If you’re new to the makeup world, you may wonder what banana powder is. This little-known product can be a game-changer in your makeup routine!
Makeup artists initially used banana powder in the film industry. This powder has a lot of benefits and can be used in many different ways.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss what this powder is and how you can use it to achieve a beautiful complexion.
We’ll also give you tips on choosing the right one for your skin tone. So read on to learn more!
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What Is Banana Powder?
Ben Nye, a makeup artist who worked for the Hollywood film industry, created the original banana powder.
According to Wikipedia, he founded the Ben Nye Makeup Company in 1967.
His powder is a finely milled loose powder with a yellow tint that helps to highlight the skin while color-correcting blue and dark circles under the eyes.
While the original banana luxury powder matches light to medium skin tones with yellow undertones, the Ben Nye company has since introduced many shades to cover a broader range of skin tones.
Many makeup brands have versions of banana powder with varying shades and textures.
For example, wet n wild has a banana powder that suits light to medium skin tones, and makeup revolution has manyshades of banana powder for light to dark skin tones.
What Is The Purpose Of Banana Powder?
You can use banana powder to set makeup, bake the face and highlight the skin. Its primary purpose is to create a flawless complexion.
It is often used to highlight the under eyes and cheekbones. You can also use it to color-correct blue and dark circles under the eyes.
Thanks to its fine texture, it helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, mattify the skin and give it a flawless look.
Its primary purpose is to give the skin a flawless finish that looks smooth in person, in photos, or on TV.
What Skin Tone Is Banana Powder For?
The original luxury Banana powder is suitable for light to medium skin tones with yellow undertones.
However, many makeup brands have since introduced different shades of this powder to cover a broader range of skin tones.
For example, The banana Light Luxury Powder by Ben Nye can be used with fair to light skin tones with yellow undertones.
The Honey Luxury Powder is suitable for medium to dark skin tones with golden undertones.
The banana light powder by makeup revolution is a good match for light skin tones with golden undertones.
The shade banana can work well for medium skin tones, and the shade banana deep can be a good match for medium to dark skin tones.
These powders might not work well for skin tones with pink undertones as they can give the skin an ashy appearance. If you have cool undertones, choose a pink-toned powder instead.
Best Banana Powders:
There are many different banana powders on the market. Here are our top picks:
Ben Nye Luxury Banana Powder
This powder is ideal for baking the face and brightening the complexion. It is finely milled and has a silky formula that doesn’t look cakey on the skin.
It blends easily on the skin and doesn’t leave any white cast.
This powder is available in many shades to suit different skin tones.
If you have a fair skin tone, use the shade Banana light.
For light to medium skin tones, the shade ‘Banana‘ is a good option, and the shade ‘Honey‘ is an excellent match for dark skin tones.
Wet n wild Photofocus Banana
This powder is affordable and does a great job setting makeup and brightening the under-eye area.
It has a smooth formula that blends easily into the skin.
It’s not as silky as the Ben Nye powder, but it still looks good on the skin.
This powder is available in one shade suitable for light to medium skin tones with yellow undertones.
Makeup Revolution Banana Powder
This powder is also a great affordable option. It comes in three shades:
It has a soft and finely milled formula that brightens the complexion.
It’s easy to blend and doesn’t leave the skin feeling cakey or heavy.
This powder is ideal for people with yellow undertones. If you have cool undertones, use the ‘translucent‘ shade instead.
What Are The Benefits Of Banana Powder In Makeup?
You can use this powder in many ways to achieve a flawless complexion.
Create A Smooth Finish
One of the main benefits of banana powder is that it can help to give the skin a smooth and silky finish.
Thanks to its fine texture, it can fill in fine lines and wrinkles without looking cakey.
You can use banana powder to set makeup on the entire face. Make sure you don’t apply too much so it doesn’t look cakey.
A little bit goes a long way with these powders, so you only need a small amount to cover the entire face.
Stop Concealer From Creasing
Applying banana powder under the eyes can help to prevent concealer from creasing.
Just use a small amount with a fluffy brush and blend it into the skin, which will also help brighten up the under-eye area.
If you want to take it one step further, you can use this powder to “bake” your concealer. This technique involves applying a thick layer of powder to the under-eye area.
Make sure to choose the correct shade to avoid your concealer from looking ashy.
After letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, dust off the excess powder. This will help to give the under eyes a smooth finish and prevent the concealer from creasing during the day.
Helps Mattify The Skin
You can also use banana powder to mattify the skin, which is helpful for people with oily skin as it will help to control shine and absorb excess oil.
For a matte look, I apply a generous amount to the t-zone with a powder brush or a sponge, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then dust off the excess.
This will help to control shine and give the skin a matte finish.
TIP: If you have dry skin, I recommend sparingly using banana powder as it can emphasize dry patches.
Color-Correct The Under Eyes
You can use banana powder to color-correct the under eyes.
