Translucent powders are a trusted staple. They set, mattify, and blur the skin without ever altering its color, taking the guessing game out of color matching. But unfortunately, not every translucent powder is a winner. Some make you look ghostly in photos, and others aren’t as translucent as promised!
We don’t like settling for anything less than perfect when it comes to our setting powder, which is why we’ve selected and reviewed the best translucent powders for every skin type and makeup style.
- What Makes a Great Translucent Powder?
- Top 10 Best Translucent Powders 2024
- 1. Best Overall Translucent Powder: Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder
- 2. Best Premium Translucent Powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
- 3. Best Translucent Powder for Dry Skin: L'Oreal Paris Hydra Perfecte
- 4. Best Translucent Powder for Oily Skin: Mehron Setting Powder
- 5. Best Budget Translucent Powder: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
- 6. Best Pressed Translucent Powder: Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder
- 7. Best Translucent Powder for Baking: COVERGIRL Clean Professional
- 8. Best HD Translucent Powder: e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder
- 9. Best Talc-Free Translucent Powder: Honest Beauty Invisible Blurring Loose Powder
- 10. Best Pure Silica Translucent Powder: NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder
- Your Translucent Powder Guide
- Get Powdered
What Makes a Great Translucent Powder?
The main reason why you need translucent powder in your arsenal is to set cream makeup, which prevents it from smudging and amps up its longevity. If you want to go truly hardcore, you can even try “baking” your makeup with translucent powder, which is a more intense setting technique.
Translucent powders also take away shine from oily skin. They often have a slight diffusing effect that makes the skin appear smoother. The most important feature? They’re colorless, so one translucent powder can be used across a wide range of skin tones without altering the color of makeup below.
These are the features we kept in mind when deciding which translucent powders deserve our recommendation.
Actually Translucent
For a powder to truly count as translucent, it has to be invisible on the skin without changing the coverage or color of your foundation. They don’t add coverage, although they can be tinted to blend better into deeper skin tones. We’ll mention how many shades each powder is available in, although this time around, having a small shade range isn’t a bad thing.
Increases Longevity
A translucent powder needs to lock makeup in place and ensure that it doesn’t move all-day-long. We don’t discuss longevity in our reviews in detail because it’s a baseline feature. If it doesn’t, we don’t recommend it, period.
Nice Texture
While the right finish for a translucent powder totally depends on your preferences (if you’re not sure, we can help you decide base on your skin type), texture is a different issue. We looked for powders that don’t highlight any texture issues in the skin, even if they’re applied with a heavier hand.
Diffuses Imperfections
One of the major bonuses of a translucent powder is that it acts like a post-foundation primer, helping to blur the appearance of pores, fine lines, and other small imperfections. This effect is usually achieved with silica, a naturally-occurring compound with a reflective quality, which perfects the skin but unfortunately can also have flashback.
Minimal Flashback
No one wants a flashback Mary situation. If you’re not familiar, it’s when your makeup looks flawless up until the point someone takes a photo with flash, and then you look totally ghostly.
This happens when a powder is made with reflective minerals, which are often added for a photo finish effect. We’ll let you know exactly how each powder we’ve selected holds up against flash photography.
Great Value
An amazing translucent powder that truly disappears into the skin can be worth its weight in gold. Thankfully, it turns out that a lot of amazing translucent powders do that, and more, without costing too much!
We’ve selected a range of translucent powders that offer excellent value, and we also point out how much product you get in each jar so you can figure out the true price per ounce.
With all the key requirements in mind, let’s see which translucent powders measured up!
Top 10 Best Translucent Powders 2024
1. Best Overall Translucent Powder: Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 1.25 Oz
- Finish: Demi-Matte
- Shade Range: 3
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
This gorgeous powder is made by Sacha, a brand from Trinidad and Tobago that has been making products for women of color for years. It’s no surprise that this is also one of the best translucent powders for dark skin that we’ve reviewed.
The original powder is a deep yellow shade that works beautifully on dark skin with warm undertones. There is also a lighter version for warm light and medium skin tones. However, the shade that wows us the most is No Color. Though it looks white in the jar, it’s truly colorless but with a slight cool tint. It works remarkably well for anyone with a cool undertone, including women with very dark cool skin who can’t use a typical banana powder.
Most of the powders on our list are great for baking, but this one might be our favorite for the job. It is absolutely gorgeous all over the face, but under the eyes it has a gentle smoothing effect that helps diffuse fine lines. Once “baking” is done and you brush away the powder, it doesn’t leave any visible texture or dryness. Most importantly, it doesn’t flashback in photos!
