Face Powder has a bit of a dated reputation. Many people these days wonder if there is any benefit to using it.
The reality is that there are several very good reasons to use powder. Most importantly, the powder sets the foundation and makes it last. It also adds a matte finish that always looks fresh, professional, and classy. Powder can make skin texture appear finer, as it makes pores appear smaller.
Last but not least, the powder removes any stickiness created by foundation or concealer. After powdering, eye shadow or blush can be easily applied and blended onto silky-smooth skin. It is very important that you make sure that the powder you use does not change the color of your foundation. If you’ve managed to match your foundation to your skin color, you don’t want to mess it up now by applying a powder that contains too much color, especially not pink.
loose translucent powder
Loose powder is often the product of choice for professional makeup artists. Most of the translucent loose powders available are not truly translucent, as they will contain a small amount of color, but generally a translucent powder will fight less against your foundation than a specific shade.
Loose powder has the advantage that it does not accumulate on the skin and create a heavy, caked-on look. It is very light and if you apply too much dust can be easily removed with a large soft brush.
A good option is W7 Superfine Translucent Powder in a choice of three shades. This product comes in a neat tub with its own little kabubi brush.
Compact dust
The only distinct advantage of pressed powder is that it’s much less of a hassle to carry around in your purse than loose powder. For this reason, it can sometimes be useful for quick touch-ups during the course of the day.
You also typically have a wider range of shades to choose from than loose powders. The best results will come if you choose a shade as close as possible to your foundation color and use it sparingly.
The classic pressed powder is Max Factors Crème Puff, available in eight shades. Maybelline, L’Oreal and Constance Carroll also offer a variety of excellent ranges.
A fairly recent development is multi-tone face powder like the Saffron Multi-Toned Pressed Powder. The benefit of this is that it avoids the rather flat, one-dimensional tone that can sometimes result from using conventional tinted pressed powders. Your complexion is not one color all over your face, there is a natural undertone that is produced and multi-toned powders aim to mimic this, giving a more natural look.
The downside to pressed powders is that they tend to build up on the skin if applied repeatedly, so be careful about this when touching up throughout the day.
Always use a large brush to apply your face powder rather than the sponges or sponges provided with the product, as this will give much better, more even coverage and you are much less likely to use too much.
Face powder can really be the finishing touch to your makeup, so it’s worth taking the time to hone your techniques and try various products until you find the one that works best for you.