Bronzer is one of my very favorite makeup products because it brings so much life to your face. It adds just a bit of warmth that can give you a look that screams “I just went on the best summer ever!” when you really haven’t even left your house for three days. However, it can be difficult for those of us with senstive skin to find one that is suitable for us. That’s why I’ve curated a list of my favorite fragrance free bronzers that will give you that sun-kissed glow that won’t irriate your skin.

Read on to learn about our top picks of fragrance free bronzers:

Nars Laguna Bronzer

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Nars Laguna has been a fan favorite for years and one that I personally have purchased multiple times. I love this one because of the golden shimmer that adds the most perfect glow to the cheeks. The shimmer is finely milled so it gives you the perfect sun-kissed glow that I live for.

This one is on the higher end of the price spectrum at $38 per container. I usually opt for the mini size for $18 because I have so many bronzers I rotate through that I’d never finish a large container before it expires.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Nude Bronze Light

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Hourglass has one of the best powder formulas, hands down. It is so finely milled that you won’t ever notice a powdery look to the skin after applying it. Their Ambient Lighting Bronzer is no different. This one gives a really natural, subtle glow to the skin, since it is marbled in with their Ambient Lighting Powder in Nude Light. There is still a soft shimmer speckled throughout.

This is a luxury product at $52 for 11 grams of product. They do offer a mini size at 1.3 grams for $26.

Physicians Formula Bronze Booster

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Physiccian’s Formula’s Bronzer Booster is another bronzer that I’ve been coming back to for years and years. Not only does it deliver a healthy glow to the skin, but it also contains skin care ingredients and I felt like it made my skin feel softer. This one is matte, so it doubles up as a contouring powder as well depending on where you place it. If you’d like to learn more about bronzer and contour placement, click here to view my post on bronzer vs contour.

Physicians Formula is in the higher end of drugstore pricing. You can expect to pick this one up for around $11.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

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Benefit’s Hoola bronzer is a warm, matte bronzer that does the trick to give you a warm, sun-kissed glow. Something special about this bronzer is that it comes in 4 different shades, so everyone can find a bronzer that looks great on their skin. I have a pretty light skin tone, so I think the Lite shade looks best on me, but if your skin tone is deeper, there are many other shades to choose from.

This one is sales for $30 for 0.28 oz of product.

Tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer

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Tarte’s Amazonian Clay bronzer is a matte bronzer that multitasks extremely well. That is because it isn’t too warm. This means that you can get that warm glow, but also contouring is really easy with this bronzer. This one comes in 2 different shades: a light and deeper shade. I found this one to be easily blended into the skin and looks really natural. Overall, this is a good one to try out.

You can pick this up for around $30 for 0.32 oz of product.

Clinique True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer

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Clinique’s True Bronze Pressed Powder Bronzer is not only fragrance free, but is also forumlated without oil and parabens, so its a great fit for those of us with sensitive skin. Again, this is a matte bronzer that is well-suited to be used as a contour as well. While it is a beautiful golden bronze, it isn’t so warm that it will look silly as a contour. I think the shade Sunkissed is the perfect glowy bronze shade to warm up the skin and bring some life to it.

This bronzer retails for $33 for 0.33 oz of product.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post helped you find a few fragrance free bronzers that will work for you. I know that it can be so difficult to find a bronzer that works well for sensitive skin, especially if your skin is sensitive to fragrance.

Until next time… happy shopping!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

The ColourPop Pretty Fresh Concealer is a hydrating concealer formulated with hyaluronic acid and coconut water to keep your skin feeling refreshed throughout the day. It is just $9 per bottle containing .30 oz of product. You can purchase this concealer by clicking here to view it on Colourpop’s website.

The Pretty Fresh Concealer comes in 30 different shades, which correspond well to the Pretty Fresh Foundation, so finding a shade that matches is a breeze.

Lastly, Colourpop is vegan and cruelty-free.

Packaging

This is a pretty standard for concealer packaging. You have a long, glass tube with the product inside. It is applied with a doe-foot applicator. This isn’t my favorite method of application because it transfers bacteria into the tube and overall just spreads germs. I’d prefer a pump, but the doe foot applicator isn’t the end of the world.

