How important is powder in makeup?

If you’ve ever Googled “how to use setting powder,” you know the overwhelming truth: There are more than 300 million websites tryna tell you how to get it done. That’s great! Knowledge is power and all that — but too much knowledge can also be hella confusing.

Here at Beautyblender, we like to keep things simple. So we’ve created Setting Powder 101: a class that will answer all the big Qs, from how to apply setting powder to What does setting powder do?

Class is in session!

What is setting powder?

Like a final mist of hairspray, setting powders are loose powders designed to keep makeup where you apply it. Setting powder’s whole job is putting makeup in its PLACE, honey, so it doesn’t slide off before the end of the day.

In general, the best setting powders are:

     — Loose
     — Milled (ground to create super-fine particles)
     — Applied by pressing with a puff or flat brush

What does setting powder do? 

In order to understand how to use setting powder, we gotta take a detour to Science Class. So, when you layer wet and dry products, it creates a bond that makes your makeup last longer. If you apply setting powder (dry) right after you bounce and blend your concealer and foundation (wet), the products will bond better, sealing everything into the exact spots you want them. This creates a fixed, flawless finish that will hold all day — from morning to midnight.

Naturally, the quality of your setting powder plays a HUGE part here, which is why we went ahead and created our own! Not only is BOUNCE Soft Focus Gemstone Setting Powder uniquely formulated to partner perfectly with BOUNCE concealers and foundation, but it also works with any wet products you’ve got in your makeup cabinet.

The CliffsNotes on BOUNCE powder:

BOUNCE Soft Focus Gemstone Setting Powder:

     — Hydrates your skin using hyaluronic acid, so you face never looks too flat or too dewy
     — Is milled super fine so it can soften fine lines and blur uneven textures without dryness or caking
     — Uses light-reflecting gemstones that melt into the skin, creating a prism-like effect in all the right places
     — Is made with sustainably sourced mica (a naturally occurring mineral dust) to absorb oil and cancel shine
     — Is talc- and flashback-free to create a second-skin natural finish

Why does being talc-free matter? The minerals talc and asbestos form together, and sometimes asbestos ends up in makeup made with talc because of poor regulations. That’s a problem because asbestos causes lung cancer and mesothelioma, so, yeah, no thanks!

When to use setting powder

There’s one easy answer to the question of when to use setting powder: Any time you wear makeup and want it to last a long time.

Setting powder is especially useful for:

     — Holding foundation in place on your face and neck
     — Helping absorb extra oil, which is ideal for people with oily or combination skin
     — Keeping concealer in place, especially under the eyes where it can help brighten dark circles

How to use setting powder makeup

Before you dive into how to apply setting powder, you need to understand the two types of setting powders: translucent and colored.

     — Colored or tinted powders help brighten or deepen your overall complexion while correcting tone and redness. Colored powders can also be used to warm up or cool down a foundation.
     — Translucent powders are more universal and may be easier to work with, especially for beginners. They won't change the color of the foundation, but they also won’t add any coverage. 

BOUNCE Soft Focus Gemstone Setting Powder is a bit of a hybrid because it comes in five translucent shades:

     1. Buff – Light range
     2. Canary – Brightening
     3. Topaz – Medium range
     4. Nutmeg – Tan range
     5. Chocolate – Deep range

If we had to nail down a percentage, we’d say BOUNCE 75% tinted and 25% translucent, which means it’s easy to work with, and also gives you a headstart in the coverage department.

How to apply setting powder

Traditionally, setting powder was used all over the face, but today we like a spot-treat approach to keep skin looking, fresher and more natural. 

Here’s how to use setting powder in 5 steps:

1. Start by bouncing on your foundation and concealer with a wet Beautyblender — but don’t let it dry! In order to create the proper wet-dry bond, you need to work quickly to apply setting powder to still-sticky foundation and concealer.

2. Press powder onto your skin using a Power Pocket Puff. Pressing instead of brushing prevents wet products from moving or streaking, and it’s better for correcting skin textures, smoothing over scars or blurring discoloration and blemishes.

