Best Setting Powder for Mature Skin Over 50

If you’re looking for the best setting powder for mature skin you need to stop for a moment and think about why you need to wear powder. OK so here’s the deal with mature skin and getting older and using powder makeup.

Let’s take a in-depth look at setting powder for mature skin, why we wear it, and the benefits mature women over 50 get from using a setting powder. I will also explain why a setting powder is better than a finishing powder for most women with wrinkles. You will also find out my most recommended setting powder recommendations that I have personally tested on my 58 year old skin.

Are you wearing powder to get your foundation to last longer because you still have oily skin? If so, the best setting powder for your aging skin will be different. If you’re using a setting powder to make your makeup last longer but you have dry skin, you might be using it for the wrong reason.

I have dry skin. If I use a moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, or foundation that works well for my skin type I no longer need a setting powder. If you don’t need powder and you can possibly live without it stop wearing it.

Without a setting powder on your mature skin, less foundation will gather in your wrinkles and you will look younger.

With that said I still wear a setting powder on many days. I often just want to take the sheen off of my dewey foundation in the center of my face.

The glowy foundation is one of my favorites, but it looks greasy on my nose and forehead. I also find that setting powder helps some of my foundations last all day even with my dry skin. It’s hard to find the best makeup powder for mature skin.

Some of the drugstore formulas are finely milled, but they rarely offer a full range of skin tone choices. White transcluent powder is designed to work on everyone, but very dark skin tones sometimes don’t look good with the white cast because it is rarely 100% invisisble.

If you are looking for a setting powder for sensitive skin, there are some formulas that are better than others. Shop for clean beauty brands, and fragrance free formulas to help with this.

I’ve tried most of the setting powders designed for mature skin. Here are my favorites let’s talk about each one and I’ll tell you why I like them.

Nars Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder

Maggie’s ProsMaggie’s Con’s
Practically invisible, Very subtle radiancewell, no cons – it is my favorite powder in 2023

This is my absolute favorite powder for helping foundation not settle into my wrinkles. I call it my invisible powder. I cannot see or feel it. Here is my full review on the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder.

NARS has something called Light Refelecting Complex which is unique to this setting powder. It gives your skin a slight radiance which is practically invisible but helps to blur texture and wrinkles. This powder does not adhere to the fine hairs on my face.

This NARS powder is very finely milled, and contains glycerin and vitamin E. Both of these ingredients help to hydrate my over 60 / over 50 skin. Although photo flashback isn’t one my personal list of requirements for a setting powder, the NARS powder has a feature called “Photochromic Technology”. This simple means it will help your face look better in selfies and photographs, as well as zoom and facetime calls because the light will be reflected evenly.

I find this powder does not dry out my skin. It contains hydrating ingredients – squalene and glycerin. This powder is also fragrance free.

Sephora sells a mini, which I actually like because I don’t need very much at a time. This mini is lighter in my handbag too.

NARS makes this same powder in a loose container as well. So if you don’t like your powder in a compact you may want to try this one instead.

STATS: 
Price at this time: $20-$40  |  Hydrating: yes |  Shade Range: 4  |  talc free: no

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

best powder for older skin with Charlotte Tillbury airbrush flawless finish setting powder

Maggie’s ProsMaggie’s Cons
can stick to fine hairs, not skin like finishhas fragrance, pricey

I have the flawless finish setting powder and setting spray. While both products are luxurious, the powder is an exceptional performer for me. I typically think that a loose powder is somehow better and less visible, but this pressed powder from Charlotte Tilbury is my go-to powder for every day. I’m in the color 01 Fair.

I have the mini size from Sephora and it has lasted me for an eternity because I need very little to set my makeup in place. Behaving like a loose translucent powder even though it is in a compact, this one does not affect the color of my foundation.

This powder is refillable. It also has medium coverage. So if you want a little more polish to your powder, and you don’t like your setting powder to be almost invisible, this is my top recommendation. Charlotte Tilbury puts light reflecting pearl particles in this formula as well as rose wax and almond oil for hydration.  

My best shade is Color 1 – Fair.

STATS: 
Price at this time: $48   |  Hydrating: yes |  Shade Range: 4  |  talc free: no

e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Maggie’s ProsMaggie’s Cons
affordable, finely milledloose only, no compact for my purse

e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder for mature skin – it’s affordable and one of the best.

If you are on a budget, do not have FOMO (fear of missing out) about these setting powders. For less than $10 you can have one of the best ones for over my 50 skin.

Light and airy, I use the light pink color, it perks up my face ever so slightly. Four colors are now available in the setting powder for you to choose from.

This e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder contains Sapphire particles to reflect the light. It is finely milled, just like the more expensive drugstore powders. With this setting powder I can get a soft-focus, blurred effect.

This e.l.f. setting powder is talc free, and does a good job of hiding my large pores. This little drugstore gem is one of the best affordable setting powders for mature skin currently offered in the United States. I reach for it almost daily. I challenge you to give it a try and see if it doesn’t just rival your high-end powders.