Formula

The Pretty Fresh Concealer is very light-weight and cushiony. It is medium coverage, but I found that I can build it up when necessaary. I also found it to be pretty hydrating, so the dry areas around my eyes really benefited from this formula.

Another thing I liked about it was that it seemed to fill in my fine lines and not crease into them. That’s a win for me!

Application

This concealear blends like a dream. Because it is so light-weight, I found it really easy to tap out and get pretty good coverage.

I used this concealer with both a kabuki style foundation brush and a Beauty Blender sponge. As with the Colourpop Pretty Fresh Foundation, I found I got fuller coverage with the foundation brush, but still liked the application with the Beauty Blender.

Here’s a photo of me before I applied any makeup.

Here I am with the ColourPop Pretty Fresh Concealer Applied. I feel like this gave me good coverage around the eyes.

And here’s the finished look with all makeup applied!

Overall, I think this concealer performed really well.

Wear Test

I’ve worn this over 12 hours for a few days and here’s what I’ve found from my testing

After 4 hours: Looks great! It looked like I had just applied it.

After 8 hours: Its still holding strong. It doesn’t look as fresh as the initial application, but its still there and still giving me coverage.

After 10 hours, I’m starting to see it crease a bit and start to wear down. This is when I’m ready to get it off of my skin because it just looks like makeup.

After 12 hours, its not looking so good anymore. Its almost completely gone.

For me, getting 8 hours of good wear time is about what I can expect from a concealer. Anything over 8 hours, I’m starting to see it break down and sometimes creasing on me, which isn’t my favorite thing.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I really liked this concealer and think this is something that will stay well used in my makeup collection.

I liked the forumla and how well it covered, while also giving me a hydration and a natural finish.

The ColourPop Pretty Fresh Concealer is a good fit for anyone with normal to dry skin, but I’d steer clear if you have acne-prone or oily skin.

Let me know how this one works out for you in the comments!

If you want to learn more about ColourPop’s Pretty Fresh Foundation, you can click here to see my review on it.

Until next time!

ColourPop Pretty Fresh Foundation is a hydrating foundation containing hyaluronic acid and coconut water. Both of these ingredients are hydrating to the skin and I found that they left my skin feeling refreshed all day long.

At just $16 per bottle, this foundation is in the mid-price range for foundations. Drugstore foundations average around $10 and luxury brands average around $35 to $40.

ColourPop is vegan and cruelty-free, which is another added bonus for me.

You can purchase this foundation on ColourPop’s website by clicking here.

Shade Range

There are a whopping 42 foundation shades in this range, with around 14 shades per “range” (light, medium, and dark). This gives everyone a real opportunity to find a shade that will suit them.

Something I loved about this shade range is they offered a cool, medium, and neutral option for just about every shade. I found this really easy to use and was able to pick my shade on the first try because of this. Because I know my skin tone (light) and my undertone (neutral), I went with the shade light 40 n. It turned out to be a great match!

I also found that the way they used a different model for each shade really helped me dial in on my perfect match.

If you are interested in learning more about how I easily find my foundation shade without being able to test it first, you can visit my post on 5 Tips for Finding Your Perfect Drugstore Foundation Shade by clicking here.

Packaging

For $16, I expect a pump, which this foundation definitely provided. The packaging is pretty basic, coming in a glass bottle with 30 mL of product. It’s pretty standard packaging for a foundation in this price range.

I gave this 4 hearts because its sturdy, has a pump, and will do the job. I also think it will be pretty travel friendly, since it has a cap that will keep the foundation from getting everywhere in a flight or long car ride.

Formula

The formula on the Pretty Fresh foundation is really thin, so it feels super light-weight on the skin. It was pretty hydrating and I didn’t feel my skin getting tight at all during the day. For reference, I have slightly dry skin, so I do get that tugging tightness if something is too matte.

This foundation is more of a light to medium coverage foundation that is definitely blendable. I liked that it was so thin because I was able to easily layer an extra layer on more problem areas.

Application

This foundation glides on like a dream. I used a kabuki style brush from Sigma and a Beauty Blender and found both to be suitable methods of application.

I found using the foundation brush adds more coverage than the Beauty Blender, but that is true of almost any foundation I’ve tested.

