There are many powder foundation on the market now, especially with the trend of 'natural but flawless' skin, and so mineral make up was established. Of corse there are many powder foundations which arn't mineral, and have been quite a while, although i can imagine it has shed new light on people taking more care of there skin with the promise of mineral make up doing just that. These kind of products include Nature's Mineral range from the bodyshop, L'oreal, Max Factor, and many other brands, including the premium brands such as Elizibeth Arden and Lacome.
We've established powder foundation doesn't have to be mineral, and nor does it have to be powder. There are many cream-to-powder foundations also out now, including ranges from the body shop. [add more] More products included here are other powder based make up, including many mineral blushes and eyeshadows, or even normal blushes and in light of summer, bronzers. All these have the potentential to dry out the skin, and make dry skin look even worse. But there is no reason to fear, if you treat your skin right, you can look just as radiant with a powder, as a liquid foundation and make up, with no grease and no shine, but look as natural as ever.

1. The key is to moisturise correctley. Moisturise moisturise moisturse! If you don't moisturise at all, then not only are you damaging your skin by not giving it the moisture it needs, and wearing make up can irrtate it.

2. The next step is to look at what moisturiser your using. Stay away from emolient moisturisers. These include palmers coco butter etc. This is because the moisturiser can stay on your skin and pores, and when powder make up is applyed, it tends to stick there and make your skin look more dry and pebbely. I am also a fan of Cliniques anti-blemish solutions, although i found the moisturiser isn't that moisturising. This is also another thing to look at. You need to assess how dry your skin is, and find a moisturiser to suit that, although be careful not to go so moisturising your skin looks greasy and becomes blemish prone. Good moisturisers for dry skin include No7 Moisture for Dry skin, which is really nice and lasts ages. I'm using Simple matte moisturiser which is quite cheap at approx £3, and works well with keeping my skin moisturised when using the body shop cream -to-powder foundation.

3. Apply your powder right. What ever foundation your using, don't continuatley apply it to a certain area, as you are likley to get dry patches throughout the day as your skin gets dryer and dryer and your powder evaporates, leaving dry scaley skin. Brush it lightley all over your face to get a nice even base. If you suffer from redness or blemishes, try putting a light concealer on beforehand. Try and remember mineral make up doesn't cure spots, it's much kinder to skin and tends not to cause as many blemishes, and contains less chemicals.


I hope these tips have helped! Please let me know how you get on with any powder foundations and make up you use! :)