May be a good match for: all experience levels and those who would like a demi-matte finish.
Laura Mercier Translucent Powder Review
I was never deeply into makeup, or a huge follower of makeup trends while growing up, but how that time has changed in my life! Here is my Laura Mercier Translucent Powder review.
As a teenager in university, I am absolutely in love with makeup. It gives me the self-confidence I need to go win and have an awesome day. Usually, after concealing my under eyes, my skin looks a little dry and uneven. After concealing, I ‘bake’ as some call it, using the amazing Laura Mercier translucent powder under my eyes, just to brighten up my skin, and set my concealer in place. This product has completely revolutionized my makeup. It gives me just the perfect amount of coverage I need and makes my skin look smooth and oil-free.
It’s a great step to add to the makeup routine, especially for a flawless finish, and mostly working on preventing too much of a cakey look. The powder works wonders to cover up my obvious dark circles and sets my face so wonderfully. It is a bit expensive, for setting powder, but the investment is so worth it, and the powder goes a long way. I usually just blend this in with a makeup brush or use a beauty blender to conceal under my eyes and highlight my forehead. The product comes with a petite puff, but I prefer using a makeup brush to effectively blend the powder into my skin.
If you suffer from combination skin, like mine which is both oily and dry, this product is perfect for you. I would recommend it a 100% since it eliminates all the extra shine and gives you a flawless matte finish. This powder is perfect on the go, I got my travel sized powder from Sephora, and it’s great to use for a little touch up to keep my skin looking bright and fresh all day. What I absolutely love about this product is the sheer finished look of it, it doesn’t look like you applied any sort of powder on your skin, yet it brightens your face, and highlights all your features in the right places.
This is an amazing application before a photo shoot, and it gives you the perfect coverage for a natural look. I would recommend this product for anyone who is not satisfied with average loose powders that wear off by the end of the day. Believe me, this product can hold your makeup in place and looks so beautiful with it if applied correctly. I love testing different products, and this is by far one of the best loose setting powder that came my way so far. I hope you have learned a lot from this Laura Mercier Translucent Powder Review.
Nutrition Information
A 100-gram serving of pumpkin powder contains:
- Calories: 345
- Protein: 6 grams
- Fat: 0.8 grams
- Carbohydrates: 78 grams
- Fiber: 23 grams
- Sugar: 18 grams
Pumpkin powder is a good source of:
Pumpkin is also an excellent source of Vitamin C. Studies have shown that Vitamin C can help support a healthy immune system and protect against free radical damage.
Potential Health Benefits of Pumpkin Powder
Beyond its delicious and distinct flavor, pumpkin powder is rich in vitamins and minerals and low in calories and fat. This makes it a nutritious and flavorful addition to any diet.
Research has found several potential health benefits to consuming pumpkin powder:
Disease Prevention
Pumpkin powder is a rich source of antioxidants like alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants can combat free radicals and prevent cell damage. Because of this, studies show that the antioxidants in pumpkin powder may help lower the chances of certain cancers.
The carotenoids in pumpkin powder may also help reduce the risk of eye disease.
Pumpkin powder contains high levels of immunity-boosting nutrients, including Vitamin C and Vitamin A. Both vitamins have been shown to provide immune system support and reduce the risk of conditions like measles and certain cancers.
Pumpkin powder also contains folate and iron, which can help strengthen the immune system by supporting physical barriers like the skin and boosting production of antibodies.
Pumpkin powder is a low-calorie, low-fat nutrient-dense food. It can be used as a healthy alternative to flour and sugar to help promote healthy weight management and prevent obesity.
Pumpkin powder is packed with nutrients that support healthy skin, including carotenoids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and omega-3-fatty acids. Adding pumpkin powder when cooking and baking can help you maintain a healthy glow.
Potential Risks of Pumpkin Powder
While pumpkin powder is a healthy food choice for most people, consider the following before using it:
Pumpkin Allergies
Some people are allergic to the seeds and other components of pumpkin that may be present in pumpkin powder. Consult your doctor before adding any supplements like pumpkin powder to your diet.
Show Sources
Allergy: “Food allergy to pumpkinseed–characterization of allergens.”
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment: “Carotenoids and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.”
British Journal of Nutrition: “Selected vitamins and trace elements support immune function by strengthening epithelial barriers and cellular and humoral immune responses.”
Clinical Microbiology Reviews: “Effects of Vitamin A Supplementation on Immune Responses and Correlation with Clinical Outcomes.”
Dermato-Endocrinology: “Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging.”
Food Chemistry: “Analysis of carotenoids with emphasis on 9-cis β-carotene in vegetables and fruits commonly consumed in Israel.”