I have a few dry spots on my cheeks and this didn’t cling to them at all.

This is me before any makeup application.

This is after the foundation and concealer were applied.

And finally, a full face of makeup. As you can see, this foundation covered pretty well, although I don’t have too much to cover other than the redness in my cheeks. I thought it did a great job of covering that. I also have a few little sun spots here and there, as well as a pimple up near my hair line and this foundation easily covered all of it.

Wear Test

I’ve worn this over 12 hours multiple days and have come to this conclusion:

At the 4 hour mark, the foundation still looks good. I noticed a bit more glowy-ness to the foundation, but overall, it still looks good

At the 8 hour mark, the foundation is starting to break down a tad in areas that I tend to touch a lot. My cheeks, around the nose, and my chin are the areas of concern. I only notice this when I get very close to a mirror, so nothing to shabby.

At the 10 hour mark, I noticed the foundation was starting to break down in a more noticeable way. The redness on my cheeks was showing through and the foundation was breaking down on my nose.

At the 12 hour mark, I was ready to get it off of my skin. This is typical for foundation wearing for me, but I wasn’t running to the bathroom to get it off. The breakdown continued and more parts of my skin were more visible.

I’d say this performed about average for me on wear time. I can generally expect at least 8 hours of wear time from it, but anything over and I can see it start to break down on me.

Overall Thoughts

Overall, I was really surprised and generally happy with this foundation. It actually overcame my favorite foundation L’Oreal’s 24 Hour Fresh Wear Foundation and is now my favorite of the bunch.

I love the application and the light-weight feel that doesn’t have me aching to get it off my skin at the end of the day. It also performed really well and gave me 8 hours of wear time.

Last, but not least, the packaging delivered exactly what I expected of a $16 foundation: a pump and 30 mL of product.

This foundation is suitable for anyone with normal to dry skin. I think oily and acne-prone skin should give this one a pass.

Let me know how this one works out for you in the comments!

Interested in learning how the Pretty Fresh concealer worked out for me? You can view my review of it by clicking here.

Until next time!

If you’re in the market for a cruelty free foundation, I have a list of drugstore options that won’t break the bank. Why use cruelty free makeup? Cruelty free brands do not test their products or any of their product’s ingredients on animals. This means that you can enjoy makeup without harming any animals. Today, we’re going to go over the best cruelty free drugstore foundation.

Best Age-defying: CoverGirl Simply Ageless 3-In-1 Liquid Foundation

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What I love about this foundation is that it contains so many ingredients that are good for your skin. If you are looking for something to prevent or reduce signs of aging, this one is your best bet, as it is formulated with skin-care ingredients.

Not only is this one full of anti-aging ingredients, but it also contains hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C to rejuvenate, hydrate, and add brightness to the skin.

This foundation is medium to full coverage and comes with a pump.

Best Coverage: Physician’s Formula Butter Believe It! Foundation and Concealer

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If you’re looking for a cruelty-free drugstore foundation that also is full coverage, this one might be a good fit for you. Formulated with Murumuru Butter, Cupuaçu Butter, and Tucuma Butter, this foundation is really creamy and hydrating, making it best suited for normal to dry skin types.

Because it has so many hydrating ingredients, you can expect a beautiful, dewy finish from this foundation.

While it is full coverage, it is also buildable, so you can use less if you prefer a more natural look to your foundation.

As a warning, this foundation does have a strong scent to it, so if you are sensitive to smells, you may give this one a pass.

Best Shade Range: Milani Screen Queen Foundation

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Milani’s Screen Queen Foundation is a medium to full coverage foundation that can easily be built up to hide any imperfections. I like this one because it is so light on the skin, but I am able to build it up to cover up any problem areas.

It leaves the skin with a natural satin finish that will suit most skin types.

This foundation runs just under $14 a bottle and comes with a pump, which I would expect with a foundation that is at this price point.

The last thing I need to brag about in this foundation is the shade range. Not only does it come in 44 shades, but it also has a variety of skin tones, so everyone should be able to find a suitable match for them.

Best Natural Finish: NYX BORN TO GLOW!

