Loose setting powder and pressed powder can both have a role in your makeup routine. Discover the differences between loose vs pressed powder and what each can do for your makeup.
9 minute read
Darlings, don’t be scared of using powder in your makeup routine! Setting powders like my iconic AIRbrush Flawless Finish and AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder are formulated to make every skin type look smooth, blurred and flawless without giving your complexion a heavy or cakey texture.
I hear you asking darlings, what’s the difference between a loose vs pressed setting powder and which one should I be using to set my makeup? The answer isn’t either/or… You can use a loose or pressed powder or a combination of the two to bake, set, brighten and blur!
Can’t decide which setting powder is right for you? I’m breaking down the differences between a loose setting powder and a pressed powder and breaking down the different effects they can give your finished makeup look.
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Darlings, both loose and pressed setting powder are designed to set makeup into place and mattify your complexion, but the effect you get will vary when using a loose vs pressed powder. Discover the benefits of using both types of setting powder and learn when to reach for a loose or pressed powder in your makeup routine.
Discover more about AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder
If you want your makeup to last all day, you should be using a loose setting powder. Even a light amount of loose setting powder will help grip onto cream foundation and concealer so it can last longer and avoid creasing. My AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder is the secret to 16-hour longwear* without creasing or transfer!
A layer of loose setting powder can work wonders for skin that’s prone to getting oily during the day. Loose powder can help to absorb excess oil and keeps your complexion from becoming greasy or shiny. Focusing loose setting powder in the oiliest parts of your face like your T-zone and around your mouth can reduce excess oil and keep your complexion looking smooth and matte. If you have an oily skin type, choose a loose powder like AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder - it's supercharged with Oil + Shine Control Microspheres that control oil + shine for up to 24 hours!*
Loose setting powders are extremely finely milled and tend to feel more lightweight on the face than pressed powders. Their ultra-fine texture allows them to feel weightless while setting makeup down and also helps to avoid them looking cakey or powdery.
Darlings, if you love full glam and want to bake with your setting powder, loose powder is the beauty trick for the job! Loose powder is so lightweight and can be easily packed on as a brightening-effect bake. It’s also easy to dust away, so once your face has been baked to perfection, you can effortlessly remove any excess powder without leaving a cakey, clumpy texture.
Discover how to bake your makeup with setting powder
Pressed powders usually offer slightly more coverage than a loose setting powder. When powders are pressed, they are bound together which creates a more pigmented effect than you would get from the sheerness of a loose setting powder. This light amount of coverage can be particularly useful for disguising blemishes or powdering down a full-coverage foundation and concealer.
The formulation for a pressed powder often contains more hydrating ingredients than a loose powder. Makeup powders are pressed with ingredients like waxes and oils which work as binding agents for the formula, but this can also help them to feel less drying.
Tilbury Tip: If a pressed powder looks chalky or accentuates fine lines and skin texture, it may not have been pressed and milled enough to get a smooth texture. My AIRbrush Flawless Finish powder is formulated with rose wax and almond oil to give it that fresh, hydrating, seamless look.
If you want your complexion to look smoother, pressed powder is an easy way to manipulate the look of your skin texture. The coverage and blurring effects of a pressed powder can reduce the appearance of visible pores and create a smoothing-effect finishing layer over makeup that makes skin appear retexturised without emphasising fine lines. My AIRbrush Flawless Finish pressed powder is a staple on the red carpet because it gives stars a smoothing, soft-focus effect that looks super-flattering.
One of the drawbacks to loose setting powders is that they can be messy to apply, especially on the go. Travelling with a pressed powder lets you touch up your makeup base quickly and easily - just a light touch of pressed powder around the nose and forehead effortlessly mattifies unwanted shine without any spills or over-application.
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A lot of people worry about applying powder to dry skin because it can accentuate the appearance of dry patches and flaky skin texture, looking powdery rather than smooth. If you are using the correct skincare products for dry skin, you shouldn’t have a problem adding a small amount of powder to your makeup routine. I recommend moisturising with Charlotte’s Magic Cream to create a smooth canvas for makeup, then setting your finished look with a pressed powder like AIRbrush Flawless Finish. My iconic pressed powder is formulated with hydrating rose wax and almond oil to hydrate skin while it sets and blurs! Lightly tap powder into areas you are prone to makeup creasing such as under the eyes or around the nose and mouth to improve longevity without enhancing dryness.
Tilbury Tip: Dry skin types can also use loose setting powder, you just need to find the right one. I formulated AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder with botanical emollients and magnolia bark extract to deliver up to 24-hr hydration - it’s perfect for anyone with dry skin that wants the blur, bake and brighten effect of a loose powder.
Powder is your best friend if you struggle with excess oil. Both loose and pressed setting powders can absorb oil and mattify shine, helping your foundation to last longer and stay matte. In your everyday makeup routine, I suggest setting your makeup with a loose setting powder to give your base oil control and a blur-matte finish that vanishes the appearance of pores. If you love powder, try using both loose and pressed setting powder for double the blur!
Tilbury Tip: As oils start to seep through your foundation, the easiest way to mattify your face is by taking AIRbrush Flawless Finish on the Powder & Sculpt Brush and gently pressing powder into the areas you are getting oily.
Discover my foundation guide for oily skin
The main consideration when choosing a powder for mature skin is that you don’t want a powder that settles in fine lines and wrinkles. I would recommend using a loose setting powder like AIRbrush Flawless Blur Loose Powder for mature skin because it functions in a way that gives you an ultra-fine, weightless feel but also hydrates with skincare. When loose powder looks cakey and dry, that’s a one way ticket to emphasising the lines in mature skin, but that doesn’t mean you need to stay away from powders. Choose a lightweight, hydrating formula and apply with a light hand - that’s the best way to approach powdering mature skin.
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With over 30 years experience, Charlotte Tilbury MBE is the world's number 1 makeup artist and British beauty entrepreneur. Charlotte established Charlotte Tilbury Beauty in 2013, which is now a record-breaking beauty brand that has won over 400 awards.
