10 Best Talc-Free Setting Powders For Makeup – 2023
Give your skin a smooth and natural finish to radiate a natural glow all day.
Georgina GoetzMakeup Artist
Expertise: Movies & Editorial
Experience: 3 years
Georgina Goetz is a professional MUA from Hamburg, Germany, with three years of experience. She started her career with an apprenticeship as a hairdresser at “Marc Gruenkemeyer and Stylists,” a salon specialized in curls and fine hair. ... more
Baishali Bhattacharya Certified Image Consultant, Certified In Makeup Artistry
Expertise: Makeup & Fashion
Baishali is a beauty and lifestyle writer and holds a master's degree in English from Assam University. She specializes in makeup and fashion and is also a certified Style and Image Consultant. Prior ... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
A setting powder is always the last step of your makeup regimen every day. However, the moisture and oil-absorbing ingredient talc in the setting powder often irritates the skin and might cause skin cancer. That’s why we have got some of the best talc-free setting powder options for you.
Setting powder is the perfect last step to hold your makeup in place. It also increases its staying power of it. It helps your skin stay put and smooth by absorbing excess oil, shine, and sweat and prevents caking. But, you don’t need talc to do this trick because we have listed the 10 best talc-free setting powders for you. Keep reading to find the best one for you and get flawless skin with harmless makeup instantly. After all, noone deserves to get harmed while looking gorgeous.
In This Article
10 Best Talc-Free Setting Powders
Best Non-Comedogenic:bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Finishing Powder SPF 25
The bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Finishing Powder combines the benefits of skin care and makeup in one product. It is infused with SPF 25 to provide broad-spectrum sun protection to the skin. It is recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as an effective broad-spectrum sunscreen. The ultra-lightweight formula melts into the skin and offers buildable and non-cakey coverage for a translucent matte finish and an airbrushed effect.
It is formulated with 100% natural mineral-based ingredients that are ideal for sun protection and nourish the skin. This talc-free setting powder smoothens the skin tone by minimizing imperfections and concealing pores, whether worn over makeup or on bare skin. It absorbs oil, soothes your skin, and maintains a younger-looking complexion. Kristi Bergman, a beauty creator on YouTube, says, “I really like how my skin feels with no foundation and just this setting powder. The product offers a refreshed and rejuvenated look to my skin. It does not make my skin look chalky or dry, it just softens my face.” If you need more convincing, feel free to take a look at this YouTuber’s video on the merits and demerits of the product.
Pros- Lightweight
- Buildable coverage
- Non-cakey
- Suitable for all skin types
- Non-drying
- Non-comedogenic
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
- SLS-free
- No synthetic fragrances
- PEG-free
- Tree nut-free
Cons
None
Best Vegan:Aesthetica Banana Setting Powder
The Aesthetica Banana Setting Powder is designed with a lightweight formula that sets your makeup to provide a long-lasting matte effect. It helps absorb excess oil, blur imperfections, and conceal pores to give you a flawless finish. The soft banana yellow tint ideally complements fair, light, and medium to tan skin tones while covering any redness, pink blotchiness, and blue under-eye circles. The high-quality and luxurious velour puff complements the powder beautifully by enabling easy application and offering excellent payoff.
Pros- Non-drying
- Non-cakey
- Long-lasting
- Lightweight
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
None
Pro TipBest Non-Cakey:Elizabeth Mott Set For Life Loose Setting Powder
The Elizabeth Mott Set For Life Loose Setting Powder is specifically formulated to deal with the incompatible ashy effect in selfies or photos. The product gives you a flawless satin-matte finish without settling into your fine lines, preventing any caking or creasing. It also retains your skin’s natural moisture content. You can use it as a finishing powder and a baking powder to keep your makeup going strong, all day long. It provides a sensational coverage and is fade-proof for up to 10 hours.
Pros- Long-lasting
- Non-drying
- No white cast
- Non-cakey
- Sweat-resistant
- Oil-resistant
- Reduces flashback in photos
- Crease-proof
- Fade-proof
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
Cons
None
Pro TipBest Hypoallergenic:Mineral Fusion Setting Powder
This setting powder by Mineral Fusion offers a skin-friendly natural formula that is designed to perfectly set your makeup for an airbrushed effect. It provides buildable sheer coverage that minimizes shine. It is extremely silky and lightweight, owing to its triple-milled minerals. These minerals and kaolin clay work together to absorb oil for a matte finish. The formula also contains soothing botanical ingredients like cucumber, aloe, and licorice root that calm and comfort the skin.