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NYX Born To Glow Foundation has a great shade range, including 44 shades! The formula is very lightweight and leaves a really beautiful natural finish on the skin.

I love how this one never looks cakey because it is so lightweight. It is one of the most natural-looking foundations on this list because it gives the skin a slight luminosity and radiance, but doesn’t leave the skin overly dewy.

At just $7 per tube, this is at a great price point! It comes in a squeeze tube, which is what I would expect for a foundation in this price range.

Best Price Point: Essence Pretty Natural Hydrating Foundation

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For just under $7 per foundation, this one is the most budget friendly on our list. This one is more of a medium coverage, but I’ve found that I could build it slightly over more problematic zones. Because this one is formulated with Hyaluronic Extract, it is also pretty hydrating.

Although this one is on the hydrating spectrum, I think that more acne-prone skin can try it as well, since it is not forumalted with oil, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pore.

This one comes in a tube, which I think is the best option for a foundation at this price point.

Best Hydrating: Catrice True Skin Hydrating Foundation

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Not only is this one cruetly free, but it is also vegan! This means that it also does not contain any animal products in it. Another impotant aspect to this foundation is that it is formulated without parabens.

I love this one because it has a medium, buildable coverage and it looks great on the skin. I think this looks the most skin like of any other foundation in this list. It won’t leave your skin looking matte or too dewy. It just gives a natural radiance.

For just under $12 a bottle, I think this one is worth trying out.

Best Stick Foundation: Makeup Revolution Fast Base Stick Foundation

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This one comes in at a price point of $8.50, which is really affordable for a stick foundation. I love having a stick foundation in my collection because they typically have higher coverage and are a bit on the thicker side.

This one is no different. Although this isn’t the highest coverage foundation I’ve ever used, it definitely does the job and I can build it up over areas that I want more coverage.

The Fast Base Stick Foundation has a matte finish, which I think is really nice for this product because it can also double up as a contour if you choose a shade a few notches darker than your skin tone.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article helped you determine which cruelty free drugstore foundation will work best for you. Stay tuned for my upcoming post on Best Cruelty Free Foundation at Sephora.

Until next time!

Note: This post contains affiliate links.

I have pretty fair skin and I know the struggle that comes with trying to find that perfect highlighter. Because highlighting powder should ideally be about two shades lighter than your natural skin tone, it can be really difficult to find one that matches when your skin tone is already really fair. Today, I’m going to be writing about the best highlighter for fair skin.

We’ll also cover some basics of choosing a highlighter, should you want to go browse the makeup aisles all on your own.

Which Color Highlighter Should I Choose?

First things first. What color highlighter should I choose? This is a bit of a complicated question, but I do have a quick and easy answer: whatever brings you joy. Seriously! Makeup isn’t that complex and one of my favorite things about it is that you can just wipe it off if you don’t love it.

With that said, if you want something to look natural and really compliment your complexion, you can just follow your skin’s undertones. I do have a basic chart on how to find your undertones that you can find by clicking here.

Then, once you know your skin tone you can find a highlighter that suits it. For warm skin tones, pick a highlight with a golden shimmer and yellow undertones. For cooler undertones, pick a highlighter with silver or pink shimmer and pink undertones.

I do have some recommendations down below on highlighters I like that will suit warm or cool undertones. Neutral undertones can get away with wearing either.

How to Choose a Highlighter with a Natural Glow

Sometimes you really want your highlighter to be blinding. In those times, pick a highlight with a metallic finish or with tons of glitter. A heavy-handed application will really make your cheekbones pop!

If you’re like me, however, you might want a more natural-looking glow most of the time. My keys to finding a highlight that will look fairly natural are:

• Less glittery
• No metallics
• Should be skin tone shade (So no pinks, golds, or holographics)

I did include some of each type in this post to suit all different needs.

Best for Pink Undertones:

Wet N Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in the shade Blossom Glow

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I love this highlighter so much! I love the pink undertones in it and makes it a perfect compliment for cool skin tones. One of my favorite things about this powder is that it can be really sheered out to make it a more natural, everyday look or it can be built up to give you that super highlighted look.

This one retails for about $5, so it’s super affordable too. Overall, this one is a steal in my opinion, and something worth checking out.

