What is the difference between pressed powder and loose powder? Which do you recommend?

Pressed powder is a cake of face powder pressed into a mirrored compact with a puff or sponge. It usually has a matte finish on the skin, and is portable and convenient for touch-ups during the day if you have oily skin that needs blotting.





Loose powder has a consistency more like baby powder - soft, fine, and, well, loose. Most brands are packaged in a tin, plastic box, or shaker container with a screen over the powder so you can shake out a little at a time through the small holes in the screen. Unless you have a container that stays tightly closed, loose powder is not very portable. There is a benefit of loose over pressed, though - loose powder is softer and more natural looking on the skin. You can apply it with a powder brush or a puff depending on the finish you want.





Both pressed and loose powders typically come in a variety of skin tone shades from light beige to deep cocoa. There are also translucent or colorless powders that are designed to work on any skin color. If you always use your powder over foundation or concealer, a translucent powder will set the makeup without adding any extra color.





Face powder in skintone colors are great if you want to wear only powder with no other foundation, or if your foundation color needs some adjusting. For example, if your foundation is too pink, you can layer a yellow-based powder over it to make the overall color more neutral. Some brands also make green and violet powders that are supposed to counteract too much red in the skin (you'd use green powder) or too sallow (you'd use violet). Personally I think these are gimmicky and never look as good on the skin as they sound in theory. I recommend sticking to translucent or natural skintone shades.What is the difference between pressed powder and loose powder? Which do you recommend?
pressed powder is more solid and loose powder is like a dust, i use pressed powder it is really good for keeping ur skin grease free and matt all day!!!! Go for pressed powder loose powder just makes u look like a ghost! xWhat is the difference between pressed powder and loose powder? Which do you recommend?
I think the others have pretty much answered your question when it comes to the difference. As for which I recommend, I use them both, but for different things. Loose powder can be applied with a large brush to ';set'; your makeup and to make it look more natural. As for pressed powder, I use it as a kind of shine stopper/foundation when I'm traveling. I always keep some of each in my purse.
no idea
Loose powder definitely!!!!


Easier to apply normally not as heavy as pressed powder


Looks good with Bronzing pearls
I would recommend pressed powder, I find it much easier to use.
it depends on your skin type, and what works with it.


also whats the occasion - day/night





i use the loose powder, mine has a bronzer in it tho'


also depends on what colour and look you are off for
Loose powder is finer and comes in a bigger container, pressed is compacted. I always use loose, with a large brush, its finer and better to apply and can be used minimally as I dont like to have the 'made up' look!
Loose powder with a big brush is fine when you can drape a towel over your lap! It's too messy when you're on the run, when pressed is best.
pressed powder is less messy but harder to apply than the loose
Pressed powder is normally used for oily skin as a compact foundation.However loose powder is used for setting foundation IE cream/liquid foundation. It holds the foundation in place for longer and reduces sweat/shine on the skin giving a flawless Finnish. They both have different jobs so it depends what you need them for. I hope this helped!
Just as it says pressed is a compact of smooth powder and loose is a container. I use loose after applying makeup and I carry a pressed to touch up or get rid of the shine, both are good...
In terms of coverage, loose powder provides a lighter coverage than pressed powder. It doesn't give you the ';made-up'; or ';powdery'; look.
It depends if you are wanting to wear it as a light foundation then pressed powder is the best but if you want something to go over ur liquid Foundation then a Translousent loose powder will be the best. Hope this helps





Vicky (make-up Artist and Beauty therapist)
Loose powder is a ';finer tumble talc';, use this if you have oily-normal skin. Do NOT use pressed powder if you have oily skin because it will not stay where you want it and end up settling in your creases. I don't recommend Cover Girl's powder as it has Neutrogena in it and can cause you to break out. Of course I sell Mary Kay so I would recommend that because its great, and we all honor the 100% guarantee so if you try one and don't like it, you can exchange it for something else or get a full refund. How fun is that? Check it out www.marykay.com/josiebee for fun application tips!