3. Press powder under your eyes, along the sides of your nose and on your forehead and chin, as well as anywhere else that grease tends to gather.

4. For extra-oily spots like the sides of your nose or your T-Zone, grab your BIG BOSS Powder Brush and give those an extra sweep.

5. Do a final check. If you see any stubborn blemishes, red spots or scars, use the wand tip of your BOUNCE Airbrush Liquid Whip Concealer to tap a tiny bit of product on the trouble spot. Blend with your finger or a Micro Mini, and finish with a final layer of powder. This super-cool layering trick will help you build extra coverage only where you need it, which will keep your natural look intact.

Can’t get enough coverage?

Check out more from The Blend:

— Everything You Need To Know About BOUNCE Powder
— Baking Your Makeup With A Beautyblender
— How To Cover Up Acne With A Beautyblender

After spending time meticulously applying our foundation and concealer, the last thing we want is for it to crease or become oily. That's where setting powder comes in. It helps lock makeup in place and keep it looking fresh all day. But there is more to the staple product than simply keeping shine at a minimum.

To learn more about the benefits of setting powder, we chatted with Too Faced's executive director of global beauty Elyse Reneau, and Hourglass' director of global artistry and training, Vanessa Eckels. Ahead, they share everything you need to know.

Meet the Expert

• Elyse Reneau is a makeup artist and the executive director of global beauty for Too Faced Cosmetics.
• Vanessa Eckels is the director of global artistry and training for Hourglass.

What Does Setting Powder Do?

Setting powder’s overall role is to enhance your makeup and lock it in place. "It is typically applied on top of liquid or cream-based makeup to create a matte finish and to help prevent the makeup from smudging, creasing or transferring," Reneau says. Aside from shifting, cream-based makeup products–including foundation, concealer, and blush–can settle into fine lines throughout the day. Setting powder helps prevent this and acts as an oil absorber to give your skin a matte, blurred finish. 

Types of Setting Powder 

Milled, loose, and pressed are the three main types of setting powder, and the finish each provides sets them apart. Loose setting powder is a popular choice, especially for baking and brightening the high points of the face. It's often buildable and great for smoothening the texture of your makeup.

Milled setting powder stands alone when it comes to texture. "Milled setting powder is a finer grain that blurs texture and fine lines better. It's a finer particle, so it can really get into lines and wrinkles," Eckels says.

Meanwhile, pressed powder mostly controls shine in targeted areas. "Pressed powder is your touch-up powder," Eckels says. Reneau says it can also give you fuller coverage than milled or loose powder.

Translucent vs Colored Setting Powder 

The difference between translucent setting powder and colored setting powder is that translucent setting powder has no definite color, while colored setting powder is created to complement skin tones. When choosing between translucent or colored setting powder, it's important to consider your makeup needs. "When applied, translucent setting powder provides a sheer and natural finish," Reneau says. Colored setting powder also provides a natural finish but often provides additional coverage. Skin-toned setting powders can serve multiple purposes. "They can help even out the skin tone, blur imperfections, and provide a slight color correction, such as reducing redness or brightening dullness," Reneau says. 

How to Apply

Reneau recommends applying setting powder to areas that tend to get oily such as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). You can use an oil-absorbing powder like Too Faced's Born This Way Ethereal Setting Powder ($39) to touch up those areas throughout the day to maintain a "freshly done" finish.

You can use a powder puff or a fluffy makeup brush to apply setting powder on top of your makeup. To avoid applying too much powder, tap the excess powder off the brush or puff before touching your face. "I prefer to use the Veil Powder Brush from Hourglass," Eckels says. "I load it up and press into the skin while rolling the brush across the [face]." Reneau also suggests "[using] a smaller brush to apply it to specific areas, such as under the eyes, to set concealer." 

The Final Takeaway

If you want to keep your makeup looking fresh all day, you should be using a setting powder. It helps keep oiliness at bay, gives your skin a matte finish, and prevents your makeup from creasing. Another plus? Setting powder is incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is press your chosen powder onto the areas you want to set (like your T-zone or under your eyes), and you're good to go.