Loose Powders
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FAQ
Powder is often used as the last step of your make-up. Powder sets the make-up and keeps your skin matte throughout the day. You sweep the powder over your face with a powder brush or puff. With a brush you get a sheer and transparent result. You can buy powder both as a cake or in loose form.
A transparent powder is primarily used to set the make-up and reduce shine. With a transparent powder, you don’t need to spend loads of time trying to find the exact shade. Even if it looks very light in the jar, it won’t be visible once it’s on your face.
If you don’t use a transparent powder, you should pick a powder that’s as close to your own skin tone as possible. A powder isn’t a bronzing product, and shouldn’t be used to give you colour. The easiest way to find a powder that matches your skin is to browse in a shop or ask an assistant for help. You need to think about whether you have a cool, warm or neutral undertone in your skin.
It’s all too easy to drop a pressed powder compact on the bathroom floor, which almost always results in a broken powder. If you’ve broken your powder, you have two options:
- Continue using the broken powder. Using a powder brush, you can usually still use a broken powder absolutely fine.
- Repair the powder using water or isopropyl alcohol. You do this by crushing the powder completely, putting it back in the compact, adding a couple of drops of alcohol and then pressing the powder again. You can find clear tutorials on YouTube.
It all depends on what skin type you have and what you want to achieve with your powder. To get some help along the way, you can read our test of powder.
Three tips for buying powder
It’s up to you whether you want a powder that’s transparent, or whether you want one that matches your skin tone. A transparent one has the advantage of always being in season, while you may need to alternate between differently coloured powders during winter and summer, depending on how much colour you get from the sun.
Even when it comes to the type of powder: loose or firm, it’s often a matter of taste and a question of what you feel comfortable using.
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Loose powder comes in a jar and is, as the name indicates, loose. In other words, it’s not packed into a cake-like texture, but is instead more like opening a jar of flour. The powder is applied using a powder brush or the puff that is sometimes included. The advantage is that the result is sheer and natural, but the disadvantage is that there can be some dusty spillage.
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Compact powder comes packed as a cake in a small jar. Even this is best applied with a powder brush or the puff provided. The advantage of a solid powder is that there is minimal waste. The disadvantage is that it is easier to get a slightly cakey effect, especially if you use it with the sponge that accompanies it.
There are many different kinds of powders to choose from, and so you need to think about what you want from a powder. Most products have English names, and below are some keywords in English to keep track of when buying powder.
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Fix your makeup and make it last longer? Go for a powder with the words “finishing” or “setting” in its name.
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Want to make your face less shiny? Look for a powder with the words “oil-control”, “blotting” or “anti-shine” in its name. But beware: if you have dry skin, this type of powder will probably not feel very comfortable on your skin.
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Want to revive dull skin? Look for powders that contain words like “luminizing”, “glow” and “brightening”.
Do you usually apply powder with a big, fluffy brush perhaps this guide from Allure may introduce a new routine for you; using a smaller brush for powder to keep skin dewy but not shiny.
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