Translucent powder is designed to help address skin concerns, such as oily or dry skin. It can lock your makeup in place so your look lasts for hours, and it’s supposed to be clear. It leaves many people wondering why does my translucent powder make me look grey?
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Why Does My Translucent Powder Make Me Look Grey
There are several reasons why your skin may look grey after you apply powder. It could be due to your skin tone, the application method, or powder. It’s important to look at the various possible underlying causes so you can figure out what’s going on.
Heavy Application
Although translucent powder leads most people to believe it’s clear, it’s usually not. It’s supposed to set your makeup without changing the color. Most powder has a white hue, which can make your skin grey if you apply too much.
Test a tiny pinch of powder on your arm to determine if the application matters. Add a pinch more to determine if it makes your skin look grey. If it does, it means you may be applying too much. Always apply setting powder with a light hand and dust your face with a fluffy brush to remove excess powder.
Skin Tone
This tends to be a problem for people with darker skin tones more often because translucent powder is white. People with a dark skin tone should test the powder on their arm to determine if they’re applying too much. If that’s not the case, and this happens with multiple powders, it’s time to try a different powder.
Lavender setting powder works well for people with cool undertones, and unlike lilac setting powder, it doesn’t make the skin look grey. Tinted setting powder has the same benefits as translucent powder and doesn’t make dark skin tones look ashy. Tinted powder can match your foundation shade for a seamless appearance.
This is a common problem for people with olive skin and yellow undertones. To avoid looking grey, consider using banana powder or tinted setting powder instead of translucent powder.
Cool Undertones
Some products are specially formulated with blue or purple undertones to provide color-correcting benefits. Setting powders may have cool undertones to give the skin a brightening effect, but these undertones can make the skin look grey.
Read product descriptions carefully to ensure you don’t accidentally purchase one with blue or purple undertones. Avoid products with more benefits than you need, such as color correcting. Make sure you learn your undertones, and avoid products labeled as having cool undertones if you have warm undertones.
Wrong Foundation Shade
Sometimes, it’s not the setting powder itself. Instead, it’s a combination of having foundation that’s too light combined with the white cast of translucent setting powder. To remedy this, use the correct foundation shade instead of one that is lighter than your skin tone. Foundation should have undertones that match the undertones of your skin.
Not Using Color Corrector
Not using a color corrector where you need it can also result in a grey tint. For example, people with dark circles under their eyes should correct them instead of applying setting powder. This can be done with a color corrector or full-coverage concealer. When you don’t, setting powder can slightly mute the purple hue of dark circles, resulting in a gray hue.
Oxidation
Some formulas can oxidize when exposed to oils on the skin or air. This is commonly seen in makeup products that are long past their expiration date. Powders, including setting powder, typically have a best-by date, just like food. They can last for a certain period when unopened, and there is a separate expiration date once you open them.
Consider using sticky labels to ensure you know when your products expire and avoid accidentally using expired setting powder.
Our Favorites
Selecting the perfect products for your skin tone and concerns can help you achieve a flawless makeup look. Olive skin tones tend to look better with banana or tinted setting powder. Several companies make tinted setting powder for various skin tones, including dark skin tones.
Kimchi Chic Beauty Setting Powder
This set-and-bake setting powder is available in shades to match every skin tone, including a soft banana color. The finely milled formula feels soft on your skin and lasts for hours. An included powder puff makes application easy.
Why You’ll Love It
- Inclusive shade range
- Lavender also available
- Finely milled formula
- Perfect for baking
Why Setting Powder Makes Skin Look Grey
Finding the underlying cause of your setting powder making your skin look grey is the key to getting the look you want. Make sure the powder isn’t expired. Test a pinch of setting powder on your arm without other makeup to determine if it’s due to your skin tone. Consider buying a tinted setting powder to avoid a gray tone.
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