Meet Our Party-Season Make-Up MVP

Few products have achieved true cult status in the beauty world but Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder is one of them. Loved by make-up artists, editors and beauty fans alike, this silky, finely-milled powder is the gold standard for setting make-up and delivering a comfortable matte finish. If you’ve struggled with powders that look chalky, cake around the nose or leave behind a tell-tale flashback in photos, this is the formula you need – especially with party season around the corner. 

A global bestseller, this is what we’re reaching for when we need our make-up to look good for hours on end. Provence-born Laura Mercier started out at art school before swapping canvases for faces, ultimately launching her eponymous brand in 1996. Working on major ad campaigns and editorial spreads, she found she needed a product that could mattify the skin for a close-up but wouldn’t show up on camera or disrupt the existing base – and so this beauty icon was born. 

Designed with the needs of a make-up artist in mind, performance is one of the key reasons why it remains such a staple. The formula offers up to 16 hours of wear, locking in foundation and concealer with impressive hold – a godsend for those with oily skin. Available in four shades, it blurs pores, softens texture and even creates that diffused, almost airbrushed look that flatters all skin types and ages. For those prone to oil – especially around the T-zone – it reduces shine without ever looking flat or powdery. 

At the heart of its appeal is the texture. It’s incredibly finely-milled, meaning it feels lightweight and silky on the skin. Plus, the inclusion of botanical blurring powder means it doesn’t sit heavily in fine lines. It’s also full of skin-friendly ingredients like vitamin C and E powders and amino acids, all of which work in tandem to brighten and boost the longevity of the formula. 

Even when applied generously – for example, when baking under the eyes – it never feels dry or heavy. Instead, it’s virtually undetectable once blended, allowing your base products to show through while reducing any unwanted shine. It also comes into its own before a special occasion as it photographs beautifully, meaning no annoying flashback.