Pros- Non-drying
- Hypoallergenic
- Easy to blend
- Lightweight
- Safe for sensitive skin
- EWG certified
- No artificial fragrances
- Gluten-free
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Vegan
Cons
- Needs frequent reapplication
Best Weightless Formula:Facetheory Loose Powder
The Facetheory Loose Powder blurs your skin imperfections and open pores. The mattifying formula offers a natural and smooth finish. This talc-free product is formulated with corn starch-modified, di-starch phosphate, and silica. It also contains finely milled rice starch that keeps shine at bay. The lightweight formula blends seamlessly and allows your skin to breathe without feeling cakey. It even tones your skin and acts as a fixing powder for foundation and concealer. You can also use it for baking to enhance the longevity of your makeup base and keep it shine- and crease-free.
Pros- Blends seamlessly
- Provides soft-focus look
- Controls shine
- Buildable coverage
- Non-cakey
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Triclosan-free
- Formaldehyde-free
- MEA-free
- DEA-free
- TEA-free
- No PEGs
- SLS-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Paraffin oil-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Not suitable for dry and mature skin types
- May leave a white cast
Pro TipBest Multipurpose:Sacelady Loose Powder: Black Gold Series
The Sacelady Loose Powder from its Black Gold Series is popular among makeup enthusiasts. It is designed to give you a long-lasting matte finish by minimizing excess oil and evening out the skin tone. It is infused with anti-caking properties to set better and define your makeup. This micronized powder also blurs imperfections, including pores and fine lines. It comes in three different shades of transparent, medium, and natural that can be used according to your skin tone. This talc-free setting powder can be used as an eyeshadow base, setting powder, and dry shampoo for oily hair.
Pros
- Organic formula
- Non-cakey
- Multipurpose
- Safe tested for sensitive skin
- Waterproof
- Lightweight
- Alcohol-free
- Affordable
Cons
None
Best Mattifying:Cover FX Matte Setting Powder
If you are on the search for a mattifying powder that doesn’t cake or settle into fine lines while ensuring a flawless makeup look, try the Cover FX Matte Setting Powder. The skin-friendly formula is infused with micronized green tea leaves that calm the skin and prevent free radical damage. It also contains kaolin clay to control shine, absorb excess oil, and diminish the appearance of pores. The blend of vitamins C, E, and F provides antioxidant protection to your skin against environmental aggressors. This talc-free setting powder is available in three shades that are designed for light, medium, and deep skin tones. Vanity on Instagram calls this formula a ‘matte magic’.
Pros- Non-drying
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Paraben-free
- Alkyl sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- Fragrance-free
- Gluten-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
Best Non-Drying:Kiko Milano Invisible Touch Face Fixing Powder
This translucent and velvety soft setting powder from Kiko Milano is designed to contain the shine on your face. It provides sheer coverage with a matte finish. The talc-free setting powder helps conceal imperfections and sets your makeup without modifying your skin tone. It is extremely lightweight and adheres excellently to the skin for an almost-not-there feel.
Pros- Lightweight
- Non-cakey
- Non-drying
- Long-lasting
- Hypoallergenic
- Non-comedogenic
- Ideal for all skin types
- Paraben-free
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
None
Best Dermatologically Tested:Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
The Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder is extremely lightweight and effortlessly melts into the skin to set your makeup for a smooth finish. It helps blur imperfections and hides pores for a flawless airbrushed effect. The micro-refined silica in the formula allows this powder to feel soft and silky on your skin. The invisible shade is colorless and works universally on any skin tone to provide a natural and shine-free look.
Pros- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Oil-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
Cons
- Expensive
Best For Oily Skin:True + Luscious Velvet Matte Oil Control Pressed Powder
This all-in-one makeup solution acts as a setting powder, finishing powder, and powder foundation. The True + Luscious Velvet Matte Oil Control Pressed Powder has a silky smooth texture that is ideal for all skin types. It provides sheer-to-medium buildable coverage that conceals pores, blurs imperfections, and evens out the overall skin tone.
