Aug. 25, 2025
Pressed powders have been around for years — ever since the s. After all, where do you think the humble abode’s stereotypical “powder room” originated from?
Goto CPP Global to know more.
There’s a reason the foundation-filled compacts are here to stay, too. For quick-fix touch ups to color-correcting on the go, no wonder they’ve developed into both makeup vanity and crossbody bag staples.
Because I’ve been consistently testing full-coverage foundations and creamy concealers for more than three years, It was time to round up my favorite pressed powders that I’ve been testing for just as long (Related: Best makeup primers).
Not to mention, pressed powders were one of the first makeup products I purchased before heading into middle school (with vivid memories of standing in front of the MAC counter and waiting on Sephora lines).
Ahead, find all of the pressed powders that last all day and made the cut. I’ve been testing more than 20, and the below are my must-have list for your next makeup haul.
My skin is sensitive and partially dry (although it can have its oily moments), so it took me exactly three years of testing (aka, ransacking Sephora and Ulta Beauty for the best ones on the market) to determine the best ones. Here’s an overview of what I looked for while applying:
Simply put, there’s nothing quite like the MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. Although all pressed powders on this list last all day, this particular compact has a noticeably full-coverage effect — allowing you to feel confident without needing a tinted moisturizer or foundation to precede it.
It also does a wonderful job of color-correcting and comes in a vast shade range to complement both fair and melanated skin alike. It’s said to last for 12 hours, but if I’m being honest, it lasted for a bit more when I applied my makeup in the early morning and went out at night. Simply amazing.
If that wasn’t enough, it didn’t become oily or crease at all during the day and helped minimize the appearance of some pores, namely around my nose and on the apples of my cheeks. I can’t rave about this pressed powder enough (meaning you should add it to your cart).
OK, OK, I know everyone raves about Laura Mercier’s Loose Powder (who doesn’t?!). But its Real Flawless Perfecting Talc-Free Pressed Powder shouldn’t get lost in the clamor. It’s a true finishing powder that has a blurring, evening-out effect that’s purely delightful.
Though its shade range is quite limited, its translucent enough to work well with a myriad of skin tones. It’s buildable, too, which is great if you want to wear, say, a BB cream on one day and a more full-coverage foundation the next. It works well for dry skin and uneven texture, too.
Not to mention, the compact lasts for months on end so you’ll be getting your money’s worth — even if you wear it nearly every day.
All hail Queen C (that’s short for Queen Charlotte). The brand’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder is exactly what its name projects — an airbrush effect, with a near-flawless finish that helps set your makeup in place for hours on end.
Not only have I reviewed nearly every product the brand has whipped out (a dream process, TBH), but this one is by far one of my favorites the brand has to offer. Its natural finish and medium coverage is the Goldilocks of pressed powders, if I do say so myself.
More, you’ll also love its natural ability to help reduce shine on your face — ideal for oily skin, especially.
If you’re seeking a quality drugstore pressed powder, look no further than the Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Pressed Face Powder. It’s less than $10 for the budget-friendly stock-up you’ve been wanting and, much to my surprise, it lasted longer than some over-$30 options from beauty counters.
This powder is a No. 1 Amazon best-seller (with more than 67,000 rave reviews on the retailer’s site alone) and helps mitigate shine in the best way possible. It has noticeable color and coverage yet is buildable at the same time — ideal for customizing your look or reapplying later on.
The brand considers this product to be the hallmark of the “I woke up like this” finish, and I couldn’t agree more. It’s worth adding to your cart and trying at least once!
The bareMinerals BAREPRO 16-HR Skin-Perfecting Powder Foundation, as its name suggests, has a “barely there,” no-makeup makeup look finish, and it’s one I’ve been using since high school (and that’s a true story; it never left my makeup vanity).
Notably, the shade range is quite vast and I find myself going up a few shades in the fall and winter months to give me more of a glow before blending it out. It has a full-coverage and matte finish which allows you to skip the liquid foundation and swipe a bit of this on for more confidence.
