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Face powder is an essential product that you should be carrying in your purse or makeup bag. Powders have a ton of benefits including controlling shine, soaking up excess oil, and setting your makeup in place. When it comes to powder there are two types – loose or pressed – and the choice is yours.
Loose powder, specifically translucent, is great for setting your makeup in place, such as your foundation or concealer so that it doesn’t get crunchy or pilly. Plus, it makes your makeup last all day. While pressed powder does the same, it is better at controlling shine throughout the day, whenever you feel like your skin is getting a bit too oily.
No matter what type of powder you’re looking for, we rounded up all of our top picks for all different skin tones and types, which you can see below! Some of our favorite products include a loose finishing powder that is completely sheer, a mattifying pressed powder that comes with a built-in mirror, and a powder that is formulated with SPF 17! Whatever it is you’re looking for, there are so many great options for you to choose from!
Compare the Top Face Powder of 2024
Buttercup Powder by Sacha Cosmetics — Best Overall
This loose setting powder is perfect for applying on top of your makeup to keep it in place all day long without getting crunchy. The powder is “flash-friendly” so that when someone takes a picture of you, the light bounces off your skin, preventing your face from showing up white in photos. It blurs your pores while smoothing your skin so that you are left with an airbrushed complexion. Even better, it mattifies the skin by soaking up excess oil.
Pros
- It hides your pores
Cons
- It can get messy
Maybelline New York Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder — Runner Up
If your skin gets oily throughout the day, look no further than this mattifying powder which helps fight excess oil from forming on the skin, all while covering up your pores. The powder matches your skin tone so you can reapply without worrying if your skin is all different colors. Plus, the powder controls shine for up to 12 hours and comes with a mirror and powder puff.
Pros
- It comes with a mirror and powder puff
Cons
- It can get dry
L'Oréal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Powder — Honorable Mention
This blendable powder comes in 18 shades to match all different skin tones. The lightweight powder is completely oil-free and it contains SPF 17 as an added benefit. The powder leaves you with a natural look that evens out your skin tone, minimizes the appearance of pores, and controls oil. Even better, it comes with a built-in mirror as well as a powder puff applicator.
Pros
- It contains SPF 17
Cons
- It is formulated with talc
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Studio Finishing Powder — Most Convenient
This 100% vegan and cruelty-free finishing powder is a must-have in your makeup bag. Completely translucent, the loose powder has a ton of benefits including soaking up excess oil, combatting shine, and setting your makeup. This super fine powder is made of 100% pure mineral silica which leaves you with a smooth, matte complexion. The powder only comes in one shade – sheer – which works well with all skin tones and types.
Pros
- It is completely sheer
Cons
- It does not come with a powder puff applicator
Covergirl Professional Loose Finishing Powder — Also Consider
This translucent loose powder has so many benefits. Not only does the set come with two powders, but the powder also blends easily, controls shine, sets your makeup, and doesn’t clog pores. The powders are available in translucent shades for all skin tones, so you can find the right one for you. Even better, the powder comes with a puff applicator, is dermatologist tested, and leaves you with a gorgeous, natural-looking finish.
Pros
- Two powders come in the set
Cons
- It has a slight shimmer sheen
Buying Guide: Face Powders
When it comes to looking fabulous and feeling confident, it is the little extra touches that elevate your look such as adding powder. You can use face powder to set makeup and make it less likely to smudge or run. You can also use it to control shine when your skin produces too much sebum.
The top face powder will help you create your desired look and be compatible with your skin. There are many options on the market, and while they may seem similar, most have differences that will greatly affect your overall look.
Some face powders also contain nourishing ingredients and protection from UV rays. Continue reading to learn about the variables in face powders and ensure you make an educated purchase.
Loose or Pressed Powder?
Loose powder
Loose face powder is used for baking makeup. This process involves mixing the powder with concealer to cover dark circles under the eyes. It is also used to set liquid concealer and foundation. This makes the makeup last longer. Loose powder is best for oily skin because it contains less oil than pressed powder.
Pro-tip; brush away excess loose powder to avoid creating cakey makeup.
Pressed powder
Pressed powder can be used for much of the same things as a loose powder but is better suited to dry skin because it contains more oil. Pressed powders can also be used to build up a liquid foundation.
Always Choose Non-Comedogenic Face Powder
Non-comedogenic is an important trait to look for in face powder, since it means it is unlikely to block your pores and cause spots.. Face powder is an excellent product for hiding large pores. You can read customer reviews of a product to see how well it achieves this and whether it is breaking people out.
Flash-Friendly Equals Camera Ready
Some face powders can make you look very pale and are highly reflective, which means that they cause the light from a camera flash to reflect and make you look like a ghost in photos. To avoid this, choose a product that advertises as being flash-friendly.
UV Protection for Added Self-Care
Some face powders contain UV protection. If you purchase a face powder containing UV protection, consider it a bonus and not a replacement for sunscreen. Professionals recommend using an SPF 30 daily.
Which Color is Best?
Available colors of face powders range from clear to dark to suit a variety of skin tones. Clear face powder doesn’t offer coverage but will reduce excess oil on your face and act as a setting and finishing powder.
Face powders that match your skin tone have the same attributes as a clear powder and add extra coverage. You may wonder, if this is the case, why doesn’t everyone choose a face powder that matches their skin tone?
This is because our skin tone changes throughout the year. For example, we may be exposed to more sun and get a tan, or an individual may simply find it difficult to find a powder that perfectly matches their skin tone. We recommend using a face powder one shade lighter than your foundation.
To Shimmer or Not to Shimmer?
A slight shimmer in a face powder can create a dewy ethereal look. If you use other shimmer products like bronzer and shimmer eyeshadow, your look may appear too bold or drastic. We do not recommend using shimmer face powder if you have oily skin, as your skin will already look quite dewy.
However, a shimmer face powder can add a subtle reflectiveness that can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A slight shimmer can look great when accompanied by other subtle and natural-looking makeup items.
How to Apply Face Powder
When is the right time to apply face powder? Before or after foundation, or perhaps after blush? Using face powder correctly might seem a little subjective, but there is a correct order and technique to applying it, which will help you look even more fabulous.
- Use concealer and foundation first
- Apply blush at this point only when using a liquid or cream product
- Pour some face powder into the product’s lid
- Use a cotton pad and tap it into the powder and tap off the excess powder
- Apply to the forehead using patting and rolling motions
- Then apply to the nose area and move outwards across the face
- Use a fluffy brush to remove excess powder
- If using liquid, serum, cream, or mousse foundation, apply powder blush after applying the face powder. You can then add a bit of face powder where you have applied the blush.
If you want light coverage and have oily skin, you can use a tinted face powder on its own. However, we do not recommend doing this if you have dry skin, as face powder without a liquid foundation may make it drier.