The formula is infused with kaolin clay to soothe redness and silica to help the powder adhere to the skin. Together, these ingredients absorb excess oil and sweat. The triple-milled powder also contains vitamin E to protect the skin. It ensures a natural, shine-free, non-dry and cake-free look. It comes in five different shades that are ideal for very fair, fairest, light medium, rich tan, and deep skin tones with neutral to pink undertones. Makeup blogger Nasreen Matin says, “I love the product. It is safer to use than other products. It is infused with a bunch of ingredients like aloe vera and grape juice extracts. The packaging is really pretty as well.”
Pros- Non-comedogenic
- Non-toxic
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Sulfate-free
- Fragrance-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
None
A good setting powder is a necessity if you want your makeup look to set well and last long. When it comes to buying a talc-free setting powder for your skin, a few factors can help you make the right choice. Let us take a look at them below.
Things To Consider Before Buying A Talc-Free Setting Powder
- Finish Type
Choose a powder that blends effortlessly with the type of skin you have. For people with oily to combination skin types, look for translucent powders that impart a natural glow. If you have oily skin, avoid talc-based powders as they may cake or crease your makeup. Similarly, for dry skin, you can go for powders that offer hydrating and nourishing benefits.
- Shade
Choosing the right setting powder for your skin tone is very important. Ideally, your setting powder should match your foundation shade. If it’s too light, it will look white and ghostly on the face. On the other hand, if it’s too dark, it can make your foundation look streaked. In case you are unsure of your shade, pick a translucent one. These are basically colorless when applied on any skin tone.
- Skin Issues
Pay attention to the kind of skin issues you are looking to cover up with makeup. Look for powders that offer solutions to concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, acne, excess oil.
Infographic: Talc-Free Setting Powder: Buying Guide And Application Tips
Using a setting powder is the final step in your daily makeup routine. It keeps your skin smooth by absorbing excess oil, gloss, and sweat and preventing caking. However, the moisture and oil-absorbing talc components in setting powder frequently irritate the skin and may increase the risk of skin cancer. Hence, selecting a talc-free setting powder is the best choice.
In the infographic below, get to know more about choosing the best setting powder and also check out some beauty tips on how to apply it. Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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Download Infographic
Makeup can change your overall look. But your makeup might turn out greasy if a good setting powder is not applied. A setting powder helps the makeup to stay long. Unlike regular powders, talc-free powders prevent irritation and skin harm, enhancing the staying power. In addition, some setting powders listed in the article melt the skin offering buildable coverage, while some powders offer flawless finish, and some retain the skin’s natural hydration content. So consider investing in the setting powders that provide the desired look without affecting your skin. And restrain from using powders that need frequent application. Georgina Goetz, a professional makeup artist says, “There are a lot of ways to set your makeup look at home. The question is, what do you want to achieve with the setting? Is it supposed to last all day? Does it need to withstand your dancing moves and the heat of a club? Or does it need to be a gentle setting for a photo or just light powder? So do we need a product or a tool for that? And in my opinion one should not look at the product first but at the tools at hand. If you bake your face with a powder puff, the results tend to be more cakey and long lasting than if you just use a setting brush. This looks much more natural and is just lightly setting the makeup in place. If one has normal or oily skin, these products are definitely something you should try out! For clients with rather dry skin, I would recommend skipping on the powder completely and rather go look for a self setting liquid foundation.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use talc-free powder?
Inhaling talc power can cause serious respiratory problems like breathing trouble, coughing, eye irritation, and a burning sensation in the throat. Some people experience the side-effects immediately while others may experience it in the long run.
Is there a difference between talc and talcum powder?
No. There is no difference between talc and talcum powder. Talcum powder is made from talc which is a mineral that contains elements like oxygen, silicon, and magnesium.
Do all powders contain talc?
Most cosmetic products right from baby powder to blush contain talc. However, health-conscious brands are now offering more and more talc-free options.
Which makeup brands do not contain talc?
There are many cosmetic brands such as bareMinerals, Banana, and Sacelady that offer talc-free options.
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