Powder Foundation Makeup Routine

If you are looking for a long-lasting, bullet-proof face that lasts all night and looks good in photos, then look no further than my powder foundation makeup routine. This is my go-to routine for all events and special occasions. The best part is, it is nicely balanced with drugstore and high-end products, making it very affordable, yet easy to accomplish. If you want to learn my routine and what products I recommend, just keep on reading.

Skincare

The first step in my powder foundation makeup routine, or any makeup routine for that matter, is skincare. You do not need to go overboard with serums, eye creams, etc. At minimum, a moisturizer should be used to prep and hydrate the skin, no matter what your skin type is. My favorite is Clinique’s Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly because it controls oil with a lightweight formula that hydrates all day.

Prime

Second, it is time to prime. My favorite primer is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer because it smooths, blurs, and truly prolongs the wear of makeup. Since my pores are severe, I also use a pore reducing primer on my nose. For a drugstore option, Revlon’s Photoready Pore Reducing Primer cannot be beat. For high-end options, I recommend both Benefit’s Porefessional and Smashbox’s Photo Finish Pore Minimizing Primer.

Color Correct and Conceal

The third step is optional. If you are someone that likes to color correct, now is the point in the powder foundation makeup routine to do so. All creams and liquids need to be applied before powder. I recommend wet n wild’s photofocus Color Correcting Concealer because it is ultra creamy and easy to blend into the skin.

Whether or not color correcting is your thing, I always use a concealer to brighten my under eyes. I may also apply it on the center of my chin and forehead, and down the bridge of my nose. Apply concealer after color correcting. My favorite drugstore concealers are Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind and wet n wild’s Photofocus Concealer because they are creamy, full coverage, easy to blend, and they look great all day. Another contender here is Maybelline’s Superstay Concealer. I know that a lot of people are in love with elf’s Camo Concealer. It is personally not a favorite of mine because it dries super matte to the point where it can look dry on my normal skin. Also, it is super full coverage, so apply it with a light hand.

For blending in color correctors, concealer, and for applying loose power for baking later on in this post, I always use a mini blending sponge while wet. My favorites are wet wild’s Mini Makeup Sponge, Real Technique’s Mini Miracle Complexion Sponge, and Ecotool’s Color Correcting Minis. If you prefer to blend concealer in with a brush, my favorite is a color correcting set by Real Techniques. But, if you want to bake later on or really set some areas with loose powder, I would still use a mini sponge.

Powder Foundation

Now we are moving on to the actual powder foundation in this powder foundation makeup routine. I have used a few on the market, but I am obsessed with Sephora’s Matte Perfection Powder Foundation. You can build the coverage up to suit your needs, and if you use various concealers first, I can make this powder look fairly full coverage. No matter how much you apply, it never looks heavy or cakey, so you can literally never mess it up. The finish is matte and it is long lasting, yet it gives you a soft focus touch.

My favorite brush to apply powder foundation with is Real Technique’s Expert Face Brush because it does a tremendous job of blending powder, liquid, and cream foundations, so it is perfect to keep in your collection for all needs. The size and density is great for picking up the powder and buffing it into the skin.

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Bake and Set

You may be wondering why I am recommending loose setting powder when we are working with powder foundation. If you would like to bake fine lines, or set certain areas a bit better, then I do recommend a loose setting powder. You can skip this step entirely if you want. I use a mini sponge and apply powder under my eyes, on my smile lines, in the crease of my chin, and on the center of my forehead and I allow the powder to sit while I work on other aspects of my makeup. This is called baking. Eventually, I dust the powder away.

I rank Maybelline’s Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder as number one because it leaves a soft focus, blurred look to the skin. wet n wild’s photofocus Translucent Powder is second because it works great, but you do not get that extra special soft focus that Maybelline gives you. Number three in my ranking is Coty’s Airspun simply because I do not like the strong fragrance.

Setting Spray

Once you have applied all of your other makeup products, such as bronzer, blush, highlighter, etc., now it is time to set the face as a final step in my powder foundation makeup routine. My ride or die high-end option that I cannot praise enough is Urban Decay’s All Nighter. If it does not fit into your budget, Maybelline’s Lasting Fix is the closest drugstore dupe that I have found to All Nighter, but it is not 100% a dupe in terms of ingredients and performance.

Conclusion

We are at the end of my powder foundation makeup routine! Most of these products are drugstore and affordable, but you can surely substitute any of my high-end recommendation with your favorites. This routine is super easy and it does not take me much time at all. I typically follow this routine for events and special occasions, especially when I want my look to be bullet-proof and last all night. You may notice that I do not mention blotting in this routine. I really do not blot during the day or touch-up with powder, but you can use the powder foundation and Expert Face Brush to do the trick. Until next time, continue to let your true beauty shine.

What is your go-to powder foundation?

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