6 Best Setting Powders for Mature Skin, Tested by Women Over 50

There’s a long-standing myth that once fine lines begin to appear, powder should exit your makeup bag. But according to makeup artist Erica Taylor, the best setting powders for mature skin don’t deserve that reputation. “[Mature women] can use a setting powder,” she says. “It just has to be applied differently.” The difference, she explains, comes down to placement and moderation. Avoid applying powder under the eyes, where it can highlight fine lines, and instead focus on the nose and T-zone, where shine tends to gather naturally, as Taylor suggests.

It’s a misconception that bridges the 40-plus beauty category: think of how eyeshadows for mature skin are often dismissed as too dry and texturizing. But just like with powder, the right formula (and technique) makes all the difference. Taylor says that a good setting powder doesn’t add more coverage; it simply locks in what you’ve already perfected. It’s the quiet hero that keeps foundation and concealer in place, she says, so you can trust your makeup to last through the day without settling where it shouldn’t.