It also looks nice with a lighter application. It has a demi-matte finish like most other powders on this list, and it offers decent oil-control without making the skin look dry. It has a touch more presence than the super-invisible Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, in a way that slightly perfects the look of your foundation. It’s a fine choice for all skin types, although those with dry skin should use it more sparingly.
It’s slightly more expensive than a few other options on our list, though it’s more affordable than the premium-priced Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. It’s not absurdly expensive, and considering how great it looks on the skin, we think it totally merits the price point. If you’re on a tight budget, the CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder is the most affordable option with similar effects.
Pros
- Imperfection-diffusing effect
- Controls oils without over-mattifying
- Excellent for baking
- One of the best powders for dark skin
- Photographs beautifully with no flashback
Cons
- Slightly expensive
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 1 Oz
- Finish: Natural
- Shade Range: 3
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Unclear
When it was first released, this translucent powder changed the game and forced all other brands to measure up. You know it’s good when almost all other powders are reviewed in comparison to it!
This powder is incredibly finely-milled and sheer. While it’s advertised as having a matte finish, we find that it’s more natural in practice. It still helps to keep shine from peeking through throughout the day, so it’s a solid choice for all skin types.
It’s just reflective enough to give a slight pore-blurring effect. It’s not quite as diffusing as the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder, but that’s mostly because it’s more lightweight and invisible.
It’s truly translucent so it works well across a very wide range of skin tones. This level of versatility makes it a must-have in makeup artist kits! In addition to the translucent shade, this powder also comes in “honey” which is tinted to suit warm undertones and “deep” which is suitable for darker skin tones.
It works quite well for baking, especially for light and medium skin tones. Those with deeper skin tones can use the original translucent shade lightly as an all-over setting powder, but if they use it to bake it will slightly lighten their foundation. This can actually give a brightening effect that some shoppers really love, while others prefer using one of the deeper shades.
It’s famously forgiving in flash photography, and while high amounts can show up a little bit, in general it has little-to-no flashback.
The only powder that works better for dry skin is the L’Oreal Paris Hydra Perfecte Loose Powder, which has a truly dewy finish. The e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder has a similarly soft and natural finish, although it contains a touch of silica so it’s slightly more likely to flashback in photos.
All-in-all, we’d say this is the ideal translucent powder! Since it’s a premium product, the only drawback to it we can identify is the high price point.
Pros
- Lightweight and sheer
- Solid choice for all skin types
- Works well for baking
- Slight pore-blurring effect
- Perfect for makeup artists
Cons
- Expensive
3. Best Translucent Powder for Dry Skin: L'Oreal Paris Hydra Perfecte
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.5 Oz
- Finish: Dewy
- Shade Range: 3
- Fragrance: Floral
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No
If you have dry skin, look no further. This translucent powder has a groundbreaking formula that sets makeup while allowing the skin to retain a sheen.
Most powders make dry skin look even drier, and while setting sprays can be a decent alternative, nothing compares to the longevity that powder offers. Hydra Perfecte is a great solution.
It’s extremely fine and silky to the touch, and once it goes on the skin it settles beautifully without looking visible at all. It’s even more invisible and lightweight than the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, which is next lightest powder on our list.
Even if you don’t have dry skin, it can be fantastic for setting concealers under the eyes. It doesn’t look cakey or heavy even when it’s applied generously with a method like baking.
It’s available in a translucent shade, but it also comes in light and medium shades that have a bit of a tint. That said, the translucent shade alone works well across a very wide range of skin tones including very dark skin.
The only potential drawback to this powder is that it’s quite heavily scented, which can be a problem for those with sensitivities.
Pros
- Gives skin a glowy, dewy finish
- Looks invisible on the skin
- Never flashes back
- Excellent under the eyes
Cons
- Fragranced
4. Best Translucent Powder for Oily Skin: Mehron Setting Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 1 Oz
- Finish: Very Matte
- Shade Range: 2
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
One of the main purposes of a translucent powder is to lock makeup into place and ensure it’ll look good for longer. All of the setting powders on our list do a great job of that, but this one kicks it up a notch.
It sets makeup, mattifies the skin, and guarantees that your look will hold up against water, rain, and sweat. It’s especially well-loved by stage performers who need their makeup to hold up under hot lights.
