The Power of Powder!

Hello, fellow makeup junkies! Sorry to have been away so long, but the fashion world does not wait for a blog, so after an extended absence I have returned! Let's get to it!

For those of you who don't currently use powder or for those who are unsure if they are using it correctly, let me go over the basics.

Why is powder so important? Well, let's see if I can sum it up with a simple analogy. Imagine your hair for a moment...when you get ready to style it you don't simply grab the hairspray and lacquer it on while your hair is wet, right? There's usually a mousse, or gel, or foam of some sort that you apply and then style it dry. After you have your hair looking just right, THEN you douse it all with a bit of the sticky stuff to keep it the proper place.

Foundation and powder work the same way. Foundation is the "gel" or "mousse". You place that on your face first to get the proper look and coverage you want. Powder acts as your "hairspray". Once you have the foundation in place, you want it to stay put, in order to do that, you must use powder. It sinks into the makeup and holds it in place by absorbing any oils or moisture in your skin before they can wreak havoc with your foundation.

Here's a few hints for proper technique:
*Use powder sparingly. Don't "dust" your face until all you can see is powder. Lightly dip your brush into a small amount of loose powder and sweep across your forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Don't forget to add a little powder under your jaw and onto your neck (very lightly) to keep your look consistent.
*Use a powder puff and work a small amount of powder into the puff. Fold the puff around your fingers and work it into the corners of your face using a rocking motion, ie., around the nose, the inner corners of the eyes, around the jawline. Lightly bat the puff against your face to release extra powder in the areas where more coverage is needed.
*Remember-powder is NOT a concealor or a foundation and should never be used in place of either. They are not meant to cover anything. Your face should look natural and slightly "dewey" (hello, you have natural oil in your skin! Matte looks are not natural). The only purpose powder serves is to set your foundation and absorb excess oils and moisture.

Tips on choosing a good powder:
*Microfinishes and triple-milled powders are the best. They are broken down into the tiniest particles so that they don't get stuck in the small crevices of your skin. They will leave your skin feeling light and feathery to the touch. They also beautify your skin without leaving it looking heavy or overdone. My two favorites are Makeup Forever Microfinish Powder and Cinema Secrets Powder.
*With the exception of dark and very olive complexions, it doesn't matter what color of powder you use. The object of powder is to disappear into the foundation so if your complexion is light to fairly tan, you can use any color of powder (except dark colors). Don't be fooled by all the colors at the makeup counter, if they run out of beige, just go with a lighter color-it won't make a difference.

Pressed powders come in handy when you're on the go. For those of you with naturally oily skin, pressed powder can be a lifesaver during the day if you get a little "shiny". One complaint I often hear from those with more oily complexions is how much they hate their skin. I like to remind them that they may hate it now, but they'll love it later on in life when the rest of us are dealing with flaky, dry, wrinkled skin and they still have a youthful glow and less wrinkles. So if you fall into the oily skin category, don't curse your skin, be grateful for it!

Pressed powders are harder to choose, but the one I like to recommend is the Sephora brand. It goes on smoothly and has a pleasant scent. Plus, it's fairly inexpensive and will last quite a long time.

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