August 8, 2017

This or That Beauty: Cream or Powder Foundation ?

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Foundation is a unique experience for everyone. Some folks like powder, others prefer creams….! Some love the joys of a matte shine-free finish and others like the hydrating feel of a non-clinging cream. It’s all about your skin type and whether you’re oily, dry, or a combination of both.

What’s your choice?

Do you prefer cream or powder foundations?

I prefer cream and if possible I enjoy fluid even better. I have drier skin so, that’s the formula that works best for me and looks the most natural because it doesn’t cling to drier areas and it’s less likely to oxidize for me.

Although, on a rare occasion I do use powder especially in the Summer when I have a little more shine and oil. I have to admit I actually kind of like the way powder looks on my face when it cooperates. I used to love using Physicians Formula Mosaic Powder because it gave my complexion such a beautifully bright appearance. But sadly, it’s rarely use powder because I’m dry.

How about you?

Do you use cream or powder foundation?

Both?

Do share!

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About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Michelle

    Cream… Any powder makes me look like about 120 years old! Too old for powder.

  • Terra Drake

    Cream/liquid foundation all the way. My dry af skin would look like the Mojave Desert if I used powder.

  • kjh

    Both, I suppose. The powders are far less likely to have my problem ingredients. Used to like Iredale quite a bit, but my old shade, on the ‘cool’ side is no longer a real good match, when I repurchased. I’m too oily for a cream. For lix, like KGD, Jouer luminous TM. But often just wear thePaula long name TM. I can see why people use that product as a sunscreen, because it blurs a tad, but imparts very little actual color.

  • Dee

    I’ve not found a powder foundation that I like and haven’t tried any cream formulas. I like fluid and stick foundations best. What cream ones do you like?

    • Isabella Muse

      Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Moisture Foundation, Dr Jart Jasmine Water BB Cream, Sleek Makeup BB Cream are all great!

  • diane

    i prefer full coverage liquid with a matte finish for my oily, shine prone, combo skin. i do like using powder foundations to set for a bit extra coverage. in Summer I live in the IT celebration foundation with the SPF 50 since it has the SPF and i sweat lol.

  • TropicalChrome

    Uh, yes. I have oily skin, so I used to hate the creams/liquids because they always felt so gloppy on my face. But technology has marched on and many of the newer formulations, especially the demi-matte or matte finishes, go on light and thin and I don’t feel them at all. I really love the finish and feel of the liquid to powder ones.

    But when it’s over 90F in the summer? Powder or nothing. All of the creams or liquids will melt right off my face, I don’t care what primer/fixer/whatever you use. And like the liquid foundations, many of the newer formulations are just terrific.

    This is why I have a bunch of both formulae in my makeup drawer :).

  • Laurie

    When I discovered Bare Minerals original foundation after having worn a liquid (Clinique) for years, I swore I’d never “put glop” on my face again. A dozen years later and the minerals stopped looking good on my skin, and the SPF wasn’t high enough for my lifestyle, so I switched to the It Cosmetics CC cream with 50 SPF. With a Beauty Blender over primer, it looks great, but it takes a lot more effort than buffing minerals over your skin with a huge kabuki brush in 30 seconds flat. I also bought a Korean cushion for the summer (it’s light and has SPF 50), but I wish for the good old days, before aging skin hit me in the face like a ton of bricks.

  • chibi639

    Powder foundation 99% of the time. I’m a walking oil slick! Non-powder foundation will dissolve off my face in 3 hours or less no matter how much priming and setting. My only exception is Estee Lauder double wear but even then I’ve got to go in with a setting powder. On the other hand powderiness has never really been a problem, no matter how crappy a powder may be. My natural oils help powders blend onto my skin pretty well.

  • Lorna

    I’m 50, and I keep going back to powder foundation. I’ve tried many brands, but discovered Root brand powder foundation a few months ago and love it. It covers great and has a little luminosity to make my older skin look fresh. Stays on the best of any kind or brand of foundation I’ve ever tried. I brush it on, spritz it with Pixi Glow Mist, and I’m set for the day.

