Matte skin with zero touch-ups during the day can often clash with our desire for a more natural, lived-in finish. This is where two different types of face powders enter the chat. Whether you are looking for oil control through the day or a luminous sheen, there is a face powder out there for your needs. To get there, however, it helps to understand the difference between compact powder and loose powder. We enlisted a celebrity makeup artist on our noble quest and here’s what we found.
What is compact powder?
For celebrity makeup artist Bianca Louzado, compact powders are a much-loved staple that she has grown up seeing in her mother’s handbags. “Simply put, a compact powder is a mattifying powder that is pressed into a pan to make it compact. This makes it portable, handy and easy to carry for travel. Given the large fans that are always present on a set, we generally keep a compact at hand,” she shares.
What is loose powder?
Loose powder, meanwhile, comes with a spoiler baked right into its name—it does the same job as a compact powder, but is available in a loose powder format. “Loose powders are finely milled and they blend in easily for a luminous, natural finish. You might also come across them being used as a setting powder in the final step of a makeup routine,” adds the Mumbai-based makeup artist.
So, what’s the difference between compact powder and loose powder?
Once you know the purpose of each of these powders, it is easy to distinguish between how both should be used in your makeup routine. To lay any doubts to rest, Louzado shares a handy blueprint below.
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When to use compact powder?
- When you stand in front of the mirror in the morning, start by defining the final look that you are aiming for. Are you looking for a stand-in for your foundation that can offer adequate coverage?
- Do your makeup needs for the day necessitate a heavy, mattifying finish that will require minimal touch-ups?
If you answered yes to the questions above, compact powder is the way to go. Given the coverage that it can provide, compact powders usually emerge as the go-to choice for when you’re on the go. The no-muss, no-fuss application is an additional point in their favour.
When to use loose powder?
- Or perhaps you find yourself favouring a more natural, skin-like finish for your makeup?
- Instead of a heavy powder that doesn’t budge all day, are you looking for a more lived-in finish that allows your skin’s natural texture to shine through?
If you find yourself nodding your head yes, you are clearly in need of a loose powder for a lightweight finish. Cakey streaks of makeup? Loose powder does not know her.
Compact or loose powder: Which is better?
The search for these answers will lie in your makeup needs and your skin type. Those with oily skin generally lean towards a quick dab of compact powder to offer a mattifying finish and to control shine in tricky areas, like the T-zone. Loose powder, meanwhile, makes for a good choice for anybody with normal to dry skin as it doesn’t look cakey as the day wears on.
How to use compact powder
Once you have selected your champion between compact powder and loose powder, it is time to learn to make the most of its benefits. If you are ready to add a compact powder to your everyday makeup routine, this handy cheat-sheet will stand you in good stead:
- After cleansing and moisturising your skin, it is time to turn your attention to your base makeup.
- If you are looking to skip the heavy foundation, a compact powder can make for a worthy replacement—ensure that you opt for a shade that suits your skin tone.
- Most compact powders are usually available with a powder puff or a sponge to lightly set the powder all over your face.
- Given the ‘compact’ nature of a compact powder, remember to stash one in your handbag for any touch-ups needed during the day.
- If you have oily skin, it helps to gently dab off any excess oil or sebum with a blotting paper before touching up your compact powder.
How to use loose powder
If your journey has led you to the doorstep of loose powders, step within the assurance that you will walk out with a luminous, my-skin-but-better glow. Here’s how:
- When attempting to buy loose powder online, you will want to consider your options: translucent powder can offer a natural finish without any colour or coverage. Tinted options, meanwhile, can be shade-matched to your skin colour to offer natural-looking coverage.
- Ready to get started? Louzado recommends reaching for a fluffy powder brush to gently dust the powder all over your face. “If you are not looking for an all-over finish, it also works well when used on certain areas of the face such as under the eyes, above the upper lip and below the lower lip for an instant sheen,” she advises.
- If you do not plan on forgoing foundation in your makeup routine, loose powder can also be used to set your base makeup in place for a longer period of time through the day.
Tira recommends:
Maybelline New York Fit Me Compact Powder
L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Powder
Clinique Stay Matte Sheer Pressed Powder
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Sugar All Set To Go Banana Loose Powder
