I know the story all to well, and it’s a dilemma many people face; you apply your makeup and it looks great so you decide to take a selfie… Then all of a sudden your makeup looks awful and you want to reach for the makeup remover right away. There’s nothing more frustrating than cakey skin that make you look like you’ve stepped out of a 1940s film with way too much powder on your face. Here’s a few of the things that could be causing the problem:
Your Powder Has Silica
When it comes to photography, one of the biggest mistakes people make is using a white, high-definition powder which contains ingredients like silica which camera flash often picks up as a pure white pigment. Whilst products like Makeup Forever HD Powder are great in video and television context they generally do not photograph well.
You’re Using a Translucent Powder
Generally speaking, translucent powder is a product that is universal and able to be used on most skintones, but if you have a darker skintone it’s best to avoid it. As translucent powder is usually white or slightly yellow tinted it can often look ashy and unnatural on darker skintones. Try using a tinted finishing/setting powder instead of a translucent one, these often come in a variety of shades which are suited for different skintones.I love
the *Urban Decay Naked Skin Ultra Definition Pressed Finishing Powder and Smashbox HALO Hydrating Perfecting Powder. If you’re on a budget the Maybelline FIT ME! Set + Smooth Powder is also a good option.
Your Products Contain Sunscreen
Similar to the effect silica gives in photograph products with physical based sunscreen ingredients such as Zinc Oxide appear white in flash photography. Even if you’re not using a specific sunscreen underneath your makeup (which I highly recommend you do on a daily basis) it’s a possibility your foundation or primer could contain these ingredients.
In Terms of Application…
Use a pressing motion, you can either use a brush or a powder puff (which will really help mattify and set your foundation) In my opinion it is the best way to apply powder to the skin, often dusting powder over your skin can cause powder to grip unevenly and make the skin look cakey and dry. It’s a great technique to only apply powder to specific areas of your face, it can make the skin look healthier, but still provide shine control where you need it (like the forehead, nose and chin)
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I hope I helped you and if you need anything else feel free to ask.
If any product you use irritates you discontinue use immediately.
*This post contains a product/sample which was sent to me for consideration, products are marked with an asterisk. This post also contains affiliate links. Please view Makeup Tips disclosure policies regarding information and products mentioned on this blog.