Best for Warm Undertones:

Wet N Wild Megaglo Highlighting Powder in the shade Golden Flower Crown

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I love this formula so much that I wanted to recommend one for warm skin tones too. This one performs every bit as well as the one in Blossom Glow, it just suits warm tones better.

This one is more of a light golden shade that will compliment warm tones perfectly. I love this one because it can be applied lightly for a subtle glow or more heavy-handed for a more bold look.

Best Stick Highlight:

NYX Strobe of Genius Holographic Stick

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If you’re looking for an in-your-face, strobe light effect to your highlighter, this is gonna give you that look for sure! It’s holographic, which means it’s really going to attract a lot of attention to that area. I think these are really beautiful and I like them for special occasions, but as a more “natural” gal, I tend to steer toward more natural glows.

However, since this one is less than $8, I think it’s worth the price tag for one that I’ll use for really glam looks. Overall, this one performs well and can really deliver on a super highlighted look.

Best Drugstore:

Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls, Translucent Pearl

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One of the things I love about this highlighter is how it’s almost white. This means that it’s going to work for most fair-skinned ladies. The one interesting thing to note about this product is that it has a glitter overlay. So the first few times you apply, it’s going to give you a strobe light effect. After the glitter overlay is gone, it turns into a more natural shade.

To be honest, I normally just take my finger over the product until the overlay is gone and then I love the natural glow this one gives me.

Best High End:

Nars Highlighting Powder in Albatross

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Nars is another brand that just does powder well. From the world-famous bronzers and blushes to highlighters and this one is no different. This one is a very, very light gold that looks almost white in the pan. It does tend to go toward the warm side so keep that in mind.

This one has quite a bit of shimmer to it, but it’s really easy to blend out so it doesn’t get too blinding. I love how Nars came out with a highlighter that is this light in tone because it really can be used by most of us with fair skin tones.

Best Liquid Highlight:

Benefit Cosmetics High Beam

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This one has been around for a looong time and it’s no secret why. It performs so well! It’s very pink-toned and gives your complexion that subtle, dewy glow. Remember, because this one is a liquid highlighter, it should be applied with the liquid parts of your makeup and not after any powder.

I love the subtle glow this one gives the skin. Its really no wonder this one has been around so long… It just works that well!

Best Natural Glow:

Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder

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I absolutely adore the Hourglass Ambient powders. The original Ambient Lighting Powders first stole my heart as a setting/finishing powder and I tried using one as a highlight, but it never quite fit the bill. In come these babies and my makeup game has been forever changed.

This highlighter is the absolute perfect natural glowy look you will ever find in a powder. It delivers a glow in such a natural way without too much shimmer and I just adore it. This one is definitely my favorite of the bunch.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post has helped you find the best highlight for fair skin or has made you feel more comfortable highlighter shopping in the future!

Until next time, happy shopping!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

Coconut oil can provide certain skincare benefits, especially for those of us with dry skin. Grabbing a setting spray formulated with coconut oil can not only set your makeup but also deliver those amazing skincare benefits. Today, we will be covering the skincare benefits of coconut oil, the best setting sprays with coconut oil, and how to use a setting spray with coconut oil.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

Some of the benefits of coconut oil are:

• Hydrating dry skin
• Reducing inflammation
• Anti-microbial properties, which means it can fight viruses and bacteria on the skin

It is important to remember that coconut oil can also clog pores, so those of us with acne-prone or oily skin… beware!

Setting sprays with coconut oil can be really hard to find, but Elf Cosmetics has a few that fit the bill:

Elf Dewy Coconut Setting Mist

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This setting spray is infused with all kinds of skincare ingredients including coconut oil, green tea, and cucumber. This setting spray will help your makeup last all day long while also adding a boost of hydration to the skin. You can also use this as a makeup refresher throughout the day.

One of the things I love about this one is that it comes out in a really fine mist, which is perfect for a makeup setting spray. Just hold the bottle about 8 inches away from your face and give it a little spritz to complete your makeup look.

Elf Hydrating Coconut Mist

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This one can be used before and after your makeup to really lock in hydration. I like using this one before I apply my moisturizer for an extra boost of hydration. Then I finish up my makeup with a spritz of this all over the face. I do notice that this one doesn’t hold my makeup in place as well as a typical makeup setting spray, but it does the job well enough.

