Face Powder has a somewhat 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 look smaller.

Last but not least, the powder removes any stickiness created by foundation or concealer. After powdering, the eyeshadow 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.

translucent loose powder

Loose powder is often the product of choice for professional makeup artists. Most of the translucent loose powders available aren’t actually translucent, as they will contain a small amount of color, but generally a translucent powder will fight less with foundation than a specific shade.

Loose powder has the advantage that it does not accumulate on the skin and creates a heavy, caked look. It is very light and if you apply too much it can be easily dusted off 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 one distinct advantage of pressed powder is that it is much less of a hassle to carry around in your bag than loose powder. For this reason, it can sometimes be useful for quick touch-ups throughout the day.

You also usually have a wider range of shades to choose from than loose powder. The best results will come if you choose a shade as close to your foundation color as possible 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-toned face powder like the Saffron Multi-Toned Pressed Powder. The advantage of this is that it avoids the rather flat, one-dimensional hue that can sometimes result from using conventional tinted pressed powders. Your complexion is not one color all over your face, there is a natural tint that occurs and multi-tone powders aim to mimic this, giving a more natural look.

The downside of pressed powders is that they tend to build up on the skin if applied repeatedly, so be careful with this when you touch up throughout the day.

Always use a large brush to apply face powder rather than the sponges or sponges provided with the product, as this will give much better, more even coverage and you’re 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 perfect your techniques and trying out various products until you find the one that works for you.

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