I Thought Undereye Powders Were A Scam — Until I Tried This One

When I think of undereye powder, one image comes to mind: Nicole Kidman on the red carpet circa 2015. If you know what I’m talking about, it’s essentially a case study in powder and flash photography gone wrong — think noticeable flashback and a dramatically brightened, almost ghostly undereye. For that reason, I’ve never been particularly drawn to a heavily powdered under-eye; the 2016 concealer triangle never quite made it into my routine. That said, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate a little strategic color correction around my eyes to help counteract the effects of late nights, early mornings, and everyday stress. Enter Kylie Jenner, whose King Kylie era was a staple of makeup inspiration folder back in 2016. Her latest launch, Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, promises to instantly brighten dark circles, blur fine lines, and set concealer without the dryness or cakiness often associated with powder. And, perhaps most importantly, it claims to do all of that without any dreaded flashback — something you’d expect from one of the most photographed people in the world. Naturally, I put the new launch to the test to see whether this longtime skeptic could be converted. DashDividers_1_500x100 What is Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, and what are the benefits? Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder is designed to do a little bit of everything. The pressed powder promises to dial down excess shine, minimize the appearance of large pores, prevent foundation from collecting in fine lines, and smooth uneven texture. At the same time, it’s meant to set makeup and extend wear without feeling heavy or drying — a notable claim given that many brightening powders can veer chalky or emphasize texture throughout the day. Available in three color-correcting shades intended to suit a wide range of skin tones — light pink, pale yellow, and a deeper peach tone — as well as a sheer translucent, the lightweight formula is made to brighten the undereye area and help minimize the appearance of dark circles. (Thanks to coffee extract, which checks out, as caffeine is a popular ingredient in many eye creams.) And most notably, it delivers all of that without settling into fine lines or creating a cakey finish, making it an appealing option for anyone who wants a little extra coverage and radiance without the full-baked-undereye effect. What makes Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder special? Out of all the powders I’ve tried (and as someone with oily skin, I’ve tested more pressed and loose formulas than I can count) this is one of the most comfortable, least drying options I’ve come across. Unlike traditional setting powders that can leave the under-eye area looking flat or starkly matte, this formula feels surprisingly lightweight and almost creamy on the skin, despite it being a dry product. (There’s caprylic and capric triglyceride, two lightweight emollients, in the formula, as well as sunflower seed oil to aid with comfort and moisture.) What stood out most was how well it balanced oil control with a natural-looking finish. It helped keep my shine at bay — thanks to kaolin clay — and prevented my concealer from creasing throughout the day, but never crossed into patchy territory. (I was a bit nervous when I saw mica as the first ingredient, but rest assured that the powder doesn’t read as shimmery or pearly on skin.) It’s also designed to be sweat- and humidity-resistant — two qualities that are non-negotiable for me as I live in Texas — and it held up impressively well during 90° heat for nearly all day. What to know about Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder: • Blurs and smooths the undereye area for a lifted, brightened effect. • Formulated with mica, coffee extract, and vitamin E to blur and reduce the appearance of discoloration • Available in three shades (pale pink, banana yellow, and peach) and translucent. How do you use Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, and is it worth it? Whether I’m wearing it on its own or layering it over concealer, I prefer to apply a light dusting of the powder under my eyes and build up as needed. On lazy days, I wore it alone and still saw a noticeable difference in terms of discoloration and lines — the blurring effect is no joke! I tried the banana yellow shade (which was recommended to me based on the brand’s breakdown of concealer shades) on my light-medium olive skin), and the subtle color correction was perfect to counteract the purplish hazes under my eyes. I also gave the translucent shade a go, which wasn’t chalky at all on my complexion — I can’t speak for how it would look on dark and deep skin tones, but considering that a little goes a long way with this stuff, I’ve got a good feeling about how well it wears on all skin tones. (If I had to compare it to another pressed setting powder, I’d liken it to a silkier versio

Jun 17, 2026 - 17:50

I Thought Undereye Powders Were A Scam — Until I Tried This One

When I think of undereye powder, one image comes to mind: Nicole Kidman on the red carpet circa 2015. If you know what I’m talking about, it’s essentially a case study in powder and flash photography gone wrong — think noticeable flashback and a dramatically brightened, almost ghostly undereye. For that reason, I’ve never been particularly drawn to a heavily powdered under-eye; the 2016 concealer triangle never quite made it into my routine.

