What’s Your Texture? Powder Vs. Liquid
Whether you swear by the oil-absorbing properties of powder or prefer the youthful dewiness of creams and liquids, we make the case for both textures so you can make an informed choice about what's best for you.
Formerly chalky, powder has evolved and now, so many compacts are so finely-milled they're almost creamy. Packed with pigment, it's easy to achieve a bold, full-coverage effect (depending on your application method), and if you're prone to shine, they're perfect for absorbing excess sebum to leave skin looking semi-matte (but never 'caked' in make up). Apply with fluffy, domed brushes - the more densely packed the bristles, the more intense the pigment payoff.
Laura Geller's {Balance-n-Brighten Baked Foundation} looks exquisite, and each subtly marbled compact is swirled with brightening and colour-correcting veins to neutralise ruddiness, blur imperfections and leave skin looking altogether healthier. Sheer but buildable, this is ideal for those who need help to control shine without looking 'one dimensional'.
So smooth they're almost buttery, {BECCA}'s stunning Shimmering Skin Perfectors are to-die-for. The {Luminous Blush} shades all 'melt' into skin to achieve a believable, soft focus flush - illuminating without looking glittery, they're the ultimate blush-highlight hybrid. And if you like to emphasise your contours, use Jaclyn Hill's {Champagne Pop} to lend a gorgeous, golden gleam to 'high points' of your face - dusting onto cheekbones with a fan brush for a flattering, lit-from-within look.
Bronzing-wise, reach for Vita Liberata's {Trystal Minerals} - an innovative loose powder with both immediate and cumulative bronzing benefit. Infused with tanning agent DHA, just swirl and tap the fluffy brush (included) all over face and neck to subtly 'tint' skin with a kiss of long-lasting colour. It's available in two shades to flatter a swathe of skin tones.
And now that mercury is finally on the rise, it's crucial to protect your skin against the sun. Mineral sunscreens are perfect for those who're susceptible to blemishes or congestion, as well as those whose skin can be reactive. Peter Thomas Roth's {Instant Mineral SPF 45} is brilliant for city dwellers or the oily skinned, creating a weightless veil between complexion and the ageing effects of both UVA and UVB rays. Completely non-greasy and totally translucent, just dust on top of make up for high factor, broad spectrum protection on the move.
Once we start to get a little older, skin begins to lose its fresh-faced dewiness - that plumped, 'hydrated' look that's so synonymous with youth. What's more, powders need something to 'hold on' to, which is why dry or mature skin types can find that make up migrates into creases as the day progresses. Opt for fluid, crème or jelly-textured make up to help simulate that gorgeous glow.
Start with an illuminating primer to 'grip' make up and enhance longevity. Emma Hardie's {Protect & Prime SPF 30} is a dual-action, lightweight formula infused with light-diffusing particles to blur the visibility of blemishes and unify uneven skin tone - while SPF 30 protects against photo-ageing. Suitable for dry-combination skin types, this is brimming with mongongo oil and fortifying vitamin E to enhance elasticity and bolster your complexion's natural defences.
Follow with a liquid foundation. Kevyn Aucoin's {Sensual Skin Enhancer} is packed with pigment to conceal a multitude of sins. Use 'neat' as a concealer, or mix a bit with your foundation or a glow-enhancing serum to help 'thin' the texture and create a bespoke base. A tiny bit is all you need - there's a reason it's always awarded five stars.
Create a sunkissed glow with By Terry's {Terrybly Densiliss Sun Glow} - enriched with age-defying ingredients to stimulate the synthesis of collagen, this serum helps to lessen visibility of lines and wrinkles while granting sun-starved complexions an enviable, 'just back from holiday' lustre.
Finish with a dab of dewy blush and highlight - RMS Beauty's {Lip2Cheek} is beloved by the likes of Gisele and Miranda Kerr, and is brimming with skin-nourishing ingredients, while Perricone MD's {No Highlighter Highlighter} is luminosity in a bottle; the perfect shade of pearl pink to illuminate the 'high points' of your face with a sheer, 'real skin' finish.
Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...
