When using powder makeup, it is usually to complete and polish off our final look. Powder makeup has a number of different uses, such as:

• Using a powder makeup will give your skin that smooth, finished appearance
• Powder helps set your makeup, allowing it to last longer
• Makeup stays in place longer when a powder is used, no matter if it is cream based, gel, a makeup pencil, or even powder based.
• Powder makeup absorbs the oils that naturally occur on our skin, helping prevent shine

There are a couple of different forms of powder that you can choose. The most popular form in the past that has been used is pressed powder. You can usually find pressed powder in a “compact” form, meaning that the pressed powder is accompanied by a small mirror. Pressed powder makeup is typically sold with a sponge or a small “poof” to allow you to apply the makeup to your skin.

The more popular choice these days is a loose powder form. Loose powder is also the main choice of many professionals as it allows you to decide just how much makeup you wish to apply without giving you a “caked-on” appearance. Loose powder makeup also tends to set your makeup better and make it last longer.

An alternative to using the standard powders is to use a loose mineral powder makeup. Mineral makeup is becoming increasingly popular as it is being promoted as being healthier for our skin, causing fewer to no breakouts, long lasting, and containing a natural SPF level of 15. This form of powder makeup may cost more than the more conventional or standard types of makeup, but many women find that mineral makeup gives them a natural, luminous look that is unmatched by any other type of makeup that is on the market today.

When choosing a powder makeup that is appropriate for you, you must take your skin type into consideration. For any woman with drier skin, it is often recommended that you use a pressed powder as it will help both maintain and add more moisture to your skin. If your skin is normal, oil, or even combination, then a translucent loose powder is probably your best bet as the loose powder makeup will help absorb the oils in your skin.

How can I Tell what Skin Type I Have?

Normal skin does not have a dry nor oily feel to it, and the pores are visible yet not enlarged. Normal skin suffers from the occasional break outs.

Dry skin feels tight and feels thin. The pores are not very visible, and break outs seldom occur.

Oily skin looks and feels very greasy, though after you cleanse your face it feels as normal skin would. Your pores are quite visible and you suffer from regular break outs.

To apply powder makeup, you want to first be sure that there are no fine lines or creases present in your makeup (if you do happen to apply powder makeup overtop of any creases or fine lines, the lines will only be all the more apparent). Sweep the powder over your face with a large dome-shaped powder brush both downwards and outwards until your whole face is covered, and you’re done!

TIP: If you feel that your eye makeup or blush is too dark, apply a bit more powder makeup over those areas to lessen the intensity of those colors.