As a beginner, every makeup lover first invests in a good compact powder. A compact powder is the most basic makeup item in any girl’s makeup kit. It’s a game changer if you apply the powder in a correct manner. Our step by step tutorial not only explains how to use a compact powder but it alo explains the precautions one should take to get the perfect application. We specifically cover:
- How To Use A Compact Powder - Step By Step Tutorial
- 5 Things You Must Know To Apply Compact Powder Perfectly
- Types Of Powders - With Pros And Cons
How To Use A Compact Powder - Step By Step Tutorial
We explain the application of a compact powder through the 5 steps which are crucial for its perfect application. We also explain the precautions one should take during application so that you get a long lasting makeup.
1. Start With A Clean Face
A clean and smooth base will only help you to achieve a perfect makeup look allowing the smooth application of all the products sitting on top. Since the compact powder is the last layer you need to make sure all the layers beneath it are smooth. Follow your normal skin care routine by cleaning your face using a mild face wash.
2. Tone And Moisturize
Toning is an essential skin care step and should be inculcated in every girl’s skin care regime. The toner helps to remove all the minute and excess dirt from your face, making the skin more even and the application of makeup more flawless.
Applying a moisturiser always helps to make your skin smooth. But if you are wearing no foundation or concealer and are directly going to apply compact powder, then applying moisturizer beforehand helps a lot especially for the dry skin family. If you have dry patches over your face, the powder application isn’t going to be even, making your skin look drier than what it actually is. So make sure you drink lots of water and use a moisturizer. This is very crucial, even for the girls with oily skin type.
3. Apply Primer To Close Your Pores
Never underestimate the power of a primer. Primer shuts all your pores, making your skin smoother and the powder is then able to sit on your skin. This will help the powder to not sink into your skin and fade away. Primer plays an important role in making the powder or the base makeup actually stick to your face and not slide away.
4. Go For Base Makeup
Once you have prepped your skin for makeup, start with a foundation if you want full coverage. Compact powders just give you sheer to medium coverage. So if you need the full coverage then go in with an even coat of foundation and concealer before the powder.
Do note that if you do not want full coverage and want to avoid using a foundation, then you can skip this step.
5. Apply Compact Powder
The technique of applying a compact powder is going to be the same even if you apply it over a layer of foundation or directly after a primer. You may use a powder brush, makeup sponge or a beauty blender in order to apply the powder.
The best tools which you can use to apply a compact powder are:
- Powder brush
- Beauty blender/ makeup sponge
If you want a sheer coverage, then you can just dust the powder on your face with a powder brush. But if you want a little more medium coverage then you need to go in with your sponge or blender, pick the product and press it on your skin to seal the deal.
5 Things You Must Know While Using A Compact Powder
- After the application of concealer under your eyes make sure you instantly seal it with a powder otherwise the concealer starts to crease.
- Dab your brush or blender in the powder, pick up the product and press it on your skin.
- Do not drag it, you need to press the powder into your skin so that it sits properly over the other layers. If a powder is making you feel itchy and dry, then just apply it over the areas where to tend to get oily.
- Retouching the compact powder is really essential if you are wearing a full face of makeup.
- If you have a long day ahead of you and you are not going to get time to do the rest of your makeup then just carrying a compact powder is going to be enough since it can easily fix your entire face instantly. Just re using your powder gives the illusion that you have done your makeup again.
Types Of Powders - With Pros And Cons
There are many types of powders available in the market, but these are the basic ones:-
1. Compact powder
Pros:
- Great for everyday use
- Compact formula to seal the makeup
- Easy to carry
- Sheer to medium coverage
- Good pigmentation
Cons:
- Needs to applied in regular intervals of time
2. Loose powder
Pros:
- Little more pigmented than translucent powders
- Locks in the makeup
Cons:
- Not as pigmented as compact powders
- Not travel friendly
- It can be a little difficult to use for beginners
3. Translucent powder
Pros:
- Light on the skin
- Doesn’t highlight the texture of skin
- Locks in the makeup for long hours
Cons:
- No pigmentation
- No coverage
Compact powders are widely used and are easy to manage and use as compared to loose and translucent powders. As the name suggests, they come in a compact formula and not in the loose form. Compact powders are pigmented and available in different shades. It’s just like any foundation or concealer, you have to pick your right shade.
A compact lighter than your skin tone might end up looking patchy, dry and flaky. A powder darker than your skin tone can be used as a bronzer, but definitely not as a compact. So make sure you pick up your shade perfectly.
Purchasing a compact powder online can be little tricky. It’s preferable to go to a store and swatch the different shades along your jaw line to find your match. If you are buying any powder online, then check online swatches and look for a shade which you feel is the closest to your skin tone because online pictures cannot do justice to the actual shade. Even if the shade is a little bit light or dark it would just work fine depending on the pigmentation.
Compact powders are also available in different finishes:
- Matte
- Dewy
- Normal
Compact powders always come to the rescue even on bad makeup days. You can fix your contour, brow and eyeshadow with it.
If you belong to the oily family and hesitate to wear dewy foundations because of the fear of looking caky, matte compact powders can fix this.
Adding a layer of a matte compact powder will help your cream based products lying beneath stay in place and not melt down. So, after a few hours when your makeup starts to wear off, the first outer layer that fades away is the compact powder. That’s why you need to re-apply it every 3-4 hours.
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