The formula is made with talc, which can’t be beat when it comes to absorbing oils from the skin. It’s reinforced with aluminum hydroxide, which helps to prevent sweat and moisture buildup. It can be overkill for day-to-day, but if you have a very physical job or you want your makeup to hold up after a swim or a gym session, it’s the best we’ve seen.
Though it’s not advertised as such, we also think it qualifies as an HD powder, since it contains a pore-blurring touch of silica. Like other HD powders, it can flash back in photos if it’s over-applied, although thankfully the talc helps to prevent some of the reflectiveness.
Because it’s so intense, it’s not a great choice for baking. We find the finish a little too matte for under the eyes, but if you use it sparingly it’ll be okay.
If you want something a little less mattifying, the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder is the next best thing.
Pros
- Water- and oil-proof
- Pore blurring effect
- Very long-lasting
Cons
- Can look dry
- May flashback in photos
5. Best Budget Translucent Powder: Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 2.3 Oz
- Finish: Matte
- Shade Range: 6
- Fragrance: Floral
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No
At the time of writing, Coty Airspun is the oldest makeup product we’re aware of that’s still on the market. The formula has been updated over the years since its original release in 1935, but it still holds an iconic status for many makeup fans. That’s not to say that it’s outdated–it has a massive cult following.
It’s a classic setting powder that sets and mattifies perfectly, and works especially well for those with combination and oily skin. One applied to the skin, it’s very smooth, though it’s not as finely-milled as the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. As a result, it actually adds a skin-perfecting effect that the more invisible powder doesn’t have.
It comes in 6 shades, but because it’s genuinely translucent, those with dark skin can use the original “translucent” shade as a light setting powder without issue. If you have darker skin and prefer to “bake” your makeup, we recommend choosing a tinted shade like Suntan.
Unfortunately, those with dry skin find that it can slightly emphasize dryness, especially if it’s applied with a heavy hand. You can use it to set creamier concealers under the eyes, but it will look flat over a matte concealer. It usually photographs well, although it can flashback if you over apply.
Not a single powder on this list beats it for sheer cost-per-ounce. It costs just a dollar or two more than our next most affordable option, the CoverGirl Professional Loose Powder, but it comes with triple the product. One container can last for years, even with daily use.
One thing that Coty should have changed over the years is the scent of this product. It’s perfumey and a little dated. Some shoppers love it, but for many it presents an issue.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Excellent longevity
- Gives a perfected matte finish
Cons
- Strong, dated fragrance
- Can look dry if overapplied
6. Best Pressed Translucent Powder: Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.3 Oz
- Finish: Demi-Matte
- Shade Range: 2 Translucent Shades
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: No
Translucent powders usually come in a loose formula, so we appreciate the convenience that this fantastic pressed translucent powder offers.
When it comes to the important details, like how it looks on the skin, we’re truly impressed. It has a soft demi-matte finish, and the formula is super-smooth so it works well even over dry patches. It keeps the skin from looking shiny throughout the day, but it’s not too flat or powdery-looking. It’s almost like a pressed version of the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder.
The translucent shade appears white in the container, but as with many of the other translucent powders on this list, it goes on the skin colorless without altering the shade of your foundation. Those with deeper or warmer skin tones might prefer the banana shade, which has a warm yellow tint. We find that neither shade causes flashback.
The drawback to purchasing a pressed translucent powder is that you get a lot less powder. If you’re looking for a translucent powder that you can keep in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day, this is a fantastic choice. However, if you use it for your initial makeup application at home, you’ll go through a compact very quickly.
We recommend buying this pressed powder just for travel while keeping a more wallet-friendly loose powder like Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder at home for everyday use.
Pros
- Soft and natural-looking
- Controls oils gently
- Convenient on-the-go
Cons
- Small amount of product
7. Best Translucent Powder for Baking: COVERGIRL Clean Professional
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.7 Oz
- Finish: Demi-Matte
- Shade Range: 5
- Fragrance: Eucalyptus and Clove
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
This drugstore translucent powder is perfect for baking fanatics! It offers a pristine demi-matte finish that fits with the “Instaglam” aesthetic, and since it’s relatively affordable you won’t feel bad about using it liberally.
It’s often compared to the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. We think CoverGirl was hoping for the comparison, since even the packaging looks similar!
The two powders are very soft and finely-milled, but the CoverGirl powder has a slightly more matte finish and a skin-diffusing effect. Because of that, it actually reminds us more of the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder. It works well under the eyes, and a light dusting all over the face can also help keep the skin shine-free throughout the day.