It also lasts so long and didn’t become shiny at all throughout the day. If you’re on the hunt for a vegan formula, too, this one’s the real deal.
Grab the Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder and don’t look back. I’ll be honest, I typically only resort to this compact if I’m doing a full-glam makeup look where I want a sheer veil of coverage — but this one doesn’t disappoint.
With oil-controlling ingredients, the formula helps blur the look of imperfections and pores and mattify skin. You’ll love its velveteen, hydrating feel and sheer, buildable veil of coverage, most especially.
Oh, and for a bonus glow-y skin feel, pick up the brand’s Shimmer Brick Compact ($53) that has had me oohing and aahing for years.
If you have sensitive skin, you can’t go wrong with Clinique. The brand is always one I trust and resort to, and applying its pressed foundation always is seamless.
The brand’s Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder is one that remains a constant in my purse and offers a stay-all-day coverage without the shine. Why it’s unique? The included powder puff helps you build up the coverage exactly how you like it without a cake-y finish.
For more Pressed Powder Container(ru,fr,ko)information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
For less than $40, it’s worth the buy if you want something truly customizable and quick and easy. It has been a constant in my makeup rotation for years and is offered in plenty of shades.
When SEPHORA COLLECTION debuted its Matte Perfection Powder Foundation, I was blown away by its ability to balance out my skin tone and color correct in a flash — for just $20! If you want a healthy looking glow, too, it can even double as bronzer if you opt for a few shades darker.
Its shade range is probably the most widespread out of all pressed powders I tested, and for that, SEPHORA COLLECTION receives three cheers for inclusivity. Its natural matte finish is even comparable to the MAC Cosmetics Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation — ranked the best overall in this review — but more affordable.
Meet one of the most-hyped pressed foundations (that’s really worth the acclaim): the LAWLESS Skin-Smoothing Talc-Free Perfecting Powder. There’s something so effortless and beautiful about this way this applies and blends. For the airy, lightweight and buildable coverage it provides, I was colored impressed that it wasn’t cake-y, either.
Renowned for its “serious blurring and smoothing” effect, per the brand, it truly has that soft-focus look that both heightens your natural skin without the unwanted imperfections, like pores or texture. While its shade range could be more fleshed out, it’s a lovely pressed powder I consistently recommend IRL.
Simply stunning and one of the most effortless to blend, the LYS Beauty Triple Fix Setting Powder is incredibly impressive, given that it’s one of the most affordable options on this list.
Part of the reason why it’s a delight to apply and blend to near perfection is because its powder is finely milled and pressed translucent. That said, it’s buildable, lightweight and won’t clog your pores.
It’s also formulated with niacinamide (one of my favorite ingredients to make my skin more supple and hydrated) and green tea extract. I felt my skin feeling hydrated once this pressed powder was applied. Though its shade range could be wider, it still remains one of my long-wear favorites.
Wondering what the differences are between pressed powder vs loose powder? And what does setting spray do? We’ve got you covered with this handy guide as we delve into the different types of setting powders and what setting spray does, all to extend the wear-time of your makeup look.
“Pressed and loose powders can be used as setting powders, meaning they help mattify skin for shine control throughout the day, plus they help extend the wear-time of your makeup look, keeping it in place for longer,” explains Janeena Rumsey, Glo’s Global Education Ambassador and Artistry Lead.
The main difference between pressed powder and loose powder is their formulas. “Pressed powder is a great option for on-the-go complexion perfection. As it is more densely packed than a loose powder, it tends to provide a bit more coverage, allowing for easy, mess-free touch-ups. Use a translucent, talc-free mineral pressed setting powder like our Perfecting Powder to set and mattify your cream or liquid foundation, to absorb any excess oil, and to blur any remaining imperfections,” says Janeena. “It extends the length of time your makeup will last without smudging or budging.”
