Best Translucent Powders For Flawless Skin

Translucent powder can make all the difference to how your makeup looks and lasts, but what are the best translucent powders?

There are so many different translucent powders to choose from, all of which claim to offer the world.

From loose translucent powders to pressed translucent powders, and there’s even mineral translucent powders for those that prefer natural makeup, or something to perfect bare skin, depending on your personal preference.

If you’d like to read the ultimate guide to the best translucent powders, keep on reading…

What Is A Translucent Powder?

Translucent powder is a must-have cosmetic item for many makeup users. It is a very lightweight, finely milled powder that helps to set makeup as well as absorb any excess oil and moisture on the skin.

Popular brands of translucent powder have a universal, transparent finish that works well with all skin tones, making them a practical, go-to choice for anyone wanting to keep their makeup looking fresh and flawless throughout the day.

Using translucent powders, can provide a light-diffusing effect, giving the skin an even and smooth surface, creating the perfect base that’s essential for blending foundation and other products effortlessly.

I personally always use translucent powder as almost a finishing step, to diffuse my makeup layers together, for a truly seamless finish.

Do You Apply Translucent Powder Before or After Foundation?

Applying translucent powder before or after foundation can depend on a few factors, such as the type of foundation you are using and your desired finish.

Generally speaking, those who use a liquid foundation may want to apply a translucent powder after they have applied the foundation to their face.

This is because the powder helps to set the foundation and make it last much longer. It can also help to reduce the amount of shine on the face as well.

On the other hand, if you are using a cream or stick foundation, it is recommended to apply a translucent powder beforehand.

This will help to even out your skin tone and provide a smoother and more even finish to your foundation.

What Is The Difference Between Regular Setting Powder and Translucent Powder?

There are different types of setting powders available, and understanding the difference between regular setting powder and translucent powder is key.

Regular setting powders usually contain pigment, which can add a tiny bit of coverage to even out your skin tone, but they also tend to clog pores if not used correctly.

Translucent powders are mostly colorless and will not cover any imperfections, but helps blur them out, giving you that soft-focus look.

Choosing between one or the other depends on how much coverage you want as well as what kind of skin you have.

Because if you have dry skin, then using a more hydrating translucent powder might be best whereas those with oilier skin should go with the regular setting powder for added coverage.

Do Translucent Powders Give You Flashback When Taking Selfie Photos?

Taking a selfie can be daunting enough without having to worry about translucent powder flashback ruining your perfect photo.

In recent years, mica – an incredibly fine reflective mineral – has become popularly used in makeup, including as part of many powders specifically designed for such an effect.

While mica does create that delicate soft focus look that is difficult to achieve otherwise, its properties can mean increased white light reflection and mild flashback when taking photos with flash or high-intensity lighting conditions.

The good news is, the risk isn’t necessarily unavoidable; by applied judiciously and packed down lightly on the skin, you can still get gorgeous shine free results with mica-infused translucent powders.

What Is Flashback When Taking Photos?

Makeup flashback can be an unwelcome surprise when taking pictures. This occurs when flash photography reflects light off subtle textures and particles in makeup, such as moisturizer, primer, and foundation products.

The result is harsh white undertones and unflattering shadows around the face and onto the clothes, creating a ghostly effect on the photo subject.

To avoid makeup flashback in photos, Choose sun safe formulas with no SPF or reflective ingredients to ensure pore-reducing and photo friendly formulas that won’t leave you with an unexpected surprise during your photo shoot.

Applying a loose setting powder with a soft brush to set your foundation also helps reduce flashbacks while leaving skin looking flawless without creating heavy patches or ashy undertones.

How Best To Apply Translucent Powder?

Applying translucent powder can be a great way to seal in your makeup or add a fresh look for those who prefer a natural makeup.

To get the best results, start with primer and apply foundation over it. Once your base is complete, take a clean powder brush, dip it into the powder, and tap off any excess before picking up the product from your face.

Apply the translucent powder all around your face, paying extra attention to oilier zones like the forehead and nose, as these areas tend to have excess shine during the day.

Dust off any remaining powder lightly with a fluffy brush, and finish up with a makeup setting spray.

Can You Use Translucent Powder Over The Top Of Powder Foundation?

Yes, you can use translucent powder over the top of powder foundation. Translucent powder is a light, sheer powder that provides a matte, shine-free finish to your skin and is perfect for setting your makeup and creating a perfect base.