It comes in 5 shades (though they’re not all always in stock), which is one of the larger shade ranges we’ve seen for a translucent powder. The shades all mimic skin tones and have neutral undertones, so all you have to do is select the one that’s closest to your skin’s darkness level. The deepest shade, Tawny, may look a little light in the container, but it works well even for very deep skin tones.
The only major sign that this is an inexpensive product is the packaging. The jar that this powder comes in is not particularly sturdy, and the lid can break if the jar is dropped or jostled too much. Skip it if you’re clumsy, but for most makeup wearers this won’t be an issue, especially if it’s kept in a safe spot at home.
The powder’s eucalyptus and clove fragrance is based on Noxzema, which we find a little odd. Most shoppers seem to like it, but it may prove problematic for some.
Pros
- Affordable dupe to Sacha Buttercup
- Demi-matte and diffused skin finish
- Controls oil throughout the day
Cons
- Breakable packaging
- Fragranced
8. Best HD Translucent Powder: e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.28 Oz
- Finish: Natural
- Shade Range: 2
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
This is our favorite HD powder. HD powders are a category of powders that can set the skin, but more importantly, they diffuse texture. Many powders have this kind of perfecting effect, but HD powders take it up a level.
This powder is described by e.l.f. as having a radiant finish, although in practice, it’s more of a natural finish. Because of this non-matte, non-powdery finish, it’s a great choice for setting dry or normal skin!
Its finish is very comparable to Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder, but with the added texture-diffusing effect that even surpasses the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder. Unfortunately, it’s also a little more likely to have flashback, so we don’t recommend wearing it when you think there might be flash photography.
If you’re not worried about flash, you can feel confident setting under eye concealer with this powder, even heavily! It’s truly colorless but it does a fantastic job of smoothing things out under the eyes. If you have warmer undertones, you can pick it up in Corrective Yellow.
Though this powder is quite affordable, do note that the package only comes with 0.28 oz of product, so if we judge per ounce, it costs just a little less than the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder.
Pros
- Very skin-perfecting
- Great finish for dry skin
- Decent setting effects
Cons
- Slight flashback in photos
- Not as cheap as it seems
9. Best Talc-Free Translucent Powder: Honest Beauty Invisible Blurring Loose Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.56 Oz
- Finish: Matte
- Shade Range: 1
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
If you have sensitive skin or you worry about harmful chemicals in cosmetics then this clean powder will be your favorite!
The main ingredient here is corn starch, which is a fantastic talc-alternative for soaking up oil and keeping the skin matte. It’s paired with silica, rice starch, and a few other minerals, with a texture that is so soft that we can only describe it as silky. It feels incredible on the skin.
While it is smooth and light, it is strongly mattifying, so it’s better for oily skin. It might work under the eyes, but only over a very creamy concealer.
The application of this powder can be a little tricky, since some users note that it slightly darkens their foundation or concealer. It’s a surprisingly solid choice if you usually struggle with powders looking light or ashy, but for those with light skin we don’t think it’s a great choice.
Instead of the typical plastic layer with shaker-holes, the powder container is fitted with a mesh sifter that can cause powder to get everywhere. There’s an added inner-lid that goes over the sifter, but it’s not totally effective. We recommend being extra careful when handling the packaging or when loading up your brush with powder to prevent making a mess.
It’s one of the few talc-free options on our list. The others are the L’Oreal Paris Hydra Perfecte Loose Powder, which has a dewy finish that’s better for dry skin, and the NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder which has a nice pore-blurring effect but is more likely to have flashback.
Pros
- Long-lasting matte finish
- Talc-free, clean formula
- Incredibly silky skin-feel
Cons
- Can slightly darken foundation
- Application can be messy
10. Best Pure Silica Translucent Powder: NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Quantity: 0.21 Oz
- Finish: Natural
- Shade Range: 1
- Fragrance: Fragrance-Free
- Cruelty-Free/Vegan: Yes/Yes
This translucent powder is incredibly popular, but we’re actually not too impressed with it.
It does a good job of soaking up both oil and sweat throughout the day, which helps keep makeup from looking greasy. It’s made solely of silica, so it’s incredibly simple and safe for sensitive skin, and the fact that it’s used alone means that there is no talc in the formula.
