elf Halo Glow Setting Powder Review: Great Drugstore Dupe
Pros
- Soft, diffused finish
- Extends makeup wear time
- Translucent shades
- Can be applied with brush, sponge, or puff
- Talc free
Cons
- Can settle into lines and pores after 8+ hours of wear
- Can see specks of “glitter/sparkle” on face if looking very close
elf Halo Glow Setting Powder Review
Looking for the best drugstore setting powder? Check out elf Halo Glow Setting Powder for beautifully blurred makeup – Full Review.
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On a budget? Check out elf Halo Glow Setting Powder.
You know what they say – ballin’ on a budget! Or should I say, bougie on a budget? You don’t have to spend a fortune on a makeup product to get a top performer. However, price and quality are often correlated. That being said, there are tons of drugstore gems, or dupes, whose performance rivals that of high end products. One of these is elf Halo Glow Setting Powder. In fact, it just might be the best drugstore setting powder. Let’s dive into elf Halo Glow Setting Powder Review.
Quick Rating Rundown
Promises vs. Performance: Will elf Halo Glow setting powder control shine and keep me glowy?
elf Halo Glow Setting Powder promises a soft glow without shine thanks to the addition of lab-created sapphire particles in the powder. The loose powder is finely milled to feel weightless on the skin for an airbrushed finish. It promises to smooth the look of pores and fine lines, for a soft focus look. The powder comes in 6 translucent shades and is also talc free.
My Review Thoughts: elf Halo Glow Setting Powder
Whether you apply with a powder puff, sponge, or brush, elf Halo Glow Setting Powder applies effortlessly. Immediately, you’ll notice your fine lines and pores become blurred for a diffused, airbrush finish. The elf setting powder doesn’t add coverage since it is translucent, and it doesn’t tend to look heavy or cakey even if you use it for some light baking. Even better, Halo Glow Powder provides a soft glow from within. The top ingredient in the powder is mica and I will say you can see the glittery particles sitting on the skin if you look really close. So that could be a negative or a positive for some.
The main negative to mention in the review with elf Halo Glow Setting Powder, wear time. I have a combination skin type: oily or dry t-zone and normal every else. With the elf setting powder, my skin can look extra oily on the forehead and around the nose after 8+ hours of wear if I don’t reapply throughout the day. To combat any extra oils, I’ll use a blotting sheet and then reapply a little bit of the loose setting powder to refresh my makeup every 3-4 hours.

In case you need it, we put together an article with our best tips & tricks on ‘How To Use Setting Powder.’
How It Compares: elf Halo Glow Setting Powder is a gem.
In my opinion, Halo Glow elf Setting Powder is one of the best from the drugstore. Its lightweight formula paired with a blurred finish makes for smooth, airbrushed skin. The powder doesn’t oxidize, doesn’t cause flashback, and doesn’t disrupt the makeup below. It sets makeup for a longer wear while controlling shine and oil.
Truly, I find this to be a good dupe for the coveted Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder. The textures are similar and they both look great on the skin. But, the elf Halo Glow doesn’t provide all day wear in comparison to Hourglass Veil Translucent powder . The Hourglass powder provides a more shine-free finish throughout the day with a subtle glow from within. While elf setting powder is not as long-lasting resulting with a shiny t-zone on my skin type.
Comparison To Top Performers
Let’s review how elf Halo Glow Setting Powder compare to another top drugstore setting powder, Maybelline Fit Me Powder? Maybelline Fit Me rates at a 4.5 start for Performance and elf Halo Glow also sits at a 4.5. Both of these are great options when looking for a loose setting powder dupe for either Laura Mercier’s or Hourglass’ cult favorite formulas. There’s a few key differences between the two, mostly when it comes to finish. Both loose setting powder formulas extend makeup wear time, smooth fine lines and pores, and control excess oil. However, I do believe elf Halo Glow Setting Powder is better for a blurred, airbrush finish.
Performance Rating Chart
For a complete list of our top rated setting products, check out our MILABU PICKS article, ‘The Best Setting Powder (And Sprays) For A Flawless Finish.’
Advertised Product Highlights
elf Halo Glow Setting Powder
# OF SHADES: 6
FORMULATION: Loose powder
COVERAGE: Sheer/translucent
LONGEVITY: No claims
EXTRA BENEFITS: Weightless feel; Smooths look of pores and fine lines; Contains lab created sapphire particles that create a soft glow without shine
CLEAN BEAUTY CLAIMS: Cruelty free; Vegan; Free of talc, phthalates, parabens, nonylphenol ethoxylates, triclosan, triclocarban, and hydroquinone
Edited by Maddie