The K-beauty scene has always been famed for producing breakthrough cosmetics that know just what your skin needsーand Korean face powders are no different. Apart from featuring innovative formulas that control sebum and seamlessly blend for a picture-ready finish, some even contain hydrating ingredients, so they mattify without drying your skin.
They are an excellent addition to your kit if you wish to eliminate the greasy feeling on your face to show fresh makeup, even on hot days. But how do you know which one to choose with so many options on the market? Wonder no more, as we've prepared a list of recommendations and a buying guide reviewed by visual and makeup artist Ida Siasoco.
Makeup artist and hairstylist since 2017 and has worked on various commercial and editorial projects. Likes to put glitter on everything and believes that "you can never put too much blush".
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
When it comes to the beauty industry, Korean products are a total gamechanger. They are often backed by science to ensure that all items are safe to use for the skin. Most of their products also use gentle ingredients to address skin concerns naturally and effectively, so you can also expect this with Korean face powders.
Unlike other products in the market, Korean face powders take pride in their lightweight and breathable formula, leaving a natural glow without leaving a white cast. Apart from oil-absorbing ingredients that reduce greasiness, several of them are also made with hydrating ingredients to tackle dry skin.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more information, read through our buying guide below.
Before all else, you should consider which type of face powder matches your desired coverage. If you're aiming for smooth and medium to full coverage, you can never go wrong with a pressed powder. On the other hand, loose powder is great for those who want to rock a no-makeup makeup look.
Pressed powder is an excellent pick if you want to score a more refined makeup look. It usually delivers medium to full coverage, and it's more portable and convenient to apply, making it suitable for traveling or for those people always on the go.
Since it is also packed with more oils, people with dry skin types may benefit more from it. However, there are also pressed powders with a mattifying finish that can work great for those with oily skin without making them look cakey.
Loose powders are ideal for getting a silky and luminous glow. This type of powder is commonly used as a setting powder for liquid foundation. It is also finely milled, which means it blends beautifully on the skin, perfect for those pulling off a natural makeup look.
Loose powder has less oil, so it reduces the oil production of the face. However, since this is extremely fine, some loose powders may settle into the fine lines on your forehead and eyes. It also provides light or sheer coverage, unlike pressed powder.
Each powder leaves a varying finish. Not all face powders work mainly to remove excess oil. Also, some pacts make dry skin look hydrated and smooth. To determine the perfect powder for you, consider which ingredient is appropriate for your skin type.
For those with oily and combination skin who want to mattify their shiny T-zones, seek mattifying products or those with labels like shine control or oil control. Thanks to their absorbing ingredients like rice and cornstarch, these products get the job done by keeping shine at bay. These ingredients also improve how the skin absorbs the product, leaving a soft and smooth texture.
While oily skin is the majority's concern, some people struggle with dry skin. Dry skin is commonly linked to dehydrated, flaking, and dull skin. Face powder with hydrating ingredients is dry skin's saving grace. For starters, you can check out products described as luminous or brightening.
You can also look for products infused with moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, coconut oil, or shea butter. Vitamin E also helps protect your skin from free radicals, and it's also known for its healing and moisturizing properties. Meanwhile, squalane boosts hydration and enhances the skin's overall health.
Choosing between translucent and tinted face powder all boils down to your purpose. If you want one that can work as a substitute for your setting spray to ensure that your makeup doesn't budge, translucent powder is the way to go. It can also be used to bake your makeup and set your under-eye area to make it appear brighter.
Contrastingly, tinted face powder is excellent for evening out skin tone and concealing redness, minor imperfections, or dark circles. It is also a reliable beauty item for midday touch-ups, leaving a luminous and flawless finish. Do note to choose a tinted face powder similar to your foundation shade.
Although most Korean face powders are made with gentle ingredients, it is still crucial to inspect the ingredients list to avoid flare-ups and breakouts. If you have sensitivities, stay away from products with parabens, phthalates, and fragrances. It would also be best to keep in mind that different skin types react differently to every formula.
If you want to get the most out of your face powder, you can go for those with added SPF to protect your skin against harsh UV rays. SPF 30-50 is recommended for optimum protection. However, note that not all face powders with SPF meet this, so it's best only to consider these as additional protection.
Face powders with SPF can come in especially handy if your daily life requires you to be out all the time and exposed to the sun that may damage your skin. However, note that some face powders with SPF can give sunscreen flashbacks, so it's best to be careful which one you'll get.
Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder is an ace when it comes to mattifying the skin. It features a double oil-control formula that effectively controls excess sebum, leaving your skin soft, matte, and refreshed throughout the day.
Aside from that, it is infused with skin-loving ingredients, including naturally derived Jeju minerals and mint that maintain your skin's moisture balance. It also prevents you from being hulas since it corrects clumped-up or cakey makeup.
Another thing you'll love about it is its infusion of green tea extract that is known to calm redness and soothe the skin. Moreover, it is formulated with no fragrance, parabens, or mineral oil, making it a no-frills option for those who have sensitivities to these.
Formulated with ultra-fine powder particles, this pact can smoothly fill up the pores and blur out skin imperfections to give you a flawless and smooth finish. Since it contains ingredients like talc and silica, you can also count on its mattifying properties that will surely blot away excess oil so that your face can stay shine-free.
