Everyone did it. Skipping the powder step was risky - like not adding a topcoat to your nails, or forgetting your deodorant. You just didn't, although the big fear of looking cakey or dry was always lurking in the back of our minds. Then the big glow trend hit and suddenly everything and everyone was dewy, luminous, light reflecting and shimmery. Well, powder is back which proves once again beauty is as cyclical as fashion. But like style it never comes back exactly the same way. Now it's reincarnated as a foundation substitute, pore refinisher, skin freshener. Here are my makeup tips to the ten top powders.
1. Bare Escentuals Hydrating Mineral Veil ($19, sephora.com)
This is a totally sheer, water-based loose powder. Terrific skin with a shiny T-zone. Buff it on after makeup or on bare skin to lose the shine as it absorbs excess oil.
2. Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Powder ($30, sephora.com)
A new colorless mineral silica pressed powder that gently mattes for a retouched, poreless look.
3. Physician's Formula Organic Wear 100 % Natural Origin Matte Finishing Powder & Bronzing Veil ($13.99, ulta.com)
A big, fluffy flow-thru brush with loose powder applicator comes in fair, light, medium shades for a subtle hint of color without the fake look of most bronzers.
4. Almay Pure Blends Finishing Powder ($11.99, ulta.com)
A loose weightless translucent talc-free powder that comes in matte or shimmer. So light you can't feel it. I love the slight shimmer for evening.
5. Guerlain Meteorites Powder For The Face in Pink Fresh 02 ($53, sephora.com)
The box and scent (faintly rosy-violety) riff on the original blend. This version contains pea-sized balls of powder in pink, pearl, and gold that brighten the skin without blush. It's like something from an 18th century dressing table. Swirl a big brush around in it to pick up a dusting and it lasts all day.
6. Instant Relief Mineral Powder ($32.50, clinique.com)
This hybrid treatment conceals broken capillaries, corrects ruddiness or irritated skin, and comes with retractable brush that "holds" extra powder for portable touchups later. LOVE this!
7. Sally Hansen Natural Beauty Inspired by Carmindy Luminous Matte Pressed Powder ($11.99, ulta.com)
These not-chalky shades give your skin enough color and a candlelit warmth-from-within effect. A genius color palette for darker or olive skintones!
8. Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder ($22, saksfifthavenue.com)
This luminous loose setting powder was designed as a topcoat/ brightener for your undereye concealer and it works.
9. DuWop Smoothset ($32, skinstore.com)
An innovative compact powder with a silky texture. A pore minimizing oil-control balm to prime the T-zone is included.
10. Fresh Face Luster ($45, sephora.com)
A sheer compact foundation/powder with green tea and aloe that glides on like a liquid with just enough coverage yet a no-makeup effect. Amazing shades for hard to match cool skintones.
