Are you looking for the perfect finishing powder? Look no further! We have the best finishing powders here for you and we’re going to tell you how to apply them too!

Which Finishing Powder is Best for Makeup Beginners?

You might find yourself confused between a finishing powder and a setting powder. Well, they do sound the same and can easily be mistaken for each other. But in the colorful world of makeup, you must know that every product made is designed with a purpose. So today, we’re going to talk about the differences between the two, how to apply finishing powder, and the best finishing powders in the market today. After this post, you’re going to be a finishing powder expert, trust me!

Finishing Powder VS Setting Powder

Beauty junkies will probably know the difference between a setting powder and a finishing powder. But for the benefit of those who are still new to makeup, don’t fret. Learning the differences between the two is easy and you won’t have a hard time distinguishing one from the other.
Setting powder is what you apply after your foundation. It’s called setting powder because you’re setting the foundation in place after application to keep it from moving around and to make it last longer.It also keeps the shine and sticky feeling we get from oiliness at bay. Lastly, the setting powder can also be used for touch-ups as it’s sheerer and looks more natural compared to powder foundation. Most famous setting powders in the market are RCMA No Color Powder and Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.
On the other hand, finishing powder is used for finishing touches–to smoothen and blur the skin for a flawless finish. However, finishing powder is not something you’ll use every day as it’s better saved for special occasions where you’ll be heavily photographed. It is important that finishing powder is blended well because it can create a flashback or white cast in your photos. For me, finishing powder is important because it creates luminosity and adds depth to your face.

How to Apply Finishing Powder

Finishing powders commonly come in loose or pressed form. It is best applied with a large fluffy brush or a tapered brush. What you do is swipe your brush on the product and tap the excess. Now, here comes the trick, instead of doing the tapping or the swirling motion as you normally do in applying setting powder, you swipe the brush on your face in a downward motion. This trick will help make the pores looks smaller and it also does not alter the products you already have on your face.

Best Finishing Powder Recommendations

So now that we’ve discussed the difference between finishing powder from setting powder, let’s look at the best finishing powders in the market today for makeup beginners and pros alike.

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders

This is my holy grail finishing powder, many clients swear by this product as well. I don’t know what magic it has but it’s totally worth the hype. There are originally six variants to choose from depending on what kind of lighting or effect you want to achieve: Dim Light, Ethereal Light, Diffused Light, Mood Light, Luminous Light, and Radiant Light. Hourglass also has palettes for these babies, in addition to the single compact powder that you can purchase.  I own the single compacts of Dim, Mood, and Diffused while I have the palette as well. You see how I love this product? LOL

There are universally flattering finishing powders that are often mistaken for a highlighter (believe me it’s not). What is does is create a luminous effect on your face.

2. Guerlain Meteorites Light Revealing Powders

This is definitely the most beautiful makeup product I own. It’s so pretty I refrain myself from using it! The scent is heavenly too, but if you’re sensitive to scent then you might want to watch out. The different colored balls are meant to correct skin discoloration and to provide a radiant glow without looking like a disco ball. Since you’ll probably not going to bring this during your trips, it has a compact sister that delivers almost the same effect (it’s more mattifying as per my experience). It also offers different shades that can cater to different skin tones.

3. Bobbi Brown Brightening Finishing Powder in Porcelain Pearl

Looks familiar? Yes! It does look very similar to the cult favorite Guerlain Meteorites compact powders but with a lesser price tag. This one is an eye candy yet it does its job well. It creates a soft focus brightening effect on your face. My only qualm about this product is I can’t use it on people with darker skin tone. If you’re an NC35ish I’d say you stay out of this product. But don’t fret because Bobbi Brown has other shades to choose from, I’d rather you check those out.

4. MAC Skin Mineralize Natural Powder

This one used to be my go-to prior to my discovery of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting powders. It offers a mattifying but not flat effect on your face creating a dimension. To me, this one is a classic and a must have if you’re not willing to splurge on the more expensive Hourglass powders. But if you really want to save you can opt to use Essence Pure Nude Powder, it’s super cheap and I can say it provides almost the safe effect.

5. Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder | Best Finishing Powders

Some prefer it loose, while some prefer it pressed. If you’re the latter, you can try the Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder. What we like about this finishing powder is it’s multi-purpose. You can wear it over makeup or even wear it bare-faced. Either way, it will work its magic in getting rid of the shine and oil, leaving your skin looking matte and smooth!

6. Too Faced Primed & Poreless Powder | Best Finishing Powders

One of the versatile makeup powders is the Too Faced Primed & Poreless Powder. It can be used for priming, setting, or finishing. Use it before foundation, after or even after makeup. It will visually minimize pores, fine lines, and other skin imperfections leaving your skin looking airbrushed and flawless. Plus, this powder will help control the shine as well.

7. NYX HD Finishing Powder | Best Finishing Powders

The NYX HD Finishing Powder is one of the best performing drugstore powders. Not only is it very affordable, the quality you get is on par with high-end brands out there. This finishing powder will help soften fine lines and hide the pores. It’s lightweight and you’ll enjoy the beautiful long-wearing matte finish. You might want to try the translucent and banana shades.

8. Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder | Best Finishing Powders

Saving one of the best for last is the Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder. A smooth operator indeed, this finishing powder puts a veil on top of your makeup to ensure long wear and a smooth flawless finish. You’ll love how airy the formula is and how it glides like a dream on your face.

Have you heard of baking? It’s a great makeup technique for powders. Check out this how to bake your face tutorial from Tati:

Personally, I prefer powders that are multi-purpose and that’s just because I don’t want to bring too many products with me when I travel. I’ve tried the NYX HD Finishing Powder. I love the price and the effect. But after making this list, I’m really interested in trying the Too Faced or bareMinerals finishing powders. Those are versatile powders and they’ll be perfect with my current go-to makeup stash. I hope you enjoy the list and learned more about finishing powders today, especially if you’re a makeup beginner. Until next!

So, which finishing powder is for you? Do you use any other finishing powder? Let us know in the comments below!

Want to learn more about color-correcting? Check out these 11 Color Correcting Makeup Products That Work Like Magic!

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for the latest makeup, hair and nail trends!