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Pressed powder, once thought of as a mere staple on your grandma’s vanity (and known for creating heavy matte skin), has gotten its very own glow-up. Today’s formulas are sheer, light reflecting and color correcting, making them a modern addition to your makeup routine that even allows for some dewiness. When used properly it’s easy to achieve the filtered, “blurred skin” that’s all over social media, rather than succumb to the cake-y complexions of powders past.
How To Apply Pressed Powder, According To A Celebrity Makeup Artist
Celebrity makeup artist, Molly R. Stern, says that she only uses pressed powder as it allows her to set and manage shine in a hyper controlled way. “Take a sponge and press the powder where you want the ‘blur’ and then using a small fluffy brush, dust off any excess powder that’s sitting on the skin surface,” she says. “The key is to use it where it’s necessary versus applying it all over the face.”
Translation: strategic powdering > full-face mattifying.
How To Choose The Right Pressed Powder For Your Skin
Not all pressed powders blur the same way. Choosing the wrong one is usually why people swear them off altogether. Here’s how to pick the right formula for you:
1. Consider Your Skin Type
- Oily skin: Look for oil-absorbing ingredients like silica, kaolin clay, or bamboo extract. Matte or soft-matte finishes will help control shine without sliding off.
- Dry skin: Opt for powders with hydrating ingredients like squalane, glycerin, or skincare-infused formulas. Avoid anything labeled “ultra-matte.”
- Combination skin: A lightweight, micro-milled pressed powder lets you target shine without flattening glow.
2. Decide Where You’ll Use It
- All over face: Choose sheer, light-reflecting powders that won’t build up.
- T-zone only: Go slightly more mattifying for targeted blur.
- Under eyes: You’ll want an ultra-fine, crease-resistant formula made specifically for delicate skin.
3. Think Finish, Not Coverage
Pressed powders today are about optical blur, not heavy pigment. If you want coverage, stick with foundation or concealer.
The Best Pressed Powders At A Glance
- Best Luxury: Prada Setting Powder
- Best Clean: Kosas Cloud Setting Powder
- Best For Long Wear: Tower 28 GetSet Pressed Powder
- Best Skin-Boosting: Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Powder
- Best Classic: Clinique Stay Matte Pressed Powder
- Best For Under-Eye Blurring: Pat McGrath Skin Fetish: Blurring Under-Eye Powder
- Best Radiant Finish: Nars Light Reflecting Setting Powder
- Best Bronzing + Blurring: Victoria Beckham Bronzing Brick
The Best Pressed Powders For Blurred Skin
This global brand – a fashion industry great – recently unveiled their beauty collection twenty years after its beloved skincare category shuttered (the single-use tinted balms and creams will go down in beauty history). Now you can get pretty, “soft focus skin” with this shine-controlling pressed powder. And don’t be fooled by the green shade – it applies sheer on the skin without leaving an ashy finish.
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This beloved clean company is sensitive skin-friendly (pressed powders can contain talc, a known irritant), and keeps complexions nourished with super clean ingredients: bamboo stem extracts sweep away shine (without sweeping away glow), while peony extract imparts a diffused look that’s usually associated with an airy loose formula. Plus, it's offered in an array of skin tones, making this powder one of the best on the market.
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Hydrating squalane ensures that this alcohol-free powder doesn’t just sit atop skin, but blends in to create a soft, matte finish while brightening complexions in the process. And unlike a setting spray, it sets (and blurs) makeup all day without the stickiness associated with the spritz.
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Known for infusing micro-milled, active skincare ingredients into makeup, this brand found a cult following for its being both clean and luxury. Founded by a celebrity makeup artist, the pressed powder is a best-seller because it’s antioxidant rich (it’s packed with vitamin C and probiotics), while shielding from free radicals and controlling oil. Even out your complexion while making it better? Sold.
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Younger generations are being introduced to this world class brand because its formulas have stood the test of time. No, their pressed powder is not your mother’s matte formula, but imparts a sheer texture that minimizes shine while creating a soft glow (without looking matte). Keep one in your bag so it doesn’t get swiped.
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The founder of this brand knows a thing or two about makeup as industry experts have dubbed her “Mother” for being the Queen Bee of runway makeup artistry. While this pressed powder is meant for the delicate under eye area, the feathery finish will ensure that concealer stays put without settling into fine lines. Light diffusing mica brightens so that eyes sparkle in photos – without leaving a dreadful white cast.
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Those who look for luminosity in their makeup choose this brand first. Powered with a Light Reflecting Complex, it optimizes light reflection on skin to optically fade fine lines and pores. The Photochromic Technology adjusts to light sources so skin looks filtered on camera – and in person.
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Yes, we know this is not a translucent pressed powder like the others. But this duo of soft focus powders give the same effect by mimicking the blurred skin goal - just with a hint of warmth. Those who want sun-kissed skin (without the shine or shimmer from bronzing gels or creams) will want to scoop up this golden hybrid (bonus: unlike a translucent setting powder, you can contour with this one).
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