You’ve probably heard of loose powders for oily skin over the years, as products like the Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder have taken over Instagram. Loose powders are typically used to control shine and to set your makeup to ensure that your liquid foundation and concealer don’t move or crease throughout the day. This process is more commonly known as “baking.”
Since loose powders are more finely milled, they contain less oils, making them suitable for those with oily skin. To help you choose the best one, we have organized a list of the ten best products that you can order online. We also prepared a buying guide, fact-checked by visual and makeup artist Ida Siasoco, to let you know all the tips and tricks you need to find the best loose powder for oily skin.
Makeup artist and hairstylist since 2017 and has worked on various commercial and editorial projects. Likes to put glitter on everything and believes that "you can never put too much blush".
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Experts featured in this article only reviewed the content of our buying guide. They had no part in the selection or ranking of products or services listed.
The products and services listed are ranked independently by the editorial team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide (as of 01-16-2023).
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
In finding the best loose powder for oily skin, its formula is the star of the show. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for the perfect loose powder to ensure that it will be suitable for your skin type.
Loose powders contain minerals that are responsible for soaking up excess oil on your skin. Some examples of these are silica and mica, which absorb oil and don’t settle into fine lines. They will keep your face matte and shine-free and extend the longevity of your makeup.
This is especially important if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Some loose powders may contain alcohols and fragrances, which can cause redness, itchiness, or irritation. For best results, check if your loose powder is dermatologist-tested or hypoallergenic to ensure that it won’t aggravate your skin.
Non-comedogenic products are specially made so as not to block pores. This has many benefits, such as preventing breakouts, which is a must for people with oily and acne-prone skin. If you have these skin types, it’s important to opt for a non-comedogenic formulation to ensure that your skin stays smooth and healthy.
Some great ingredients that complement non-comedogenic makeup, including loose powders, are zinc oxide and salicylic acid. These ingredients are also helpful in managing oily and acne-prone skin. To be on the safer side, make sure to avoid products with ingredients like heavy oils and petroleum jelly to avoid clogged pores.
Since it’s almost always hot and sunny here in the Philippines, SPF is important. This will help protect your skin from the harsh UVA and UVB rays of the sun, which can cause premature signs of aging such as sunspots and wrinkles. Loose powders with SPF 20-50 are recommended for optimum protection.
Make sure to still apply sunscreen, though, since the SPF protection that your loose powder may provide isn’t enough. It’s just a little extra dose of protection that can shield your face from the unpleasant effects of the hot sunny weather.
Loose powders are available in both translucent and pigmented shades. The best one for you will depend on how you intend to use your loose powder.
Translucent loose powders are colorless and invisible, great for setting liquid makeup or “baking”. This is perfect if you’re wearing the perfect foundation shade and want it to last all day. You can also use this type of loose powders for touch-ups, especially during midday or afternoon, when your skin tends to get oily the most.
Pigmented loose powders come in fair, light, medium, and deep shades, so you can wear them alone or layer them with liquid makeup for more coverage. This means that you can use them to give you a natural makeup base or to elevate your makeup look by giving you a flawless even skin tone.
From ₱2,250
Garnering major awards, the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a cult favorite, as it sets your makeup for up to 16 hours. It provides an instant blurring effect with a soft-focus finish that has zero flashback. Your skin will be flawlessly picture-perfect all day and all night!
Because it contains finely-milled powders that are lightweight and breathable, this loose powder controls oil and shine all day. It doesn't settle into any fine lines or imperfections, so it surely won't look cakey. To get perfectly set matte makeup that will make your skin look soft and smooth no matter the occasion, check this out now!
From ₱2,110
Fenty Beauty has always been known for being inclusive. Their products always have wide shade ranges, and this loose powder is no exception. It comes in eight sheer shades that will effortlessly blend with your complexion, whether you have a fair, light, medium, or dark skin tone.
It has a silky texture that blurs the look of pores, fine lines, and imperfections. It's really like your skin has a filter in real life! It minimizes shine without making your skin look cakey, so your skin will look naturally soft and radiant. With all its great qualities, users from all over the world love it, saying that it's the best that they've tried.
From ₱2,500
This loose powder for Anastasia Beverly Hills has everything you need in a loose powder for oily skin, as it perfects, brightens, and sets your makeup in place. It will give your skin a smooth matte finish, blurring your imperfections and giving your makeup the ultimate finish. Since it's pigmented, you can also wear it alone for a no-makeup look.
It's lightweight and easily blendable, making it a breeze to use. It's free from gluten and oil, too, and has a vegan formula, so if you're conscious about the products that you put on your skin, this is a good option to consider. Finally, it's clinically and dermatologist-tested to ensure you get the best results.
