Loose Powder vs. Pressed Powder: A Makeup Artist Explains

Depending on your makeup needs, it’s likely that powder has made its way into your beauty routine at least once, or it might even be a staple in your routine. Powder is an essential product to help achieve stunning, long-lasting makeup whether you’re going for a natural or more dramatic look, yet the differences between loose and pressed powder might surprise you. Trying to determine which is right for you? Read on for our full analysis of the characteristics and purposes of loose and pressed powder, complete with insights from a pro makeup artist.

What Is Loose Powder?

“A loose powder is a mixture of dry cosmetic ingredients, which are very finely milled, meaning that each ingredient is mechanically reduced into tiny particles and then mixed,” says professional hair and makeup artist Mar Groot. “Loose powder can contain oil but rarely contains water, which contributes to its durability and long shelf life. As a makeup artist, loose powders last the longest in my kit, even though I use them on virtually everyone. On the skin, it blurs and conceals imperfection, helps control the production of excess oil throughout the day, and generally creates a more even look to your makeup, especially in front of the camera.”

Loose powder is also a popular option when it comes to creating a blurred effect. “I feel like we’ve seen a resurgence of loose powder with the invention of social media because everything is on a screen, and loose powders do such a beautiful job blurring the skin on film,” Groot tells us. “For consumers, though, it can feel like a relatively intimidating part of makeup application.”

Benefits of Loose Powder

• Easily workable formula: “The quality of the ingredients and the products themselves have come such a long way,” Groot tells us. “Today’s loose powders aren’t heavy or cakey. In my opinion, the main benefit of a loose powder is that when used appropriately, it can significantly extend the wear of virtually anyone’s makeup—no matter your skin type.”
• Suitable for various skin types: “I haven’t always had this opinion… there are now effective and beautiful formulations of loose powder for not only oily skin types, but dry skin types as well,” Groot tells us.
• Cost-effective: Another positive note? Powder is one of the more budget-friendly and long-lasting makeup products on the market. “A quality loose powder goes all the way from luxury makeup to the drugstore,” Groot says. “If you’ve ever struggled to prolong the wear of your makeup, a loose powder will change everything for you.”

How to Apply Loose Powder

With loose powder comes tons of application options, whether you’re setting, baking, or neutralizing discoloration. “There are so many ways to use loose powder,” Groot says. “It can feel overwhelming—but also fun.”

Setting

Groot is a fan of setting foundation and concealer with loose powder, “Using a sparse, fluffy brush with slightly longer bristles, you can pass a light dusting of loose powder over the entire face to set your foundation and concealer,” she says. “This works beautifully on those with dry skin because the powder does its job without hanging around. Setting your cream products with loose powder will help any [other] powder products—like bronzer and blush—apply more smoothly.”

Baking

Baking is one of the most popular ways to use loose powder—but what is it? “Using the flat part of a slightly damp sponge, you can pick up a significant amount of loose powder and press it over areas of the face you’d like to shape, illuminate, and draw more attention to,” Groot explains. “Baking originated in the drag world, and I think it is important to give credit where credit is due. The effects of baking are incredible and truly transformative, especially on camera. While the powder sits on your skin, your body heat warms the products underneath. Once you dust away any excess powder, you are left with a [stunning] look that will last for hours.”

Brightening and Neutralizing

For anyone wanting to look more alert or neutralize discoloration, loose powder can help. “You can use loose powder to brighten and neutralize,” Groot says. “This technique can also be beneficial for those with deeper skin tones. Those with more melanin in their skin tend to present with blue, purple, or grey tones, so using a peach-toned or even an orange-toned loose powder can help brighten under the eyes and around the nose and mouth. A loose powder can help correct a foundation that doesn’t perfectly match your skin tone, as well.”

Refining Your Look

Makeup should be fun, so don’t be afraid to break the rules. One of Groot’s favorite ways to use loose powder is interchangeably with other products. “This is my favorite way to use loose powder,” she says. “As an artist, I don’t subscribe to the rule that powder needs to come after cream or that it needs to be used a certain way. I use powders and creams interchangeably. Loose powder can help create grip, which leads to durability in makeup. The more grip you have on the skin, the better and longer your makeup will last.”

Groot raves about the blurring component loose powder brings when it comes to making the lines of your makeup look seamless. “I like to use loose powder to set, blur, and perfect my lines, meaning I can use it to fix a line that isn’t perfectly straight when it needs to be or blur a line that is too straight entirely,” she says.

What Is Pressed Powder?

“Pressed powder is a mixture of dry powder ingredients mixed and finely milled together, then pressed into a cosmetic pan with ample force and pressure,” Groot explains. The pressing process is one of the biggest distinctions between pressed and loose powder, but the formulas can also be slightly different. “Additional binding ingredients are often used to fix the formulation into place during the pressing process,” Groot tells us. “These additional ingredients often include dry binders and even some oils like jojoba oil and castor oil, which can make a pressed powder slightly less durable in terms of shelf-life and slightly more heavy-feeling and -looking on the skin than loose powder.”

Benefits of Pressed Powder

“The biggest benefit of a pressed powder is convenience,” Groot says. “Any makeup artist will tell you that loose powders don’t travel very well. Pressed powders are also easier to apply and generally fool-proof—and they feel more appealing and luxurious in the hand.” If you’re someone who wants to set your makeup but would prefer to avoid the consistency of loose powder, pressed powder is a suitable alternative.

“I tend to use pressed powders more for finishing a makeup application as the final step,” Groot tells us. “I find pressed powders to be more subtle in perfecting, especially when they are only layered once. The result isn’t as apparent as a loose powder, but pressed powders are magic: They can add that final touch. Of course, it depends on the formulation.” Often, pressed powders tend to have slightly more coverage than loose, so which to choose might also depend on your preferred makeup finish.

How to Apply Pressed Powder

Less is more when it comes to the application of pressed powders. “My advice when applying a pressed powder is to use less,” Groot advises. “It can be really easy to overdo pressed powder because we’re often using it to touch up throughout the day.”

Avoid applying too much. “The act of using pressed powder again and again builds on the skin, which can lead to your makeup looking heavy and cakey,” Groot explains. “When in doubt, use a big, fluffy, soft brush to apply a pressed powder only where you need it.” As far as sponges go, Groot recommends using them for touch-ups only: “You’d be amazed at how much product is still sitting on the sponge from your first application,” she says.

Which Should You Choose?

The most important thing when deciding between loose powder and pressed powder? “Formulation is key when it comes to choosing the best powder formula for yourself,” Groot notes. “I believe anyone can use a loose or pressed powder, but it really depends on the formulation you choose.”

Dry Skin

“For dry skin, I recommend formulations that are extremely finely milled and lightweight,” Groot says. “Look for skin-loving ingredients and skin protectants, like hyaluronic acid and silicones. These ingredients will help you maintain hydration, which will help your makeup look better and last longer—which is what we all want.”

Oily Skin

If you have oily skin, pay attention to the ingredients. “For oily skin, nothing breaks down makeup better than oil,” Groot tells us. “The [ideal] option is a powder that helps control oil and blur the look of texture and pores. Look for ingredients like aluminum starch octenylsuccinate—which is super absorbent and can help to absorb any oils skin produces throughout the day.”

The Final Takeaway

Both loose and pressed powders have many benefits: They can improve any makeup look and help it last longer. While loose powder is excellent for blurring and touts a light texture and finish, pressed powder provides great convenience for touch-ups and travel. Choosing a formula that suits your skin type is essential, but options are available in both formats and the right choice will go a long way in upgrading your makeup application experience.