I love how it can really lock my base in place, and it’s also a nice way to help get everything to come together in the end, whether to get an even finish or to help soften a harsher blush/bronzer. There are a few that can cause flash back in photos, and sometimes formulas can look quite dry on the skin!
— Christine
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I like that they can set my concealer down tight and blur out my pores quite effectively. They do seem to extend the wear time of my base products, too
What I dislike, is how if I don’t go in with just the minimum amount necessary, they can leave behind a cakey looking finish.
For reference, I use RMCA No Color Powder.
ever since I stopped wearing foundation, I only use setting powder to set eyeshadow primer. I just don’t have much of a use for it anymore!
I’m curious to know what your favorite setting powders are Christine. I’ve really been into finishing powders lately. I don’t have a favorite quite yet but I’m always on the hunt for a great one.
No matter the season and state of my combination skin, for me setting foundation and concealer is as must.
What I like about setting with powder is that it locks make-up in place, prevents the products underneath from creasing and moving around, keeps my oils under control, gives a more mate look (I am not a fan of dewiness).
I actually didn’t find a setting powder I like in the last years. The best products to set my make-up have either been bloting powders (the MAC and Clinique ones) or powder foundations (both versions of the Estee Lauder Double Wear). I think that a long time ago I liked the Maybelline SuperStay (but the new version is crap) and Wet’n’Wild.
I absolutely hate everything about loose setting powders. 😆
I do find it hard to find a good setting powder. I hate when they don’t set enough or when they emphasize all my dry patches; and I have tried powders that do both at the same time.
I also dislike when I can feel the powder heavy on my face; I like to apply very thin layers of powder, so I can control how much I set my dry areas versus my oily areas.
I also hate bulky packaging (one more reason I don’t like lose powders), powders that get hard pan and powders that crumble once I hit pan.
Like: A good setting powder will make sure that I don’t get oily in an hour or two without drying me out. So far I’ve only found one that does that but it was discontinued (COSRX Perfect Sebum Centella Mineral Powder).
Dislike: Powder that dries me out and I still get oily in a couple hours.
I like the way they set my foundation and give me a nice, smooth matte look. I don’t like the way powders containing silica can cause flashback in photos. And some powders can look cakey.
My go-tos are Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder for situations when flash photos might be taken, like going out at night, since it does not contain silica. Otherwise, I use RCMA No Color Powder for my everyday looks.
I enjoy setting powder because I really do believe it extends the wear time of my foundation and face makeup!
I don’t really think I have anything negative to say about the setting powders I have. I love them!
LIKE: I have very oily skin, so setting powder is essential for controlling it, and keeping the rest of my makeup from breaking up and oxidizing. They can have a nice blurring effect on pores. It’s easy to find good, inexpensive powders.
DISLIKE: It can get cakey, especially around the corners of the nose. Tinted powders are always too dark for me; I have to use translucent (the exception is Tony Moly Cats Wink in Clear Skin). Pressed powders often get hard pan or shatter in my purse.
I like to use a loose setting powder to set my makeup so that it doesn’t move around for the day or night. I put it on after I have put on foundation and concealer then any powder cosmetics glide on nice and smoothly and are easy to buff out. When I’m travelling I will bring a compact and if it starts to harden in the pan I will use a dedicated toothbrush to loosen up the hard skin and I can use the rest of the powder.
No dislikes on my part.
I like using setting powder to reduce the color of my blusher or bronzer and to even up my makeup. I am not an expert but love trying different powders. I have it from by terry, fenty, Charlotte tilbury, Huda and chanel. I try different ones often and find the Charlotte tilbury one smelling like a strong chemical. Sometimes I also used compact pressed powders from shiseido etc.
There is nothing like a good translucent setting powder to take away the extra shine in places that you don’t want, set your foundation and blush and tone down any highlighter that is over the top.
The key is to find one that suits your skin, to not dry out and become cakey. I use Rimmel’s Translucent Matte setting powder and it is light enough to not turn cakey on me.
I like that it blurs imperfections and it makes me less oily, but the whole flashback thing has kept me away from it for years. Although the Fenty one seems to defy that terrible rule.
Setting powder is not a product that I put a whole lot of thought into. I will pull it out if my foundation is looking too dewy, or if I need my beat to last all day. I have a bunch of little pots of Dermablend and Laura Mercier powder I haven’t used up yet, I’ll get to them after I use up my Ciaté translucent loose powder and Bare Minerals Hydrating Mineral Veil.
I use it only because I feel I need to but I only use it under my eyes, on my lids and around laugh lines to keep creasing and on the sides of my nose to keep foundation/concealer in place.
The rest of my face I want more dewy.
I have so many brands: CT, Huda, Becca, MUFE, UD and I still reach for my Fenty in lavender as it brightens and I don’t find it dried our my undereyes (especially).
I do like them, especially to set my under-eye concealer (setting powders do seem to help prevent creasing) and I like the more “finished” look some of them can impart to my foundation or CC cream. I don’t use them all the time though I do use more for under my eyes than on my whole face but in general, I’m glad I’ve got a few (okay, maybe more than a few) that work well for me.