From ₱405
Extra SPF is always appreciated when you live in a hot and sunny country like the Philippines. Thankfully, this loose powder from top local brand, Belo, contains SPF 30 for additional protection from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun. As it protects your skin, it also evens out your complexion using Tone Adapt Technology.
Tone Adapt Technology evens out your skin tone, allowing the powder to melt into your skin and leave behind a matte soft-focus finish. This loose powder is also hypoallergenic, which is great for those with sensitive skin, as you won't likely experience any redness or irritation. Users love it, especially when paired with tinted sunscreen.
From ₱319
Aside from setting your makeup, you can also use loose powder to help you achieve a natural-looking base. This is because it has a buildable sheer to medium coverage that will help you cover up minor imperfections so you can get an even skin tone. Since it's in a small travel-friendly size, you can retouch wherever you are and keep your skin looking fresh for hours.
Together with all its great qualities, it has SPF 25, providing sun protection to shield you from the intense Philippine heat. This loose powder also comes in a universally flattering light shade that will help you achieve a beautiful no-makeup look. It's no surprise why customers love it, saying that it surely does not disappoint.
From ₱229
Shiny skin and enlarged pores are common problems for those with oily skin types. Fortunately, the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder is here to save the day! Formulated with Jeju mineral powder and Jeju mint, it will control shine and minimize the appearance of large pores to give you an even, soft, and matte complexion all day.
Some people even refer to this as a replacement for oil control paper since it's able to absorb the oil on your skin, leaving it fresh and shine-free. Many customers are happy with this product, saying that it's their all-time fave. It helps them stay oil-free, even in the middle of the day, and it can set their makeup well.
From ₱420
Having oily skin can make you prone to acne, so if you're looking for a loose powder that can help soothe your skin, look no further than this. It's formulated with aloe vera to soothe acne and other blemishes. This loose powder also provides SPF protection, containing SPF 20 to add an extra shield from the sun.
Many users like this loose powder for its lightweight, ultra-fine, and mattifying formula. According to reviews, it's great for everyday use, and that just a little goes a long way. If you're looking for a soothing and oil-controlling loose powder to incorporate into your daily makeup routine, this is the one for you.
From ₱975
Pollution is inevitable, especially if you live in the city. This loose powder from Revlon will help protect your skin from the harsh environmental factors that you may encounter since it's infused with antioxidants and anti-pollution ingredients. Aside from this, it's free from oils, parabens, synthetic dyes, fragrances, and more, making it suitable for sensitive skin.
It will leave behind a natural airbrushed finish that will give your skin a blurring effect. It also provides light coverage and comes in two shades that match light and medium skin tones, so you can wear it alone or on top of your liquid makeup. It's non-whitening and non-chalky, too, so your skin will surely look great all day.
From ₱338
Control oil and keep your skin matte with the essence all about matt! fixing loose powder. It has the same formula as their compact powder, which absorbs excess oil and sets your makeup in place using talc, silica, and mica, so you don't have to worry about it all day. Since it comes in a translucent shade, it's suitable for all skin tones.
This loose powder is best used to layer on top of liquid makeup with creamy textures. It can adapt to all skin types with its transparent powder particles that blend really easily. Users love it, saying that it works well for those who are acne-prone and that they love its texture.
From ₱220
Careline is one of the most popular local drugstore makeup brands for a good reason. Their products are all affordable yet effective, a great example of which is this mattifying loose powder. It's a well-rounded product that absorbs excess oil and locks in your makeup for up to 12 hours, ensuring that you get no flashbacks.
It provides natural coverage with no chalky finish, so even though this loose powder costs less than Php 300, your skin will look superbly maintained and pampered. It's also lightweight, long-wearing, and non-comedogenic, so you'll surely feel comfortable wearing this all day. Join the many satisfied users that this loose powder has and check it out now!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Yes. Since baby powder is a loose powder, you can use it as a setting powder with no problem. It will act like a translucent setting powder and "bake" your makeup, so you can wear it all day without any cracks or creases.
This can happen if you pack on too much powder to set your makeup. Be mindful of how much powder you apply; one coat will do the trick, especially with the great products that you can find one our list.
Your T-zone is where you tend to get the oiliest, which is why powder is usually applied in that area. It's where you most likely need touch-ups throughout the day. However, you can also apply it on the outer edges of your face or in any other area where you get oily.
Having oily skin can be challenging, especially when looking for the right makeup products for your skin type. To help you out, allow us to share with you some of our other articles that will help you get a solid makeup base, while keeping shine at bay.
Author: Bianca Angela Dela Cruz
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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