The best setting powders and sprays,according to makeup artists and beauty experts
The 11 setting powders and sprays that makeup artists and beauty experts rate highest, ranked by genuine consensus.
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
89%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 ScoreAll Nighter Setting Spray
“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
The rest of the list
- 4
Laura MercierTranslucent Loose Setting PowderGuru CertifiedSplurge85%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
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
- 6
Danessa MyricksYummy Skin Blurring Balm PowderOily skinCombination 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.
- 7
Charlotte TilburyAirbrush Flawless Setting SpraySplurge79%9 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
- 8
Huda BeautyEasy Bake Loose Baking and Setting PowderSplurge77%8 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: Natural, skin-like finish with subtle glow; Lightweight without drying the skin
The catch: Settles into lines on mature skin
- 9
KosasCloud Set Baked Setting PowderMid-range73%5 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
- 10
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
- 11
L'OrealInfallible 3-Second Setting MistBudget buy60%6 gurusHairspray is the word that keeps coming up for this setting mist, since several experts say it smells and looks like one.
What the gurus liked: Locks makeup in place; Doesn't sting the eyes
The catch: Heavy, film-like feel on skin
Who's doing the judging
Ranked from the public takes of 20 independent gurus, including 5 makeup artists, 4 dermatologists and 2 beauty journalists.
Dr. Sam EllisDermatologist
Dr. Jenny LiuDermatologist
Dr. Aleksandra BrownDermatologist
Cassandra BanksonMedical Esthetician
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging ExpertGerontologist
Caroline HironsEsthetician
Alexandra AneleMakeup Artist
Robert WelshMakeup Artist
Mixed MakeupBeauty Journalist
Allie GlinesMakeup Artist
Dimma UmehMakeup Artist
The Style and Beauty DoctorBeauty Journalist
HotandFlashy
Sincerely Miss Ash+6These 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 89% from 6 gurus. The ranking above lists all 11 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 Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder and Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking and Setting Powder, more than any other pick on the list.
What do the top setting powders and sprays have in common?
Of the 8 we hold a full ingredient list for, 6 skip drying alcohol and 4 are fragrance-free. 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.