It has no color, so it won’t alter the color or texture of your foundation. It will help to absorb any excess oils from your skin, so your makeup won’t smudge or slide off as quickly.

It also helps to lock your makeup in place, keeping it looking fresh and flawless for longer.

You typically apply your translucent powder with a fluffy brush, but you can also use a sponge to lightly dab the powder over your foundation.

Apply the powder in downward motions and be careful not to rub it too hard, as this will cause your foundation to come off.

Make sure to blend the edges of the powder with the foundation so that it looks natural.

Furthermore, make sure to only use a small amount of powder, as too much can give your skin a white cast and emphasize any dryness or flakiness.

50+ Best Translucent Powders

There are an insane amount of translucent powders to choose from, but how do you know what the best translucent powders are?

Well, I’ve rounded up the best 50 translucent powders, from both drugstore affordable brands to higher-end luxury brands.

I’m giving you a round-up of the bestselling translucent powders, and the reasons why each powder is so popular and effective.

As well as sharing the 50 best translucent powders, I’ve also got a round-up at the end, breaking down the best translucent powders for different skin types. If you’d like to find out the best translucent powders, keep on reading…

Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / Cult Beauty / Harrods
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $35 for 0.71 oz / 20 g
• Shade Range: Sugar Cookie (translucent) and eight skin-tone shades available
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

The Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder is designed to give the skin a flawless finish, whilst setting your makeup for long-lasting, melt-proof longevity.

With a super light and silky texture, to blend seamlessly with a matte, yet luminous finish. This is one of my personal favorite translucent powders, and you get a lot of product for your money.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA / Nordstrom
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $40 for 1 oz / 29 g
• Shade Range: Translucent (translucent) and two skin-tone shades available
• Cruelty Free?  Laura Mercier say “we do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf.”
• Vegan Friendly? No
• Review

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a lightweight loose powder that blends effortlessly to set makeup for up to 16 hours, with up to 24 hours of shine control.

Exceptionally milled to deliver incredible staying power without weight or texture so skin looks and feels soft, smooth and flawless from day to night.

The brand claims the powder works for virtually all skin tones including dry skin, combination skin and especially oily skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder

• Availability: Charlotte Tilbury US / Sephora / Cult Beauty
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $46 for 0.31 oz / 9 g
• Shade Range: Fair/Medium and Tan/Deep
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish Powder is one of the newest Charlotte Tilbury launches, and is a translucent blurring version of the brand’s bestselling Flawless Finish Setting Powder.

It’s a lightweight, microfine powder to visibly brighten, blur, and lift your eyes and face while setting your makeup for up to 16 hours—with no flashback.

Laura Mercier Translucent Ultra Blur Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / Nordstrom / ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $44 for 0.7 oz / 20 g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Honey and Medium Deep
• Cruelty Free? Laura Mercier say “we do not conduct animal testing on our products or ingredients, nor ask others to test on our behalf.
• Vegan Friendly? No

Laura Mercier Translucent Ultra Blur Loose Setting Powder is a talc-free loose setting powder that is infused with hyaluronic acid for comfortable, up to 16-hour wear and ultra-blurring power.

Infused with ultra-blurring ingredients like amino acid and silica powders to blur away the look of pores, fine lines, and imperfections – with total shine control and zero photo flashback.

NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $39 for 0.35 oz/ 10 g
• Shade Range: Crystal (translucent), Shore, Mesa and Sable
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder is lightweight and easy to blend, the iconic formula locks makeup in place all day with a weightless, luminous finish.

Powered by NARS’ Light Reflecting Complex, it optimizes light reflection on the skin, creating a soft-focus effect by optically fading fine lines, wrinkles, and pores.

NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $39 for 0.38 oz/ 11 g
• Shade Range: Crystal (translucent), Shore, Mesa and Sable
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder is a lightweight and easy to blend loose powder, offering a soft-focus effect by optically fading the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pores.

Featuring the NARS photochromic technology diffuses and adjusts to new sources of light, so skin looks perfect in person and on camera.

ELF High Definition Loose Powder

• Availability: ULTA / ELF
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $6 for 0.28 oz / 7.93g
• Shade Range: Sheer (translucent) and Soft Luminance
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The ELF High Definition Loose Powder is a great budget-friendly translucent powder, and is a loose setting powder that doubles as a photo filter, blurring imperfections for a soft-focus effect on the skin.