It is packed with skin-nutrient ingredients like coconut oil, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B5.

Elf Glow Dewy Facial Mist

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This one is soooo hydrating! It has argan oil, coconut oil, and Hyaluronic Acid to really hydrate your skin. It also leaves a really dewy glow to the skin, which I love.

Because this formula is so milky, it does help to shake it a lot before spraying. Use a very light layer of this spray to give your look a dewy, glowy finish.

Final Thoughts

I hope you liked my round up of the best setting sprays with coconut oil. It can be really difficult to find a setting spray that contains coconut oil, but Elf really came through with their setting sprays.

If you are searching for setting sprays with more hydration (with ingredients other than coconut oil), you can click here to check out my post on the best setting sprays without alcohol.

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

When thinking about the best setting powders for acne-prone skin, we need to consider the unique concerns of people with acne-prone skin and what types of products can alleviate or exacerbate them.

Setting powder can be a life-saver for those with acne-prone skin. It can mattify the skin, absorb any excess oil, and help keep your foundation from fading throughout the day. The downside to using setting powder when you have acne-prone skin is that a lot of them are formulated with an ingredient that is known to cause breakouts: talc.

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder

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Instead of relying on talc, this setting powder uses silica to absorb oils and perfectly set foundation. It does a phenomenal job at controlling oily skin. This one is a finishing powder instead of a setting powder, so keep that in mind. Instead of applying after foundation, apply after all of your makeup is completely done for a finished look.

The HD setting powder can give off a white cast because it is formulated with silica, so use it sparingly. That will help lessen the effects.

Honest Invisible Blurring Loose Powder

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Honest Beauty has been really intriguing me these days. They are a clean beauty brand that formulates makeup without any harmful ingredients. As you can imagine, that includes talc. Not only is the brand full of clean makeup you can be sure your skin will love, but they aren’t too pricey either. I find this setting powder to be at a mid-range, just under $23.

This powder mattifies the skin, while also setting your makeup for a look that will last you all day long! What I love about this one is that it’s formulated with clean ingredients and is vegan and cruelty-free.

jane iredale Amazing Matte Loose Finish Powder 

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Jane iredale’s Loose Finish Powder is translucent and uses rice powder to absorb oil instead of talc. This makes makeup last all day long and is perfect for acne-prone skin. It provides a matte finish that eliminates shine and will leave you with a long-lasting look that is sure to last all day.

This one is on the pricier side of the spectrum, at $36, but is a fan favorite for those with skin concerns.

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Correcting Powder

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This is the first pressed powder on our list! Physician’s Formula Minear Wear Talc-Free Correcting Powder is a pressed powder that is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, so it won’t break you out. What’s better, is it can also help with fine lines, wrinkles, and any sun damage to the skin.

This one is vegan, cruelty-free, and contains SPF 30, which is awesome! It comes in 3 shades: translucent, creamy natural, and beige. Translucent is my favorite.

Elf Studio High Definition Loose Face Powder

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This is one of those powders I’ve used for years! I love it because it does such a great job at setting my makeup. It gives me a flawless finish that lasts all day long.

Even better, it’s non-comedogenic and talc-free, so it’s great for your skin too!

Again, this one is vegan and cruelty-free. At $6 a jar, this one is definitely worth looking into!

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Translucent Loose Setting Powder

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If smaller-looking pores are also on your wish list for a talc-free powder, this one is for you! Not only is this setting powder going to make your makeup last all day, but it will also lessen the appearance of pores.

It’s also great for oily skin because it absorbs oil to create a shine-free look. That in itself will go a long way to making your makeup last longer.

At $30 a jar, it’s a bit on the pricier side, so keep that in mind.

Top Tip for Reducing Break Outs: Use Less!

It’s no secret that more makeup is worse for the skin. If you suffer from breakouts, the number one tip I can give you is to wear less! Especially when it comes to setting powder.

Baking has its place in the makeup world, but not if your skin is going to suffer from it.

Instead, try this! Apply a thin layer on the spots of your face that tend to get the oiliest. This is likely the T-zone: forehead, nose, and chin.

