The endless pursuit of a flawless complexion has led to a rise in innovative products - and pore-blurring powders are quickly making their mark as a game-changer.
These finishing powders promise to smooth, mattify, and, as the name suggests, blur the appearance of pores, leaving skin with a filter-like, soft-focus finish. Whether it be in the form of primers, foundations, concealers or finishing powders, pore-blurring formulas are emerging as the unsung hero in every beauty routine – but how exactly do they work?
The key lies in their lightweight texture, often infused with, a silicone base, light-diffusing particles and other specially formulated soft-focus ingredients that work to diffuse light and smooth the skin's surface. Whether you're aiming for a matte finish or simply seeking to reduce the visibility of enlarged pores, these powders offer a refined finish without the heavy feel of traditional foundations.
We chatted to celebrity makeup artists Georgia Rose and Buster Knight to get the lo-down on all things blurring powder.
What’s the difference between a standard setting power and a blurring one?
“A setting powder will typically be in loose form. They’re formulated mainly to ensure the longevity of any liquid or cream products underneath by locking it in place and controlling oil,” explains Rose. “A blurring powder, for me, falls under the category of a ‘finishing powder’ which is formulated for a particular finish, such as blurring. Sometimes loose powders don’t give a blurring effect, so by using a blurring finishing powder on top, you can lock in the makeup and create the desired finish!”
Buster Knight concurs, adding that blurring powder is “often slightly light-reflective or contains reflective particles that bounce light off the skin, making it appear smoother and brighter. Alternatively, it might include ingredients like silicone or mica, which work to fill in lines and texture, creating a generally smoother finish.”
Is it ok to use a pore-blurring primer as well as a blurring powder?
“Yes! If your main concern is skin texture/pores, doubling up will be great,” suggests the makeup artist Rose. If, however, you’re prone to acne or have particularly sensitive skin, we wouldn’t recommend doubling up on silicone-based blurring products all the time – only for those special events.
Knight adds, “Yes, you can, but I find that for longevity, wearing them together often causes them to gather on the skin. This is especially true if you have oily skin, as it can leave the finish looking a bit patchy. I’d recommend using a pore-minimising primer first and then applying a light-reflective powder on top. This combination will help create the effect of smoother skin.
What’s the best way to apply blurring powder?
“I personally like to use a blurring powder with a powder puff, alternatively if you use a brush, I would recommend a ‘press and roll’ technique to really push that powder in,” says Rose.
How do I find the perfect shade for a blurring powder?
“I would try to find a translucent shade, this way you can’t go wrong! However, if you plan to use the blurring powder just for the under-eye/T-Zone area (where there are typically most visible pores/lines) then opt for a shade with a light pink hue if you are a light skin tone, and a warm yellow hue if you are a deeper skin tone.”
Do you have any favourites?
“Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder and the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder,” are two of Rose’s favourite pore-blurring powders.
Knight offers up “MAC Studio Fix Powder and the Laura Mercier Translucent Glow Powder, as well as Indeed Labs Nanoblur,” as his go-to favourites.
Without further ado, keep scrolling for a selection of the best blurring powders on the market.
Shop now
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish
This pressed powder was borne out of the extensive expertise of renowned makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury to provide an airbrush finish with all-day appeal. There is a reason why it is one of the most popular pressed powders in the UK (and around the world) and in fact, one of these products is sold every minute - such is a testament to its quality.
The micro powder gets to work immediately offering a smoothing, perfecting finish and comes in four shades; fair, medium, tan and deep - although the latter could be more so.
Buy now £39.00, Charlotte Tilbury
Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder
One of the lesser-known labels on the cosmetics block, Kosas has a celebrity fan-based that includes Hailey Bieber among many others. This setting powder has a sheer finish for a healthy shine no matter your skin type and there are nine shades across a broad range of tones.
It takes a unique approach to texture as it appears like a mousse when in the compact. Just a swipe of a brush and it becomes like a loose powder with a blurring effect - but without the mess that this often brings.
It is packed with kind-to-skin ingredients like bamboo stem extract for its matte effect, Passionfruit Leaf Extract for its minimisation of fine lines and wrinkles and Chinese peony that blurs pores.
Buy now £32.00, Cult Beauty
Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare powder
Best for: smoothing pores
When you’ve carefully curated your look to be the perfect balance of matte and shine with highlighters, blush and foundation, the last thing you want is to incorporate a powder that will dull all radiance - that’s where Gucci Westman has got you covered.
The legendary makeup artist has formulated the Vital Pressed Skincare powder to enhance the makeup layered below without counteracting the glow. Smoothing pores, evening out tone and incorporating supercharged ingredients like vitamin C and probiotics into your complexion, this powder will become your go-to when you want your look to last.
Buy now £69.00, Selfridges
Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder
Leave it to expert makeup artist Pat McGrath Labs to come up with innovative solutions to give our makeup greater longevity. The Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder from her eponymous collection comes in four shades to suit all skin tones, colour correct and provide a lightweight veil to soften the appearance of fine lines and lock your base in place.
Buy now £31.00, Pat McGrath Labs
SKINFOOD Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder
As the name suggests, this brand harnesses the nutritious value of food into its collection of skincare and makeup so the ingredient list is actually something you’ll be able to recognise and understand. This also ensures that the products can be worn by all skin types, even those with sensitivities.
The Peach Cotton Multi Finish Powder is a hugely popular product for the filter-level airbrushed finish that it provides. The last step in your makeup routine, it forms a veil on the skin that absorbs the likes of oil and sweat to keep your cosmetics set in place with a mattifying effect. There are extracts of peach as well as sake in the formulation.
Buy now £7.34, YesStyle
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
For anyone who’s familiar with a shiny T-zone, a translucent setting powder is the answer to your problems. Not only does it provide all of the mattifying goodness, but also blurs imperfections, controls oils, minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and brightens your skin, without leaving any creasing or caking residue, so you end up with an even natural finish. The magical product you never knew you needed - just make sure you have a brush or sponge for application.
Buy now £38.50, Cult Beauty
MAC Studio Fix Pro Set+ Blur Weightless Loose Powder
When it comes to getting creative with your makeup look, there is one brand that has cut its teeth from the tools to do exactly that: MAC. From its playful shade range, to the formulas to set them firmly in place, the cosmetics label has always been at the forefront of innovation, which includes this finishing powder.
There is just one colour to suit all and it comes in a universal hue that is invisible on the skin. No matter whether you layer it over foundation, concealer, eyeliner or on bare skin, it offers a velvety look that will tame excess sebum throughout the day and after dark.
Buy now £34.00, MAC Cosmetics
Hourglass Airbrush Pressed Powder
Think of Hourglass’ Airbrush Pressed Powder as the soft-focus sister of the natural-finish, cult-favourite Translucent setting powder. This celebrity makeup artist favourite is a talc-free, pressed powder which promises a matte finish and comes with a handy puff applicator for touch-ups on the go.
Clinically proven to reduce shine and absorb excess oil, it’s infused with microspherical powders which diffuse imperfections without settling into fine lines and causing creasing.
Buy now £57.00, Cult Beauty