I Tested Natasha Denona’s New Setting Powder in a Downpour—and My Makeup Survived

I stood in the pouring rain watching Charli XCX’s legendary Lollapalooza set last weekend—and somehow, my makeup didn’t look too bad afterward. Amid a full day running from stage to stage in Chicago’s humidity, my foundation didn’t really budge. Not magic; it was all Natasha Denona’s new Hy-Glam Setting Powder.Although I’ve had oily skin most of my life, I still avoid setting powder as much as I can. I despise the cakey finish, opting for glowy, natural skin, even if it means sacrificing some longevity. But at a festival (or any outdoor summer event), forgoing powder isn’t really an option unless I want makeup running down my face by 5 p.m. I’ve had to test many formulas over the years to find the right one for this specific occasion. I was pretty sure I’d found the perfect one, but Lollapalooza proved to be the best testing situation to really see how well the claims for Natasha Denona’s powder would hold up. Spoiler: That whole “waterproof” thing is legit.Key ingredientsRaspberry plant extract, mica, dimethiconeShadesJust one, translucent option with no coverageSkin typesBest for oily/combo, but not drying either so suitable for some dry skinAbout the formula Natasha Denona isn’t the makeup brand for clean girls, necessarily. Known for their eyeshadow palettes and full-coverage foundation and concealer, the brand understands glam. And because it’s helmed by a professional, the namesake Natasha Denona, it’s no surprise the products would help you achieve a full look.The Hy-Glam Setting Powder is its newest SKU, modeled to work with the foundation and concealer of the same name. It’s a translucent, loose powder to set and blur skin, but it also claims to make any product you put under it waterproof, sweatproof, and oil-controlling. The powder comes with a puff in the compact (a twist-off lid with a cover on top of the sifter that helps eliminate mess), but the brand also sells a sponge for a more airbrushed finish.Beth Gillette/CosmopolitanSweating after MUNA.Beth Gillette/CosmopolitanAlso sweating during 5 Seconds of Summer, lol.How I testedThe first few times I tried this powder, it was under normal conditions. A day commuting to the office, a night out with friends. The usual. I tested under a few different base formulas, including my go-to skin tint, full-coverage foundation, and even a tinted sunscreen. It performed well enough that I figured I’d really see how far the waterproof, longwear, and sweatproof claims could go at Lollapalooza, a four-day music festival in Chicago.It’s truly wild the wretched weather I went through from start to finish. From sun beating down on me in 85-degree heat to pre-thunderstorm humidity to pouring rain to flooding and mud pits, my makeup went through a lot. But I applied it every single day, finishing it off each morning with a healthy dusting of Hy-Glam Setting Powder.My reviewPackagingI am in love with the packaging of this powder. I believe every loose powder should come like this. It doesn’t get all over my vanity when I’m trying to apply, and best of all, it doesn’t spill into my bag when I pack it.Add Cosmopolitan as a preferred source in your Google search results.Use your Google account to add this to your settings.Beth Gillette/CosmopolitanBefore powder.Beth Gillette/CosmopolitanAfter powder.FinishThis isn’t the most blurring powder I’ve ever used, but it definitely makes my skin look smoother and more even. I also noticed it doesn’t cling to dry patches or texture on my skin. It’s not so mattifying that you couldn’t use it on dry skin, though. Fellow editor Sarah Maberry tested the formula on her dry skin and didn’t find that it was too heavy. But I would say the waterproof and sweatproof powers likely appeal most to oily skin.Beth Gillette/CosmopolitanRight after I put the powder on my skin compared to 10 hours later, after dancing in the rain, trudging through the mud, and sweating through my poncho.LongevityI could honestly let my before-and-afters do a lot of the talking. I cannot believe how well this makes my makeup last. Regardless of what I put underneath—dewy tinted moisturizer, concealer, blurring foundation, you name it—the formulas last significantly longer when I pat this on top. In the photo above, I can see how my eyeshadow has faded, my lashes have drooped, and my lip liner has disappeared. But my acne, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin texture remain covered up through it all. I can still see traces of my blush too, which is usually the first product to fade on my skin.Final verdictIf you have a long night ahead of you, strong weather, or a day in the sun, this setting powder might be the secret weapon to keep your makeup intact. It certainly was mine. Will I wear it every single day? Probably not. But the use cases for sweat-proofing my makeup are pretty damn high, so I’ll be keeping a tub of this on deck at all times now.Why trust Cosmopolitan? Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with eight years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair, makeup, nail, and fragrance stories.Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.