Powder

Sure! Many of our face powders can be used on top of foundation or bare skin. If you want sheer coverage with a matte finish, try Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Mattifying Powder, which imparts a touch of sheer color for a subtle, non-cakey look. Our Mineral Finishing Powder is also a great option for when you don’t want to wear foundation—just lightly dust it onto moisturized skin with a fluffy brush and blend for a fresh, radiant look.

Pro Tip: Even if you aren’t wearing foundation, prep your skin with a makeup primer. It can help your face powder wear longer and look smoother—not to mention any other makeup you choose to wear.

Typically, setting powder is used to help remove any excess moisture or oil remaining from your base makeup (a.k.a. foundation). It’s especially important to use if you plan on applying other powder products, like blush, on top of liquid foundation, as the setting powder will help ensure a smooth, non-patchy finish. Additionally, setting powder helps your base makeup last longer. Some can also help with shine control or provide additional coverage—it all comes down to the formula you choose.

Though there are plenty of beauty hacks online that involve putting foundation on after setting powder, it’s traditionally applied after foundation. You can use it with any coverage foundation, from full-coverage to customizable options, like our buildable Total Control Pro Drop Foundation (which you can learn all about here).

The terms “finishing powder” and “setting powder” are sometimes used interchangeably, but in reality, they’re two different things. As we explained above, setting powder is used to help set liquid foundation in place before applying other powder products like blush or highlighter. Finishing powder, as the name suggests, is meant to be used at the end of your makeup routine to complete your look and give it a smooth, even finish.

Finishing powder can make quite a difference in your final makeup look—it helps give your makeup a smoother finish and pulls the entire look together. You can apply it all over or just to specific areas, like your T-zone, and carry it with you for touch-ups throughout the day to keep your makeup looking fresh.

For oilier skin types, a finishing powder is often a serious asset to have in your makeup bag. Many finishing powders deliver a matte finish (though not always), and they can help your makeup look smooth and fresh. Of course, it depends on the powder you use: If you have oily or combination skin, make sure to seek out a mattifying formula, like our High Definition Finishing Powder.