Powder Players: The New Generation of Face Powders Will Change How You Wear Makeup
July 7 | 5 minute read
Words by Danielle Gay
Your grandmother wants her talc back – it’s time to forget the cakey formulas of the past. Face powders are making a return thanks to sophisticated, blendable, skin-first innovations that are so glow-inducing, you’ll want to wear them every day.
The next generation of powders – that’s setting powders, finishing powders and hybrids of the two – can conceal blemishes, blur pores, give skin a filter-like finish and appear totally invisible while doing it. It’s the pro makeup artist secret to makeup that looks truly flawless, and when the right formula is paired with the correct application, face powders become a set-and-forget staple that will nab a spot on your beauty counter (and maybe even your handbag).
The New Face of Powder
Setting powders do exactly as the name suggests: set your makeup in place so it lasts longer. Whether you prefer a light dusting or a full bake, this is the type of powder you’ll turn to. Meanwhile, finishing powders are used to adjust the finish of your makeup. Finely milled, their main task is to help blur imperfections and texture, seamlessly melt your makeup together, and either add radiance or help mattify.
Both setting and finishing powders can be tinted – ideal for subtle colour-correcting and brightening – or translucent to give you flexibility in how and where you use them. And even better for those looking to simplify their routine: there are multitasking powders that do it all!
However, the first step is actually form, not function: understanding the difference between loose and pressed powder. “Pressed will be your go-to if you want to build coverage, or if you need to take it with you to touch up during the day,” Hannah explains. “Loose powders are generally best for setting makeup and really locking everything in place, so I would set with a loose powder in the morning (like the Kosas Cloud Set Translucent Loose Setting & Blurring Powder) and then keep a pressed on-hand for touch-ups – like Tower 28’s GetSet Blur + Set Pressed Powder.”
Brush With Success
When working with powder, you want to ensure it's properly worked into the skin: "A light hand is essential – the trick is to blend powder into the skin gradually to avoid over-applying," says Hannah.
Pressed powders are best applied with a dense brush for a diffused effect, while loose powders can be applied with a puff or dry sponge to help meld it into the rest of your makeup. “A fluffy eyeshadow brush is great for targeted powdering,” adds Hannah.
For an airbrushed finish, she suggests working in thin layers: “The more product that’s used, the more likely it is to create unwanted texture. If it looks too powdery, a little setting spray or mist can help melt all the layers together.” The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder Refillable is a good option thanks to its featherlight, mistake-free formula that delivers a polished finish without looking overdone.
For The Newcomers
If you’re ready to try your hand at powder, Hannah has a beginner-friendly favourite: “The Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder really is the queen of powders and a makeup artist kit essential,” she says. “I would always recommend using it with the Velour Puff, though I also really love the MECCA MAX Triangle Powder Puff, especially for setting under the eyes.”
Glow On
Alternatively, test out a mattifying or blurring powder in the hot spots and apply a glowy formula to the high points of the face, like the cheekbones, for a lifted glow: “The Morphe Cloudlight Soft Glow Veil Finishing Powder is great for that,” adds Hannah.
Skin In the Game
“If you have drier skin, opt for something with added hydrating ingredients like the RMS Beauty Hydra Setting Powder or By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder,” says Hannah. The former includes nourishing buriti oil, squalane and glycerine, while the latter features three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid.
Meanwhile, “If you are more on the oily side, then something like the Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder Ultra-Blur will be great, [as] it’s mattifying without being heavy and is ideal for the afternoon refresh.” Oh, and it also contains hyaluronic acid and is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog pores.
Hannah also shares one final insider trick worth stealing for a seamless finish: “Use a little bit of tinted powder on a blemish before concealer. It feels counterintuitive but [apply] powder, concealer and then foundation.”