The loose, light-as-air formula delivers translucent coverage that blends effortlessly onto your skin, giving you a smooth soft-focus finish that won’t cake or crease.

ELF Perfect Finish HD Powder

• Availability: ELF / ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $6 for 0.28 oz / 7.93g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The ELF Perfect Finish HD Powder is a pressed version of their loose HD Powder, which has been around for at least 15 years.

This pressed translucent powder fills in fine lines and blur imperfections, giving your skin a soft, smooth finish.

By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder

• Availability: Nordstrom / Space NK
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $54 for 0.35 oz. / 9.9g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No
• Review

The By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder is a weightless, easy to apply translucent setting powder, enriched with hyaluronic acid, that instantly mattifies and blurs imperfections without drying.

This multi-purpose silky powder is a make up artist all time favourite, plebiscited for its versatile usage and benefits.

COTY Airspun Loose Face Powder

• Availability: Amazon / Walmart
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $5.72 for 2.3 oz / 65g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Translucent Extra Coverage, Naturally Neutral, Honey Beige, Rosey Beige and Sun Tan.
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

COTY Airspun Loose Face Powder launched in 1935, and features an exclusive micro-spun formula features loose powder particles that are spun and swirled until they reach a cloudlike softness.

The brand claims the loose powder provides exceptional coverage helping to hide tiny lines and wrinkles as well as blemishes.

Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Target / Nordstrom
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $24 for 0.50 oz / 14.17g
• Shade Range: Oat (translucent), Rice, Cassava, Plantain, Almond and Cacao.
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder is designed to resemble a bag of flour (so cute), and is a good setting powder that allows you to set your foundation in place for a long day’s wear.

With an HD feature, it will smooth out and soften your complexion while reducing the appearance of fine lines and imperfections for different skin types.

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $46 for 0.36 oz / 10.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder is a finely milled, weightless powder is formulated with soft-focus light-reflecting particles to instantly blur imperfections and minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for effortlessly smooth skin.

Jouer Translucent Soft Focus Hydrate + Set Powder

• Availability: Beautylish / Beauty Bay
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $32 for 0.21 oz / 6 g
• Shade Range: Très Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The finely milled versatile Jouer Soft Focus Hydrate + Set Powder helps hydrate, blur imperfections, and keep shine at bay while allowing a beautiful radiance to come through.

The formula, with beneficial skin-boosting ingredients Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, and Allantoin are jet-milled to provide a silky demi-matte finish.

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA / IT Cosmetics
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $30 for 0.31 oz/ 9 g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Tan Rich and Deep
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder is the pressed version of the brand’s bestselling Bye Bye Pores Loose Powder.

It’s a talc-free setting powder infused with silk that mattifies, minimizes pores’ appearance, and sets foundation and concealer in a convenient pressed-powder compact.

Clinique Blended Face Powder

• Availability: Clinique / ULTA / Sephora
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $33 for 0.88 oz / 25g
• Shade Range: Invisible (translucent), Transparency Neutral, Transparency 3, Transparency 4 and Transparency 5
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

The Clinique Blended Face Powder is a lightweight, airy powder sets and perfects makeup.

Skin-hugging formula makes pores seem to disappear. Silky-smooth finish reflects light for extra radiance. Effectively absorbs surface oil. Gives skin a fresh, natural look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $38 for 0.9 oz/ 25 g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Vanilla, Banana, Deep Peach and Golden Orange
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Loose Setting Powder is a lightweight, super-fine powder formula that goes on smoothly as it absorbs oil, minimizes shine, and leaves you with a flawless, matte finish.

Featuring a silky formula gives the complexion a seamless, soft-focus effect while blurring the look of imperfections and extending the wear of your makeup.

Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder

• Availability: Amazon / Walmart
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $3.97
• Shade Range: Transparent, Buff Beige, Nude Beige, Natural, Creamy Natural, Nude, Toffee and Pecan
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

This Rimmel Stay Matte Translucent Powder has been around for longer than I can remember.

It’s one of the most affordable translucent powders on offer, and whilst it has very simple and basic packaging, it’s a bestselling powder for a reason.

With up to 5 hours of natural shine control, this dermatologically tested pressed powder helps minimize the appearance of pores and offers a natural finish.

KVD Beauty Lock It Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose setting powder
• Price: $33 for 0.67 oz / 19g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

The KVD Beauty Lock It Loose Powder is another powder I really enjoy, and the formula has been formulated with micro-blurring technology to softly diffuse pores for a velvety-matte, photo-ready finish.

