Finding a setting powder to match olive skin is no mean feat but you can make that cake-y, flour-y complexion a thing of the past with ELLE's pick of the buys that will complement olive tones, rather than masking them.
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1
Giorgio Armani Microfil Loose Powder
Packed with subtle light-reflecting particles, this super-fine loose powder delicately absorbs face grease throughout the day, leaving a dull complexion with an otherworldly radiance. Those with light to dark olive skin tones will find shade 02 a perfect match – simply dust underneath the eyes and buff away.
Like an Instagram filter in a pot, NARS' loose powder erases imperfections, irons away lines and ensures your foundation base doesn't move an inch. Shades Mountain and Desert suit Mediterranean skin tones beautifully.
A staple inside many a make-up artist's beauty arsenal, this finely milled powder stops foundation from slipping off of your face before you've even reached the office. It blankets large pores and brightens tired skin in a single dusting. For those with light olive tones, Translucent is a great fit, while deeper tones suit Bronze. Laura Mercier - £29
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4
Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas Loose Powder
Thanks to its green undertones, olive skin can often look sallow, but Vincent Longo's barely-there powder in Golden Banana refines tone as well as texture for an illuminated look. The added zinc ensures your pores don't become clogged.
One sweep of this Bobbi Brown offering expertly disguises pores, but
it is so light, only you will know you are wearing it. Choose between traceless Soft Sand and Warm Neutral to keep liquid foundation or concealer from becoming patchy. The savvy sifter ensures you only use what you need.
Lighter-than-air, this meshes with skin seamlessly without settling into creases during the day. A quick dusting of Medium Light over the nose, chin and forehead will work wonders to mop up oil slicks and banish shine on olive skin. The best part? It won't appear white when the camera flash hits.
Just a light veil of this mattifying powder locks foundation into the skin for hours, meaning touch ups just aren't necessarily. Pick up Transparency 3 and swirl a little all over your foundation base using the dense and fluffy powder brush for an airbrushed finish.