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18th Jun 2019
Powder placement is key to retaining your glow, that natural skin-looking-like-skin effect that we all crave, but taking down oil and sweat at the same time…
There’s a fine line between sweat and glow, or excess oil and glow, but I asked Roisin Malone, who works on TV and film sets regularly as part of her work as a make-up artist, what her secrets are to making things matte while leaving just the right amount of glow.
THE BEST BRUSH
Use a smaller brush to apply powder. People are used to seeing big, puffy powder brushes but really, the smaller the brush, the more exact the placement. And avoid pads to apply powder, the effect will be too caked-looking.
Real Techniques Setting Brush
PLACEMENT IS KEY
Mattifying only some parts of your face is what you want to aim for. Under the eyes to set your concealer, down the sides of your nose, your chin and upper lip, your smile lines and the centre of your forehead between your eyes tend to be the places that will gather the most shine.
GO FOR GLOW
Opt for a glow powder as well as a matte one – Laura Mercier’s Translucent Powder is a favourite to completely get rid of shine, but something like Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powder will take shine down but leave glow behind.
Laura Mercier Loose Translucent Powder
A LIGHT HAND
Tap the powder in rather than heavy-handed buffing or brushing – a lighter hand with powder will always result in a more natural finish.
KNOW YOUR POWDERS
Pressed powders will give more coverage, loose powders will give a more natural, light feeling finish, coloured powders will correct colours on the skin and mineral powders are actually meant as a foundation replacement rather than just a powder.
Hourglass Ambient Light Powder
Read more: I tried €508 worth of setting powders, and these three came out on top
Read more: Ireland’s top beauty experts on how to keep your look in place all day
Read more: Karen Constantine on the five beauty products she can’t live without