-tested
- Infused with minerals and peptides
Cons
- None
8. Best Matte Finish: Revolution Banana Deep Baking Powder
The Revolution Banana Deep Baking Powder Setting Powder is the perfect finishing touch for your makeup look. The ultra-fine loose powder is enriched with natural banana extract and kaolin clay to give your complexion a smooth, matte finish. The formula is designed to lock in your makeup while controlling excess oil and shine, helping you to achieve a flawlessly smooth and even finish. The lightweight, non-drying powder will not settle into fine lines or cake onto your oily or dry skin. The soft banana hue adds a subtle warmth to your complexion and gives your skin a natural, healthy glow.
Pros
- Mattifies skin
- Adds subtle glow
- Smooth finish
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting effect
- Fragrance-free
- Paraben-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Cons
- Might give an ashy look if over applied
"It sets my makeup in place for hours and banishes excess shine. I like its subtle scent that does not trigger my nausea. It gives a matte finish to my face and balances out my skin tone. The best part is that it provides optimum coverage."
9. Best Vegan: Hourglass Veil Setting Powder
If you want to transform your look with a flawless finish, the Hourglass Veil Setting Powder could be your best choice. This weightless setting powder is formulated with a soft-focus, light-reflecting diamond powder that blurs imperfections, fine lines, wrinkles, and masks open pores. Reviewers have noted that the translucent formula easily blends with the skin tone and offers an invisible and natural look to the skin.
Pros
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- No synthetic dyes
- Fragrance-free
- Weightless setting powder
- Finely-milled
- Instantly blends with the skin tone
- Blurs fine lines and wrinkles
- No cakey appearance
Cons
- May dry on mature skin
10. Best No-Cakey Look: Revlon Photoready Candid Setting Powder
The Revlon Photoready Candid is a lightweight setting powder that evens out skin tone and protects it from environmental aggressors. The antioxidant and anti-aging formula helps correct all the signs of aging and minimizes fine lines and wrinkles and makes you look photo-ready. It does not leave any white or ashy cast and has a smooth texture. The available shades easily blend with the skin tone and offer a matte finish.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ultra-fine texture
- No white cast
- Rich in antioxidants
- Protects the skin from oxidative damage
- Blurs signs of aging
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- No added synthetic dyes
- No fragrances
- Gives a natural, airbrush finish
Cons
- None
"This powder mattified excess shine without feeling heavy on my skin. Its ultra-fine particles sit well on my face, providing adequate coverage to my imperfections. I love that it does not accentuate my pores or fine lines. It also never turns chalky on my face."
11. Best For Fine Lines: Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder
The Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder gives a fresh, matte finish. It easily blends with the dark skin tone and sets makeup for up to twelve hours. It leaves no creases. It has a no-flashback formula that creates a soft focus and blurs all fine lines, wrinkles, and imperfections. It is available in two shades that work best for medium-deep to the deeper skin tones.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Gives a matte finish
- Sets makeup for up to twelve hours
- Long-day wear
- Dermatologist-tested
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Available in two different shades
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
There are more than 380 Amazon reviews attesting to the quality of the product and endorsing its value.
12. Best For Dark Skin: COVER FX Perfect Setting Powder – Deep
The COVER FX Perfect Setting Powder in the shade deep is a loose face powder that gives a translucent finish and is suitable for all skin types. This setting powder contains green tea, and vitamins C, E, and F, which not only protect your face but also give you an instant soft-focus finish. The talc-free product can set your makeup up instantly and doesn’t smudge, fade, or make your face cakey. The lightweight face powder can illuminate your face and make your makeup look all the more luminous.
Pros
- Vegan
- Talc-free formula
- Sulfate-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- No fragrance or mineral oil
- Suits all skin types
Cons
- Can be hard to dispense the powder
"This powder gives my skin buildable coverage and lends it a flawless finish. It does not clog my pores. Instead, it eliminates excess oil and banishes shine. It mattifies my skin and I love how it locks my makeup in place for hours."
13. Best Blendable: Huda Beauty Setting Powder
The Huda Beauty Setting Powder creates a flawless finish and makes makeup melt-proof. It is formulated with vitamin E which protects the skin from oxidative damage. This non-comedogenic formula blends seamlessly with the darker skin tones and masks the fine lines and wrinkles. It is particularly formulated for all skin tones. It creates an airbrushed look. This statement-making makeup product controls the shine and offers a luminous finish all day long.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Blends easily with the skin
- Long-day wear
- No cakey appearance
- Blurs fine lines and pores
- Non-comedogenic
Cons
- None
If you have dark skin, you know that finding the right setting powder can be a challenge. You want a powder that will help keep your makeup in place all day long, without looking cakey or leaving your skin feeling dry. We have rounded up a few points to keep in mind before you make your final decision.
Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing Setting Powders For Dark Skin
Finish:
When it comes to setting powder, there are two main finishes – matte and luminous. If you have dark skin, you may want to stay away from powders with a matte finish. These can sometimes make dark skin look flat and lifeless. Instead, opt for a powder with a luminous finish. This will help provide your skin with a healthy glow.
Coverage: For dark skin, you may want to choose a powder with full coverage. This will help even out your skin tone and offer a flawless finish. Choose a powder with a yellow or a golden undertone. This will suit all undertones and help neutralize any redness or hyperpigmentation in your skin.
Formula: If you have sensitive skin, it is important to find a powder that won’t irritate your skin. Some setting powders are made with ingredients that can actually clog pores and cause breakouts. Look for a powder that is specifically designed for sensitive skin, or one that is labeled “non-comedogenic.” You should also avoid setting powders that contain talc, which can be drying and irritating to severely sensitive skin. Instead, opt for setting powders that comprise rice or tapioca starch, which will absorb excess oil without causing irritation. People with sensitive or allergy-prone skin can also go for expertly crafted powders to avoid any side effects after use.
Shade Test: No matter what type of setting powder you choose, be sure to test it out on a small area of your skin before applying it all over your face. This will help you determine if the powder is the right shade for your skin tone and if it will provide the desired effect.
Price: Setting powders can range in price from very affordable to quite expensive. It all depends on what brand you purchase, the quality of the product, and how much you need. The most affordable setting powders will usually be drugstore brands that can be found at your local grocery or drugstore. These powders typically work just as well as their more expensive counterparts, but may not last as long.
These are the top 13 setting powders for dark skin that you can add to your enhanced beauty makeup routine. If you want to get a crease-free airbrushed finish, you need to pick the right setting powder. The next section can help you with that!
Tips To Choose The Right Product
- The setting powder should be lightweight to avoid makeup build-up. It should blend easily with dark skin and leave no white cast.
- It should be able to revitalize and rejuvenate the skin. It should not settle into fine lines.
- It must have anti-aging properties and help blur fine lines and wrinkles. It is recommended to conduct a patch test before committing to a setting powder for consistent use.
- It should be able to provide long-lasting shine and absorb excess oil for a matte finish.
Infographic: A Step-By-Step Guide To Using A Setting Powder Like A Pro
Knowing how to master the art of using a setting powder can take your makeup game to a whole new level. Setting powder is your answer to keep your makeup intact and crease-free so that you can look fresh and ready to step out all day long without worrying about touch-ups. Check out the infographic below for a step-to-step guide to using a setting powder like a pro. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Setting powders seal the deal when it comes to makeup! To choose the right setting powder, you should be very careful about your skin tone. The Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder is a top choice for those with oily skin. The Aesthetica Translucent Setting Powder offers a matte finish anywhere, anytime, while the COVER FX Perfect Setting Powder – Deep is perfect for a non-cakey and soft-focus finish. Some setting powders also tend to absorb excessive oil and offer you a seamless matte finish. Always opt for setting powders that blend effortlessly and help in blurring fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots as well. For makeup enthusiasts with super sensitive skin, make sure to avoid setting powders that might create bumps or rashes on your face.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a translucent powder the same as a setting powder?
Yes, a translucent powder is the same as a setting powder. It should be able to blend easily with the skin tone.
What shade should your setting powder be?
Always choose a setting powder whose undertone color matches your skin tone.
What is the best way to apply a setting powder?
After your regular skincare regimen, brush the setting powder over your skin and tap a foundation. This sets the canvas for brilliant makeup.
How long do you leave the setting powder on?
Ideally, 5-10 minutes are enough for your setting powder to settle.
How do I know my powder shade?
Match your powder shade to your foundation and skin tone. You can also choose a translucent setting powder if you cannot find one in your shade.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Baishali Bhattacharya is an expert in makeup artistry and a certified image consultant who uses her to write comprehensive articles for her readers. After researching and evaluating numerous online options, she has made this list of the best setting powders for dark skin. These lightweight, non-comedogenic products help you to blur the imperfections and blend easily to give you that flawless look.
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