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry: “Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview.”
Medical Clinics of North America: “DIETARY MANAGEMENT OF OBESITY: CORNERSTONES OF HEALTHY EATING PATTERNS.”
Nutrition Data, Conde Nast: “Pumpkin Powder.”
Nutrition in Clinical Care: “The role of carotenoids in human health.”
How to Choose the Best Setting Powder for Dry Skin
When you have dry skin, it can be a real struggle to find a great setting powder that won’t make your skin look parched or cakey, so here’s some advice, based on our experience:
Pressed vs. Loose
The first decision to make is whether you’d prefer a pressed powder or loose powder, as each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks:
Loose Powders
Professional makeup artists usually prefer loose powders, for a few reasons. Generally, loose powders are more budget-friendly since a single container holds more product so the price per ounce tends to be better. Loose powders are usually (though not always) less pigmented, so they can be used on a wider range of clients. Lastly, their formulas are usually more simple and straightforward, since there are no fillers or emollients that keep them pressed.
Loose powders also come with one main drawback: they can be very messy—powder can fly in every which way during a makeup application—and if you don’t seal them correctly, they can spill in your bag and make a huge mess.
Pressed Powders
Pressed settings powders are a much more streamlined option. The main benefit of pressed powder is that it takes up less space on the counter or in the makeup bag. Pressed powders are not anywhere near as messy to use, so they lend themselves well to on-the-go touch-ups and for frequent travelers. They are often made with emollient oils and glycerin, so for those with dry skin there is the benefit that they can be a little more hydrating than the average powder, but to be fair, there are some great hydrating loose powder options as well. Pressed setting powders are usually more pigmented than loose ones, so color selection is more important.
The main drawbacks of pressed powders are that they are usually more expensive per ounce (although that’s not always the case). They can also be a little harder to pick up on the brush because of the emollients (though, to be fair, that can also be a blessing in disguise since it prevents over-powdering).
Color and Pigmentation
Setting powders come in all kinds of colors and levels of pigmentation, so it’s important to take your preferences and skin tone into account before purchasing one.
Translucent powders are the most common setting powders available on the market. They usually look white or cream-colored in the container, but their pigmentation is extremely low so they deposit very little color on the skin. Most translucent powders will work on skin tones from very fair to tan.
Tinted translucent powders are usually meant for deeper skin tones. The names may change from brand to brand, but generally, they can come as yellow-tinted to suit those with warm undertones and medium to dark skin, or with a copper or bronze tint to suit tanned to very deep skin tones with a neutral or warm-orange undertone.
At the next level of pigmentation, we have tinted powders that offer a touch of coverage—they often come as pressed powders. They will usually come in a wider range of shades meant to mimic the skin tone, and they will help to slightly amp up the coverage of a foundation. These are also more likely to come pressed, rather than loose. With these, selecting the correct shade is very important because the wrong color can make your foundation look lighter, darker, or with the wrong undertone.
Lastly, we have powder foundations, which have the highest level of pigmentation, and are meant to be used instead of a liquid foundation. They are not ideal for setting liquid foundation, especially if you have dry skin. As setting powders, powder foundations can end up looking very heavy and cakey though they will add another layer of coverage to your skin. If you do choose to go this route you should color match your skin the same way you would with a normal foundation.
Finish
Setting powders can come in matte, demi-matte, natural, or glowy finishes. Matte is the flattest and least reflective, while glowy powders are made with ingredients that offer a reflective sheen and tend to look more dewy or luminescent.
We would recommend that those with dry skin stay away from totally mattifying setting powders and that they be careful not to over-apply demi-matte setting powders since the result can be cakey, powdery, or very dry looking. Generally, the more talc or starch there is in a setting powder, the more mattifying it will be.
Natural and glowy powders are usually the best for those with dry skin because they are able to set foundations in place without emphasizing dryness. These are usually made with reflective minerals and silicates, which are reflective without being shimmery and are still able to absorb excess oils from makeup.
However, it’s also important to be a little careful with glowy powders, which are usually made with highly glowy mica minerals. When they are well-made and finely milled they have a light-diffusing reflectiveness that is really beautiful on dry skin, but poorly made powders can act more like highlighters with overly large particles of shimmer that make the skin look too shiny and can emphasize dry patches and texture.
The Best Way to Use Setting Powder When Your Skin is Dry
Even when you find the best setting powder for dry skin and for your own personal routine, technique matters. And when you have dry skin, you’ll probably want to stay away from the heavy baking techniques YouTube beauty gurus love, and instead opt for lighter methods.
