Loose powders are essential components of one's makeup routine. These powders are fine and transparent and give a glorious golden and velvety luster. They have a consistency like that of soft, loose baby powder. They come in little tins or plastic boxes or shaker containers with screens that have holes in them. When needed, one is supposed to shake out a little powder. Loose makeup powders are used for various purposes, such as skin balancing, scar concealing, oil control, providing bronze glow, minimize fine lines, etc. What is Loose Powder Makeup? Suitable for both men and women, loose powder makeup is a fine powder that is extremely lightweight. It is primarily applied to give a more natural, fresh look to the face. Moreover, it also helps improve the skin's overall appearance and imparts matte finish to the skin. Loose powder also helps conceal the different blemishes, brown spots on the skin, giving a smooth, blemish free appearance. It sets the makeup for prolonged wear, is oil free, looks natural and does not give a powdery appearance. Since the powder is translucent, it helps one's skin breathe. Loose powders are superior to compact powders, as they do not clump and clot and give a refined and elegant finish to the face. There are different types of loose powders, such as the translucent loose powder, moisture infused loose powder and talc. Choosing the Best Loose Powder Makeup for Your Skin Type Each one of us falls into one of these skin type categories: normal, oily, dry, combination and sensitive skin. Depending on our individual skin type, we need to choose the kind of loose powder. For the normal type of skin, choosing loose powder makeup is no ordeal, as one can wear any kind of loose powder. However, of all the types of loose powder, the translucent one is preferred, as in case any excess oil does grease the face, it will absorb it off. For dry skin, the light-deflecting, moisture infused loose powder is the best. Dry skin tends to look really dry around the eyes and forehead. Thus, it is advised to use the moisture infused type, as the moisture present in the powder will moisturize the skin. Talc based translucent loose powder is suitable for oily and combination skin type. Then again, there are different shades of loose powder makeup; from light beige to deep cocoa, which need to be selected depending on one's skin tone. One can also get the colorless or translucent ones which work on any skin color. Test the color of the loose powder on your face before purchasing it. This is because the shade on the hands is different from the face. How to Apply It? Applying loose powder makeup is an art in itself. The trick is to apply just enough loose powder, so that the powder becomes completely invisible and one's face looks natural. Even an extra dab onto the face can make the face look like a mask has been applied onto it. Thus, the key is to apply just the right amount. Step 1: To apply loose powder makeup, you will need a fluffy makeup brush (kabuki brush) and powder makeup. Keep them out, ready to be used. Moreover, turn on the lights. Do not apply makeup in a dimly lit room. Step 2: Wash your face with your cleanser and wipe dry. Apply whichever foundation makeup suits your skin type. Then apply a suitable concealer. Step 3: By tapping the bottom of the loose powder container, let some powder out. Gently dab your brush into the powder and tap it against the rim of the container to allow all the excess powder to fall off the brush. Step 4: Now take the powder dusted brush to your face and begin dusting your face with it. Start from the center of the face and gradually move to the sides. Make sure the nose, cheekbones, forehead and other parts of the face get equal attention. In case you find extra loose powder stuck on any part, brush it off. Loose powder makeup basically sets one's look and eradicates the excess oil and shine from the face. The finish is simply great and the makeup looks and feels great. Moreover, it also lasts longer!