Control Oily Skin & Prevent Makeup Meltdowns With Setting Powder
If you have combination or oily skin, you know the daily struggle of keeping your makeup intact and shine-free throughout the day. Oily skin tends to produce excess sebum, leading to a slick sheen appearing just hours after applying your makeup. This excess oil can also clog pores and cause liquid or cream makeup products to appear greasy, slip around, and even melt right off your face.
It’s frustrating to spend time perfecting your makeup routine in the morning, only to check the mirror midday and realize your foundation is creasing or starting to slip on your oily t-zone. Even with primer, it can feel impossible to keep oil breakthrough at bay and maintain that freshly-applied look for a full day’s wear.
This oil production and subsequent breakdown of makeup is an annoying downside to having an oily skin type. However, there is a simple product that is a total game-changer – setting powder.
Why Oily Skin Needs Setting Powder As Part of the Daily Makeup Routine
Setting powder is specially formulated to mattify skin and control excess oil production over time. Using a fine layer of weightless setting powder allows you to effectively set your makeup routine in place, preventing oils from your skin breaking through as quickly.
Without setting makeup with powder, liquid or cream makeup products (especially foundations, concealers, cream blushes and eyeshadows) will more easily slip and slide off of skin as oil production ramps up. This leads to everything from subtle shine to full meltdowns where makeup starts literally slipping right off your face.
Oily skin types tend to experience these makeup migration issues within just a few hours as oil production increases skin’s slipperiness throughout the day. Mid-day touch ups may help momentarily, but can’t prevent the gradual fading, creasing, caking and uneven wear that comes with makeup breaking down on oilier skin types.
Setting powder is the ultimate product for keeping your makeup set firmly in place so it wears smoothly for hours longer vs going sans powder. It creates a matte finish and protective barrier between your skin and your makeup, allowing products to resist sliding around so everything stays freshly applied without unwanted shine.
How Setting Powders Keep Oily Skin Matte and Makeup Firmly In Place
Setting powders contain fine mineral ingredients like silica, starch, and other oil-absorbing compounds to mattify the skin upon application. These special ingredients work to soak up excess oil sitting on the surface of the skin. Simultaneously, many setting powders also use soft focus particles that help to optically diffuse the appearance of enlarged pores and texture.
Higher quality setting powders take oil control one step further by using active ingredients like clay that literally grab onto sebum. This stops excess oil from continuing to penetrate through makeup over time. Essentially, setting powder’s mattifying and oil-banishing magic keeps makeup firmly locked into place rather than letting your natural oils break it down.
To get the full oil-control and makeup-gripping benefits from setting powder, you need to lightly press it into the skin rather than dusting it lightly on the surface. Using a brush, makeup sponge, or powder puff to press powder into areas prone to mid-day shine allows maximum contact between your skin, oils and the powder itself.
This extra step makes a big difference in longevity, as pressed-in powder can sufficiently control oils and set makeup for an impressive 10+ hours in many cases. Avoid skimping on application – the small amount of extra prep time pays off exponentially in extended makeup wear!
Tips and Best Practices for Using Setting Powder to Lock In Makeup
- Only use a small amount of setting powder – too much can lead to visible powderiness or cakey texture on the skin. Focus on pressing a fine, thin layer into oily areas only.
- When applying powder, pay special attention to key oily areas prone to mid-day shine like the t-zone, cheeks and eyelids where makeup tends to fade or slip first.
- Try “baking” powder for maximum oil control by allowing extra powder to sit for 5-10 minutes before brushing off any visible excess. This gives powder time to really soak up oils.
- Always keep setting powder with you in your bag for quick touch ups whenever you notice shine coming through during the day. Quick pressed-in touch ups refresh oil control and your makeup instantly.
- For touch ups, use a slightly damp makeup sponge to press powder onto shiny areas to mattify without fully removing makeup underneath.
- Mix a small amount of setting powder into your face lotion, primer or tinted moisturizer to create a smooth, matted base for makeup application.
- Use powder products in place of creams in extra oily areas – powder blush vs cream blush, powder eyeshadows rather than creams which tend to shift more easily.
How to Shop for the Best Setting Powders for Oily and Combination Skin
With the array of setting powders available these days, it can get overwhelming to shop for the best one for your oily skin type. Here’s an overview of what to look for:
Formula Type
Pressed powders, loose powders, and mineral powder formulas all work well for oil and shine control as long as they contain absorbent ingredients like silica, starch or clay. Pressed powders are often preferred for touch ups on-the-go since they require less application finesse. Meanwhile, loose powders tend to offer heavier duty oil control.
Finish
The most flattering finish for oily skin tends to be an ultra-sheer, matte finish powder that blurs skin smoothly without looking chalky or adding any tint of color. Steer clear of shimmery powders which will only accentuate existing shine.
