I find I prefer loose over pressed, though I definitely use both interchangeably, but I feel like I get a better set and more control over pick-up with loose. I love the effect they can have to soften and smooth out skin.
— Christine
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Because I DO use the RCMA No Color Powder to set my concealer and oily zones every single time I wear a full face of makeup, I only have “love” for it! I totally appreciate how blurring the effect is and how well it sets my under-eye concealer, and just outside the nostril/nose areas where I’m still very oily and have large pores.
I exclusively use loose powder and much prefer the formula, consistency, and application of them. The only thing I don’t like, that is exclusive to loose vs compact, is when they have a bad top! I don’t want to feel like I dropped a bag of flour having powder fly up into my face. I like tops that you can control how much powder comes out at once. While I have moved away from the formula, the mesh top of the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Loose Powder is by far my favorite. It worked great for travelling in my purse. Now I use the Hourglass translucent and find it has a pretty good top that doesn’t let a bunch of powder escape and I can tap out just what I need.
LIKE: I love loose powders. They give a beautiful finish. They don’t cake up on me as much as pressed. I get more for my money with loose powders.
DISLIKE:. They’re not as portable as pressed. They can be messy. Many don’t have great sifters.
I never managed to get to like loose powders, I much prefer pressed ones, they’re easier to pickup and apply from my point of view.
I do admit I am quite clumsy, but I tried many types of packaging and they are all messy when it comes to loose powders. Most times too much powder gets out, I get powder on my clothes and vanity. The packaging is also bulkier and harder to store then a compact pressed powder.
And I never found a decent loose powder, so that I can say I’ll live with the bad packaging because the powder is efficient and awesome. None of the loose powders I tried gave me the performance I need.
I do use a pressed setting powder because it’s easier for me to manage, but I think the loose ones would be just as good.
What puts me off the loose powder is the top and whether or not I would end up with too much loose product and thereby waste it.
I pretty much agree with all the comments already. I love loose powders. I have a lot of them. I like the finish better than pressed powder but I do carry a pressed powder in my bag just for touchups. Needless to say, most loose powders are not travel friendly unless the lids have a really good mechanism. For that matter, I don’t love them even for home unless they have a great lid. I also carry a powder sunscreen in my purse and I tend to use that more than the pressed powder but I do like the mirror in the pressed powder compact. I can’t believe I use to be able to put my entire face of makeup on with that little mirror in the pressed powder compact. Now, I need a 10X.
I prefer loose over pressed as I feel I have better control of amount and placement. Loose powder certainly gives a nice, diffused/poreless look to the skin, but if you go too heavy, it can look cakey and find wrinkles you didn’t know you had. I tend to spot powder just areas of my skin that run shinier. I’m picky about formula and shade choice, and my HG powder remains the original LaMer in creme. I have been nursing along my last backup and now at 1/3 of a tub with no idea or direction following, I guess I will eventually try they newer version.