This Fan-Favorite Powder Is Beloved by Makeup Artists, and Now You Can Get It Talc-Free

Photo: Laura Mercier & W+G Creative
Quick poll: What’s your makeup mood this season? Are you deep-diving into glam tutorials on TikTok? Spending hours perfecting a cat eye? All about au naturel? Whether you’re the go-for-bold or the minimalist makeup type, it’s that back-to-busy time of year, and you need a look that’ll keep up with your schedule.

The one thing that deserves a permanent (read: long-lasting) spot in your cosmetic bag? According to Jerry Johnson, national artistry executive at Laura Mercier, it’s setting powder. “The setting step is key if you want your makeup to last,” he says. “It’s a quick and easy final step to lock in your makeup and ensure longevity with the added bonus of leaving your skin with your desired finish.”

You might have heard the internet swooning over the staying power of Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder, but if you haven't added it to your collection yet, now's the time—because a new talc-free version just dropped at Sephora.

Want more intel on why makeup artists love it? Johnson is sharing the scoop on the talc-free option, plus tips on how to use setting powder in your daily routine—no matter what your fall makeup mood is.

Keep reading to get a makeup artist's take on talc-free setting powder.

The scoop on lasting makeup

For a little background, Laura Mercier's years of experience as an editorial and celebrity makeup artist led her to develop her philosophy of makeup to enhance your unique features rather than change them. For her, this means leaning into the French "no-makeup makeup" look, but the philosophy applies for bolder looks, too, if that's your style.

“Throughout her career as a makeup artist, Laura began to observe that several products were missing from the traditional cosmetics marketplace,” Johnson says. “Her passion for embracing each client's individual beauty and celebrating one’s unique features using as little makeup as possible is still at the core of the brand and its innovations today.”

Case in point: The 16-hour wear and soft matte finish of the setting powder collection preserves and perfects your makeup look, without feeling caked on or ending up with photo flashback in pics—so you still look and feel like you. (And thousands of five-star reviewers can attest.)

The case for talc-free setting powder

So why go talc-free? “Laura recognized our consumers’ growing interest in a talc-free setting option,” Johnson says. “We knew we had a huge opportunity in meeting the evolving needs of our customers without sacrificing all the benefits our consumers love.”

While the original Translucent Loose Setting Powder is great for curbing shine on oily skin, the new Ultra-Blur Talc-Free Translucent Loose Setting Powder is infused with super-hydrating hyaluronic acid for even more comfort on all complexions—even if you have dry skin.

The soft-matte finish is available in three shades—translucent, honey, and medium-deep—to give a soft and smooth feel to every skin tone without leaving a white cast. And, ingredients such as amino acids and silica powders help blur the look of pores, fine lines, and blemishes.

A makeup artist’s setting secrets

Johnson likes to pair the setting powder with Secret Camouflage Concealer, which comes in a two-shade compact, and Tinted Moisturizer Blush, which gives his skin all the hydrated, energized feels. But beyond relying on it to set face makeup, he has a few unconventional uses for the powder, too.

“One of my favorite tricks is to use the Translucent Loose Setting Powder to set brows. This ensures the length of wear of any brow product, and also softens the appearance of the finished brow,” he says. And one more pro tip? “I love to add a small amount to the lashes prior to applying mascara for extra volume. This works so well to…create a volumized effect while helping reduce the risk of smudging.”

With an Ultra-Blur Talc-Free in your cosmetic bag and these makeup-artist-approved tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be prepped for any and every makeup-wearing occasion the season brings. Ready, set… set.

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