The best setting powders and sprays,according to makeup artists and beauty experts
The 15 setting powders and sprays that makeup artists and beauty experts rate highest, ranked by genuine consensus.
What changed, 3 November: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is new to the top five, at number 5.
Setting products are where the gurus care most about finish, because the whole point is to hold makeup in place without announcing that anything was set at all.
The experts on our roster judge powders and setting sprays on how the skin reads afterwards. A loved setting powder is sheer enough to control shine and blur pores without flashback in photos or a cakey, dry look, while a good setting spray is the one that melts a powdery finish back into skin and makes makeup last. Technique gets flagged as much as the formula.
The honest split is between control and glow. Those with oily skin reward a powder that genuinely holds oil at bay, while drier skin tends to prefer a spray that keeps a dewy, skin-like finish rather than sitting visibly on flaky patches. The ranking below follows the ones the gurus reach for repeatedly.
The experts' top picks at a glance
The podium
88%Guru ScorePowder Melt Glass Setting Spray
“My favorite to this day is still the one-size setting spray.”AliceintheRabbitHole
What the gurus liked: Melts powder into skin without a powdery finish; Dewy, glassy finish without greasiness
The catch: Can sit in brows and lashes if overapplied
Fragrance-free.
87%Guru ScoreVeil Translucent Setting Powder
“This is one of my very favorite powders. The only reason I decluttered it was because it needed to be replaced, it was old, but it's gorgeous.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Very fine, lightweight texture; Sets makeup without moving colour
Fragrance-free.
86%Guru ScoreAirbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder
“The Charlotte Tilbury powder is another excellent choice, great if you need a little coverage through the day or want to brighten up the under eyes.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Brightens under eyes; Blurs well when applied with a sponge
Fragrance-free.
The rest of the list
- 4
Laura MercierTranslucent Loose Setting PowderGuru CertifiedOily skinSplurge85%13 gurus“We are going to set the face with the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. You guys know I love this one, so I was really happy to see that this won an award.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: No white cast or flashback in photos; Controls shine and blurs pores
Fragrance-free.
- 5
HourglassAmbient Lighting PowderSplurge85%5 gurus“My favorite pressed powder is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light.”Beyond50Skin
What the gurus liked: Luminous finish without looking oily; Sets makeup without heaviness
The catch: Need multiple products for full range
Fragrance-free.
- 6
Urban DecayAll Nighter Setting SprayMature skinMid-range84%7 gurus“The Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray is a cult favorite known for its long-lasting, high-performance formula.”Dr. Aleksandra Brown
What the gurus liked: Locks makeup in place for up to 16 hours; Lightweight and breathable despite strong hold
The catch: Can add excess hydration and oil to the face
- 7
GivenchyPrisme Libre Loose PowderSplurge83%5 gurus“I usually use it after my Huda Beauty powder because I love my Huda Beauty. It's one of my favorite all-time favorite powders, it's so good.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Finely milled, applies without looking cakey; Luminous finish without powdery appearance
The catch: Reformulated version has unwanted shimmer
- 8
Danessa MyricksYummy Skin Blurring Balm PowderOily skinSplurge83%5 gurus“It's actually one of my absolute favorite ways to use this Danessa Myricks Blurring Balm Powder. This is an incredible primer.”Dr. Sam Ellis
What the gurus liked: Absorbs oil and shine throughout the day; Works as a primer or standalone product
The catch: Can increase greasiness and clog pores
Fragrance-free.
- 9
Charlotte TilburyAirbrush Flawless Setting SpraySplurge80%10 gurus“This is one of my favorite setting sprays. I love this stuff. I love that you spray it on, it makes your makeup actually last longer, but it doesn't change the finish of your makeup.”HotandFlashy
What the gurus liked: Fine mist that doesn't disrupt makeup; Natural finish without looking oily or too matte
The catch: Pricey for the size
- 10
MaybellineFit Me Powder in 10Oily skinBudget buy79%6 gurus“That's one of the things I love about this powder, you do get a bit of coverage with it, so it's really great for kind of sculpting and shaping the face.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Sheer coverage good for blending blemishes; Comes in multiple shades and translucent
Fragrance-free.