Shade Range
While oil-controlling powders should apply invisibly without adding color, having options for multiple sheer shades ensures the powder applies seamlessly across more skin tones.
Wear Time
Look for powders claiming extended wear times of 8+ hours or more. These tend to contain higher concentrations of oil-absorbing ingredients that lead to better makeup retention over time.
Ingredient Highlights
Key ingredients to seek out are silica, starches, clays, blursomes and other proprietary oil-absorbing complexes that help control sebum production. Many brands now optimize formulas specifically for oily skin types.
Reviews
Always check out reviews from fellow oily skinned makeup users. See what people say about how well powders keep them matte throughout long work days and special events to find standout picks.
Below are reviews of some of the top-rated mattifying setting powders beloved by beauty editors, professional makeup artists and oily skinned beauties for keeping even the slickest complexions shine-free.
Best Setting Powders for Oily Skin Reviews
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- Ultra-fine, lightweight silica formula
- Lets skin breathe while controlling oil & shine for 10+ hours
- Sheer application works on all skin tones
- Convenient for quick touch ups on the go
- Longstanding favorite of makeup pros
Laura Mercier’s OG loose setting powder remains a favorite for its water-resistant, sebum-banishing abilities. The micro-fine powder contains unique spherical particles that smooth over skin without adding any visible color, blurring the look of large pores flawlessly on application.
Reviewers agree this iconic setting powder keeps even the oiliest of skin types shine-free for 12+ hours at a time, even in high heat and humidity. The oil-absorbing rice powder complex soaks up every last bit of excess sebum, preventing your liquid makeup from breaking down prematurely. Just be sure to use a light hand as too much powder can accentuate dryness.
Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
- Ultra-fine soft focus powder
- Locks makeup in place for 8+ hours
- Sheer application that doesn’t oxidize
- Convenient compact for on-the-go touch ups
- Available in a wide range of adaptable sheer shades
Trust Rihanna to develop one of the most inclusive, high performance pressed setting powders available. This ultra-lightweight powder gives a soft matte, filtered finish while keeping shine and excess oil production under control all day.
The powder’s proprietary ingredients absorb oil immediately while working to calm redness over time. Reviewers note you only need to dust on a small amount to make their makeup last beautifully without getting cakey or cracking, even through long workdays in masks. Having multiple adaptable shades ensures seamless application across more unique undertones as well.
Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder
- Budget-friendly loose powder
- Lightweight talc formula perfect for oily skin
- Blurs the look of enlarged pores
- Contains clay to absorb excess sebum
- Buildable coverage from sheer to full
- Mattifies without settling into lines or creasing
Can a sub-$10 drugstore powder really stand up to mid-day oil on par with the luxury brand names? According to thousands of impressed reviews – yes! Maybelline’s loose setting powder has gained a cult following for its high performing oil-control abilities afforded by premium ingredients like Kaolin clay.
The airspun formula smooths out and mattifies skin with a soft focus effect while effectively blotting up shine-inducing sebum all day. Reviewers report looking photo-ready for 10+ hours after application with no melting, migrating or slipping of complexion makeup. Full coverage builds beautifully as well over blemishes without emphasizing dryness. Proof you don’t need to overspend for shine and oil control!
Dermablend Loose Setting Powder
- Features oil-absorbing rice starch complex
- Keeps even very oily skin shine-free up to 16 hours
- Contains photochromic pigments to self-adjust on all skin tones
- Buildable coverage from sheer touch up to full matte
- Never looks or feels cakey even with repeated touch ups
Those with extremely oily skin types have found their perfect match with Dermablend’s high coverage loose powder. It provides the most heavyweight control of excess oil and sebum production compared to others on this list. Even with repeat applications and touch ups, the powder never cakes up, instead providing continuous oil absorption and extended wear time in excess of 16 hours per application!
The mattifying effect comes courtesy an impressive combo of oil-controlling ingredients like kaolin clay and titanium dioxide. These work synergistically to prevent oil and moisture from penetrating makeup layers so everything stays firmly locked in place. Even users prone to midday melting and fading of base makeup get over a full day’s wear thanks to this powerful oil-absorbing powder.
Set Makeup In Place and Stop Oil Breakthrough in Its Tracks!
If you have oily or combination skin, don’t let excess sebum and shine prevent you from achieving flawless makeup that goes the distance. Using targeted setting powders packed with oil-absorbing minerals allows you to take control, creating a matte, smoothed base that keeps makeup firmly set in place.
By pressing these mattifying and shine-blurring formulas into skin you create a protective barrier between your skin and makeup. This prevents oils from breaking down formulas over time leading to slipping, fading and creasing woes. Take your pick from the top-rated picks for your skin type and take on even the oiliest complexion with confidence!