ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Fashion and Beauty devider Affordable powders that can survive the rainy season's heat, humidity, and hulas moments

Affordable powders that can survive the rainy season's heat, humidity, and hulas moments

Blur, set, slay

Published Jun 22, 2026 08:52 pm
The rainy season may be in full swing, but let's be honest, the heat and humidity haven't gotten the memo. Whether you're commuting, running errands, or simply stepping outside for a few minutes, the combination of sweat and stickiness can quickly turn a fresh face into a shiny one. Add makeup to the equation, and you're likely dealing with unwanted shine, fading coverage, and dreaded hulas moments.
This season, heavy makeup takes a backseat. Instead, lightweight powders that mattify, blur, and refresh the skin are becoming every beauty lover's must-have. We put some of the most affordable and buzzworthy powders to the test to see which ones are worth slipping into your makeup kit.

For the ‘My Skin But Better’ look
If you're after a smooth, airbrushed finish without the heaviness, the BYS Blur Powder Foundation is a strong contender. Its lightweight, semi-matte formula effectively softens the appearance of pores and uneven texture while still allowing the skin to look natural. Although it comes with a sponge applicator, I found that a fluffy powder brush delivers a more seamless finish. For touch-ups on the go, however, the included sponge gets the job done.

For zero shade-matching stress
Finding the perfect powder shade can be tricky, which is why translucent formulas remain a crowd favorite. Lucky Beauty's Airy Blur Powder is one of the easiest products to use on this list. The finely milled powder glides smoothly onto the skin, helping reduce shine without leaving a visible cast. It's beginner-friendly, fuss-free, and comes with a soft sponge that's surprisingly effective for quick touch-ups throughout the day.

For midday rescue missions
When it comes to packaging and innovation, ChuChu Beauty stands out. Its Soft Focus Blurfix Gel Powder features a trendy gel-to-powder formula housed in a sleek compact that's easy to toss into any bag. The universal shade blends effortlessly into the skin, making midday touch-ups virtually foolproof. Beyond mattifying excess oil, it can also double as a primer, creating a smoother canvas before makeup application.

For your Barbiecore era
Beauty and nostalgia come together in this playful collaboration between Barbie and Dazzle Me. The HD Invisible Powder features a gel-to-powder formula designed to control oil while maintaining a fresh-looking complexion. What sets it apart is the addition of glycerin, which helps prevent the skin from looking overly dry or flat. It's a practical option wrapped in packagin that every Barbie enthusiast will appreciate.

For when you want more than just a touch-up
For those who prefer a little more coverage, the Barenbliss Bloomdew Cover and Glow Two-Way Cake offers versatility in a compact. It can be used for everyday wear, quick touch-ups, or layered for a more polished look without feeling cakey. The formula strikes a balance between radiance and oil control, leaving the skin looking smooth, soft, and naturally refined throughout the day.

For viral-level staying power
A powder version of L'Oréal Paris' viral Infallible line, the Infallible 24H Fresh Wear Foundation in a Powder delivers impressive coverage while maintaining a lightweight feel. It offers a fresh matte finish that lasts for hours, making it ideal for long days spent battling humidity. For fuller coverage, try dampening the sponge applicator before use. If you prefer a more natural finish, apply it dry and build coverage where needed.

For the no-makeup makeup lover
Known for creating products that are both approachable and high-performing, Vice Cosmetics has introduced the 4D Sheer Fix Baked Complexion Powder as part of its 4D Collection. The lightweight baked formula features micro-fine pigments that softly set makeup, blur the look of pores, and leave the skin with a natural, skin-like finish. Available in several shades, it's designed to deliver a fresh, skin-like finish that complements the brand's growing lineup of complexion products.
The verdict
A reliable powder can make all the difference when humidity is working against your makeup. Whether you prefer the easy versatility of a translucent powder, the convenience of a gel-to-powder formula, or the coverage of a powder foundation, these affordable picks prove that staying fresh and shine-free doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag. This rainy season, consider them your first line of defense against shine, excess oil, and makeup meltdowns.

Related Tags

Pressed powders BYS Chu Chu Lucky Beauty
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ static_articles_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.