STATS: 
Price at this time: $8   |  Hydrating: no |  Shade Range: 4  |  talc free: yes      

Hourglass Mini Veil™ Translucent Setting Powder

Maggie’s ProsMaggie’s Cons
Totally Luxurious, light as air Pricey, mini isn’t travel friendly.

Before you freak out on me and say it costs too much, wait, there is a travel size available at a lower price!

I don’t talk about luxury makeup all that often on my blog. I think the prices are insane. But this one is totally worth it. I love it. The only con is that the container is not travel-friendly. Leave this one at home.

Translucent and so finely milled, this talc free setting powder from hourglass does exactly what is it supposed to do. It doesn’t make my skin look older. Just like the NARS powder, the hourglass powder contains light reflecting particles. Hourglass puts diamond particles in this powder.

If you are looking for a setting powder that also works on the undereye area, this is a great one for undereye concealing as well.

Most often, I use it to stop certain foundations from settling into the wrinkles around my mouth. for some reason, it is wonderful in that area of my face. Just my two cents – but I wanted to tell you about it. I enjoy wearing this setting powder for aging skin. It is one of the best setting powder for mature skin that I have tried.

STATS: 
Price at this time: $24 mini - $50 full size   |  Hydrating: yes |  Shade Range: Translucent only  |  talc free: yes

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Airbrush Loose Setting Powder

icone bye bye pores powder for setting makeup on mature skin over 50

Maggie’s ProsMaggie’s Cons
nothing hides pores bettermatte finish not my fav

You have probably heard about this multi-tasker before. It remains one of my go-to products for setting powders. I think the is the iconic, go to problem solver powder for large pores. This IT Cosmetics powder only comes in one color. I call it a miracle worker for my pores.

While I suppose technically it is filling in each pore with some very microscopic particles, I don’t find it to be clogging. I love this little workhorse for mature skin.

Extra benefit of the It Bye Bye Pores Powder is that it has skin loving additives such as hyaluronic acid, silk, hydrolyzed collagen, vitamin E and peptides. This setting powder is hands down the best at hiding large pores for women over 60. I love this powder.

My insider tip: Use this powder on across my nose and on the top of my checks very lightly, then use another light diffusing setting powder in my wrinkles areas.

For years, beauty influencers on youtube have been talking about this Bye bye pores powder as one of the best powders for mature skin, especially over 50. There’s a good reason it is very popular, large pores literally disappear with this powder.

While the loose version of this powder only comes in the transcluent shade, there is a pressed powder version. the

STATS:  
Price at this time: $32   |  Hydrating: yes |  Shade Range: Translucent only  |  talc free: yes

How to Use Setting Powder on Mature Skin

If you’re over 50, then it’s time to ditch the big fluffy powder brushes. They just don’t work well with wrinkles and textured skin. Knowing exactly how to use setting powder on mature skin can make a huge difference in how your foundation looks.

You are doing more harm than good with the huge fluffy powder brushes.

First of all, these brushes apply way too much powder, and none of it goes where it is will help you look better. Opt for a small fluffy dome-shaped brush instead. I know that some of my highlighter brushes work great for setting powder. They are designed for precise application of powder (albeit highlighting powder, but still … )

Come back full circle and try a puff again. Many mature women are opting for a triangular powder puff instead of a powder brush for using the best setting makeup powder for mature skin. You can gently press it into the areas underneath your eyes to set concealer and help prevent creasing.

Once you know how to use setting powder on mature skin, it helps you find your perfect foundation and concealer products. Without it, great foundations that could be perfect for you are discarded because the product settles into your fine lines.

With setting powder, that may not happen. And you can finally find that one, elusive, perfect foundation for you! How exciting!

READ MORE: Why does makeup make me look worse?

Is setting powder better for mature skin than finishing powder?

Setting powder is different from finishing powder. Especially if you have dry skin.

Finishing powder is designed to enhance your foundation. It will help you blend the color for a seamless look. Finishing powder is used to blend your foundation, keep oil at bay, and give a polished flawless look.

I think setting powder is completely different than finishing powder. Once I began using it instead of finishing powder I was much happier with the final look of my foundation makeup. The number one reason I use setting powder on my mature skin is to keep the makeup from settling into my wrinkles and crow’s feet. I like to use it with a small brush only in the wrinkled areas around my eye, mouth, and the deep wrinkles in my forehead.

Setting powder is designed to look as invisible as possible but still function as a powder on your skin. So you get the benefit of a powder without looking like you’re wearing powder. I recently read a fantastic article about setting powder on ipsy.

If you like a more skin like finish with your makeup, try setting powder! I love that way it makes me look more natural and less like I’m wearing a mask of makeup. So, don’t throw in the towel just yet if you’re on the hunt for the best setting powder for mature skin.

Magge De Setting Powder Testing Criteria

So I test foundation, concealer, and powder almost every week. I typically like to test foundations on bare skin, over primer, with and without powder. When I find a foundation makeup product that I love, I then try it with all my favorite setting powders.

For me, I need to use a setting powder for a couple of months so that I can really get to know it. I like to be able to see how it reacts in different conditions and with different products. In order to find the best setting powder for mature skin, I have tested almost 30 different formulas.