The two-second trick to looking supernaturally polished and ready for your selfie close-up is translucent powder aka finishing powder aka setting powder. A dusting of the colorless or slightly tinted powder at the end of makeup application leaves skin looking practically Facetuned and helps everything stay exactly where you applied it. There are loads of these powders on the market so we asked the experts to play favorites.
Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder
"The super fine milled texture disappears into the skin. This has a nearly invisible and luminous light-reflective finish so I use it for setting under the eye and even will use it on the nose, chin, and forehead to subtly take down shine," says Molly Greenwald.
$26, sephora.com
Shu Uemura Face Powder in Matte Colorless
"The texture is like powdered sugar so it dusts lightly on the face and disperses evenly," says Tsipporah Liebman "It leaves skins super smooth and matte."
$39, shuuemura-usa.com
Marc Jacobs Beauty Perfection Powder
"This diffuses flaws, mattifies, and brightens," says Sarah Tanno. It's super featherweight and buildable so you can touch-up throughout the day without it becoming heavy".
$48, sephora.com
Charlotte Tilbury Air Brush Flawless Finish Skin Perfecting Micro-Powder
"You never feel like you coated in powder because it's so finely milled," says Allan Avendano. "It leaves you with a beautiful satin finish on your skin and fills in lines, making you look completely flawless."
$45, nordstrom.com
Cle de Peau Beauté Refining Pressed Powder
"I like it because it's super sheer," says Mai Quynh. "It allows the skin to look natural and shine-free, and not dull or cake-y."
$175, cledepeaubeaute.com
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
"The formula creates a blurring affect, and it leaves a soft, matte finish on the skin," says Vanessa Scali.
$38, sephora.com
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