Frequently Asked Questions
Can setting powder make mature skin look older?
Not necessarily. “If you’ve avoided it in the past because it made your skin look dry, chalky, or flat, today’s formulas may change your mind,” says Riner. Modern setting powders use ingredients like silica, squalane, finely milled mica, and hyaluronic acid to “blur, smooth, and refine the complexion while still allowing skin to look like skin,” so the right formula can soften the appearance of fine lines and texture rather than emphasize them.
Is setting powder or setting spray better for mature skin?
Both have their place, but they do different jobs. “Setting sprays are wonderful for locking makeup in place, but they don’t offer the same blurring, smoothing, and oil-controlling benefits as powder,” says Riner. While sprays can refresh makeup throughout the day, she notes that “for true longevity, nothing replaces light, strategic layers of powder.”
How can I apply setting powder without emphasizing fine lines?
“The key is preparation and application,” says Riner. “Gentle exfoliation and proper hydration create the ideal canvas for the most natural-looking finish.” She recommends pressing your powder puff or brush into the product, then gently working the powder into the applicator against the palm of your hand to evenly distribute the product before applying. “Patting or pressing—as opposed to sweeping—across your T-zone and cheeks is ideal because it sets the makeup without disturbing the products underneath or lifting dry, flaky areas,” she says. Using a small tapered brush or a folded puff also allows you to target only the areas that need powder while preserving glow everywhere else.
Meet the experts
- Tonya Riner, a makeup artist based in Houston
- Mary Wiles, a makeup artist based in New York City and London
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
And for our reviews of the best setting powders for mature skin, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, cosmetic chemists, and makeup artists with a range of experience studying and using these products. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture, experience, and formula. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from are folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Now, watch Keke Palmer, Eiza González, and more spill secrets after sipping the truth serum:
