The best face powder in the world!

[Frenchy56]

Love Coty's Airspun powder

Seconded!

Was so happy to find it when I was in the US. I prefer the version without the sifter. Smells gorgeous, looks lovely on your dressing table, is superfine and never cakey. Methinks I'll be putting in a bulk order when mine runs out!

 

[brookenormajean]

I absolutely adore Jurlique silk finishing powder both the lavender and the rose versions (there is also a citrus powder) I find they keep me matte all day but they are not heavy and they never clog my pores. They are great for my pale skin as well as they are translucent.

 

[St. Louis]

I'm glad this topic came up, because it gives me an opportunity to ask about Coty Airspun: is it true that they've discontinued the Lalique box? I've searched everywhere and can only find a plastic box. How horrible. They've kept a tiny bit of the Lalique design on the paper label, but ... after nearly eighty years, they had to ditch the box? Why? The cardboard is after all more eco-friendly. Thank goodness I have one of the original boxes left; I plan to refill it from the plastic ones.

To answer the original question, though, I've used Clinique and Neutrogena powders, both loose and compact versions. I've also tried Palladio powders in the cake and tissues; I've always imagined that they're a vintage product, but I could be wrong. They've been around since I was a teenager. I have never been able to find out anything about their history. My feeling is that Palladio powder products have to be used with care and should probably be avoided by people with acne-prone skin (see MUA reviews), but the packaging is really pretty.

They've all been fine, but Coty's Airspun is still my favorite. For one thing, it's lighter and softer, and for another, the medium beige matches my skin tone so perfectly that it's undetectable. And of course I appreciate the fact that this lovely product has been around since the golden era. I particularly enjoy the fragrance (L'Origan) because I collect & love all early Coty perfumes.

I've mentioned this elsewhere, but I might as well bring this up again b/c it might be relevant to this topic. I've been experimenting with a 1942 recipe for transforming loose powder into compact, which uses gum arabic and tincture of benzoin. The gum arabic turns the powder into a nice soft pillow, and the benzoin presumably protects the skin and acts as an antibacterial agent. The recipe needs a little tweaking, but it sure worked for me -- I've been refilling all my period compacts.

 

[fortworthgal]

^ I posted on page 1, but Coty Airspun is my favorite, even in comparison to much higher-end powders. I love the fragrance, and the powder itself works really well for me.

I have only been able to find it in plastic containers in the last couple of years. I did save several of my older cardboard ones, though, including the 1920s commemorative one they sold a few years back.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Where do you get gum arabic? I've been putting loose powder into compacts by mixing alcohol with the powder to make a paste and spooning it into the compact -- once the alcohol evaporates, it leaves a firm cake of powder -- but I'm always up for a better idea.

 

[St. Louis]

I found both the gum arabic and the benzoin on Amazon. You can also find gum arabic at art supply stores; water colorists use it to mask out any areas they want to remain unpainted.

For reference, here's the 1942 Popular Mechanics recipe, which I found on google books.

The amounts given in the recipe didn't work for me, but I don't think it matters. Just use the directions on the gum arabic bottle. I also tried the alcohol technique, which was fine, but made the powder cake very hard & difficult to transfer to the powder puff.

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

Where do you get gum arabic? I've been putting loose powder into compacts by mixing alcohol with the powder to make a paste and spooning it into the compact -- once the alcohol evaporates, it leaves a firm cake of powder -- but I'm always up for a better idea.

Lizzie Gum Arabic is used as a binder for many art supplies I think you would be able to find it at a good art supply store.

 

[Land-O-LakesGal]

I found both the gum arabic and the benzoin on Amazon. You can also find gum arabic at art supply stores; water colorists use it to mask out any areas they want to remain unpainted.

For reference, here's the 1942 Popular Mechanics recipe, which I found on google books.

The amounts given in the recipe didn't work for me, but I don't think it matters. Just use the directions on the gum arabic bottle. I also tried the alcohol technique, which was fine, but made the powder cake very hard & difficult to transfer to the powder puff.

I would say Jinx but it looks like you posted about when I started typing. Hahaha

 

[Lenore]

My favorite powder at the moment is Meow Cosmetics Pampered Puss foundation powder. I wear it over my liquid to get more of a matte look and on weekends I'll wear it alone to get some light-medium coverage while I'm out doing those mom errands...

My favorite of all time: Coty Airspun in translucent. All I've found recently are the little plastic boxes, but I dumped it into an old candy dish with a lid to keep on my vanity. If I ever get a fluffy powder puff, I'll start wearing it more often. Right now, I just end up sniffing it...

 

[fortworthgal]

^ :laugh: I do that too! Sometimes I just open the container & take a whiff. I also do this with cold cream... I know, I'm a total weirdo.

In addition to my previously-mentioned favorites (Coty Airspun, Clinique blended loose powder), I've been using MAC Mineralize SkinFinish Natural in Light Plus. So far, I really like it. I confess that I bought it because Dita uses it in Light, and has mentioned it in interviews and on Twitter.

 

[Lenore]

^ :laugh: I do that too! Sometimes I just open the container & take a whiff. I also do this with cold cream... I know, I'm a total weirdo.

It's nice to know I'm not the only one.... I've got half a container of Jergen's on my vanity that's only purpose is to have me smell it before bed.

 

[ThesFlishThngs]

You can still find the old cardboard Coty boxes on ebay, including some in off-the-shelf unopened condition.

 

[katiemakeup]

I like Make Up For Ever's HD translucent powder used with a velour puff- press & roll.

 

[Fräulein U.]

I actually use baby powder which is scented talcum. Or pure, unscented talcum sometimes. It's light enough for my very pale skin and mattifies like nothing else. It doesn't give much coverage though, so I use a little concealer if necessary. I never wear foundation ever.

 

[Poison]

Lot of places sell it online amazon, ebay, vermontcountrystore etc
I like the lavender .

Katiesparkles, oh, I can commiserate! I've been recently informed that I can no longer order Yardley of London EDT from the UK, because aerosols are not shipped to the continent anymore, safety measures being what they are.
I'm pretty nervous about the Art Deco Dita collection, afraid it won't be available here in Nowhere Land because of low sales But I plan to get it ALL.

What I forgot to add about powders - I recently started to apply a bit of dusting powder over my tinted moisturiser. I've seen people recommend this, so I gave it a go (despite some misgivings!), and am actually rather pleased with the results. In fact, between this and the daily cold cream cleansing my pores look their best as of yet, and it really contributes to the vintage look.
One thing - it has to be a really fine dusting powder

 

[Poison]

I have this product but for the compact. definitely mattifying and cools down redness, doesn't give me any reactions (thank goodness).
Only downside is violet compact doesn't play well with my spf powder, strictly for night time
I really do love this product the scent is nice- not overwhelming and it fades.

This is a new offering from Besame which sounds really intriguing (plus I'm a sucker for anything violet-scented):


http://www.besamecosmetics.com/products.cfm/Brightening-Violet-Powder/pID-25

 

[melanieroseowl]

Mac studio fix is my favorite powder in nw20

 

[Mrs Emily]

I hadn't used powder in years before trying Palladio Rice Powder. It does a beautiful job.

 

[HauteTomato]

I've been using Gabriel cosmetics face powder and loving it! I apply it with a brush (it's foundation/powder). It is light feels great, and doesn't appear caked on at all. Usually I can make it through a whole day without touching up, unless the lovely CA sunshine gets to be too much. As far as coverage goes, applying it with the sponge provided would allow the foundation aspect to work much more effectively.

 

[shopgirl61]

I use Coty Airspun and Clinique blended loose powder. Love them both!

Same here! it was good enough for my Grandma so its good enough for me:eusa_clap