Finding the best face powder for mature skin can totally transform the appearance of your makeup, and it's essential in any makeup bag. Not only does a powder stop us from looking shiny throughout the day, but it also helps our beautiful makeup stay on longer as it sets everything in place.
Although experts are always telling us that mature skin needs hydration, a face powder, or setting powder as they are also known, doesn't have to necessarily be drying on the skin. These days, the best setting powders for mature skin are very clever, and you can still achieve a poreless, matte finish without compromising on hydration.
Best face powder for mature skin at a glance:
The best setting powder for mature skin will tend to come in a range of colours or be totally transparent, making it suited to all skin tones. The type of powder you go for will depend on your skin type and what finish you're looking for whether it's on the dry side or on the oily side. You'll find there are mattifying options as well as more shimmery options for a shinier finish.
To help you find the best setting powder for mature skin to suit your complexion and skin type, I’ve rounded up some of the best on the market to help you find your perfect powder.
Best face powder for mature skin overall

The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a cult favourite among beauty fans and celebrities, such as Alison Hammond, who swear by the smooth, airbrushed finish it leaves on the skin. It has a lightweight formula that keeps makeup in place for up to 16 hours without feeling heavy and cakey, making it an ideal powder to wear for long days or special occasions like weddings. The powder will also leave your skin looking radiant and not cakey as it doesn’t settle into creases.
Fans of this product love how long the effects of this powder last on the face and say it leaves skin looking smooth but also natural. As a loose powder, you will need to be extra careful of any fallout of product on your brush or powder puff and some found that if you put too much on, it can feel a little drying if you’ve already got dry skin. Overall though, customers say this Laura Mercier powder is great for all skin types and ensures your makeup stays flawless throughout the day and into the night.
Pros
- Designed to keep makeup in place for up to 16 hours, great for long days and special occasions
- It's a lightweight formula that's not cakey so it doesn't settle into creases
- Leaves skin looking smooth but also natural
Cons
- Some customers found that if they put too much on, it can feel a little drying if you've already got dry skin
TESTED
Best compact face powder for mature skin

As the name suggests, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder really does give you that airbrushed, flawless look to your skin by blurring fine lines and imperfections. It’s great to use for on-the-go touch-ups to your makeup as it has a compact formula and a handy mirror in the packaging. I will also note that it's also available as a pan refill that you just slot into your existing packaging which is a great option for those wanting to be more eco-friendly with their makeup choices. While it’s great for offering a bit of extra coverage to your skin when you need it, it’s also ideal for those who prefer a natural matte look rather than a heavy one as the formula is lightweight and buildable.
I personally love this powder for being super light on the skin and for doing a great job at covering up my redness. I've also found that it doesn’t give that dry and powdery finish like other powders I've tried before. The Charlotte Tilbury Finishing Powder comes in four shades, Fair, Medium, Tan and Deep, however, some customers wished the powder came in a wider range of shades to cater for a wider variety of skin colours. That being said, feedback about this powder is overwhelmingly positive and a must-have for anyone looking for a light and silky powder that will refresh your look throughout the day.
Pros
- Great for on-the-go touchups as it has a compact formula and a mirror in the packagaing
- Formula is lightweight and buildup so great for anyone who wants matte coverage without it feeling too heavy
- Gives an airbrushed, flawless look to the skin as the name suggests
Cons
- This power only comes in four colours so it could be more shade inclusive
Best face powder for mature skin for photos

Originally created for use in the TV and film industry by professionals, the MAKE UP FOR EVER Ultra Hd Microfinishing Loose Powder is great for making your skin look naturally matte both in person and on camera, making it a great choice for wearing to a wedding or christening when you're going to be in a lot of photos. It very cleverly uses the latest light-diffusing technology to achieve a flawless-looking finish to the skin both to the naked eye and under 4K cameras and as such, a little of this powder goes a long way. With a silicone-based formula, this translucent powder feels non-drying on the skin and helps with minimising the appearance of fine lines and pores.
As I've mentioned above, a little of this MAKE UP FOR EVER powder is enough to work its magic so you do need to be careful not to over-apply. Some customers have reported that when they've used it too heavily, it causes their faces to have a white cast on photos taken with a flash. When a small amount is applied, customers are really satisfied with how their skin looks and appreciate the smooth, matte and flawless look it creates.
Pros
- Great for making your skin look naturally matte both in person and on camera
- Silicone-based formula so it doesn't feel drying on the skin
- Helps to minimise the apperance of fine lines and pores so skin looks smooth
Cons
- Be careful not to use too much as some customers reported their faces having a white cast in photographs taken with a flash when they applied it heavily
Best face powder for mature skin for shade range

Fenty Beauty leads the way when it comes to having an impressive range of shades, and their Fenty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation is no exception with 50 shades to choose from. It's technically a foundation but it doubles up as a face powder so the formula is buildable from light to full coverage. It's sweat and humidity-resistant so it'll help to take away unwanted shine from your face and it won't sit in your creases either so you can wave goodbye to other powders that may give you a more cakey finish.
High-quality, long-lasting and smooth are just some of the words used to describe the Fenty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Powder Foundation online. Customers did think that this powder foundation suited certain skin times better though. Those with dry skin found it to be a tad drying but those with oily skin were thankful for the matte finish it provided.
Pros
- Inclusive shade range with 50 different shades to choose from
- Sweat and humidity resistant so great for taking unwanted shine from your face
- As it's a foundation as well as a powder, the coverage is buildable from light to full
Cons
- Some reviewers with dry skin found this powder to be too drying for them
Best face powder for mature oily skin

If you're someone with oily skin who's looking for an affordable face powder that will ensure your base makeup looks glowy and radiant but not shiny, the Maybelline Fit Me Matte And Poreless Powder may be a good choice. It's designed with blotting micro-powders which will absorb unwanted shine and blur pores for up to 12 hours to leave your skin looking matte but also natural.
This one's clearly a popular choice with over 32,000 reviews on Amazon alone but just what are those reviewers saying? Well, customers praise this powder for its smooth finish and long wear as well as its ability to control oil without setting into fine lines. The compact size is ideal for popping into your handbag for touch-ups on the go but you may want to use your own brush or powder puff as some found that the little sponge it comes with can remove makeup.
Pros
- Great for oily skin as it's designed with blotting micro-powders to absorb unwanted shine
- Long lasting, offering up to 12 hours of shine control
- Customers praise its ability to control oil without setting into fine lines
Cons
- Some found the sponge it came with removed their make up so you may want to use your own brush or powderpuff to apply
Best affordable face powder for mature skin
A powder that helps to smooth the skin and fine lines without settling into them at an affordable price? Sign us up! At under £10, the e.l.f. Perfect Finish HD powder is a great choice if you’re new to using setting powders as it’s not going to break the bank. Its lightweight, translucent formula works on all skin tones, delivering a soft, smooth finish that keeps the shine away. It also comes with a handy powder sponge so you can easily cover any shiny areas wherever you are while on the go.
Customers with mature skin appreciate how this e.l.f. powder blur wrinkles while still keeping their complexion looking fresh and natural-looking. There are some reviews that mention if you’ve got dry patches on your skin, it can cling to it but giving your face a good moisturise before applying your makeup can help with that.
Pros
- A great price point for a powder that keeps away shine
- Its translucent so it can work on all skin tones
- Smooths skin without settling into fine lines and wrinkles
Cons
- Some reviewers felt it went a little patchy on areas of dry skin but a good moisturise before applying your makeup should help
Best SPF face powder for mature skin

www.sephora.co.uk
Another powder that doubles up as a foundation for mature skin is the bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation. Its lightweight formula provides buildable coverage so you can wear it on its own for a bit of sheer coverage or layer it for a more full glam look. As well as being good for giving your skin that soft, radiant finish, this powder also has added SPF 15 for a touch of sun protection against UVA and UVB rays (just don’t skip your regular SPF step in your skincare routine). As a mineral formulation, it’s made with just five clean, vegan ingredients and it’s also hypoallergenic and dermatologist-tested so it’s gentle on the skin and will leave it with a healthy glow.
The natural, flawless look it gives and the weightlessness on the skin are what customers are most impressed with when it comes to using the bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation. Some customers with oily skin said that they had to reapply more frequently than they would have liked around more oily areas like the nose but for the most part, their skin had a glowy and beautifully blended finish after using it.
Pros
- As it's both a powder and foundation, coverage is buildable so can be as sheer or as full as you like
- Has added SPF 15 for a touch of sun protection against UVA and UVB rays
- Gives a natural, flawless finish
Cons
- Those with oily skin felt they needed to apply more frequently than they would have liked around oily areas such as the nose
Best lightweight face powder for mature skin
For those who like their skin to have a soft matte finish, this NYX Professional Makeup Can't Stop Won't Stop Mattifying Lightweight Powder will be a great choice. It contains oil-absorbing rice powder to keep unwanted shine away while staying gentle on your delicate, mature skin. There are six shades to choose from, including a translucent powder, so even if you're not quite sure which hue will suit you best, there's an option for you to try. As it's so lightweight, it'll effortlessly glide over your skin, making it ideal for layering under makeup as a primer base or sweeping over your look with a brush or sponge.
Customers rave about the smooth finish of this powder and how it's lightweight enough to blur blemishes and fine lines, making it a fab choice for mature skin. As it offers a soft matte finish, customers pointed out that the coverage might feel too sheer for those who prefer a full coverage look. Although thanks to its compact size, it's great for taking out and about if you feel like you need extra coverage throughout the day.
Pros
- Contains oil-absorbing rice powder to keep unwanted shine away
- Lightweight so it effortlessly glides across the skin
- Compact size so you can easily take it with you on a day out
Cons
- As it offers a soft matte finish, it might be too sheer for those wanting a fully coverage powder
Best face powder for mature women: FAQs
How to apply a face powder
There are a number of ways you can apply your face powder for mature skin. For dryer skin types, I'd recommend only applying powder to the areas where you tend to get a little oilier or where your makeup tends to crease. I'd recommend applying powder with a smaller-sized powder brush to the under eyes, around the nose and lightly brushed over your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin.
If you need your makeup to last all day, for example, if you're going to a wedding, you'll need to take steps to make sure your makeup won't budge. You'll also want to follow these steps if you have oilier skin. I'd advise using a powder puff to set your makeup, focusing on certain areas of the face. Apply some powder to your powder puff and press into the under-eye area, around the nose, forehead, chin and middle of the face and leave to bake for 10 minutes or so. This allows the natural heat from your face to oxidize the makeup while the powder absorbs any oil. After baking, use a finishing powder on a large powder brush to brush away the heavy powder and a flawless finish will be revealed underneath.
I'd advise taking a compact of the best setting powder for mature skin with you on the go to top up your makeup and powder any shiny areas of the face.
Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.