Loose setting powder is finely milled, super lightweight, translucent, and oftentimes tends to be more sheer than pressed powder. “Our Luminous Setting Powder features diamond powder, which helps to blur texture and provide a luminous glowing finish,” adds Janeena. “Loose powder can be used to set any makeup look in place—and can be used as part of the “baking” method in setting your foundation and concealer for all-day wear.”
Now available in three shades—Translucent Light: Sheer Peach, Translucent Medium: Sheer Golden, and Translucent Medium Deep: Sheer Tawny, as well as our best-selling Translucent: Sheer, it’s the perfect way to add even more glow to your final finishing touch.
Loose setting powder is another great option for shine control and naturally mattifies the skin to create a soft-focus, flawless finish. “If you are generally looking for a lighter or sheer effect, loose powder will be your go-to,” shares Janeena.
Setting powder is an invisible step in your makeup ritual that sets the makeup in place with a translucent powder that keeps everything looking shine-free, flawless, and to enhance the staying power of your makeup look. You apply your setting powder over your mineral makeup as a final step to lock it all in.
With many types of face powder products available, it can get confusing as to what each powder does. “Pressed powder as a term can be used to refer to pressed setting powder or a pressed powder foundation,” explains Janeena. “A pressed powder foundation like our bestselling Pressed Base can be worn as a base with longwearing buildable coverage, and it can also be layered over any of our other foundations or concealers for a longwearing, flawless complexion.”
“Perfecting Powder on the other hand is a pressed setting powder. It is translucent, mattifying, and specifically designed to perfect the complexion, for a flawless, longwearing finish,” she adds.
“Whether pressed or loose powder is better for mature or aging skin is really all down to the look you want to achieve and your skin type,” explains Janeena. “That said, as skin ages, it tends to be drier, so needs a little radiance boost. This is where loose setting powders with blurring benefits can help. This type of setting powder imparts a lightweight, luminous glow for all day radiance as well as supporting the longevity of your makeup look.
“When you’re applying a finishing powder or setting powder, my top tip is to keep it lightweight and natural looking,” says Janeena. “Start off with a minimal amount and build from there. You don’t want to place too much on to begin with as it can look overdone.”
“As the finishing powder is quite literally meant to set your look in place, the trick to applying it, is to be gentle. Lightly sweep on your powder without dragging your skin as this can affect the placement of your foundation, concealer, blush or bronzer.
“Using your preferred powder brush—mine is the Tapered Setting Powder Brush, lightly dip into your powder, tap off any excess, then gently press and sweep across your face, paying particular attention to your T-zone If you’re prone to an oily shine in this area, pairing it with a mattifying primer beforehand can also help reduce shine and smooth the skin’s surface. As a little will go far, be minimal with your setting powder for the most natural look.
“If you want to “bake” your foundation or concealer, after applying your setting powder, let it sit for a few minutes, then using a large fluffy brush, gently sweep away any excess, to avoid it settling into fine lines.”
“If you really want to ensure your makeup lasts all day, and your skin feels comfortable and nourished, a setting spray is the way to go,” explains Janeena. “A setting spray is essentially a liquid mist infused with nourishing hydrating ingredients that lock your makeup look in place. Our HA-Revive Hyaluronic Mist is powered by hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and botanical extracts to replenish moisture levels of both skin and minerals, and help your makeup stay put without smudging or settling into fine lines.”
And you can spritz your setting spray throughout the day to replenish your complexion and keep any touch-ups in place.
For more tips and tricks on products that keep you shine free, check out Melt Proof Skin and Beauty Essentials.
The company is the world’s best Empty Makeup Palette Bulk supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Previous: Ω, Το Άδειο Concealer Palette Είναι Ένας Απαραίτητος Σύντροφος Ομορφιάς!
Next: Hur hittar jag rätt tillverkare av sminkförpackningar för mitt märke?
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )