Best face powder for mature skin to set your make up

A must-have for all-day make up.

powder for mature skin

by Lorna White |
Updated on

Finding the right face powder for mature skin can totally transform the appearance of your make up, and it's essential in any make up bag. Not only does a powder stop us from looking shiny throughout the day, but they also help our make up for mature women stay on longer.

The best face powder for mature skin at a glance

Best loose powder: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder – Buy now from Boots

Best compact powder: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder – Buy now from John Lewis

Best for oily skin: Maybelline Fit Me Matte And Poreless Powder – Buy now from Amazon

Although we're always telling you that mature skin needs hydration, a powder for mature skin doesn't have to necessarily be drying on the skin. These days, face powder formulas are very clever, and you can still achieve a poreless, matte finish without compromising on hydration.

Face powders tend to come in a range of colours or be totally transparent, making them 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 powder for mature skin to suit your complexion and skin type, we’ve rounded up some of the best on the market to help you find your perfect powder.

Best loose powder

This one is a bit of a cult favourite and offers an instant blurring effect to the skin and is also one of Alison Hammond's makeup favourites. Although it's a loose powder, it's lightweight on the skin and is formulated to set the make up for 16 hours, making this an ideal powder to wear for long-day events such as a wedding. It's suitable for all skin types and gives an instant smoothing effect to the skin.

One reviewer said: "I’ve yet to come across a better translucent powder. Works wonders and keeps my make up In place for hours without having to retouch."

Pros

  • Best for all skin types
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Not ideal for on the go touch-ups

Best compact powder

Airbrush flawless finish
Price: £32.30
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A firm favourite of many make up artists and professionals, this finishing powder really does give you a flawless finish and even adds some coverage. It's great for use on the go thanks to the compact formula and handy mirror in the packaging. We would also say it's an ideal powder for mature skin for those who don't like a fully matte finish as it's not too heavy on the skin. Also, if you love this powder, we think you'll love their bronzer for mature skin.

Our Senior Digital Writer Lorna White loves this powder: "As someone with dryer skin, I was never one to use powder until I tried this one. It's super lightweight on the skin and doesn't give that dry and powdery finish like other powders on the market. It's great for touching up your make up throughout the day and also does a good job at covering my redness.

Pros

  • Good coverage
  • Layers well throughout the day for touch-ups

Cons

  • Limited colour range

Best long-lasting

This very smart powder uses the latest light-diffusing technology to achieve a flawless-looking finish to the skin and was originally created for use in the TV and film industry by professionals. It uses a silicone-based formula and is suitable for all skin tones as it's translucent.

One reviewer said: "Just what I wanted! Lasts a long time and gives a matt finish without looking too powdered. Good for a natural “no makeup” look."

Pros

  • Long-lasting
  • Suitable for all skin tones

Cons

  • Can flashback in flash photographs

Best shade range

Fenty is the leader when it comes to impressive shade ranges, and their powder is no exception with 50 shades to choose from. It's a buildable formula with light to full coverage doubling up as a foundation and concealer for mature skin without a cakey finish and it's also sweat, humidity and crease resistant.

One reviewer said: "This powder was perfect and I’m the type to wear makeup every day or often. I was able to apply it correctly after watching YouTube videos."

Pros

  • Great shade range
  • Doubles as a foundation and powder in one

Cons

  • Some found the coverage wasn't quite enough

Best for oily skin

Fit Me Powder
Price: £14.45

If you're someone with oily skin, then you’ll want a powder for mature skin that can quickly disguise oily skin and is suitable for use on the go. The blotting micro powders in the Maybelline Fit Me Powder work to absorb shine and last up to 12 hours. 

One reviewer said: "I have super pores and greasy skin. This is the best I’ve had and I’m 30. It’s not too white, it looks like silk on my skin and is perfect for under eyes after you’ve applied foundation and concealer. I personally put it all over as it sets my skin and lasts all day. Will be setting up a recurring order as it’s a godsend."

Pros

  • Comes with a powder pad
  • 7 shades available

Cons

  • Some found the sponge it came with removed their make up

Best affordable powder

For a budget-friendly option, try the Elf Perfect Finish HD powder. It’s translucent making it suitable for all skin tones and it comes with a powder sponge for easy application on the go. It’s designed to blur imperfections and give the skin a smooth finish and you can also apply with a brush too. 

One reviewer said: “Easy to use and good for setting make up. I usually go for bare minerals powder but tried this one because it’s so much cheaper. Not quite as good as BM but for the money savings I’ll use this one from now on.”

Pros

  • Vegan and cruelty-free
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Isn't as long-lasting as others

Best SPF powder

Another powder that doubles up as a foundation for mature skin, this powder is also a mineral-based SPF to protect against UVA and UVB rays. It’s ideal for long-wear and is ideal for all skin types, particularly sensitive skin as it’s Hypoallergenic and Dermatologist tested. 

One reviewer said: "Have used Bare Minerals for years. It gives good coverage, lets your skin breathe and actually improves your skin. A little goes a long way, so, load your brush, then tap off the excess. Won’t use anything else."

Pros

  • Suitable for all skin types
  • Contains SPF

Cons

  • Those with paler skin tones found this too dark

Best lightweight powder

If you prefer a matte finish that you can top up on the go then this affordable NYX powder is a brilliant lightweight formula. Available in nine different shades including a translucent powder if you’re unsure what shade will suit you best. It can be applied under make up over your primer for mature skin or over make up using a brush or sponge and contains oil-absorbing rice powder for a shine-free finish. 

One reviewer said: “I love this powder. The colour I bought is 'Light' and it goes on beautifully and no orange tones. Shiny red winter weather nose is no longer. Apply lightly for a natural finish.”

Pros

  • Good shade range
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Doesn't include an application brush or sponge

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, we'd recommend only applying powder to the areas you tend to get a little oilier or where your make up tends to crease. We'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 make up to last all day, for example, if you're going to a wedding, you'll need to take steps to make sure your make up won't budge. You'll also want to follow these steps if you have oilier skin. We'd advise using a powder puff to set your make up, focussing 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 make up 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.

We'd advise taking a compact pressed powder with you on the go to top up your make up 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.

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