With a pressed powder always choose a shade at least a shade or 2 lighter than your foundation/natural skin colour because it will oxidize with your natural skin oils which causes it to turn a shade or 2 darker.
What is essential, though, is to choose a powder that is the same color as your foundation. If your powder is lighter than your foundation, you can end up looking pasty and pale; if your powder is darker, you will look like you're wearing a mask.
When selecting your setting powder, choose a color that matches your foundation or is slightly lighter. Avoid using a setting powder that is too light as it can make you look ashy. A translucent powder will work for most skin tones, but if you have a dark complexion, you might need to apply a tinted powder.
If your skin tone is on the lighter side, you can opt for a compact with a pink undertone and one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. If your skin tone is on the deeper side, go for a compact with a yellow or orange undertone and a color that matches your skin tone.
Rev it up: Intensify a too-light shade by mixing in a bit of bronzer (whether it's gel or powder). Or, if you're feeling artistic, blend it with a darker shade of foundation for a completely customized palette.
Applying beauty products to dry skin or using too much product causes cakey makeup. However, hydrating your skin with nourishing skincare products, blending your makeup, removing excess product, and using a setting spray can help prevent your makeup from appearing cakey.
Apply Powder Only Where Necessary
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.
Instead of topping your foundation with a translucent powder, use a tinted face powder! This will give you an extra layer of coverage, giving you that flawless look you're after. Just make sure the powder matches your foundation to a T to avoid changing the color of your face makeup.
But the question is: does baby powder make your little one's skin darker? Although rare, some of the talc-based baby powders with chemical components like magnesium and silicone can make your little one's skin darker. Therefore, it is advisable to opt for a talc-free powder. Read on to know more.
There are a few ways to use setting powder: You can set your entire face to increase your wear time, focus on your t-zone to keep oil at bay, or set specific makeup products that are more likely to fade throughout the day. And what you're applying powder for will dictate when you apply it.
Blend The Foundation Lighter Than You
When in doubt, always pick a shade that is slightly lighter than your complexion rather than darker. This can prevent your complexion from looking darker than the rest of your body. It is the safest way to go when unsure about two shades that may look too light or too dark.
The general rule of thumb is that you should always opt for a shade lighter than foundation when choosing your concealer colour. Doing so helps to mask darker discolouration, but be careful not to over-correct! Knowing how to pick the right concealer is essential to ensuring that your look does not appear ghostly.
If your makeup is too light, you will look ashy or as if you have a gray cast on your skin. If the formula is too dark, it can make your complexion look muddy. Look for the shade that disappears into your skin most is your right match.
Start from the middle or your face and brush outward. If needed, dip your brush into the powder and keep dusting your face. Always tap off the excess powder before you touch the brush to your face. Don't use oil controlling or mattifying powder under your eyes, or it will absorb all of the moisture there.
Since dark circles have a bluish hue, shades of peach and orange will be perfect for canceling them out. Use peach if you have a fair to light skin tone, bisque if you have a light to medium skin tone, or orange if you have a deep medium to dark skin tone.
Color-correcting concealer should always be applied before you put on foundation. For best results, use a foundation brush to apply a light layer of foundation. Start in the center of your face and work your way outward. Then, use a damp beauty blender to blend the foundation so it looks natural.
You don't remove excess powder.
You know how celebs can look a little powdery under bright lights? That's often because they didn't do this one important step. If you're applying powder over your foundation, remove the excess with a clean fluffy brush by lightly dusting it over your face.
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.”
Powder tends to settle in the fine lines and crinkles of the skin, making them look worse, so it's best to skip it. If you can't give up your beloved powder, "avoid applying it to areas that have a lot of wrinkles, such as crow's feet," Picou says.
“Apply a small amount of matte powder to a powder brush and instead of buffing it in, lightly press it into areas that need mattifying,” she says. And there you have it — mattified but cake-free.
Focus on Your T-Zone. “I usually will just powder under the eyes and on the inside of the face — specifically your T-zone,” explains Parsons. Since your T-zone is a spot that tends to accumulate excess oil, this tip will ensure that you're mattified and dewy in all the right places.
Waiting for your foundation to dry before putting on powder.
"Pressing it on will prevent the foundation from moving around or streaking in the process. It also allows the foundation to set better so it stays on all day.
The answer to this million dollar question is – Loose powder can be translucent but translucent powders are not loose powders!