This universal translucent setting powder is truly undetectable on a range of skin tones, so everyone can lock down and mattify their makeup without a trace.

Pixi H20 Skinveil Powder Hydrating Translucent Loose Powder

• Availability: Pixi Beauty
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $24 for 0.2 oz / 5g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

The Pixi H20 Skinveil Powder Hydrating Translucent Loose Powder is a lightweight loose water-powder blurs, cools, refreshes and hydrates to create a velvet skin-like finish. It cools, refreshes and hydrates as it leaves a satin skin-like finish.

ColourPop No Filter Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: ColourPop
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $12 for 0.30 oz / 8.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Soft Pink, Peach, Translucent Caramel, Banana and Translucent Deep
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

Lock in makeup with our weightless loose setting powder. Developed with ultra-fine smooth powders to provide a long wearing, soft focus matte finish without feeling heavy or looking cakey.

It’s a nice affordable powder, but I find it to be quite drying on my dehydrated skin.

Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Translucent Powder

• Availability: Amazon US / Amazon UK
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $7.99 for 0.29 oz / 8.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent and 24 skintone shades
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

The Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Translucent Powder is described as being a long Y-lasting powder, that leaves a natural, poreless-looking finish with long-lasting shine control.

Use as a setting powder or to control shine for a flawless, natural-looking, “I woke up like this” finish.

Milani Prep + Set + Go Transparent Face Powder

• Availability: Walmart / Amazon
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $14.99 for 0.24 oz / 6.8g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

If you’re looking for a drugstore translucent powder, the Milani Prep + Set + Go Translucent Powder could be a good option.

It is a complexion-smoothing primer that blurs the look of large pores and fine lines, sets your makeup—extending its wear—and controls shine on the go.

NYX Professional Makeup High Definition Finishing Powder

• Availability: ULTA / NYX
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $11 for 0.28 oz / 8g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Banana and Mint Green
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

If you prefer a HD translucent powder, this NYX HD Finishing Powder is a very popular powder, and it is a lightweight, translucent finishing powder that helps soften the appearance of fine lines and pores.

With a silky pressed powder formula, and it has a fresh matte finish on the skin.

Ben Nye Neutral Set Translucent Powder

• Availability: Amazon
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $18 for 1.5 oz / 42 grams
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Ben Nye Loose Powders are extremely popular, particularly the Banana Powder version.

This version of the powder is colorless, with a finely milled formula, blending into all skintones, whilst also helping to control oil and perspiration too, making it a popular choice for those on stage.

Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Loose Powder

• Availability: Wet n Wild
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $6.49
• Shade Range: Translucent, Banana and Deep
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Wet n Wild PhotoFocus Loose Powder is a a silky weightless setting powder that can be used to set, mattify, absorb oil or bake.

Complete your foundation application with our setting powder to create a soft-focus effect and subtly blur the look of fine lines and imperfections.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder

• Availability: Tarte / Sephora / ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $35 for 0.25 oz/ 7 g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

Set makeup in place all day with this lightweight powder formula. Amazonian clay helps mattify skin, minimize the appearance of pores, and reduce excess oil, leaving skin with a soft-focus finish. Tarte also do this powder in a range of skintone shades too.

No7 Airbrush Away Finishing Powder

• Availability: Boots
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $13.95
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

Build your confidence with flawless, feel-good skin in a flash. This finely milled, weightless finishing powder is expertly formulated to mattify and seamlessly set make-up in place, helping to reduce shine and blur imperfections for a flawless matte finish.

Vichy Dermablend Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $29 for 1 oz / 28g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Cool Beige and Warm Saffron
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

I love the Dermablend Loose Setting Powder, and it’s such an underrated product. It’s relatively affordable, compared to how much product you get for the money. It’s such a beautiful setting powder, and it leaves the skin looking so smooth and flawless.

I Heart Revolution Coconut Loose Baking Powder

• Availability: Revolution US / Revolution UK
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $7 / £5
• Shade Range: Coconut (translucent), Peach and Banana
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No
• Review

This loose powder, is another beautiful translucent powder, with blurring benefits. It smells lovely, and blurs imperfections and pores, whilst minimizing shine, locking your makeup in place all day long.

I really like the powder, and for the price, it’s an amazing translucent powder.

Catrice HD Baking & Setting Loose Powder

• Availability: Amazon
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $12
• Shade Range: Translucent, Cool Beige and Warm Nude
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Catrice HD Baking & Setting Loose Powder is vegan, waterproof, mattifying and even is water repellant.

