Pressed Powder: What It Is & How to Choose the Best Pressed Powder

Some pressed powders will come with a sponge applicator in the compact, but it can also be applied with a brush or your own beauty sponge. (Pro tip: for a more concentrated finish, a denser sponge is a good choice, but for lighter coverage, go for a brush.) Generally, the t-zone area (your forehead, nose, and chin) is the most oil-prone, requiring the most coverage, and making it a good place to start with your application. Then, as you work your way out, there will be less and less pigment on your brush which aligns because you don’t need as much coverage on drier areas such as the cheeks. Of course, you can pick up more powder as you go, if needed. Pressed powder tends to be recommended as the last step of your routine to help the liquid formulations beneath it stay in place, unless you’re using a powder foundation in which case, it should be your first step.

If you prefer a dewier look, it’s going to be important to concentrate powder only in the areas where you don’t want any shine. The t-zone is still a great place to powder in this instance, but you’ll likely want to avoid the tops of the cheekbones so that that area can still reflect light in a natural way. If you don’t get super oily, but are using powder more to keep things in place, the under eyes are a good area to powder after using concealer to keep them from creasing.

Not all setting powders are pressed powders, but most pressed powders can be used as a setting powder. Because some pressed powders are technically foundation and more full coverage, they’re not technically called a setting powder, but you can use them sparingly to set your makeup. In that case, you’ll want to swirl a loosely packed powder brush into the powder, then tap off any excess before applying it to your face. True setting powder is typically more lightweight and less pigmented, so its effect on the skin goes mostly undetected, which is why you can be a little more heavy-handed.

Yes, pressed powder can be used to set makeup. There are pressed setting powders that are intended for locking in your makeup with a weightless feel. But, if you’re using a pressed powder that technically isn’t for setting, you may just have to use it differently. For instance, if it’s full coverage, you’ll want to use it more sparingly and strategically in the areas that need it.

Yes, you can wear pressed powder alone, especially if it is a foundation formula such as Super Stay Hybrid Powder Foundation. Using a pressed powder foundation is the same as liquid in the sense that it is meant to lay your base, even out any discoloration, and smooth the texture. Using a translucent powder or less pigmented pressed powder alone is also an option if you’re simply looking for an oil-absorbing option that will blur your pores, but it won’t necessarily do much else.

In short, pressed powder can clog pores. But, pressed powder isn’t as serious of an offender as other makeup products that are loaded with oils, butters, and waxes. If you’re worried about clogged pores, look for a formula like Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder, which is labeled as non-comedogenic, which is a fancy way of saying, “This won’t clog your pores.”