“Because skin is a porous surface and produces oil, you want to set your face makeup with powder to help it last longer without melting away,” he says. You can apply setting powder at the end of your makeup routine, on top of foundation, concealer and any liquid or cream products.
Using your foundation without powder is a great way to get a natural, light finish and save money at the same time. But this comes at a cost – skipping your setting powder may cause your foundation to change color, settle into your fine lines, and fade easily during the day.
Your Skin Type Matters
Or, top off your liquid foundation with a dusting of powder foundation for a full-coverage, oil-free look. Just don't pack them both on, “A common mistake people make is using powder foundation on top of a liquid foundation,” Major says. This can result in a cakey finish.
These days, MANY liquid foundations really don't need a powder foundation layered over top of them. While it may feel like you're "setting" your makeup, in actuality, we don't really always need it.
"This powder soaks up excess oils in the skin as well as in liquid foundation products in order to hold liquid makeup on for a longer amount of time. Essentially this is what prevents you from turning into an oily mess with foundation dripping down your face after a couple of hours of wear."
This means if you speed through your beauty routine and dust a powder product over it immediately, it's going to heavily absorb into the first spot you applied it and it won't blend out properly. The Fix: Take a minute or two to let your foundation dry before you sweep on any powder.
Always give it enough time to set before you jump in with powder, so like four or five minutes, because if your foundation is still wet when you apply your powder, all sorts of terrible, horrible, frightening things happen…
Easily the most common cause of a cakey foundation is using too much powder to set your face. Whether you are using pressed or loose powder, be mindful of how much you apply.
The reason why it goes patchy is, the surface of the skin is too wet or greasy. So when you apply powder, the moisture will grab lots of powder, and it's hard to achieve even finish.”
Using Powder Foundation
Chalky? Sadly, also yes. Since our skin naturally becomes increasingly dry and dehydrated as we get older, a powder foundation only makes things worse. It settles into all of your fine lines, and the matte texture finish instantly ages you.
Traditionally, it goes all over the face, but in this era of fresh, dewy skin, strategic powder placement looks more modern. Dot on the nose, or chin, anywhere that tends to gather grease, or where you need coverage to last longer.
Whether you're using a foundation brush (synthetic bristles are best) or your fingertips, apply foundation in a stippling motion, which means gently tapping it into your skin. Avoid any wiping or rubbing motions because that will only push the foundation around and cause streaks.
This usually means your skincare products underneath are clashing. Always leave enough time for your serums and moisturisers to dry between layers. Applying hydrating serums to damp skin can also help. If foundation separation is your issue, try to use products with similar textures.
Is setting powder the same as a translucent powder? It is a common question. A translucent powder can be a setting powder or a finishing powder. Translucent and setting powder are the same when both focus on keeping makeup in place and controlling unwanted shine.
While setting powder is used to absorb oil all over or just in key areas (with a more matte finish), a setting spray, according to Blair, "gives a softer effect with less visible texture." Setting spray is used to keep your whole face of makeup in place—that includes setting powder, mascara, even lipstick.
To avoid drawing unwanted attention to the area, many makeup artists would recommend not applying too much, if any, foundation around the eye. Instead, they suggest using a hydrating, lightweight concealer that has been designed specifically for the under eye area.
No matter what tool you're using—a foundation brush, a BeautyBlender, or your fingers—buff (or bounce, if you're using a sponge) the foundation into your skin as opposed to “painting” it on to build coverage smoothly and avoid streakiness, says Park.
Primer helps to create a smooth, even canvas on your skin and helps extend the longevity of your foundation, blush, bronzer and other face products. When it comes to primer, there is no one-size-fits-all formula for every single skin type.
Makeup has a way of leaching the moisture from the skin, accentuating pores, and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles. So if your skin looks worse with foundation, this could be a major culprit. “Most skin types get dehydrated regardless of the oil they produce,” says Dorman.
Let it set: To keep the liquid foundation in place for hours, apply a setting powder using a small fluffy brush. Tap the powder onto any shiny spots on the face. Complete the look: Use a large fluffy brush to stipple on more powder, then blend.
According to Graham, you always want to set your look at the end of your routine. "This is where you apply a setting spray of choice to 'set' your foundation," she said. "The makeup spray can give you a matte and dewy look.
“Because skin is a porous surface and produces oil, you want to set your face makeup with powder to help it last longer without melting away,” he says. You can apply setting powder at the end of your makeup routine, on top of foundation, concealer and any liquid or cream products.
The actual "baking" occurs when you let the powder sit for five to 10 minutes after you've put on the rest of your makeup. During this time the heat from your face will allow your makeup to oxidize and it will set your foundation and concealer, while the excess powder absorbs any oil.