Ladies, I bet if you reached into your makeup bag, or handbag or clutch you would find a powder of some description in it. Setting powder, Finishing powder, HD powder, translucent powder, we all have them. But do you actually know what powder is best used for what, and what is most suited for you??

Traditionally, powder is applied over your foundation or finished makeup to help set it so that it won’t migrate into any lines or slide down off your face. Powder is also a great base upon which to apply blush, contour, bronzer, or shimmer. You can apply those things straight on top of your foundation if you like, but things can last longer when a powder is used. You can also use powder to set cream eyeshadow, turn down the volume on blush that’s too bright, give a slippery lip color more staying power, AND, in an emergency, as a replacement for dry shampoo!!

But what is the difference between all the different powders out on the market? Let me break down the most popular/common ones. Loose powder comes in a jar, has finer/smaller particles and usually give lighter coverage. They also can be messy and hard to transport, so these are meant to stay at home. Pressed powder comes in a compact and is a semi-solid formula. Because the particles are slightly bigger, applying too much pressed powder can result in a cakey appearance. Using a little as a touch-up throughout the day, though, is quick and easy! Setting powder is pretty much your classic powder. It goes on after your foundation to get rid of shine and "set" it so that it lasts a long time. It can be tinted to match your skin or translucent. Finishing powder is normally used after your makeup is finished, to blur fine lines and pores, giving you an extra-perfect “airbrushed” look. Handy hint though, if you’re going to be dealing with cameras and flashes, you'll need to be careful with finishing powders. If you use too much or don't blend well, you can look like you fell face-down in a bucket of baby powder. This is because the light from the flash can bounce off certain ingredients, causing the dreaded chalky-white FLASHBACK.