Here are some “best practices” to try out:
Before starting, make sure you have an appropriate brush for applying the setting powder. For those with dry skin, we recommend using a fluffy, medium-large complexion brush. Avoid very stiff kabuki brushes or powder puffs, since they usually apply too much product which can end up looking cakey on dry skin.
Always start with your face clean and well-moisturized before applying any makeup.
If you like, apply a non-mattifying primer to your skin in order to help your makeup glide on nicely and stay in place.
Apply your foundation, concealer, and any other cream-based makeup products as you normally would, but remember that it’s always better to keep the layers as thin as possible.
Whew, finally, time to powder! If using translucent powder, dispense a bit of it into a tissue or the lid.
Swirl your fluffy brush in the powder to load it up, and then tap on the brush while holding it over the powder container or tissue to remove the excess.
Next, if you can still see a lot of powder sitting on top of the bristles, take things a step further by actually lightly running the brush over the tissue.
Start tapping the brush over your skin to set your makeup. The tapping motion is important because it deposits powder perfectly without disrupting the layers of cream or liquid underneath.
Start at the center of the face, focusing on the T-zone or any parts of the face that can get a little oily or that tend to smudge throughout the day.
Work from the center outwards, with the same tapping motions, but don’t reload your brush with any more powder.
Once you’ve set your whole face, feel free to touch it lightly with your fingers to check if it feels set enough—you will be surprised by how well it’s set even with such a minimal amount of powder.
You can go back in with a hint of more powder if there are any areas that still feel tacky.
You can use the tip of your brush or opt for a small, fluffy blending brush to set harder to reach areas like under the eyes or the curve of the nose.
If you notice that any areas look too powdery, use a clean brush and gently wipe away the extra powder.
With your base all set, you can finish your makeup as you normally would.
For a final dose of moisture, spray your face with a hydrating fixing or setting spray—you can also use a mineral water spray if you like. Hold the spray bottle around 8-10 inches away from your face, and mist the product on lightly in an X or S shape. You might want to do this before applying mascara or non-waterproof liquid eyeliner.
How to Bake Setting Powder for Dry Skin
So while we’re generally opposed to the baking technique when one has dry skin, sometimes there are special situations that call for extremely well-set and waterproofed makeup. We also have to admit that this method is better if you use a lot of concealer or foundation, so here is our guide:
Quick note: you don’t have to bake your entire face! Baking is usually reserved for areas of the face where foundation is likelier to settle into creases or wear away because of facial oils.
Your skin has to be extremely well-moisturized, either with a nice, heavy cream or with multiple layers of essences, serums, and lotions.
Skip powder puffs and dense brushes, and instead line up a very well-dampened egg-shaped makeup sponge as your applicator. Make sure you have a translucent powder on hand as well, since a pressed powder won’t work.
Apply your foundation and concealer as you normally would—we recommend this method for instances when you use thicker layers of cream makeup than normal, in which case you have to use more powder to set.
Pour out a generous quantity of your translucent powder into a tissue or lid.
Right before you’re ready to set, first use tapping motions to blend out any creasing with your damp makeup sponge.
Soon after, before your makeup has a chance to crease again, dip your sponge in the powder, tap off the excess, and then press it into the skin. Use firm, slow pressing motions, and cover the entire area you want to bake.
If you are baking the undereye area, use the slim end of your sponge, while if you are baking your entire face use the thicker end.
Let the powder sit on your skin for about 15 seconds, and then brush away excess product with a clean, fluffy brush.
Wait a few minutes, during which you can continue with your makeup application, and then re-dampen your makeup sponge.
Press the clean, damp makeup sponge against where you baked your skin to rehydrate your makeup and to give the skin a more dewy finish.
Finish off your makeup as you normally would, and end with a generous misting of a hydrating spray.
General Setting Powder Tips and Tricks
There are a few other things you can do with your setting powder beyond just setting your foundation:
One of the classic uses for setting powder is to blend out other powder complexion products like blush, contour, and bronzer. This helps to diffuse them better, making them seem like they are under the skin.
If you apply your base before your eyeshadow, you can apply a layer of translucent powder under your eyes to act as a powder guard, to catch any falling bits of dark eyeshadow. Once you finish your eye makeup, you can just brush it away without staining your undereye area.
Use your setting powder to mattify any lipstick with a satin finish! You can apply the powder directly on top of your lipstick, though applying it through a single sheet of tissue actually works better.
If you’re new to highlighting and contouring, tinted setting powders that are a touch darker or lighter than your skin tone can be great. Since they’re not as pigmented as the average setting powder, they offer a very natural, fool-proof look.
