Loose Setting Powder · updated 2026-06-15

The best Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupes

We compiled and scored the affordable, currently-available dupes for Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder — ranked by how close they really are, with live prices and direct links.

See the ranked list → How we score

Ranked by consensus

Every Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe, scored & ranked

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#1 85/100 RCMA No Color Powder

Dupe of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

RCMA — No Color Powder

● Very close

A pro-favorite, truly colorless loose powder that sets and bakes comparably with no white flashback, though it lacks the slightly silkier blurring feel of Laura Mercier.

“Best pro-grade colorless dupe”

Known dupe widely cited as a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

$15.00

Check price at Amazon → Save $2865% less than the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#2 80/100 e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

Dupe of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

e.l.f. — Halo Glow Setting Powder

● Very close

Extremely affordable, finely-milled translucent powder in a similar sifter jar that blurs and sets well, but is less long-wearing on very oily skin.

“Best cheap lookalike”

Known dupe widely cited as a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

$8.00

Check price at Amazon → Save $3581% less than the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#3 70/100 Maybelline Fit Me Loose Setting Powder

Dupe of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Maybelline — Fit Me Loose Setting Powder

● Good enough

Drugstore loose powder that sets makeup smoothly and comes in shade options, though it's a touch less refined and silky than the Laura Mercier.

“Solid drugstore option”

Known dupe widely cited as a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

$8.98

Check price at Amazon → Save $3479% less than the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#4 65/100 NYX Studio Finishing Powder

Dupe of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

NYX — Studio Finishing Powder

● Worth a look

Inexpensive translucent finishing powder that controls shine and sets well for the price, but can look slightly drier and is less blurring.

“Decent budget setter”

Known dupe widely cited as a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

$11.37

Check price at Amazon → Save $3274% less than the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

#5 60/100 Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

Dupe of Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

Coty — Airspun Loose Face Powder

● Worth a look

A long-standing cult-cheap loose powder great for baking and oil control, but it has a tint and a heavier, more dated finish versus the translucent Laura Mercier.

“Cult cheap baking powder”

Known dupe widely cited as a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

$6.79

Check price at Amazon → Save $3684% less than the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder Amazon price · checked 2026-07-30 23:00:01 UTC

We have not personally tested these — every score blends independent community and reviewer sources, weighted by independence, with no paid placement. Read the full methodology →

No paid placements — just the trade-offs

Why these rank the way they do

Against the $43 Laura Mercier original, these alternatives separate mostly on how truly colorless they stay and how refined the finish feels on skin.

RCMA No Color Powder

It earns the top score because it's a genuinely colorless loose powder that sets and bakes with no white flashback — the closest functional match here. It only falls short of a perfect score because it misses that slightly silkier blurring feel the Laura Mercier has.

e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder

The standout value: finely-milled and translucent in a very similar sifter jar that blurs and sets convincingly for a fraction of the original. It loses a few points only because it doesn't hold up as long on very oily skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Loose Setting Powder

A solid drugstore pick that sets smoothly and adds shade options the others lack, but it's a touch less refined and silky than the Laura Mercier, which keeps it in the 'good enough' tier rather than 'very close.'

NYX Studio Finishing Powder

Controls shine and sets well for very little, but it can read slightly drier and blurs less than the original — a real trade-off in finish that places it below the silkier options.

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder

Ranks lowest here despite its cult status because it carries a tint and a heavier, more dated finish — further from the translucent, lightweight Laura Mercier, even though it's excellent for baking and oil control.

Bottom line: Get RCMA if you want a true pro-grade colorless match, or e.l.f. if you just want the cheap translucent lookalike — skip Airspun unless you specifically want a tinted baking powder.

About Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder & its dupes

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder is a cult-classic finely-milled loose powder used to set foundation/concealer and control shine without adding heavy color. The translucent shade is famous for baking under the eyes and providing a smooth, long-wearing matte finish. It comes in a 29g jar with a sifter and is praised for not flashing white in flash photography (though pure "Translucent" can flash on deeper skin tones — Laura Mercier added a "Translucent Medium Deep" shade to address this). It's loved by makeup artists for its blurring, oil-controlling, crease-preventing performance.

How to choose a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe

If your priority is the closest finish-and-feel match, the e.l.f. and Maybelline options are the most editorially-cited budget swaps. Choose RCMA No Color if you specifically want baking power and a true colorless powder that works across skin tones (it's the pro-favorite). Pick e.l.f. Halo Glow Setting Powder if you want the silky, soft-focus blur in a very similar-looking jar at a fraction of the price. Consider Maybelline Fit Me Loose Powder if you want a drugstore option with a bit more shade flexibility. If you have deeper skin and worry about white cast, go with RCMA or a tinted/colorless formula rather than a stark white translucent, and apply sparingly with a damp sponge or fluffy brush.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder dupe FAQ

Does the Laura Mercier powder flash back white in photos?

The original Translucent shade can flash white on medium-to-deep skin tones because of how it diffuses light; Laura Mercier released a 'Translucent Medium Deep' version to reduce this, and applying a thin layer also helps.

Is the e.l.f. powder really that close?

e.l.f.'s loose setting powders are among the most frequently cited budget alternatives for finish and silkiness, but they are not identical — the Laura Mercier is more finely milled and tends to last longer through a full day.

Can I use these for baking?

Yes. The Laura Mercier and RCMA No Color in particular are widely used for baking under the eyes; apply a generous layer, let it sit, then dust off the excess.

Is translucent powder right for all skin tones?

Translucent powders are designed to be largely colorless, but very white-toned formulas can cast on deeper skin. Colorless options like RCMA No Color are generally the safest bet across the tone range.