What Age Should You Switch From Powder To Liquid Makeup?

I have always used powder foundation because my skin is prone to oiliness and acne and I because I have always disliked the heavy feeling of liquid foundation makeup.

(I’m a skin type #2 from my nine skin types, see your skin type here.)

However, last week I was at Neiman Marcus walking through the cosmetics department when a sales woman stopped me and asked if I wanted to try on some makeup. I had time on my hands, so I plopped down in her chair for a little makeup pick-me-up.

Since I didn’t specify a preference, she used a liquid foundation on my skin (Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation). After it was applied, I loved the look of my skin! What I noticed right away was how much smaller my pores looked, how it seemed that there were less wrinkles around my eyes and the overall radiant look of my skin. When I touched the makeup on my skin, it didn’t feel heavy like in the past when I had experimented with liquid foundation makeup.

Happy with the product, I decided to purchase it and have been wearing it lately. I now understand that silicones are commonly used in many of the newer liquid foundation formulas, which gives a good look to the skin while still feeling lightweight. Formulas in years past used heavy mineral oil and petrolatum, which really makes the skin feel greasy, in addition to being poor quality ingredients for the skin…

Even when I was using my powder foundation, I would hear that powder settle into wrinkles and pores and makes them more noticeable. While I trusted this was true, I was still never up for a change until now. It’s about finding a good product that works for you. I have gotten a lot of compliments on my skin lately and I’m associating them with my new makeup (and, of course, good skin care products and practices). Also, I’m not using a whole lot of the liquid foundation since a little seems to go a long way.

Read: Powder Vs. Liquid Foundation. What’s Best For My Skin Type?

So at what age should YOU switch from powder to liquid makeup?

I would say a good time to start using liquid foundation is at the point when your skin starts showing signs of aging (for most people, the age range is 35-40 years old). These signs include larger looking pores (Did you know that pores get larger as you age? Read why here), fine lines, wrinkles and brown spots. I’m a bit late making the switch, but I did learn that as my skin changes, it’s important to be open minded to change. It’s a message I deliver to my clients about skin care products all the time, but in this case, I had to take my own advice.

Read: Eye Makeup Remover That Won’t Make Eyes Sting

Read: 8 Expert Tips to Make Dull Skin Glow

Which skin care products are best for you? See our nine skin types or take the Skin Type Quiz and get products recommended.

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Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Her hands-on experience as an esthetician and trusted skin care expert has created a real-world solution — products that are formulated for nine different types of skin so your face will get exactly what it needs to look and feel its best. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”