Hannah Betts’ Better…Not Younger: The new power powders that blur away all signs of ageing 

A friend expressed astonishment when I declared I had to powder my nose the other day — and proceeded to do exactly that.

‘I was sure that had to be a euphemism,’ she gawped. ‘Surely no one actually powders their nose any more?’

‘How can you not use powder?’ I quizzed. ‘A quick, all-over dusting come morning, then nose, forehead and chin touch-ups during the day. Doesn’t everyone?’

Both of us were thrown into states of incredulity. For her, powder meant old-school, vintage compacts wielded by women ancient even by our standards, who want to create a leaden, pancake mask.

To me, powder spells a contemporary, faux-youth bestowing magic wand, something that — if used judiciously — casts a luminous, soft-focus veil.

I can’t say she was immediately convinced when I dragged her into Boots to purchase e.l.f. Perfect Finish HD Powder (£7.50, boots.com), along with a nice, fat Boots Powder Brush (£5, boots.com).

‘But, it’s bright white!’ she bleated. ‘I’m going to look like Bette Davis in What Ever Happened To Baby Jane?’ ‘Look,’ I bulldozed, ‘things have moved on.’

E.l.f’s perfecting power powder is a beautiful, budget product that not only fixes your slap in place but blurs pores, fills wrinkles and will make you look ten years younger. Far from something to be avoided in middle-age, this next-level make-up is a must.

After all, if you love subtle, natural-looking, modern foundations, you need to secure them with a similarly subtle, natural-looking, modern powder.

Get it right and you won’t need to mess about with primer or setting spray. You’ll just have a long-lasting, artfully perfected face.

Seeing is believing and my friend is now a convert. In fact, she’s so won over, she’s also invested in the loose rather than compact version of this wonder, e.l.f. High Definition Powder (£6.50, elfcosmetics.co.uk) and is experimenting with e.l.f.’s Halo Glow Setting Powder (£8, elfcosmetics.co.uk).

The latter comes in three shades with similar airbrush tech and my friend tells me that it renders her Zoom-ready and that she likes to apply it with the brand’s Halo Glow Puff (£4, elfcosmetics.co.uk) for a ‘flawless finish’. I have basically created a powder addict.

Still, I feel the same about Charlotte Tilbury’s creations. Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish (£38, charlottetilbury.com) is the compact I always carry about, ready for essential T-zone restoration. In four colours, it actively improves matters, blurring and brightening so beautifully that one of these is sold every minute.

The brand also boasts the newish, yet already fantastically popular, Airbrush Brightening Flaw- less Finish (£38, charlotte tilbury.com), a pearly powder compact in two hues which, when used under the eyes, promises to reduce the look of dark circles.

(I’m not a fan of powder here as a rule — too prone to collapsing into crevices — but some experts insist on it.) I now use these two hits pretty much interchangeably. Midlifers who worry their complexions veer towards the oily and long for a fresh but matte effect, will want Clinique Superpowder Double Face Powder (£33, clinique.co.uk).

A multi-tasking powder foundation and/or finishing powder, this has been with us for over two decades. It is justly famous for its pore-minimising prowess and clings without caking or clogging. If only the brand would create some lighter and darker tones.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder (£35.50, bobbi brown.co.uk) makes an extremely good middle ground between ‘improving’ and blotting, being a professional favourite.

Meanwhile — if fairy dust is more your thing — Dior has limited-edition spring Dior Forever Cushion Powder in Mitzah (£54, dior.com), a rosy-beige glow in a leopard-print case, and Millefiori (£51, dior.com), a (literally) glittering, lavender pink shimmer in a floral compact. Powder fetishists will flock.

RACE YOU TO IT! 

MY ICON OF THE WEEK

DREW BARRYMORE 

The 48-year-old actress argues: ‘You need a concealer and a lipstick. You can make blush out of it or contour with it. Really you only need two items in your purse.’ She admires Sunday Riley Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment (£70, spacenk.com) and Garnier Ultimate Blends No Rinse Strengthening Conditioner (£3.49, boots.com). 

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