But what separates this pact from its counterparts is its amethyst and pearl powder infusion. These two ingredients help scatter the light to make your skin appear brighter and more radiant; thus, it is suitable for those who wish to go for a dewy look. It is also fragrance-free!
Dealing with wrinkles, pores, or blemishes? Give Luna's Fixer Powder Pact a try! Made with ultra-fine powder particles, it can fill in pores, smoothen skin, and cover other irregularities. You can rock it without a worry under your mask, too, as it is transfer-proof. This pact can also be a good pick for those with sensitivities, as it is free of the usual irritants, like fragrance and mineral oil.
Apart from concealing, it offers long-lasting oil controlーyou can use it to set or touch up your makeup to prevent it from getting hulas. You'll also love that it contains aloe and coconut oil to keep your skin moisturized throughout the day. Moreover, it comes with an SPF 36 PA+++ to shield your skin from harmful UV rays.
Banila Co immediately comes to mind when someone refers to Korean primers for a good reason. This powder can eliminate excess oil and extend your makeup's staying power without drying your skin. Its glacial water, Celtic water, and green clay ingredients are responsible for keeping your skin shine-free.
Meanwhile, to ensure that your skin remains moisturized and soothed, it contains watermelon extracts, aloe leaf, rosa centifolia, and borage seed extracts. This lineup of hydrating ingredients makes this powder a non-drying option that is suitable for those with dry skin.
Aside from functioning as a primer, you can also use it as a finishing powder to extend the staying power of your makeup. According to reviews, a small amount of this product comes a long way, and it's also the ideal powder to achieve glass skin.
Looking for a long-wearing pact that can keep you looking put together for an extended period? See this Pro-Touch Powder Pact by Missha! This fine and lightweight powder use a Pro-Layer Setting System composed of fixative polymer and resin extract that locks the powder in place and enhances its adherence to give you long-lasting wear.
Although long-lasting, it delivers a natural-looking finish that does not turn clumpy or make your skin appear cakey. And the best thing is that it has a barely-there feel, so you won't feel uncomfortable. It also has a mattifying texture that does not only remove excess sebum but also even out skin tone. Aside from that, it offers SPF 25 PA++ sun protection.
If you're on the lookout for a powder that clears away shine, Etude House Zero Sebum Drying Powder is worth considering. It is a must-have for those with oily skin, as it can matte away almost all types of excess oil. It can work as a dry shampoo for greasy and as an eye primer.
Indeed, greasiness is no match with this multitasking beauty product! It is packed with sugar polymer and cotton extract to regulate the skin's oil production and improve the skin barrier.
It also highlights the Natural Protector Complex, a blend of fermented soybean, cassia bark, willow tree, oregano, and cypress portulaca to eliminate excess sebum. By using this powder, you will not only get that glowy skin, but you'll also achieve grease-free locks and lids!
On the hunt for a face powder that won't get hulas even if you wear it under your mask? You've landed in the right spot! This mineral powder by Sister Ann features a mask-proof formula made of ultra-fine particles that creates a coating film to minimize smudging. It can also conceal pores and smoothen out the appearance of bumpy skin.
Since it has a long-lasting finish, you can also use it for midday touch-ups to make your makeup look like you've just applied it. Another thing we love about this pact is its lineup of ingredients, including deep seawater mineral, tea tree, pennyworth extract, and trehalose that soothe, moisturize, and purify your skin.
On the quest for a powder that won't dry your skin and make it appear cakey? Look no further than this one. It is formulated using the water slurry method that enables the makeup to sit weightlessly on your skin and adhere to it without feeling heavy and dry.
Moreover, it functions as a texture-blurring formula that conceals pores and illuminates the skin, making it selfie-ready at any time of the day. Not to mention, it has an added SPF 30 to protect skin from UV rays. Add up this compact powder to your routine for glamorous makeup that lasts all day long.
Better Than Finish by Rom&nd is designed to control shine, blur out blemishes, and smoothen skin. It contains finely ground and lightweight powder particles that effectively absorbs excess oil and conceals pores and fine lines to let you score a flawless picture-ready finish.
Unlike other face powders, this one comes with a puff and brush that you can use alternately depending on whether you want a matte or semi-matte finish. And whatever finish you choose, it claims that it can deliver a result that does not cake.
Want to add some radiance to your everyday makeup? Skinfood Buckwheat Loose Powder has got you covered! Promising a bright and blooming effect, it is infused with buckwheat oil that imparts a shine-free and silky-smooth texture to your skin.
Apart from giving you a luminous finish, it can also give you a clearer complexion that is camera-ready. After applying your makeup, simply dust this powder on your foundation to set your makeup and ensure you look perfectly flawless all day!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
This is all up to preference. Using a setting spray after setting your makeup with a powder may prolong your makeup even more.
As mentioned in our buying guide, a tinted face powder can even out skin tone, and conceal redness, minor imperfections, or dark circles, which means that it provides a layer of coverage. So if coverage is what you're looking for, then a tinted powder may do the job for you!
As a general rule, experts recommend applying sunscreens with a minimum of SPF 30. So if your powder sunscreen meets this minimum, then you can skip applying sunscreen.
When excess sebum settles on the skin, this can result in clogged pores and future breakouts. Take extra care of your skin this summer season and check out these articles featuring products specially made to cater to those with oily skin.
Author: B. Tan
Re-editor: R. Victoriano
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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