Next time try dabbing a small layer over these areas and leave the rest of the face powder-free.

Final Thoughts

I hope reading about the best setting powders for acne prone skin helped you find the powder that will work best for you! Remember the top 2 tips: Less is more and choose a talc-free powder.

Do you have sensitive skin and want to find a setting powder without talc? Check out my post on the Best Drugstroe Setting Powders Without Talc by clicking here.

Drop me a comment about which setting powders you love most!

Until next time!

*Note: This page contains affiliate links.

This week we’ve been focusing on how to keep your makeup lasting all day. So far, we’ve been talking a lot about setting sprays and the best setting sprays formulated without alcohol. The next part of this series is Setting Powder. Here, we’re answering all your most asked questions, including “What is the purpose of setting powder?”

Setting powder has a few different purposes, which we’ll cover here. Honestly, adding a translucent setting powder to my routine has changed the game in terms of makeup wear time and application.

What is Setting Powder?

Setting powder is a powder that is applied after foundation to help lock it in place. It also helps you blend any powders that you put on top of the foundation, since it now has a smooth surface to blend over instead of the tacky foundation.

Setting powder comes in a few different forms: Loose and Pressed. There’s also the option of using translucent and tinted setting powder.

What is the Purpose of Setting Powder?

• Help makeup last all day long
• Ensures powders placed on top of foundation blend flawlessly
• Keep foundation looking matte, instead of dewy or oily
• Can be brightening if applied directly under the eye

Is Setting Powder Necessary?

Do you absolutely need Setting Powder? Setting Powder, to me, has been one of the biggest game changers to my makeup routine. It goes A LONG WAY to make your last longer and look more flawless.

Have you ever tried to apply a blush directly on top of your foundation? It just doesn’t want to blend out! Setting powder is going to provide a little layer between the liquid product and the powder product. In general, powder blends better over powder.

For the oily skinned ladies out there, setting powder is HUGE for making sure your skin stays matte all day long. The powder soaks up the oils in your skin which will do wonders for making your makeup last longer and look fresh.

So, I’d give this one an overwhelming YES. Setting powder will absolutely ramp up your makeup game to make it look better and last longer.

Do You Use Setting Powder Before or After Foundation?

Always use setting powder after you apply your liquid foundation. There are a few nuances to this, like if you go in with a powder foundation, or use a cream blush or bronzer. In general, all liquid products should be applied after powder products.

If you use powder foundation, skip the setting powder. You don’t need it.

If you use cream blush or bronzer, apply those before the setting powder.

If you use powder blush or bronzer, apply foundation, setting powder, then blush and bronzer.

With these tips, watch how easy it is to blend your powder products over the liquid. It will absolutely speed up your application and give you a effortless, blended look.

Best Setting Powders

Drugstore

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Coty Airspun Loose Powder

This one is so good. At around $5, it is easily one of the most affordable translucent powders on the market. Not only is it inexpensive, but it does a great job. Its been a cult favorite of many gurus and one that I’ve sworn by for years.

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Makeup Revolution Loose Baking Powder

This is the one I’ve been using for about a year now and I really like it. This one comes in a few shades, including translucent, skin toned shades, and a banana powder for setting under eyes.

I typically like translucent powders, so I stick to that one, but it does a great job of adding a light layer of powder of the skin. My other powder products blend flawlessly over it. This one is another budget-friendly option, at about $10.

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Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder

Oh, I have so much to say about these. These are pressed powders that have a bit of pigmentation to them, that help add a different type of look to the skin. In the 3 pan palette I posted here, the middle shade is what I typically highlight with (being a lighter skin tone) and use the darker shades to warm up my skin.

Each Ambient Lighting powder has a different type of lighting that it is trying to mimick. So for the shade Dim Light, it will give you the finish of being in a dimly lit room. Luminous Light gives a more luminous look.

Overall, I love these because not only do they make your makeup last longer and blend better, but they also provide a bit of a glow that is hard to find in other products. They are a bit pricy ($64 for the palette).

Final Thoughts

Overall, setting powder is an absolute must in your makeup routine to help keep your makeup on all day and make blending a breeze!

Until next time!

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