7 Ways Face Powder Is Your Beauty Emergency BFF

Face powder may have peaked in the ’90s, but don’t brush it off as obsolete. Although people once used powder to change their skin’s appearance, often with harmful chemicals like bleaches and lye, modern versions are safer, more versatile, and skin-friendly. Here are seven reasons you should (still) have face powder in your makeup bag. 

The primary purpose of face powder is to mattify the skin to a certain degree. Loose powder absorbs excess moisture and gets rid of shine. Some with illuminating properties can even give you dewy, radiant skin. On the other hand, pressed powder can conceal blemishes and is often buildable to your desired coverage.

Since face powder is usually slightly lighter than your foundation, you can use it to brighten your eyelids. Take a brush and swipe powder all over your lids to even out their color and make your eyeshadow pop. You can also try it to perk up your undereye area and brush away eyeshadow fallout.

If you avoid using eyeliner because it slides off your oily skin, face powder is your new BFF. Apply your eyeliner without holding back. Then, dip a clean eyeshadow brush in powder and glide it across your lower eyelids and under your eyelashes. This trick can prevent your eyeliner from smudging – or at least extend its stay on your lids. 

You can also use your face powder to add volume to your eyelashes. After applying one coat of your favorite mascara, dust your lashes with powder using a clean, fluffy eyeshadow brush. Do this step as evenly as possible. Finish it off with another coat of mascara – and say hello to thicker lashes.

You can use face powder to mattify your lipstick in a beauty emergency. Apply your cream or glossy lipstick as usual, or swipe on an extra layer for more intensity. Then, using your finger, dab some face powder – ideally the translucent kind – all over your lips. Do this gently, making sure not to smudge your lipstick. After coating your lips in powder, press them together to achieve a matte finish. 

When your hair is oily and you don’t have access to a shower, you can use face powder to freshen up. Dry shampoo is essentially a type of powder dispensed through an aerosol can, after all. Using a puff, dab powder on your hairline, hair part, and other areas that look oily. This works better with loose face powder, but a compact one can also work. Just make sure to use a clean applicator and never double-dip! 

Face powder is not just great at absorbing oil, it also keeps makeup in place. These powders contain ingredients such as talc and silica, which can help keep wet formulas from sliding off your skin. To set your makeup, use a round, fluffy brush to distribute powder evenly on your face. Make sure the brush is not too dense, so it doesn’t pick up too much product.

To prevent clogged pores from using makeup, make sure to remove all traces of product before going to bed. Double cleanse with Eskinol Naturals Micellar Water Clear with Natural Lemon Extracts, a gentle and mattifying formula for oily skin. Follow with a nourishing cleanser like Dove Facial Cleansing Mousse Moisture Care. The product has 40% Active-Boost Serum and hyaluronic acid to keep skin looking plump and smooth, even without makeup.

Trends come and go, but face powder is here to stay. You don’t have to use it to mattify your skin, but don’t sleep on it either. Consider making space for this versatile and inexpensive beauty staple in your handbag.