    • Liz

      Thanks for the this! I’ve been happy with IT Celebration powder but you know how companies like to change and discontinue the things we love. It will be good to have options. I’m also 50 and it’s a chore to find something that works on aging, oily, reactive skin.

  • Aimee

    I prefer powder because my face is really reactive, and just applying liquid foundation makes it redder.

  • Lisa

    I’m 60 years old with the usual fine lines and pores. The “rule” is don’t use powder fdtn past a certain age. But liquids settle in pores and lines or sit on top of skin. Good powders, that don’t have talc or bismuth, are more natural, easier to apply , and don’t look dry or cakey at all , if you’re not going for full coverage. I’m researching mineral foundations next.

    • Lorna

      I agree with avoiding talc and bismuth. Talc and any other starch like rice really accentuate my lines and wrinkles. Pure minerals look much better on my aging skin.

  • Deb

    Powder foundation and blush in the hottest and most humid months of the year. A nice light moisturizer or primer and then finish off with MAC Fix Plus. The fix plus takes away the dry look and provides longer wear. At least for me. In the dryer months cream products all the way. We don’t really get winter in Phoenix so I don’t have to worry about chapping from the cold and wind. But it is dry in the winter so powder won’t work.

  • Heather

    I love Dior Airflash for full coverage and Shiseido Stick Foundation for days when I need a little less. I have tried everything under the sun and these work best for my aged 50 but still combination skin.

  • Dora

    I typically wear a BB cream (or nothing) but for a foundation, liquid. When i was a lot younger, I word a powder (MAC Studio Fix) and I have no idea why — probably someone at a MAC counter recommended and I think because it was a powder, I thought it was “light.” But it was so heavy. Now I try to avoid a lot of powder bc aging skin blah blah.

  • kel h.

    i use a liquid foundation in a pump. i think the coverage is better for evening out my skin. sometimes i will use a powder over it but that can cause the makeup to flake so it depends. in the summer if i’m tan i may just use a pressed powder over my face instead for light coverage. but i mostly use the liquid stuff.

  • Emily

    Most days, a tinted sunscreen seems to be just about right for me. Maybe a little pressed powder over, blush, bronzer. I realize how many people do wear foundation regularly, but I haven’t done that since early high school. I know it could make me look better, but it also could make me look a lot worse. Between wrong color/tone, settling into lines and pores, or just looking too made up and unnatural (I work in a casual office) there’s just too much that can go wrong. Maybe I should try harder.

    • Emily

      That said, I have enjoyed the cushion foundations I’ve tried, but I’m always nervous that they’re making me break out. But I’m always breaking out. . . sigh. . .

  • Sheree

    I’ve tried and tried to make the switch to a liquid or BB cream, but it’s still powder for me. Even though I’ll be 55 in a few weeks, my skin is still oily as can be. Which is probably why I can still pass for late 30’s, but if I don’t have oil-free everything I’m a greasy mess.

  • Brandy

    I use fluid foundations. My skin is dry af so no powder goes near my skin. In the summer at work, I usually don’t use anything because I work mostly outside so foundation just disappears after a few hours. If I didn’t have minor redness on my cheeks, I would probably do without foundation forever.

  • hope

    for day to day wear i use a pressed powder in a light to medium coverage. for events or any time i’ll be wearing makeup longer than six hours i use a medium to full coverage liquid foundation. i live in florida and with the heat and humidity liquid foundations feel like they make my face melt. so if there’s no A/C i rather do sunscreen and some loose translucent powder to set it and be done lol.

  • Chris

    I like both. But I do use a primer before applying the liquid foundation. For the summer, I like pressed powder foundations and I apply with a kabuki brush.

    The foundation corrects some uneven skin tones but I find I need a color correcting concealer for my eye circles and I use a skin matching concealer for some broken capillaries.

  • genevieve

    My favourite is liquid foundation, as I have ‘mature’ skin and am currently enjoying Rimmel’s Match Perfection Creme Gel foundation in porcelain. I would never use a powder foundation.

  • Iris

    I prefer powder as I have combination skin. I like colourless powder so matching to my pale skintone isn’t an issue.