The Triumphant Return of Pressed Powder

“The newest pressed and setting powders are an enormous step up from those we used to know,” assures Krupa Koestline, a beauty chemist and chief beauty officer at KKT Labs, including that manufacturers like Uncommon Magnificence “actually nailed it” on their formulation. “These powders are tremendous effective and mix into the pores and skin fantastically, so you aren’t getting that cakey look. They make the most of ultra-light emollients and powders that assist the product keep put longer and never switch as a lot.” Consider these new powders as what a BB cream is to basis: Moderately than including a noticeable layer of make-up, they sit frivolously on and transfer with the pores and skin, gently blurring your pores and skin’s pure tone and texture quite than attempting to cowl it up utterly.

When you’re not fairly able to dive head-first right into a matte second, you may nonetheless profit from having a powder in your make-up bag. “Tendencies come and go, however everybody wants a superb setting powder. I positively suppose there’s a place for each dewy and matte merchandise within the make-up universe,” says celeb make-up artist Katie Jane Hughes, who’s working with Tower28 for the launch of its GetSet powder. “Sure areas, like below the nostril or eyes, should not be too dewy, and setting powder is ideal for mattifying these spots.” The professional says that powder may even add oomph to a spotlight: “Making use of powder round your mouth or below your cheek may improve dewy highlights [on other parts of your face], making them pop.”

What units these newer formulation aside from extra conventional pressed powders is that they’re finer, extra versatile, and general extra natural-looking.“Folks have been frightened of powders previously as a result of the particles was so thick,” celeb make-up artist Hung Vanngo informed Attract backstage on the Oscar de la Renta pre-spring 2025 present, the place Uncommon Magnificence’s new method was used on fashions (Vanngo is Selena Gomez’s long-time make-up artist). “I really like glowy, wholesome pores and skin,” he mentioned. “However sure areas must be managed.”

Movie star make-up artist Sean Harris, who has labored with Beyonce and Jordan Chiles, agrees—including that there’s a effective line between dewy and drowning in sweat. “Particularly throughout the summer time warmth, it’s essential to create a velvety matte complexion that also seems to be recent and may stand up to the weather,” he says.

Make-up artists seemingly aren’t the one ones who approve. Though most of those launches are too new to measure metrics, Hourglass launched its Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder in April; the model says it bought out inside 72 hours. And per Google Tendencies, “pressed powder” is presently being looked for greater than ever (or not less than since 2004, the earliest yr accessible for monitoring).