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Rant & Rave: Finishing Powder

Share: Tell us what you love and hate about Finishing Powder!

my answer: I think they can be really lovely, but they’re a product that’s hard to “see” so sometimes it’s hard to tell if it’s working or not. I find that most of them just offer a little something extra to give the skin and face a smoothness and glow.

21 Comments

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Nikky Avatar

I tend to avoid finishing powders since I have very dry skin, and I find that once I put any sort of powder on my face it accentuates every dry patch of skin.

Dominique Avatar

I am a huge fan of powders ( finishing and others ), I love Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre, Guerlain Les Voilettes ( loose ), Nars loose powder and Dior loose powders which are very good too. Les Beiges is a must-have even if it’s not a finishing powder. To me it’s the best compact powder ever. The Nars Reflecting powder is also a must-have in my opinion. Estee Lauder Aeromatte is very very good, one of the best I ever tried.
I don’t use foundation ( liquid ), but I do use powders. They are very useful I think.

Natalie Avatar

I use finishing powders instead of regular face powders as I find skin coloured powders sit too heavy on top of foundation. I am a devotee of the MAC one which I find works perfectly for me.

Barbara Avatar

I find finishing powder to give me a better look immediately after using it, but I find myself getting oilier faster. I think it might be due to adding more product on my skin.

Leslie Avatar

I absolutely always use a setting powder. I like to use Makeup Forever HD Microfinish powder alone or over my foundation and I find that it gives me a great matte look since I tend to look a little shiny.

The powder is translucent but that’s what I like about it. I can definitely tell when I have it on!

Laurel Avatar

I have a lot of foundations that take a long time to “dry” and for the more full coverages ones where I don’t want to add another layer of coverage with a pressed powder, finishing powders are great! Also, I use one every single day under my eyes to set my concealer! It makes whatever I put over it (blush, bronzer, highlighter) go on so much easier

Samira Avatar

I use Shiseido’s translucent loose – does that count? Used to use mufe but my skin was drying out so I switched (not sure if that was the culprit – I changed a lot of things when my skin started drying out, but at least it’s better now). Really want to try hourglass. It’s going on the christmas list.

I love the finish it gives me – all glowy and soft. I have one compact of colored powder for events when I know I’m going to be photographed. But otherwise I use the Shiseido.

Judith Avatar

I only use finishing powder when I wear powder blush. I can’t stand anything that contains talc as I have very dry skin. I like any silica powder (like MUFE HD). With powder you really have to use very little

Emelie Avatar

Hi,
I loove Laura Mercier inviseble setting Powder! Its the best and it lasts all day long and feens like silk! 🙂
You have to try if you havent already!
Best regards!

Eileen Avatar

I adore loose finishing powders and have them in various different finishes–satin-matte, satin, pearlescent, light diffusing, etc. I do; however, assiduously avoid any powder that says mattifying, oil blotting, etc. I have dry skin and don’t need anything like that. I only use those that are designed for normal to dry skin. My favorites are by Guerlain and Chanel, but I also have some beauties by Le Métier de Beauté, Chantecaille, and La Mer. I usually use a Tom Ford bronzer brush to apply a light veil of finishing powder. It just seems to tie everything together so that foundation, blusher, bronzer, contour, etc. look flawless and seamless.

_An_ Avatar

I like to use a finishing/setting powder to help mattify my foundation and keep my oil under control.

But it is frustrating for me because it can be hard to me to tell if the powder is working or not.
I haven’t found a powder that has really made a difference on me or made me go, “Wow, my skin looks so nice.”

Kelly Avatar

I avoid finishing powders because they settle into my fine lines and accentuate them. I also prefer a dewy finish over a matte one. The most I’ll do is dust my T-Zone and under my eyes to set my concealer.

Wwendalynne Avatar

I’ve done a compete flip-flop on finishing powders. I thought they were drying and a total waste of time and now I will not wear makeup without one or even two finishing powders. I completely love the Hourglass line for adding a little something something on the high cheeks and forehead and will also wear a touch of RCMA no colour powder or the fabulous NARS light reflecting powder just roughly in the tzone to fix my foundation and concealer since I am wearing more and more cream products and yet still maintain some dewiness in areas where I want some glow. I find being selective in my finishing powder application helps me avoid drying my whole look out.

Gabby Avatar

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder wears beautifully throughout the day, which is so important to me. No oil or sweat breaks up the powder and you can’t beat a drugstore price!
not a full coverage powder but the beautiful natural finish compensates 100%

Astrogherkin Avatar

I really love the pale yellow translucent powders. I really want to get the Ben Nye Banana powder, after hearing so much about it.

As for the really, really expensive “skin blurring” powders, I am sure that people who love them notice a difference, but I don’t, not at all. I feel like these companies are using the marketing strategy from the Emperor’s New Clothes, a little bit. 😉

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