Pressed vs Loose — Which Face Powder Works Better?

There are two makeup powders that every makeup artist, every influencer, every celebrity, and customers swear by. There’s the best pressed powder and the best loose face powder. They are the Laure Mercier translucent powder and the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder. I can’t wait to dive into my Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder review.

Both, in my opinion, are equally amazing. However, there are pro’s and con’s to each. And I use each for different reasons.

I’ve been using both powders for a long time now so they’ve been thoroughly tried and tested. After using both for so long I’m convinced that both have a place in your makeup kit.

Let’s do a deep dive into each including product details, talking about how to apply Laura Mercier loose setting powder, and my Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder Review.

Laura Mercier

Translucent Loose Setting Powder

I’m not kidding, literally every makeup artist mentions this as being in their “no fail” kit. I met Beyonce’s makeup artist Sir John who uses the Lauren Mercier translucent powder, loves it and vouches for it. If that’s not the highest endorsement of a Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder review, I don’t know what is. Beyonce’s makeup artist uses it? Sold.

PROS: It is very light weight. It is absolutely the perfect dusting to get rid of the shine without feeling heavy or clogging your pores.

Also, this loose setting powder will not change the color of your makeup which is so so important.

The last thing you want to do after spending time on your makeup getting that perfect shade is put a dusting of powder on that mutes the color or changes the color of your foundation or concealer.

It does not have flashback in photos, which means it won’t look like a white mask on your face when you take pictures of yourself.

CONS: It can pull focus to any dry skin patches you may have. If you have any form of a flake it will show a little bit of those lines. Because of this, it’s important to not overuse it.

If you have dry skin, use a very soft brush or a Beauty Blender sponge and directly place it where you want it. This will really help.

If you need tips on how to apply Laura Mercier loose setting powder, then this should help you.

HOW TO USE IT: I use a beauty blender sponge or one of the Lauren Mercier powder sponges to dip it into the powder and place is specifically where I want to set my makeup and reduce the shine. For me that place is typically right under my eyes, the tip of my nose, the tip of my chin, and the forehead.

Because I tend to get a little bit of flakes from my retinol on my cheeks and forehead I don’t use it all over my face. Some days, yes, my skin is working for me so I dust it everywhere but a little goes a long way and I certainly don’t overuse my powder.

The purpose of powder is to  set your makeup and reduce shine. Period. I don’t use it for anything else other than that so sparingly use it.

I use it, because I want to get rid of the shine and set my makeup without changing the color.

Charlotte Tilbury

Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

I picked up the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder after hearing several great reviews. I was super intrigued!

After using it for some time, I felt ready to write my own Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder Review.

I. Am. A. Huge. Fan!

PRO: The Charlotte Tilbury Finish Setting Powder comes in compact form so it’s easy to throw in your purse or in your travel bag. It’s nice and easy to use without spilling.

It has great coverage so if you are looking to have more of a true face makeup coverage to finish your makeup along with a matte look then this is the one for you. This is a nice compliment to a tinted moisturizer (read review of top tinted moisturizers here!) or even foundation to give your complexion a more finished look.

It’s advertised as being a pore minimizer and I totally agree with that. This formula has some oomph in it compared to a translucent powder which helps smooth out your pores and discoloration.

It’s also a very moisturizing powder. For someone like me with dry skin I can literally use it all over my face and my chin without it showing every line crack or flake.

KEY INGREDIENTS: The moisturizing properties come from the fact that it uses Rose Wax and Almond Oil in the formula. This makes this formula incredibly unique.

CON: The biggest con for me is that the product gets used up way to fast. You can really rip right through this. I wish the compact had a lot more product in it!

Also, because it’s so hydrating it is a heavier powder. It is definitely more of a look when layered on foundation. Just something to consider.

HOW TO USE IT: I use a soft makeup brush to swirl it around the compact and brush it on my face. I don’t use my beauty blender. I use this powder before applying any powder bronzer and blush. This is the final step for me after putting on my concealer and foundation to give it a final pore-free, even complexion, perfectly pulled together face look. After I use it, then I apply any powder bronzer or blush (shop my favorites here).

I do not use it on top of my eye makeup. I find it to be a little too thick for that. The formula tends to break up my concealer so I don’t use it on my under eye. I use the Lauren Mercier for my underage powder.

If you’re still wondering which to buy; the Laura Mercier powder vs Charlotte Tilbury powder, I’d definitely highly recommend both products, but it depends on what you want them for and how you plan to use them.

I love both for different reasons and use both every day! My suggestion: start with the Laura Mercier translucent powder because it’s probably the most versatile but add the Charlotte Tilbury to your collection as soon as you can!

Now head over the check out this post to find the perfect foundation for dry skin!