At the same time, it’s quite luminous so it doesn’t make the skin look dry or flat! It reflects and diffuses light beautifully, so it can be used to add a perfecting layer to the skin. Unfortunately, this also comes with a massive drawback: it flashes back like nobody’s business, especially if you over-apply. We don’t recommend this powder for baking or for setting the skin heavily–it looks best when applied lightly and sheerly.
As far as the color goes, it’s truly translucent in the day time, which means that you can use it no matter your skin tone. However, the situation totally changes for evening events when photos might be taken, in which case only those with incredibly fair skin could get away with it.
Lastly, we take issue with the price. This powder might seem cheap at first glance, but the amount in a jar is truly tiny. In a cost-per-ounce breakdown, it costs about the same as the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder.
Pros
- Truly translucent and one-size-fits-all
- Talc-free
- Great oil control
- Imperfection-diffusing effect
Cons
- Terrible flashback
- Must be used very sparingly
- Overpriced
Your Translucent Powder Guide
It turns out that translucent powders are a little more complicated than they seem! That’s why we put together this guide to selecting the right one for you. We also added a few sections that’ll help you understand if translucent powder is right for you!
Choose Your Powder by Skin Type
Your skin type is the biggest factor that influences how each powder will make you look. Read through to figure out your skin type and the best corresponding translucent powders.
Translucent Powder for Oily Skin
Translucent powders are almost always made with oily skin in mind, so you won’t have a problem finding a good one for you! As a quick refresher, oily skin produces a lot of oil throughout the day.
Because of this, mattifying translucent powders are the best choice for keeping the skin smooth and shine-free.They absorb oils throughout the day and prevent makeup from fading or breaking down. When used in combination with a face wash made specifically for oily skin, they’ll keep your skin beautiful and healthy.
For a totally matte complexion, the Mehron Setting Powder does the best job, although for day-to-day looks a demi-matte powder usually looks softer, in which case the Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder would be a better choice.
Translucent Powder for Dry Skin
Those with dry skin usually have the hardest time finding a translucent powder. If you’re not sure if your skin is dry, here is how to tell: your skin doesn’t get shiny or oily throughout the day and your pores are quite small. You might be prone to dehydration (i.e. lack of water in the skin), which manifests as flakiness or dry texture, although it’s not a sure sign of dryness.
Since translucent powders are usually made to set down foundation and take away shine, they can make dry skin look even drier. However, some companies manage to make powders with a more reflective finish that doesn’t make dry skin look too dry.
The L’Oreal Paris Hydra Perfecte Loose Powder is especially good for the job, although the e.l.f. Cosmetics High Definition Powder is not a bad choice either.
Don’t forget to keep your skin looking and feeling good with a facial moisturizer made specifically for dry skin, too.
Translucent Powder for Combination and Normal Skin
Having combination or normal skin can be tricky since you’re sort of in the middle. Your skin might have conflicting needs, with oily areas like the T-zone requiring more oil-control while dry areas like the cheeks or under the eyes requiring a powder that can make the skin look smooth without drying it out.
Powders with a natural finish like Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder are easiest to use all over the face, but you can also be strategic by using a more mattifying powder only over your oily areas.
Translucent Powder for Sensitive Skin
Those with sensitive skin have to consider more than just the finish when selected a translucent powder. Sensitive skin is also considered “reactive,” which means that it can become red or irritated very easily. It can occur with any skin type, and can sometimes be the result of a skin condition like eczema or rosacea.
The key when choosing a powder for sensitive skin is to avoid potential irritants. There are myths about ingredients like talc causing sensitivity, although in reality the mostly likely irritants are fragrances. That’s why we made sure to include a lot of fragrance-free powders on our list.
If you do have sensitive skin, be sure the foundation you use is skin-safe as well.
Is Translucent Powder the Same as Setting Powder?
A setting powder is any powder that can be used to dry down and lock foundation into place, so it can be tinted or translucent, loose or pressed. Not all translucent powders are advertised as setting powders, but they all do the trick.
Is Translucent Powder Better Than Tinted Powder?
Translucent powders are effectively colorless, so they save the hassle of having to color-match. On the other hand, tinted powders are more pigmented, so it’s important that they match your skin tone. They will increase the coverage of your foundation which will also make your skin look more made-up. Each one has its own benefits. Pick the one that’ll work with your makeup style, or try both!
Get Powdered
Some people like to powder their nose lightly while others let their makeup bake. No matter which you are on any given day, a great translucent powder might be important–especially when you want easy, invisible makeup.