10 Best Setting Powders for Dry Skin of 2024 (Makeup Artist-Reviewed)

If you want a product that can effectively cover any imperfections in your skin, choose a tinted powder. Anything from fine lines to blemishes to wrinkles to scars can be blurred using colored powder. It can also correct your skin tone, even out your complexion, and is a great choice when you need a quick touch-up. 

Depending on how much you need to conceal on your face, you can choose a product from light to medium to heavy coverage. The coverage it gives depends on the pigment it contains. As long as the product is lightweight, reapplication wouldn't cause your makeup to look cakey and thick. 

Tinted powders are available for all types of skin tones. You need to choose a product that can mimic your skin tone or the one that is a close match to your foundation. And if you are headed for a special photography session, there is nothing that can beat the look that a colored powder can render. 

Translucent powders are for almost every skin tone and can be mainly used to highlight specific areas of your dry skin. Blending the right way is the key to achieving the perfect look using a translucent powder. 

 
They are lightweight, so you can safely reapply as required without changing your face's tone. Some experts suggest using a translucent powder for baking or highlighting the under-eye area. It can also brighten your skin and give it a radiant glow, too! 

You can also find a translucent powder with hydrating elements to moisturize your skin and keep your face glowing all day! Those with fair to tan tones can benefit a lot from these powders.

Translucent powders don't always work well on darker skin tones as they can leave behind a white cast or cause flashbacks. To prevent this, you can use a setting spray! You can also search for a tinted powder designed for warm undertones or deep skin tones.

Pressed powders are mostly available in the tinted or pigmented form. They are more pigmented than loose powders and can easily conceal your blemishes such as hyperpigmentation. However, applying too much powder to your skin will make it appear cakey.

Usually, pressed powders are formulated with thicker particles of the ingredients. Emollients such as silicone, oils, glycerin, and wax are added to these products to keep them in a semi-solid state. 

Being enriched with emollients, they can keep your dry skin hydrated better than a loose powder. They can give your skin a dewy, glowy look, too! Besides, they are easy to carry around without the worry of dust flying or spreading around once opened.  

Most professionals choose a loose powder over a pressed one for several reasons. They are much finer in texture compared to the pressed ones, and can therefore blend nicely into the skin to cover your blemishes. 

However, loose powders might settle into your pores and fine lines. Also, since they are less pigmented, makeup professionals can use them on clients with a range of skin tones. 

Loose setting powders come with finer particles, and so they can get very messy if not correctly handled. If not closed properly, they can spill inside your handbag and make a mess as well. However, if you are looking for lightweight coverage to your face, a loose powder will be ideal. 

First, try to avoid a matte finish product. It usually contains talc, a mineral substance that prevents caking. Talc can also absorb moisture and will leave your dry skin even drier. Even if it isn't for the talc, a matte look can make your skin look and feel dehydrated.

Demi-matte is the look you need for your dry skin. It will give your skin a radiant look without drying it out or making it look too shiny. However, be careful about reapplying demi-matte powders, as they can turn cakey with multiple touch-ups. A bit of dewiness and shine can work great for you, but watch how much goes on your face. 

That being said, a product with a glowing finish can also look good on your dry skin. It can give a reflective sheen without making it appear oily. Powders with a natural finish can also work great for dry skin without enhancing the dryness of the skin.

For those living in humid areas, makeup smudging as a result of sweating can be a regular experience. To prevent any accidental smudging, consider a waterproof setting powder!

It can save you from having to do multiple touch-ups to keep the look in place. Likewise, a transfer-resistant product can ensure your makeup stays in place no matter how much rubbing it goes through. 

The staying power of a setting powder can vary, but certain powders can last for a long time, such as Urban Decay's All Nighter Waterproof Setting Powder, which can last for 11 hours. Make sure to thoroughly check reviews before purchasing!

Like matte is for oily skin, hydration is for dry skin. It’s not tedious to find products containing hydrating ingredients. Humectants are nothing but moisturizing agents added to cosmetics - two good examples are glycerin and squalane.

They can attract moisture from the air to your face and keep it hydrated all the time. Hyaluronic acid is another great ingredient that can moisturize your face and give it the perfect luminescence. 

Consider oils and plant-based butters like shea butter and jojoba seed oil. It will give your skin some extra moisture and a glowy look, so nobody can tell you have dry skin! Vitamins E and C also have a moisturizing effect on the skin. 

When your skin gets dehydrated, the sebaceous glands in the skin might produce extra sebum to fight dryness. And this extra sebum might block your pores and cause acne! So if you find yourself experiencing breakouts, try to opt for non-comedogenic ingredients as they won't block your pores. 

An example is salicylic acid, which can prevent pores from getting clogged and cause acne. Jojoba oil is great as it can keep your skin moisturized while not clogging your pores. 

Comedogenic doesn't always mean 'back off' for those with dry skin. While oils like coconut oil, argan oil, and olive oil are comedogenic ingredients, they can still suit your dry skin if it's not prone to comedones.