Best Setting and Finishing Powders for Dry Skin – Top 5 Favorites

I’ve gotten my powder collection down to my five favorites (I recently organized my collection and got rid of a few) and decided I wanted to rank them from based on “which one would I buy again first if I lost my makeup collection?”. I love all five of these and think they’re all amazing especially if you also have very dry skin. But some of them definitely have risen to the top of my collection! Thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here for new posts. All links in this post are affiliate links, and if you choose to shop through them, thanks for supporting the blog!

Laura Mercier Ultra-Blur Talc-Free Waterproof Translucent Pressed Setting Powder– If I could choose only one powder to keep, it’d be this one. It is hands down the best pressed powder I’ve ever tried, and since I got it, I haven’t touched any of my other pressed powders. I love that no matter what I do, it never feels like I put too much of this on. It’s truly translucent so it doesn’t add any coverage or change the color of what I have on my face. It’s definitely only doing a tiny bit of setting and mattifying (so I wouldn’t’ recommend this for combo/oily skin) but I love how it’s able to do what I want a powder to do without adding any heaviness or getting cakey. It does have a tendency to hard pan, but you can easily fix that with a piece of tape.

Givenchy Mini Prisme Libre Loose Setting and Finishing Powder in 3 Voile Rosé – This is my favorite loose powder by far, and you’ll see it’s the only one I’ve kept out of all the ones I’ve tried over the years. The Laura Mercier beat this one out because pressed will always be more convenient and easy to use, but if I could get a second one after that, it’d be the Givenchy no questions asked. It blurs and mattifies without drying out my skin or looking powdery, which is perfect for someone with super dry skin like myself. It definitely provides a bit of brightening for me in this color, but it mostly is just a really fantastic loose powder. I actually decluttered my Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder (which I’ve written about how much I love for years) because I noticed I never used it since I have the Givenchy, and it’s because the Hourglass feels so heavy compared to the Givenchy powder.

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder – If it wasn’t for the Laura Mercier powder, this would’ve been my pick for best pressed powder. And if you’re looking to spend less, I would go with this one since they’re very similar. I have it in the shade Airy, but because of how sheer it is, I’m sure Breezy or Feathery could have worked for me as well. Unlike the Laura Mercier, it does add a tiny bit of coverage, so I tend to use this one when I’m looking for that specifically. It also has a tiny bit of luminosity to it so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness.

ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)– This powder really surprised me. It’s less than $5 and performs honestly even better than some of my high-end powders. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it, so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. I even recommended this to my friend to use on her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and wanted something that would stay all day), and her makeup held up through the ceremony and all the dancing at the reception well past midnight. I am continually incredibly impressed by how well this powder works!

Make Beauty Diffusion Set Pressed Powder in Translucent Fair – This is my go to “I really need a powder that actually is a powder” vs all my other powders that just do the lightest touch of mattifying. Even though it actually helps set makeup and balance out the overall dewy looks I tend to do, it doesn’t look overly drying or crepey. It also provides a the most coverage of all the powders on this list, which is great if I’m trying to set a specific concealed area that I really want to cover vs just trying to mattify or set makeup all over my face. I also love the packaging and how luxe it feels. Plus, this is also refillable, and I can pop out the pan if I want to put it in a travel makeup palette.

Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.

July 2022 Beauty Favorites

I can’t believe July is already over, and it’s time for another round of favorites! I As always, I’m only featuring products in my favorites that are true favorites that I’ve been using consistently for longer than a couple months. If there’s anything you were looking for a review on or a topic that you want me to cover, please let me know if the comments below! And, of course, thank you so much for being here, and it would mean so much to me if you subscribe here or on Instagram @liftbakelove for new posts.

Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil – This lip oil reminds me so much of the Dior Lip Oil but is so much more nourishing and a fraction of the price (the Beauty Pie is around $8 and the Dior is $35). It’s hydrating, comfortable, and not sticky while still providing that shiny and glossy effect. I have the four shades – Jammy (berry), Nude Nectar (brown-rose), Sunhazed (cool-toned bronze with a hint of shimmer), and Naked Peach (peach with a hint of shimmer). All of them are sheer enough to use as a glossy topper for most of my lipsticks and lip liners but still pigmented enough to provide some color if I’m not wearing anything else. It also smells like vanilla in the best way, and I get so much joy from it every time I use it.

Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil –Jammy, Nude Nectar, Sunhazed, and Naked Peach

 Salt New York Lilac and Tangerine Crème Tint Pro – These were a limited-edition duo launched last year, and I have been loving using them now that we’re really in the heart of summer. I have been doing a ton of monochromatic mauve/purple looks with Lilac and bright orange, bronzy looks with Tangerine and having so much fun. Even though these are bolder colors than I usually reach for, they are a bit sheer which makes it easy to not go overboard (hopefully you can see in the swatches below). These are super versatile, and as with all Salt New York products, the formula is beautiful – buildable, dewy without shimmer, and super easy to blend.

From top to bottom: Salt New York Crème Tint Pro in Lilac and Tangerine

ELF Prime & Stay Finishing Powder (Fair/Light)– This powder really surprised me. It’s less than $5 and performs honestly even better than some of my high-end powders. It has a tiny bit of luminosity to it, so it sets without mattifying too much, and it’s the perfect hybrid between a finishing and setting powder. I love using this for all over my face and to set all my cream products without getting rid of any of their dewiness. I even recommended this to my friend to use on her wedding day (I was doing her makeup and wanted something that would stay all day), and her makeup held up through the ceremony and all the dancing at the reception well past midnight. I am continually incredibly impressed by how well this powder works!

Persona Dreamstick Cream Blush in Bubble – This formula is incredibly thin and creamy which makes them super easy to work with. They blend out so quickly with fingers, a brush, or a sponge. The color Bubble looks super bright in the package and in a thick swatch but it’s just the perfect “I’m awake and healthy and hydrated” color for me without having to think about it. I also love using this to brighten up a look that’s gotten too warm. These aren’t sticky but don’t dry down completely matte – a very skin-like finish.

DS&Durga Rose Atlantic – I am absolutely terrible at describing scents so I’m going to copy in exactly what the website says: This scent isn’t just a rose. It has the ocean, delicate petals, the green stem, the waxy leaves, and the fresh idyllic powder of summertime. It is an everyday perfume.
I completely agree – this is my new favorite every day perfume. It’s perfectly ocean-y with sea salt spray and a summer breeze (my favorite) with just a hint of floral to make it unique. I’m so happy I bought the Discovery Set because otherwise I would have just gotten Debaser and never known how amazing Rose Atlantic is.

What were your favorites this month? Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here on LiftBakeLove, and thanks for reading! As always, some links may be affiliate links that support the blog, but all reviews/opinions are completely my own and unsponsored.