Last updated: November 25, 2025
Laura Mercier’s powder is a classic but it comes in at the really high price of $43 USD (£36.50 / €49) for the standard 1 oz / 29 g pot.
It’s very expensive, even though you do get a lot of product for your money. But if you use this every day like me, it disappears quickly. We wanted a cheaper option so I’ve been researching and trying out similar powders from drugstore brands on the hunt for a Laura Mercier Translucent Powder dupe, and have found some great ones.
Here are our top picks of the very best Laura Mercier Translucent Powder dupes so you can get a similar product for this all-time favorite but for much less money.
1. Maybelline Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder $10.99
This is an excellent dupe for the Laura Mercier powder and obviously the price point is way more affordable than the real thing.
Maybelline’s loose powder has lots of positives that make it a good choice for you over Laura Mercier’s powder.
Pros:
- it comes in 8 different shades so is more inclusive in this way
- Maybelline’s powder gives a very similar blurring effect to the skin
- it has a very similar texture in the pot; it’s lightweight and finely milled
- this powder will set your makeup for hours on end
Cons:
- I find the Maybelline packaging a little annoying. It’s those chunky square corners which make the lid a little difficult to open
- the pot is smaller than Laura Mercier’s, and you get 0.7 oz / 20 g of product. I call this is a downside but because the price is so much cheaper it’s not really a negative point
- compared to Laura Mercier, the ingredients are very basic. Laura Mercier’s powder contains the antioxidant Vitamins C and E, whereas Maybelline’s has none of these benefits
In my opinion, the pros far outweigh the cons with this Laura Mercier Translucent Powder dupe. It gives powders from higher-end brands like Laura Mercier a run for their money, and the drugstore price is a huge bonus.
2. Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder $6.99
The Coty Airspun face powder has been around a very long time, since 1935 in fact. Your grandma may even have owned this powder once upon a time because it’s been very popular for decades.
There’s a good reason for this. It’s an exceptional loose powder, that works just as well as Laura Mercier’s but at a fraction of the price.
Pros:
- Coty’s powder is an extremely fine powder with a light-as-air feel on the skin
- it blurs the look of fine lines
- this powder is excellent for oily skin types because it locks makeup in place, absorbing excess oil throughout the day to keep your foundation looking fresh underneath
- it comes with its own powder puff
- it’s a gigantic pot in comparison to the Laura Mercier container, and you get 2.3 oz / 65 g of product with Coty
Cons:
- personally, I love the smell of this powder which is that classic makeup scent vintage makeup products have. However, I note it here as a potential downside as I realize this is not everyone’s favorite scent
- the container is quite messy and you do lose a fair bit of the product into the air when you open the lid
This is truly a fabulous powder that gives very similar results to the Laura Mercier setting powder, without breaking the bank. How adorable is the retro-looking label too.
3. Sephora Collection Translucent Loose Setting Powder $16
My next good Laura Mercier Translucent Powder dupe is Sephora’s own brand powder which has had its own moment on social media recently.
I find that Sephora brand products often slip through the cracks and aren’t given the recognition they deserve, but this powder is rightfully receiving attention for being a great dupe for Laura Mercier’s loose setting powder.
Pros:
- one of the things I like about this powder is the staying power. It simply stays put on your skin for hours upon hours and does not fade or go patchy
- it gives a flawless finish to the skin on the same level as Laura Mercier’s powder, by blurring the appearance of pores and fine lines
Cons:
- a definite con in my opinion is that this product comes in one ‘universal’ translucent shade. I have a medium skin tone and it works fine for me, but if you have a darker complexion I recommend going in to Sephora personally to check this shade out. Because it’s translucent it should work for you too but it’s worth checking first
Sephora’s powder contains 0.61 oz / 17.29 g of product so the amount of powder you get is very similar to Laura Mercier’s for less than half the price. It’s definitely one of the best dupe products out there for Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
4. Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder $7.99
I’m really excited to tell you about this Laura Mercier Translucent Powder dupe from Wet n Wild. I literally cannot tell the difference between this product and Laura Mercier’s when I apply them side by side.
Wet n Wild’s loose powder beats so many high end powders out there for lasting power and oil control, and it’s just as good as Laura Mercier too.
Pros:
- sets your face makeup all day long without creasing, budging or fading
- blurs fine lines, pores and wrinkles for a flawless finish
- won’t crease under the eyes
- cruelty free
Cons:
- comes in a tiny handful of shades, from the completely colorless translucent shade to the banana shade if you want a hint of color in your powder
Wet n Wild’s powder is an incredibly good drugstore dupe for Laura Mercier Translucent Powder and the price point is fantastic value. To me it is the perfect light loose powder from the drugstore, and it keeps my face matte and flawless all day long.
5. E.L.F. Cosmetics High Definition Powder $7
This is one of my best powder picks from the entire drugstore. I love Elf in general because of their low prices and good quality products, and I particularly love the High Definition Powder for how comparable it is to Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
It’s a lovely, fine milled powder which works just like Laura Mercier to set your foundation and under eye concealer. It gives a blurred, soft focus finish and keeps makeup in place for many hours at a time.
Pros:
- a very lightweight powder that is perfect for using underneath the eyes
- it’s non-drying so works well if you have dry skin patches, as it won’t accentuate them or make them feel uncomfortable
- cruelty free and vegan
Cons:
- this powder does contain teeny tiny glittery particles. If this bothers you I suggest leaving this one to wear at night rather than during the day
- the pot contains 0.28 oz / 8 g which is a small amount of product (this is offset by this being the cheapest dupe on this list)
Elf’s powder is a good choice if you want a decent drugstore powder from a cruelty free brand.
Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder is often considered the holy grail of face powders and has been for a long time, and I certainly agree with this. However, I love to discover dupes for top-rated products from high-end brands and share my findings with you, and I definitely believe that you can dupe this product easily in the drugstore with any of these cheaper powders. I’ve tried these and they really are just as good as Laura Mercier Translucent Powder.
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Frequently asked questions
My top pick for a dupe for Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder is Wet n Wild Photo Focus Loose Setting Powder. It’s extremely affordable, lasts all day long over makeup and makes your skin look just as flawless as Laura Mercier’s powder does.
Laura Mercier’s powder is very long lasting, keeps your foundation coverage looking even all day, and blurs the skin with a soft-focus effect. These dupes all do the same thing but are much less expensive products.
The Translucent Loose Setting Powder from Laura Mercier is a really good powder that does what it says and one jar will last you for a very long time, so it is worth the money. However, you can get a much cheaper dupe in the drugstore from brands like Elf, Wet n Wild and Maybelline.
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I am ALL about saving money lol and I find that the Mabeline one works really really well!
Me too! The Maybelline powder is so good and a really great drugstore dupe.