Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder Is a Beautiful, Soft Setter

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder is a longtime fave.

When it comes to makeup, some products just seem necessary. Hello, concealer! Meanwhile, others are more an indulgence that could probably be done without. That is, if the budget is tight, time is short, or minimalism is the goal. Yes, I could probably survive without glitter eyeshadow (but let’s be honest, I’d miss it). But setting powder is one of my essential products.

Although I use it sparingly, it’s amazing how even the thinnest layer of loose powder can finish a look beautifully when pressed gently under the eyes or into the T-zone. Whole face coverage is not always necessary, and I’m a fan of a natural, dewy skin finish. But, to keep my concealer from transferring or creasing, I need something to lock it into place. Preferably, without being detectable. Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder does this and more.

See Hourglass Dupe under Performance Rating Chart.

Quick Rating Rundown Chart

This Product

(4.2)

:Hourglass Veil Setting Powder

Price: $49.00

0.36 oz

Value

(3)

Application

(5)

Finish

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.5)

Extra Benefits

(4)

Clean Option

(4.5)

:ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder

Price: $34.00

0.32 oz

Value

(3.3)

Application

(5)

Finish

(4.6)

Longevity

(4.8)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

Luxury Standard

(4.7)

:Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Price: $43.00

1.0 oz

Value

(4.8)

Application

(5)

Finish

(4.8)

Longevity

(5)

Extra Benefits

(3.7)

Similar Product

(4.2)

:Haus Labs Bio-Blurring Powder

Price: $38.00

0.24 oz

Value

(2.1)

Application

(5)

Finish

(4.7)

Longevity

(4.7)

Extra Benefits

(4.6)

MILABU PICKS

(4.5+)

:Best Setting Powder & Spray

Price: $9 – $58

various

Value

(4.5+)

Application

(4.5+)

Finish

(4.5+)

Longevity

(4.5+)

Extra Benefits

(4.5+)

^{Our Rating Criteria}

Promises vs. Performance: An invisible powder to perfect, bake, and set?

The coveted Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder has some big promises. For instance, this finely milled, talc free powder is truly translucent and is suitable for all complexions and skin types. It should provide a natural finish and smooth, perfected skin. This is thanks to its light reflecting particles that blur pores and smooths the surface of the skin, giving the face an airbrushed appearance. It’s also infused with something called “diamond powder,” which is said to ensure no photo flashback. Along with these benefits, this powder can be used to bake concealer. It also sets makeup for all day lasting power.

I have used this powder for more years than I can count, and I remember why I love it every time I use it. It applies effortlessly with a brush or powder puff to set and blur any area of the face. Luckily, the airy formula is effective at setting without needing to cake it on, so a little goes a long way. Although, I have used it to bake concealer and it is perfect for the job thanks to its lightweight texture. My makeup is set, my skin is soft, and my complexion looks blurred every time I use the Hourglass setting powder. It works well topping cream and liquid products, or even powder. The overall finish is natural, and my base makeup lasts until I’m ready to take it off at the end of the night.

How It Compares: Is Hourglass Veil the best translucent setting powder?

Veil Translucent Setting Powder is a luxurious multitasker. Because it’s so finely milled and delicate in texture, it feels soft, smooth, and feather light on the skin. Its unique ingredients, like diamond powder, help it to provide a natural finish that’s never cakey, while enhancing the radiance of your skin and other products. This powder brilliantly blurs pores and refines the overall appearance of the face. It has been touted for its performance as one of the best setting powders by the beauty editors of Cosmopolitan, Allure, and more, and it has been known to sell out. At $46, this in-demand cosmetic is the standard translucent setting powder in its luxury price range. For everything from everyday to special event makeup looks, it has never let me down and has remained in my collection over the years since its release.

Comparison To Top Performers

As much as I do love Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder, I can think of several powders that are just as good, if not better.

Starting with another cult classic, Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder is another favorite of mine. This setting powder locks in makeup for an all-day, airbrushed look with zero flashback. The finely-milled powder resists creasing and settling for a flawless, blurred finish no matter how long you’ve been wearing your makeup. It doesn’t oxidize, nor does it disrupt any makeup below. Laura Mercier is suited for all skin types, dry to oily, wearing beautifully on all.

My other favorites are a little newer to the setting powder category and are both clean formulas. ILIA Soft Focus gives an airbrushed, soft focus, effect to skin, effortlessly setting makeup for an all day wear. The talc free setting powder is made from a base of corn starch, and includes good-for-skin ingredients like bamboo to balance oil, conditioning aloe, and anti-bacterial rosemary. ILIA is lightweight and causes no photoflash back (win!), keeping excess oil and shine at bay for up to 8 hours with minimal settling, creasing, or crepey-ing. Honestly – 10/10 impressed for a clean formula performing this good.

Then we have HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Powder. The powder is housed in a sleek silver package and features a net to ensure there’s no wasted product – and is helpful to ensure you don’t apply too much product! Gently press the powder into skin using a puff or fluffy brush and watch it instantly blurs pores, texture, and lines. The cosmetics product wears beautifully without looking dry or crepey and with minimal settling. It’s a beautiful powder, and if we could change anything it would be the amount of product for the price! You only get 0.24oz of product, which is not a lot compared to other loose powders on the market. But if you want the best blurring powder, be ready to pay for it.

Is There A Hourglass Powder Dupe?

The closest Hourglass setting powder dupe I have come across is elf Halo Glow This drugstore setting powder gives an airbrushed finish for a soft glow with no excess shine. The weightless smoothing powder minimizes the look of pores and fine lines. It doesn’t cling to or exaggerate texture, nor does it look cakey or give flashback in photos. At $8, this powder is a gem at the drugstore.

Performance Rating Chart

This Product

(4.6)

:Hourglass Veil Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.4)

Finish – Texture

(4.5)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.5)

Clean Pick

(4.8)

:ILIA Soft Focus Translucent Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.7)

Finish – Texture

(4.7)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.8)

Similar Product

(4.8)

:HAUS LABS Bio-Blurring Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(5)

Finish – Texture

(4.5)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.7)

Longevity

(4.7)

Industry Standard

(4.9)

:Laura Mercier Translucent Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.7)

Finish – Texture

(4.9)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.9)

Longevity

(5)

Powder Dupe

(4.5)

:e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Application

(5)

Finish – Blurring

(4.2)

Finish – Texture

(4.5)

Finish – Oil Control

(4.4)

Longevity

(4.1)

^{Our Rating Criteria}