It instantly sets makeup in place and controls unwanted shine, making it perfect for baking. Catrice claims the powder has a second skin effect, with a HD finish on the skin.

Morphe Bake & Set Soft Focus Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Target
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $14 for 0.31 oz / 8g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Brightening Pink, Banana, Banana Rich and Translucent Rich
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

Bake and set your look for a bomb beat with these selfie-approved, satiny loose powders. Formulated to absorb oil and seamlessly lock in makeup, these babes provide a perfectly matte finish with zero flashback. Hello, closeups.

Honest Beauty Invisible Blurring Loose Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Target / Walmart
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $23 for 0.5 oz / 14g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

Honest Beauty’s Invisible Blur Power is a weightless, invisible, loose powder that helps blur, mattify and set makeup while delivering a gorgeous, soft-focus finish that doesn’t crease or cake. Lightly dust on for mid-day touch-ups to minimize unwanted shine.

Tom Ford Translucent Finishing Powder

• Availability: Nordstrom / Saks 
• Powder Type: Pressed powder
• Price: $89 for 0.31 oz / 8.78g
• Shade Range: Alabaster Nude, Ivory Nude, Sahara Dusk
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

Set your sexy, glamorous Tom Ford look with this aero-light formula, made with superfine powders that individually adhere to the skin.

It perfectly sets makeup with a sheer, shine-free finish that lasts all day. It disperses light to create a soft blur effect over the face, helping to diminish imperfections.

PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Loose Setting Powder

• Availability: PUR Cosmetics / Macy’s / ULTA 
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $27 for 0.3 oz / 8.5g
• Shade Range:
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The PUR Cosmetics 4-in-1 Loose Setting Powder is a Lightweight Blurring Powder infused with skincare ingredients to help rejuvenate the look of your skin, blur the look of pores and help set makeup with a translucent matte natural-looking finish. 

Flower Beauty Miracle Matte Translucent Finishing Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Walmart
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $13.99
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

Flower Beauty Miracle Matte Translucent Finishing Powder is the ultimate finishing touch to your makeup. Set and perfect your t-zone or anywhere you want to stay matte and provide an optical blurring effect.

Set your look or use alone to help minimize shine and the appearance of pores for a flawless finish.

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Infinite Universal Pressed Powder

• Availability: Revolution US / Target / Beauty Bay
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $10 for 0.24 oz / 7g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Revolution Beauty Conceal & Define Infinite Universal Pressed Powder has an extra finely milled formula.

This pressed powder will melt into the skin and set your makeup in place without a trace whilst banishing any shine.

The pressed powder also has the infusion of blemish-busting niacinamide which will help to reduce the appearance of pores for a blurred complexion which is set for the day.

Fenty Beauty Invisimatte Blotting Powder

• Availability: Sephora / Fenty Beauty / ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $34 for 0.3 oz / 8.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

This universal blotting powder contains an exclusive pore-diffusing complex that absorbs shine and gives you a natural matte refresh for an instantly filtered look—so you’re always ready for a shine-free snap.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder

• Availability: Makeup Forever / Sephora
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $39 for 0.21 oz/ 6.2 g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Banana and Peach
• Cruelty Free? No
• Vegan Friendly? No

Formulated to look invisible under Ultra HD 4K technology, this sheer loose power comes in 3 shades to suit every skin tone.

This pressed finishing powder blurs, smooths, and reduces shine with translucent, naturally matte coverage.

ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder

• Availability: ILIA Beauty / Sephora
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $34 for 0.32 oz/ 9 g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

This superlight, talc-free formula is milled five times—most powders are milled three—for an airy feel and a soft-focus finish that doesn’t feel powdery.

With a blend of aloe, rosemary, and oil-balancing bamboo, it hydrates and softens the feel of skin while cutting shine and blurring imperfections.

Revolution Pro Translucent Hydra-Matte Setting Powder

• Availability: Revolution UK / Revolution US / Beauty Bay
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $12 for 0.19 oz / 5.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

Infused with Hyaluronic acid, Hydra Matte Translucent Setting Powder hydrates your skin whilst setting your makeup in place.

This translucent ultra fine powder glides onto the skin leaving it feeling silky smooth with no sign of cakiness. Suitable for all skin tones to provide a matte finish.

