You may wonder how some people are able to achieve an airbrushed look with their makeup. Well, there’s good news. These people aren’t privy to a mysterious type of magic — the source of their flawless look is likely loose setting powder.
Once considered a relic of the makeup industry, loose setting powder has regained its rightful place as a makeup routine staple. It preserves the appearance of your makeup throughout the day, reduces your skin’s oil production and softens the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder offers these benefits courtesy of micro-refined spherical silica, which restores your skin’s youthful glow by diffusing light.
What to know before you buy loose setting powder
Choose the right shade of loose setting powder
One of the most common issues people tend to experience with loose setting powder is choosing an inaccurate shade that either gives their skin a ghostly white appearance or gives their foundation a streaked look.
Fortunately, there’s a nearly foolproof way to avoid getting a shade that’s too light or too dark for your skin tone. Simply match the shade of your setting powder to the shade of your foundation. After all, you’re going to layer the foundation on top of the powder.
Getting the assistance of a makeup consultant to do the matching for you is ideal. However, if this isn’t possible, you can conduct a test to see how the two products look. If you’re purchasing the loose setting powder online, make sure the return policy allows you to get a refund after using the product.
Choose a loose setting powder that’s suitable for your skin type
Loose setting powder is designed to minimize your skin’s oil production. If you have naturally dry, combination or normal skin, it’s imperative to choose a powder that won’t overdry it. Ask about this property if you’re shopping in-store and look for it in product descriptions if you’re shopping online.
Prep your skin for loose setting powder with makeup primer
One makeup product that often gets overlooked is primer. While it’s easy to dismiss primer as frivolous, doing so is a mistake. Makeup primer creates a smooth base for the rest of your products. Apply primer to your entire face and wait until it dries completely to add the loose setting powder.
Loose setting powder features
Loose setting powder light-diffusing properties
One of the ways in which loose setting powder softens the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and imperfections is by diffusing light to produce an airbrushed look. If this result is important to you, look for formulations that incorporate light-diffusing properties.
Loose setting powder oil-absorption capabilities
If you have oily skin, a loose setting powder that excels at absorbing excess oil should be one of your top priorities. This will help achieve a matte look for your makeup.
Loose setting powder smooth layering abilities
Since you layer loose setting powder under your other makeup, focusing on products with the ability to layer smoothly is imperative. Otherwise, you risk getting a flaky, chalky or uneven finish.
Loose setting powder cost
Fortunately, loose setting powder won’t cost you an arm and a leg. A high-quality powder costs anywhere from $30 to $50. And it’s easy to find effective loose setting powder at the lower end of this price range.
Loose setting powder FAQ
How do you use loose setting powder?
A. Contrary to popular belief, you should apply loose setting powder before foundation. Doing so provides a matte finish for your skin that absorbs excess oil, giving your makeup more staying power. No one wants their makeup to melt off halfway through the day after taking the time to perfect it. Loose setting powder helps prevent this from happening.
Is using loose setting powder necessary?
A. Using loose setting powder is necessary, if you want your makeup to stay in place all day. This product extends the longevity of your foundation by setting it. Additionally, loose setting powder prevents your makeup from running or transferring. Wearing this powder is especially critical for people who have oily skin because it eliminates shine by controlling oil production.
Which loose setting powder should I get?
Best of the best loose setting powder
Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder: available at Sephora
Our take: Diminish the appearance of imperfections and fine lines with this setting powder, which contains micro-refined spherical silica that diffuse light to help create a soft focus.
What we like: Blending in seamlessly without leaving a cakey or powdery finish, build-up or residue, this powder sets your makeup beautifully. The diffusing effect restores a youthful appearance to your skin and the universal shade matches the full spectrum of skin colors. This loose setting powder is also suitable for all skin types because it’s non-drying.
What we dislike: A small number of buyers reported that the powder clung to and highlighted dry patches of skin and that it had a drying effect on their skin.
Best bang for your buck loose setting powder
bareMinerals Mineral Veil Setting Powder: available at Sephora
Our take: Attain an airbrushed look, minimize pores and fine lines and banish unwanted shine with this setting powder.
What we like: Now formulated with SPF 25, this powder protects your skin as it softens your complexion. Pores and fine lines become less noticeable, and shine becomes a thing of the past. You can feel rest assured with the knowledge that this setting powder is free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates.
What we dislike: A powdery, cakey effect and skin that looked white were most common among the complaints issued by a handful of unhappy buyers.
Honorable mention loose setting powder
NARS Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder: available at Sephora
Our take: Extend the life of your makeup and enhance the appearance of your foundation with this loose setting powder, which is formulated with the NARS exclusive Light Reflecting Complex.
What we like: The results of a consumer study showed that the majority of participants felt the powder kept their makeup in place, blurred fine lines and wrinkles and was non-drying to their skin. NARS’ advanced formula optimizes light reflection on your skin with photochromic technology, diffusing light and adjusting to new sources of light throughout the day.
What we dislike: The overwhelming majority of negative comments from dissatisfied buyers centered around flashback in pictures. These buyers said this setting powder produced flashback that was very apparent.
Megan Oster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money
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