This $7 Old School Powder Perfects My Skin

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2 days ago

For as long as I can remember, I've had an unwavering fascination for vintage aesthetics, be it midcentury furnishings, Old Hollywood films, or old school beauty products that you can still purchase in the modern day. It's no surprise then that, after discovering this one affordable and perfect-in-every-way setting powder several years ago, the Coty Airspun has remained a steadfast staple in my own makeup routine and probably always will.
With a formula harkening back to 1935 — but now updated to be talc-free —the Airspun loose powder offers skin a silky soft veil, truly befitting a silver screen starlet of yesteryear. It manages to blur imperfections and enlarged pores, secure cream and liquid foundations in place and absorb any excess oil — all while feeling imperceptible on the skin.A major upside to the Airspun powder, which I've often seen compared to the luxurious (and expensive) likes of the Laura Mercier and the One/Size setting powders, is that it won't settle into fine lines. Even when I dab a light layer of this under my eyes and around the creases of my nose, it almost absorbs into and fuses with my skin, rather than lying on top of it and creating that dreaded cakey layer.I should also point out that, as someone with naturally very dry skin, I tend to steer far from any skin cosmetics that claim to be mattifying. Not only is my skin not compatible with these types of formulas, but I also detest the chalky finish that ultimately exaggerates any flaking or dryness I might have. Though advertised as a product to mattify, this cloud-like powder doesn't dry my skin out to an inch of its life. Rather, it gives it a soft and smoothed-over appearance that subdues any unwanted shine and almost airbrushes the complexion.
Other fans of this vintage icon authenticate my Coty Airspun experience.
'I use this to set my foundation, and it doesn't crease, budge, move, or FLINCH all day,' one Amazon reviewer wrote. 'I am 47, with fine lines around my eyes, but everything else is rather oily. I set my foundation in the morning with this powder and literally don't even have to look at the rest of the day. '
Here's how I use it: After I finish applying my liquid foundation and cream products, I dab my trusty BeautyBlender Power Pocket Puff into a small amount of the loose powder shaken out into the lid, then press it into the skin on my T-zone only, specifically on around my nose, chin and center of the forehead. If I'm wearing a pencil or cream eyeliner, I'll even take a fluffy eye shadow brush and buff a very thin layer on top of the applied eyeliner and before my mascara to keep things completely budge-proof.This is also one of the most economical cosmetic products in my kit. As I mentioned, I use the powder quite sparingly (you might want to use more if your skin is more oil-prone), so one 1.23 ounce-sized container literally lasts me years, and it only sets me back $7.
I would be remiss if I forgot to mention one other component of this retro powder that, for me, adds to its signature nostalgia: the scent. While some may wrinkle their nose and cry 'granny smell!' I can't get enough, and I'm actually saddened when the slightly floral and distinctive powdery smell dissipates after just a few minutes. Imagine your great-grandmother's dressing table adorned with lipsticks and ornate bottles of perfume somehow captured in a fragrance — that's what Coty Airspun smells like.
The Coty Airspun's beauty history runs deep, and so does its dedicated fanbase, which turns out to comprise more than just me. Read what other fans of this timeless and lighter-than-air powder have to say or grab yourself a compact from any of the featured retailers.
Get it from Amazon for $6.74 (available in three shades and in two-packs).