pruduct review

We’ve been living in the age of glowing, “glass skin” for quite some time. So many makeup products are infused with radiance-boosting skincare (hey, we’re not complaining!), and 2016-esque highlighters are even starting to bubble back to the surface. But in the Icarus flight towards sunlit skin, it can be easy to forget a very necessary step that makes your makeup last three times as long and makes your skin look, we kid you not, “angelic.” That, dear reader, is translucent powder.

“Translucent powder is a finely milled, pigment-free powder used to set makeup and keep it from creasing and transferring,” explains celebrity makeup artist and Who What Wear editor in residence Tasha Reiko Brown. The MUA explains that by applying this invisible powder over cream and liquid products—like foundation, concealer, etc.—you’re essentially sealing your look in place for hours-long perfection. “The end effect is slightly blurring and soft-focus,” she adds. Just a touch to the center of the face and a light sweep under the eyes (if you’re wearing concealer) is all you need.

If your mind immediately goes back to the overly matte skin days of the King Kylie era, fear not. Translucent powders—in both the loose setting and pressed varieties—have come a long way in the last decade. After much testing and expert advice, we found the 10 best translucent powders on the market in 2025. Below, the only powders you’ll need for bridal-level angelic skin.