- 11
KosasCloud Set Baked Setting PowderMid-range75%6 gurus“One of my favorite powders ever. I do not think I have hit pan like this on a powder in a very long time.”Robert Welsh
What the gurus liked: Light coverage
The catch: Packaging difficult to open with nails
- 12
The OrdinarySulfur 10% Powder to Cream ConcentrateAcne-prone skinBudget buy75%5 gurus“It is amazing. It's super inexpensive. I love the fact that it goes on as a powder and turns into a cream.”Mad About Skin
What the gurus liked: No sulfur rotten egg smell; Works under makeup and sunscreen
The catch: Less effective than hydrocolloid patches for some
Fragrance-free.
- 13
Huda BeautyEasy Bake Loose Baking and Setting PowderOily skinCombination skinSplurge72%10 gurus“The Huda Beauty powder is the only powder I recommend. It's still my favorite and I think it's the best, especially paired with the Beautyblender puff.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Blurs without looking heavy; Sits effortlessly on skin
The catch: Settles into fine lines
- 14
MACFix+ Setting SprayMid-range68%8 gurus“It's really beautiful, and it smells really good too. I feel like MAC makes some of the best fixing and setting sprays, so I was excited to see that this was going to be part of the event.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Hydrates without being a true setting spray; Fragrance-free option available
The catch: Pricey for what it does
- 15
L'OrealInfallible 3-Second Setting MistBudget buy58%8 gurus“It's really nice. It's great for longevity.”Allie Glines
What the gurus liked: Locks makeup in place; Doesn't sting eyes
The catch: Not the best at holding foundation
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 25 independent gurus, including 5 makeup artists, 5 dermatologists and 2 beauty journalists.
Dr DrayDermatologist
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Dr. Aleksandra BrownDermatologist
Cassandra BanksonMedical Esthetician
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging ExpertGerontologist
Caroline HironsEsthetician
Nipun KapurSkincare Consultant
Alexandra AneleMakeup Artist
Robert WelshMakeup Artist
Mixed MakeupBeauty Journalist
Allie GlinesMakeup Artist
Dimma UmehMakeup Artist
The Style and Beauty DoctorBeauty Journalist+11These are independent experts we follow, not an in-house panel. We collect opinions they have already shared publicly on YouTube; they are not connected to The Guru Index and have not endorsed this ranking. "Guru" is our own editorial title for the voices we trust.
You asked
What is the best setting powder or spray?
On the latest data it is One/Size Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray, with a Guru Score of 88% from 6 gurus. The ranking above lists all 15 that clear our bar, in order.
What setting powder or spray do makeup artists recommend?
Of the 5 makeup artists whose reviews feed this ranking, 4 approve of each of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Pressed Powder and Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, more than any other pick on the list.
What is the best budget setting powder or spray?
Maybelline Fit Me Powder in 10, at number 10 on the list, with a Guru Score of 79% from 6 gurus.
What do the top setting powders and sprays have in common?
Of the 12 we hold a full ingredient list for, 10 skip drying alcohol, 8 are fragrance-free and 3 contain vitamin C. That is a pattern in what the experts rate, not a rule: the ranking itself is by their verdicts.
How can makeup be set without looking cakey?
The repeated advice across the gurus is to use a sheer powder only on the areas that get shiny, press rather than sweep it, and reach for a fine, flashback-free formula. For drier skin, several prefer a setting spray over powder so the finish stays skin-like instead of sitting on top.
How is this ranking decided?
We rank by the Guru Index consensus score: the warmth of every independent expert take we have logged for each product, with a minimum number of reviewers required so a single enthusiastic review can't top the list. Nothing here is paid placement.
How we make money. Some shopping links may earn The Guru Index a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which products rank or how they score.