Revolution Translucent Loose Baking Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Revolution US / Revolution UK
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $8 for 1.12 oz / 32g
• Shade Range: Translucent, Lace, Banana Light, Banana and Banana Deep
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes
• Review

The Revolution Beauty Translucent Loose Baking Powder is designed to prolong the wear-time of your makeup, whilst helping to banish shine, and balancing the skintone.

With a finely milled formulation, which can be dabbed on and dusted off. With it offering a luminous, silky and even finish for every skin type. There’s also a generous range of different shades, catering for all skin types.

Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Sephora / Target
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $35 for 0.26 oz/ 7.5 g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

Translucent and weightless, this setting powder blurs pores and imperfections, blocks shine without dulling your natural glow, and extends the life of foundation so there’s no need to reapply with a powder puff, even in hot climates.

Cry, sweat, get wet—this powder helps your makeup stay waterproof and flawless for up to 11 hours, and works well for sensitive skin.

Jaclyn Cosmetics Last Act Translucent Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $28 for 0.35 oz / 10g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

Set your complexion with this silky-smooth pressed powder for a flawless finish. This super-fine Jaclyn Cosmetics Last Act Translucent Setting Powder is infused with subtle pearl pigments gives a soft, blurring effect that sweeps over makeup without disturbing all your hard work.

Florence By Mills You Matte-R Mattifying Translucent Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Beauty Bay
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $16 for 0.28 oz / 8g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

The Florence By Mills You Matte-R Translucent Powder mattifies, helps set makeup for the day, and minimizes the appearance of pores.

Best way to use the powder, is to use over a foundation or apply directly to skin to help reduce shine and absorb oil on makeup-free days.

bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Translucent Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $30 for 0.3 oz
• Shade Range: Translucent shade
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

This bareMinerals bestselling translucent powder is described as being a lightweight powder that sets makeup and extends wear time, while also improving the look of skin, with a mineral powder formula.

It is even proven to reduce the look of pores over time. Instantly blurs the look of lines and imperfections for more mature skin, whilst creating a soft matte flattering finish on the skin.

ULTA Beauty HD Setting Powder

• Availability: ULTA
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $9 for 1.0 oz
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

This ULTA Beauty own-brand HD setting powder provides sheer coverage with a satin finish. Pearl Powder visibly brightens complexion and adds radiance and luminosity to skin.

Whereas, Special Coated Silica scatter light to reduce imperfections while also enhancing the silky smooth texture of the formula.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Loose Finishing Powder

• Availability: Tarte / Sephora
• Powder Type: Loose translucent powder
• Price: $34 for 0.26 oz / 7.5g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

This microfine, loose, invisible clay powder blends effortlessly into any skin tone to set your foundation with a breathable matte finish without chalky residue or flashback.

Amazonian clay naturally balances all skin types to absorb oil, minimize the appearance of pores, and make makeup last without flaking or clinging to dry patches.

Too Faced Primed & Poreless Face Powder

• Availability: ULTA / Sephora
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $34 for 0.21 oz/ 6 g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? No

This pressed powder visibly refines skin texture with a fresh, soft-focus effect for a nearly texture-free finish.

It is perfect for on-the-go touch-ups and controlling shine or for wearing alone for a natural, filtered effect.

Essence All About Matt! Fixing Compact Powder

• Availability: ULTA
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $3.99 for 0.28 oz / 8g
• Shade Range: Translucent
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

Control oil and shine! Apply all about matt! fixing powder over entire face to set your makeup or use for touch-ups to achieve a matte and natural complexion. Available in one translucent, mattifying shade and works for all skin tones and types.

LYS Beauty Triple Fix Translucent Pressed Setting Powder

• Availability: Sephora 
• Powder Type: Pressed translucent powder
• Price: $18 for 0.23 oz/ 6.5 g
• Shade Range:Resillience, Brilliance, Ambition, Independant, Faithful and Loyalty
• Cruelty Free? Yes
• Vegan Friendly? Yes

This clean, talc-free, finely milled pressed setting powder buffs beautifully into skin as it blurs and locks makeup in place for all-day perfection and no white cast.

Infused with niacinamide, green tea extract, and sodium hyaluronate, this weightless powder won’t accentuate texture or pores.

So, they are the best translucent powders available right now. I’ll be sure to update this post once new exciting translucent powders launch, but hopefully there’s a powder (or two) for everyone, regeardless of skintone, budget and location. 

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Makeup Muddle

Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty – I have been a beauty writer since 2012.

As well as owning Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!