We’ve always known that putting on a loose powder is a vital part of our makeup routine, especially in our hot and humid climate. Besides creating a shine-free, matte look, a good loose powder also helps to set your makeup so it looks good all day long.
Preventing the spread of COVID-19 this year also means that we are to wear a face mask whenever we’re out in the public. And as most of us would have already found out, makeup, face mask, and humid weather don’t make for a good combination for flawless makeup.
This is when we find that a good loose powder is all the more important during this time. Applying a good loose powder to set your makeup so it will not cake and you won’t look like a mess when you take off your mask during that dinner date.
To help you find the powder of your dream, we’ve rounded up 17 of the best loose powders that are suitable for different skin types. You’re certainly going to find one that works for you.
Best loose powders for oily skin
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Setting Powder
We shouldn’t have our makeup on for 24 full hours, but Make Up For Ever’s new Ultra HD Setting Powder promises to last that long. This loose powder sets your makeup and controls shine, keeping your complexion matte and fresh all day.
It comes in five shades so you can find the best match for your skin tone. The setting powder also comes with an ultra-soft velour puff for precise application, and you can stow it in a plush, velvety pouch. Its pointed tip allows for precise application in hard-to-reach areas of the face, such as the sides of the nose or under the eyes.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Setting Powder retails for S$61 at Sephora.
Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder
If you have oily skin and find that your makeup always smudges by mid-day, give this loose powder by Bobbi Brown a try. Reviews of this powder has been great; most of those who have tried it say that it helps makeup last all day and offers a natural-looking finish that still looks like your skin.
Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Loose Powder is available at all Bobbi Brown counters.
Australis Banana Powder
No, this powder definitely does not smell like bananas at all. It received its name because of how it is infused with vitamins that can be found in a banana, which helps to brighten and smooth out the surface of the skin.
This powder is well-loved for its ability to set makeup while covering up blemishes, including eye bags and dark eye circles.
Australis Banana Powder retails for S$19.90 on Zalora.
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder
Probably the most iconic product by Innisfree, this loose powder absorbs sebum to deliver a matte, shine-free finish.
The budget-friendly product is compact enough for on-the-go touch-up too. It has received great reviews online and some reviewers say that it is great for acne-prone skin too.
Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder retails for S$10 and is available at all Innisfree stores and Lazada.
Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush
This loose powder may have a heftier price tag but it is worth the investment because of how lightweight it is and how it is able to give coverage for large pores. Its airy finish makes it a very comfortable powder to wear in Singapore’s unforgiving climate.
Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush retails for S$53 on Sephora.
Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder
Here’s another banana powder that those with oily skin are going to love. It delivers a matte and smooth finish and has powder particles that are fine so it doesn’t clog pores or irritate skin. However, note that it is more suitable for those with warmer skin tone because of the yellow tint it comes in. Reviewers love how effective it is in combating shine and that it is great at keeping makeup looking matte all day.
Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder retails for S$39.90 on Lazada.
Best loose powders for combination skin
Jill Stuart Airy Tulle Lasting Loose Powder
Jill Stuart has always been one of the most sought after brands because of its beautiful packaging. If you’re wondering which of their cult-favourite products you should get if you’re buying Jill Stuart’s products for the first time, try its loose powder. It has a shine-resistant formula that keeps your skin looking fresh. It also doesn’t hurt that it has a beautiful packaging that looks great on your vanity.
However, this loose powder is one of the bestselling products that are often snatched up as soon as it’s back on the shelves. So if you see it, grab it.
Jill Stuart Airy Tulle Lasting Loose Powder retails for S$56 on Sephora (last we checked, there are stocks online!)
ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder
Lightweight and smooth, this loose powder from organic brand Ilia has a cult following. This is all thanks to its ability to deliver an airbrushed look while eliminating sebum, and shine. The talc-free product also contains vitamins and minerals to offer anti-inflammatory benefits to the skin.
ILIA Soft Focus Finishing Powder retails for US$34 on Beautylish.
Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder
This ultra-lightweight setting powder is designed for combination to oily skin. The product is available in two shades and is loved for its excellent coverage, translucent finish, and its ability to keep skin matte all day.
Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder retails for S$52 on Sephora.
Best loose powders for tired-looking skin
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Ageing Micro-Powder
If you’re dealing with skin that looks tired and aged, this powder from IT Cosmetics may help. It has anti-ageing minerals that helps absorb shine without settling into wrinkles and lines. In fact, it gives a smooth finish so you look more radiant and youthful. Moreover, it contains Vitamin A, C and E to combat free radicals throughout the day that cause ageing.
Reviews on Sephora say that this product is great at concealing the appearance of pores and gives users a more radiant look. On the other hand, some reviews have criticised it for making the face look too cakey in photographs and selfies.
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Silk HD Anti-Ageing Micro-Powder retails for S$42 on Sephora.
3CE Loose Powder
This loose powder from 3CE promises to mattify skin, blur out the look of fine lines, and offers a satin finish. Loved for its ability to prevent shine and hide the look of fine lines, this loose powder is also recommended for those who need their makeup to last all day.
3CE Loose Powder retails for S$32 on Sephora.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
One of the most famous loose powders in the market, this comes in three shades so you can pick the one that’s most suited for you.
What it’s most loved for is how it is able to create a soft, air-brushed look that makes fine lines and imperfections less obvious.
Reviews on Sephora look good; a few rave about the luminous finish it delivers, and many call this their favourite loose powder.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder retails for S$70 at Sephora.
Too Faced Peach Perfect Mattifying Loose Setting Powder
This lightweight and mattifying powder is infused with peach and sweet fig milk to brighten skin while creating a silky-smooth finish. Besides reducing shine all day long, it also creates a great canvas for you to layer on blushes, highlighters, and bronzers on top of it.
Too Faced Peach Perfect Mattifying Loose Setting Powder retails for S$52 at Sephora.
Best loose powders for dry skin
ORBIS Loose Powder Natural
Apart from setting makeup, this ORBIS powder is also infused with royal jelly extract and hyaluronic acid to moisturise skin so it looks more radiant – which is perfect for those with dry skin.
Available in two shades, this powder is also loved for its fragrance-free formula and how it stays true to its colour throughout the day.
ORBIS Loose Powder Natural retails for S$30 for the refill and S$15 for the container at all ORBIS stores.
Becca Soft Light Blurring Powder
If you have lifeless and dull-looking skin, this powder would add the much-needed glow to your complexion. In a peach tint that flatters all skin tone, this loose powder also gives a smooth and velvety finish to deliver that desired air-brushed look.
Becca Soft Light Blurring Powder retails for S$60 on Sephora.
Best loose powders that won’t flash back in photos
KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Setting Powder
While it has a mattifying effect, this loose powder is still able to give skin a radiant look that doesn’t appear dry. Reviewers say that it helps skin look good on camera, delivering a healthy-looking complexion throughout the day.
KVD Vegan Beauty Lock-It Setting Powder retails for S$51 on Sephora.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder
A superfine, weightless loose setting powder that comes in eight shades to suit different skin tones, this offers a filtered, photo-ready finish that allows you not to get a flash back in your photos.
It may have a superior mattifying effect but it is able to do without causing any dullness. The light-as-weight formula also means that you can head out all day and still find that the product feels comfortable on your skin.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder retails for S$44 at Sephora.
Featured image credit: @lauramercier and @makeupforever on Instagram
