Today I want to ask you a question: do you use translucent powder? In my group of friends there are some who do not leave the house without them, especially if they have a party or a special event, and there are others (like me) who have never used them. I don’t know, I always think that they are going to leave the face white and I’m going to ruin my makeup. And, well, if I’m honest, it’s also true that I don’t really know how to use them.
Until now I had no special interest in translucent powders, but I have seen how some makeup artists apply them and how they leave the skin, so I decided to investigate a little more. To do this, I have contacted the professional makeup artist and content creator Agustina de Veras. I’m addicted to her makeup videos and skincareand he always gives very practical tips, so I asked him for help.
© rembeautyWhy do you think translucent powders have become so fashionable?
30 or 40 years ago, the main function of a powder was to mattify. Shines were very demonized and the most important thing in makeup was to cover, cover and cover. Today the opposite happens: what is beautiful is what is natural, the luminosity, the glowfreshness and juiciness. For this reason, I believe that the concept of translucent powder has changed a lot in recent years, since multiple products have come on the market that manage to seal without giving up luminosity and naturalness. It is a product that plays a very important role
In your opinion, what is the best way and what should they be applied with? Can we get one finish or another depending on this?
Indeed, this will depend on the finish or effect we want to achieve. For example, for a more ‘sealing’ and/or mattifying effect, the ideal would be to use a puff to press the powder well against the skin. For a subtle veil and to remove shine locally without dulling or mattifying the skin, the ideal is to use a loose hair brush. In any case, it is best to apply thin layers and, if necessary, repeat. This way we do not saturate the skin, since an excessively powdered face does not look natural.
Many think that only oily skin should use them to avoid shine, what would you tell them?
Translucent powders are not only used to cover or prevent shine in oily skin. They are a fantastic product to seal makeup and make it last longer on the skin. If you use cream products and do not seal them, they remain ‘movable’ and, when you gesture, it is easier for them to end up moving towards the folds of the face. Dry skin can use them without problem. The only thing that changes with respect to oily skin is the amount applied and the tool used. In this case, I would use a brush
© nablacosmeticsDo you also recommend it to dry skin?
Of course, they just have to be more careful with the amount they apply. I would put a very thin veil of powder and only in the areas where the shine does not look pretty, for example ‘T zone’
As a professional makeup artist, what do you like to use them for?
The most useful function of powders, from my point of view, is to eliminate or reduce shine because it is the most common concern of the consumer. The vast majority do not like to see their faces shiny because they tend to confuse it with sweat, and no one likes to look ‘sweaty’. On the other hand, on a practical level, the fact that they help prolong the duration of makeup is something that the consumer does not usually take into account, but that is just as important.
© makeupbymarioFor example, if we have a wedding or a special date, are they going to be our allies so that the makeup lasts intact longer? Would you say it’s better to use powder or a setting spray?
I would say that the combination of both products is great to make the makeup as long-lasting as possible. Although, if I have to stick with just one product, I would 100% stick with powders because they are more versatile than a setting product. Still, I will say what I always say, makeup is makeup, not a tattoo. We cannot give all the responsibility to a product and that it meets durability expectations that no product on the market can meet.
What other uses do they have that you can tell our readers so that they are encouraged to use them?
I love using powders to perfect/polish/finish the blending of a smoky eye, for example. They can also be used to turn a creamy or satin lipstick into a matte one (once already applied).
Following the expert’s recommendations, I propose these four great products. “I especially like Saigu powders because they do not dull the skin, they reveal the subtle light of the cream products that we have put underneath and that, for me, is important to maintain naturalness,” he says. I encourage you to have them in your toiletry bag because they are ‘all-terrain’ powders.
Charlotte Tilbury’s are one of her best seller and I’m not surprised, because they give a beautiful velvety finish to the skin. “Perhaps they are more designed for dry skinsince they will not prolong the appearance of shine.
If you are a fan of the makeup technique known as bakingyour allies are going to be Huda Beauty powders. “I find them ideal to use in oily skin“, she says. Among her favorites are also those from Nabla, which you can carry in your bag to touch up during the day, since they have their own mirror and a small tassel.