That said, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate a little strategic color correction around my eyes to help counteract the effects of late nights, early mornings, and everyday stress. Enter Kylie Jenner, whose King Kylie era was a staple of makeup inspiration folder back in 2016. Her latest launch, Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, promises to instantly brighten dark circles, blur fine lines, and set concealer without the dryness or cakiness often associated with powder. And, perhaps most importantly, it claims to do all of that without any dreaded flashback — something you’d expect from one of the most photographed people in the world.

Naturally, I put the new launch to the test to see whether this longtime skeptic could be converted.

DashDividers_1_500x100

What is Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, and what are the benefits?

Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder is designed to do a little bit of everything. The pressed powder promises to dial down excess shine, minimize the appearance of large pores, prevent foundation from collecting in fine lines, and smooth uneven texture. At the same time, it’s meant to set makeup and extend wear without feeling heavy or drying — a notable claim given that many brightening powders can veer chalky or emphasize texture throughout the day.

Available in three color-correcting shades intended to suit a wide range of skin tones — light pink, pale yellow, and a deeper peach tone — as well as a sheer translucent, the lightweight formula is made to brighten the undereye area and help minimize the appearance of dark circles. (Thanks to coffee extract, which checks out, as caffeine is a popular ingredient in many eye creams.) And most notably, it delivers all of that without settling into fine lines or creating a cakey finish, making it an appealing option for anyone who wants a little extra coverage and radiance without the full-baked-undereye effect.

What makes Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder special?

Out of all the powders I’ve tried (and as someone with oily skin, I’ve tested more pressed and loose formulas than I can count) this is one of the most comfortable, least drying options I’ve come across. Unlike traditional setting powders that can leave the under-eye area looking flat or starkly matte, this formula feels surprisingly lightweight and almost creamy on the skin, despite it being a dry product. (There’s caprylic and capric triglyceride, two lightweight emollients, in the formula, as well as sunflower seed oil to aid with comfort and moisture.)

What stood out most was how well it balanced oil control with a natural-looking finish. It helped keep my shine at bay — thanks to kaolin clay — and prevented my concealer from creasing throughout the day, but never crossed into patchy territory. (I was a bit nervous when I saw mica as the first ingredient, but rest assured that the powder doesn’t read as shimmery or pearly on skin.) It’s also designed to be sweat- and humidity-resistant — two qualities that are non-negotiable for me as I live in Texas — and it held up impressively well during 90° heat for nearly all day.

What to know about Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder:

• Blurs and smooths the undereye area for a lifted, brightened effect. • Formulated with mica, coffee extract, and vitamin E to blur and reduce the appearance of discoloration
• Available in three shades (pale pink, banana yellow, and peach) and translucent.

How do you use Kylie Cosmetics’ Natural Blur Brightening Powder, and is it worth it?

Whether I’m wearing it on its own or layering it over concealer, I prefer to apply a light dusting of the powder under my eyes and build up as needed. On lazy days, I wore it alone and still saw a noticeable difference in terms of discoloration and lines — the blurring effect is no joke! I tried the banana yellow shade (which was recommended to me based on the brand’s breakdown of concealer shades) on my light-medium olive skin), and the subtle color correction was perfect to counteract the purplish hazes under my eyes.

I also gave the translucent shade a go, which wasn’t chalky at all on my complexion — I can’t speak for how it would look on dark and deep skin tones, but considering that a little goes a long way with this stuff, I’ve got a good feeling about how well it wears on all skin tones. (If I had to compare it to another pressed setting powder, I’d liken it to a silkier version of Kosas’ Cloud Set, which I’ve used before and didn’t completely hate.)

I typically reach for a small fluffy brush (like the brand’s new Precise Sculpting Brush) for a sheer, diffused effect, focusing on the inner corners where my discoloration is most noticeable. But if you prefer a brighter, more snatched under-eye, you can also apply it with a powder puff and lean into more of a baking technique. To be honest, the formula is surprisingly forgiving either way, whether you’re after subtle color correction and shine control (like me) or a more full-coverage, blurred finish. I found myself wishing I had this on hand for my wedding-day glam, since it truly does photograph amazingly well.