Go Powder Your Nose...

"...My favorite mascara is Diorshow Iconic, and then I love the Make Up For Ever HD Powder. It lets your skin look shiny and fresh, but not greasy-shiny. - Megan Markle

Trustworthy translucent powders are difficult to pinpoint! I can't even begin to tell you how many setting, invisible, mattifying, and translucent loose and compact powders are being promoted on the beauty market - every brand has at least one. The trick is to find one that doesn't leave a white, dusky film over top of the powdered area, one that actually mattifies for an extended period of time, and one that doesn't cause flashback in photos. Below are three of my all-time favorite powders from notable pro brands:

CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder, Makeup Forever HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder, & It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder (seen with the Bare Minerals Full Flawless Face brush)

Let's begin with...

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder

This stuff is featherweight! Seriously. It hangs in the air like some mythical dust when swirled around and is completely colorless. It does a lovely job of camouflaging pores but doesn't keep me as matte throughout the day as I'd prefer. Still, though, it doesn't advertise mattifying properties; it is promoted as a poreless finish instead and completely lives up to that title.

CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder

I originally purchased the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder for my kit, and though I genuinely adored it, I wanted to expand my brand knowledge and test something different. Nearly every bit of research I did pointed to CoverFX as a tightly comparable brand, so naturally, that's the one I chose, and I haven't been disappointed. There is a slight peachy tint to the powder in the jar but none once applied. It sets creams, liquids, and even airbrushing beautifully without creasing, separating, or clumping between a variety of matters.

Makeup Forever HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder

I got hooked on this compact while studying at the MUFE Academy in NYC this past spring! It instantly removes shine and keeps my creamy under-eye concealer in place all. day. long. The metal compact is a little heavy for my taste as I'm all about lighter, more simplified travel, but I do love the fact that it's compacted instead of loose. On darker skin tones, there IS a slight pastiness that comes with it, but that's why MUFE sells it in two other shades of yellow and deep orange.

It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Poreless Finish Airbrush Powder is $24 for 0.23oz, CoverFX Perfect Setting Powder is $35 for 0.35oz, and Makeup Forever HD Microfinishing Pressed Powder is $37 for 0.21oz, so the best bang for your buck is really the CoverFX loose powder. Personally, I'm a fan of the compact MUFE one because it's relatively small and completely mess-free! Any others I should add to my shopping cart that you've fallen for lately?