Written by Clémence Rubiella | Published on 13 August 2023 | Updated on 23 May 2024 | Makeup
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Dear readers,
There are times when you surpass yourself whilst creating a makeup look, which then becomes much more than just a look, it is a masterpiece. Well, when that happens you want to make sure it is not moving one inch for the entire day or night ahead of you. And that is when the setting powders and sprays become a must. But which one to choose? There are so many choices at Sephora and/or you have been using the same one that never failed you for the past 5 years. Let me tell you, the Korean setting powders are, in my humble opinion, so much better than what can be found on the Western market. Let me introduce you to some of the holy grails of Korean beauty.
My recommendations:
Best Powder: Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder ($7)
Best Pressed Powder: Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pack ($8)
Best Blurry Powder: Etude House Zero Sebum ($10)
Best Moisturizing Powder: Innisfree No Sebum Moisture Powder ($10)
Best Glowy Powder: Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Sheer Powder ($11)
Best Brightening Powder: Colorgram Sebum Retouching Blur Pact ($13)
Absolutely not recommended: Too Cool For School Art Class By Rodin Finish Setting Pact ($10)
Setting Sprays:
7. Best setting spray: Missha Fix Me Make Up Fixer ($8) vs SoNatural All Day Tight Make-Up Setting Fixer ($12)
1. Best Powder: Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder
Rating: 5 / 5 Awards: Glowpick 2023/2022
Highlights:
Compact packaging
Non-scented
Long-lasting
Natural matte finish
Vegan and light formula
Versatile use
What we don’t like:
Nothing
One of K-beauty holy grails, the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is an all-time best seller and loved by many inside and outside Korea. I was always astonished by the number of tourists that were rushing to Innisfree stores and buying packs and packs of this tiny green bottle. And let me tell you why. It is an oil-friendly powder that absorbs superfluous sebum. Fragrance and paraben-free, you can use this finish powder however you like; blotting paper, eye primer, makeup fixer or even as a dry shampoo but most people use it as a loose translucid setting powder. It sets your makeup of hours and hours without budging. The finish is very natural and it feels incredibly light on the skin. And finally, the packaging is environmentally friendly. The Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is simply an amazing product.
2. Best Pressed Powder: Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pack
Rating: 5 / 5
Awards: Powder Room 2023
Highlights:
Compact version of the No-Sebum Mineral Powder
Non-scented
Long-lasting
Natural matte finish
Vegan and light formula
Versatile use
What we don’t like:
Nothing
The Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pack is the little sister of the Innisfree loose powder. The same powder just in a pressed powder form, same product properties, same awesomeness in a green pouch. An oil-controlling and skin-perfecting powder that sets foundation and blots away excess shine to keep skin fresh and matte. The translucent powder contains Jeju natural mineral and naturally originated mint, ingredients that refresh and nourish skin with every use. Use No-Sebum Mineral Pact as the last step of your makeup routine to prolong foundation wear. Can also be used to touch up makeup during the day. Perfect for travelling, this Mineral Pack is great to keep in your bag at all times. It comes with a cute little puff to apply or re-apply on the go.
3. Best Blurring Powder: Etude House Zero Sebum Powder
Rating: 5 / 5
Highlights:
Fine and light particles
Strong blurring effect
Non-irritating, suitable for all skin types
Velvety smooth finish
Long-lasting
What we don’t like:
Nothing
Unlike the other powders mentioned above, the Etude Zero Sebum is specifically designed to have a higher blurring effect. The powder is made of fine and light particles, way finer than the other Innisfree loose powder. The finish is a silky smooth poreless one. You really feel like all your pores have been sucked away without looking caked. It is fragrance-free. Love this product to death, I generally use it when I need a more polished look for an event or just a completely poreless look.
4. Best Moisturizing Powder: Innisfree No-Sebum Moisture Powder
Rating: 5 / 5
Highlights:
Non-scented
Moisturizing formula
Long-lasting
Dewy finish
Vegan and light formula
Versatile use
What we don’t like:
Nothing
And still, another Innisfree setting powder. They really are making the best of them all so let's introduce the No-Sebum Moisture Powder. This one is perfect for those with dry skin. Let's repeat one more time the great features of the No-Sebum Powder; smooth, long-lasting, light-weight, comfortable on the skin, perfectly locks in your makeup for an entire day and finally vegan formulated. Now, the Mineral Powder can feel a bit drying in winter or with some makeup looks, it is not desired to have a full matt look. That is when the Moisture Powder comes into play. It is tinted light beige with neutral undertones and doesn't feel as drying as the Mineral Powder. Its distinctive formula is optimized for both oily and dry skin. Crafted from plant-based ingredients, the powder rapidly absorbs excess sebum, simultaneously preserving moisture to promote a dewy complexion.
5. Best Glowy Powder: Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Sheer Powder
Rating: 5 / 5
Highlights:
Dewy finish
Vegan formula
Non-scented
Light-weight
Moisturizing formula
What we don’t like:
Nothing
I am a big fan of pressed powders and when Espoir launched their Pro Tailor Be Glow Sheer Powder, I jumped on the product. To put it simply, if you were putting the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in a setting powder, the Espoir Pro Tailor Be Glow Sheer Powder would be the result. Swatched side by side, the shine similarity is striking. It is a natural powder pact that shines naturally like my skin. This powder is a vegan translucent finish powder which contains super fine powders with great seamless adherence to the skin. The pigments are coated with vegetable oil that is expressed as a subtle gloss skin. Enriched with naturally-derived oil, keeps your skin moisturized without drying. Amazing product that works beautifully with makeup that is aiming for a glassy skin look.
6. Best Brightening Powder: Colorgram Sebum Retouching
Blur Pact
Rating: 5 / 5
Highlights:
Cute packaging
Long-lasting
Comes with a puff
Brightens under-eye area
Light-weight
What we don’t like:
Nothing
I was looking for a pink powder to brighten my under-eyes and one day I saw the Colorgram Sebum Retouching Blur Powder in a video and I thought to myself that the packaging was so damn cute. Long story short, I bought it, tried it, never looked back. Besides its effective blurring effect, it instantaneously brightens and provides a tone-up effect. The pink powder provides skin tone correction without being too white, which I love. It is excellent at absorbing sebum and doesn’t get smudged by skin oiliness provides soft texture for a long time. Great gift idea for anyone.
7. Not recommended: Too Cool For School Artclass By Rodin Finish Setting Pact
Rating: 1 / 5
Highlights:
Cool edgy packaging
What we don’t like:
Difficult to get product onto the brush
Need a lot of powder to set your makeup
I really do not know what is happening with the Too Cool For School Artclass product line but none of them is really working. This Rodin Finish Setting Pack is just no exception. No powder comes on the brush. It is extremely hard to get any product off the pan and you will need a large amount of powder to actually set anything on your face. Just a total miss for me.
7. Best Setting Spray
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