The Best Setting Powder

Buying Guide

Want to ensure the makeup you’ve just carefully applied actually stays on your skin? That’s where setting powder comes in. What does it mean to set your makeup? The powder has an invisible look so you won’t actually see it but it works by bonding with the other makeup to make sure everything stays in place. Typically, the foundation and concealer you apply are wet products, while the setting powder is a dry product. When you combine both the wet and dry products, they bond together so they last longer your skin, without looking heavy or cakey.

Choosing the right setting powder shade can be tricky. If the shade you choose is too light as compared to your foundation, you will have a ghostly look to your makeup. If it’s too dark, it may create streaks in your foundation. When you’re trying to find the right shade, it’s often advisable to choose the same brand as your foundation. This way, you can match the colors exactly. If you have the opportunity, ask a makeup consultant to help select the shade for both your foundation and your setting powder, so you can ensure you get the right one.

Keep in mind that you will need to take into account whether your skin is oily, dry or a combination – especially when selecting your foundation. Otherwise, you may end up with blackheads, breakouts and irritated skin under your makeup layers. Choosing the right type of foundation and setting powder for your skin type will ensure healthy skin that is glowing and luminescent, with or without makeup.

• Where do you apply setting powder? If you want, you can apply it all over your face. However, if you want to go with a bit of a dewy look which can be quite fashionable, then you may want to just apply setting powder on your nose and chin areas, or any other areas that tend to look greasy or oily with time. This will give you a natural look.
• You can apply setting powder using a brush. While foundation and concealer can both be applied using your fingers, the same cannot be said about setting powder. Use a full and fluffy brush to get the right amount of coverage without feeling like the powder is on too thick. A fluffy brush will also be able to sweep the product into all the contours of your face.
• Have you heard of makeup baking? It’s a method for applying setting powder which some people use. Instead of applying a thin layer of setting powder with a fluffy brush, they apply a very thick layer of setting powder to their face using a sponge. Then, they let it sit for a minutes so that the product can set or “bake.” Next, using a fluffy brush, they simply brush off the excess product so they are left with a thin layer on their face. Typically, this method doesn’t work as well for people with dry skin as it does for people with oily skin. If you have dry skin, the baking method may leave your skin looking extra dry and cracked.