A light dusting of face powder is the perfect finishing touch to a flawless made-up face. Here’s why:
Seriously, is there anything a face powder can’t do?
But, there’s a catch. If you want all its benefits, you need to choose the right powder for your skin tone, type and needs. How to find it among the thousands of face powders on the market?
Here’s what you should look for in a good powder:
A face powder should be the same colour of your skin. Break this rule and you’ll like you’re wearing a mask. Avoid shades with too orange or too pink undertones and opt instead for neutral beiges, rich browns or tan browns. If you can’t find an exact match for your skintone, or just want to save yourself the headache, opt for a translucent powder.
A subtle shiny finish that will give a nice, natural glow to your complexion. If you have oily skin, a matte finish would be a better option. Your skin is already too shiny and you want to counteract that, not emphasise it! Instead, avoid very shimmering powders as these can make you look like a disco ball, no matter your skin type.
A good powder has a lightweight, finely milled texture that glides smoothly on the skin and blends evenly without looking cakey nor accentuating fine lines. Avoid powdery textures – they look fake.
Turn on your JavaScript to view contentIf you have oily skin you should opt for powders with absorbing ingredients, such as silica or talc. They soak up all excess oil, helping to keep your skin look matte and shine-free for hours.
It doesn’t matter what the label says, powders aren’t moisturizing. That’s why many women with dry skin prefer not to use them. They’re afraid powder will accentuate every dry patch and fine line they have on their skin. The wrong powder can certainly do that. The trick is to choose a powder with a satin, almost creamy texture. While not moisturising, they aren’t as drying as other types of powders, and a better choice for your skin type.
You should NEVER rely on your face powder as your only source of sun protection. But, it can help touch up your sunscreen throughout the day (if you don’t spend too much time outdoors, that is). Make sure you choose one with broad-spectrum sun protection to keep you safe from both UVA and UVB rays.
Related: How To Reapply Sunscreen While Wearing Makeup
There are lots of good loose powders on the market that give skin a beautiful flawless, porcelain-like finish. But they can be somewhat messy to apply. If you plan to carry your powder around with you for touchups or to bring it on holiday, choose a pressed one. Pressed powders are both mess-free and travel-friendly.
Some powders come with sponges that absorb too much product or brushes that are either too small or too scratchy. I recommend you ignore them and invest in a good powder brush. It should be big, fluffy, very soft and pick up just the right amount of powder – not too much to make skin look heavy and unnatural but not too little not to get enough enough product on your face.
Do you have any more tips on how to choose the right powder for your skin? Share your tips in the comments below.
Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
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