The yellow tint in banana powders can help to counteract any blue or dark circles under the eyes.
If you have a fair to light skin tone, choose a light powder to bake your under eyes and set your concealer. Avoid using a dark shade, as it can cause your concealer to look orange.
If you have cool undertones, banana powders might not be the best choice to set your concealer. Go for a pink-toned powder instead.
Illuminate The Complexion
The banana powder can also give the skin a natural glow, as the yellow tint in this powder helps brighten up the complexion.
TIP: If you have a darker skin tone, go for a honey-toned powder instead of a light one, as it will be more flattering on your skin.
Help Sculpt The Face
The banana powder can also help to sculpt the face as you can apply it under the cheekbones to define the contour of the face.
This technique is called “baking” and it involves applying a thick layer of powder to the areas you want to highlight. After letting it sit for 5-10 minutes, dust off the excess powder.
This will help to give the skin a smooth finish and make the cheekbones stand out.
When Should You Use Banana Powder?
Banana powder is a versatile product that can be used in many ways to achieve a flawless complexion.
Apply banana powder after you apply foundation and concealer to set your makeup and illuminate the skin.
Adding this powder to your daily makeup routine or using it only for special occasions depends on your preferences.
While the baking technique is usually reserved for special occasions, you can use banana powder daily to set your makeup and achieve a natural glow.
The key is to use a small amount and to apply it only to the areas where you need it. If you have oily skin, you can use banana powder to mattify the skin and control shine.
And if you have dark circles under your eyes, the banana powder can help to color-correct them.
How To Apply Banana Powder?
The first step is to choose the right shade of powder for your skin tone. If you have a fair to light skin tone, go for a light powder.
If you have a darker skin tone, choose a honey-toned powder. Once you’ve chosen the correct shade, it’s time to start applying the powder.
Here are the steps you need to do to set the entire face with banana powder:
- Tap a small amount of powder into the lid.
- Dab a fluffy powder brush into the powder and tap off the excess.
- Apply the powder to the skin by gently pressing it all over the face.
For the baking technique, the best way to apply banana powder is with a makeup sponge. You can use a fluffy brush, but I find that a makeup sponge provides a better natural look.
TIP: Dampen your makeup sponge gently with water before applying the powder, which will help prevent the powder from looking cakey on the skin.
To Bake Your face with banana powder, follow these steps:
- Tap a small amount of powder into the lid.
- Dab the makeup sponge into the powder.
- Apply the powder to the skin by gently pressing the sponge under the eyes and under the cheekbones.
- Wait 5-10 minutes for the powder to set.
- Dust off the excess powder with a fluffy brush.
Banana Powder Before And After
Here’s a before and after photo to show you the difference banana powder can make:
I used the wet n wild banana powder in the shade ‘521B banana’.
This powder has a silky texture that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. It has a light to medium yellow tint and is suitable for light to medium skin tones.
I used the baking technique for the under eyes, and as you can see, the powder helped to brighten up the under eyes and set the concealer in place.
I also applied a small amount all over the face to set the foundation and give my skin a natural glow.
If you’re looking for an affordable powder that does the job, this one from wet n wild is a great option.
Banana Powder Vs Translucent Powder
Many people are often confused about the difference between banana powder and translucent powder.
Translucent powder is a colorless setting powder that can be used on many skin tones. It helps to set makeup and control shine, but it doesn’t have the yellow tint that banana powder has.
This means it won’t color-correct the under eyes or brighten the skin as the banana powder does.
On medium to dark skin tones, some translucent powders can appear ashy. You won’t experience ashy or gray tones with banana powder because of the yellow tint.
It is ideal for those who want to set their makeup and brighten their complexion. It’s also great for those with dark circles under their eyes because it can help color-correct them.
However, if you want to set your makeup and control shine, either powder will work.
Can You Use Banana Powder As Setting Powder?
Yes, banana powder can be used as a setting powder.
Setting powders are available in loose or pressed formulas, and they help to set makeup and control shine.
Banana powders can also set the makeup and help to brighten up the skin, color-correct the under eyes, and control shine.
They work great for baking the face because of their finely milled formula that feels lightweight on the skin.
If you have oily skin, you can also use banana powder to control shine and mattify the skin.
Whatever your skin type, this powder a great option to set your makeup and keep it in place all day long.
Make sure to choose the right shade for your skin tone to prevent your makeup from looking grey.
Conclusion
Banana powder is a yellow-tinted, finely milled loose powder created by makeup artist Ben Nye to help set makeup while brightening the complexion.
It’s ideal for bridal makeup, film, and stage makeup because it gives the skin a silky and smooth finish.
You can also use it for baking the face, color-correcting under the eyes, and controlling shine.
When shopping for banana powder, choose the right shade for your skin tone so that your makeup doesn’t look grey.
If you’re looking for an affordable banana powder that does the job, this photofocus powder and this loose powder are great options.
Do you use banana powder in your makeup routine? Let us know in the comments below!
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