September has a way of telling the truth about our makeup.

All summer, we reached for the dewy, glassy, "I just

drank eight glasses of water" glow — and it worked, because

summer is forgiving. But now the mornings are cooler, the

light is sharper, and that same glowy base is doing

something different: by mid-morning, it reads as shine. My

base looks perfect at 9 a.m. and shiny by 10:30, and I have

heard it from enough women to know I'm not the only one.

That's why I'm so glad fall 2026 has a new answer for our

complexions — and it's called velvet skin.

Velvet skin is the return of matte, but it is NOT the flat,

powdery matte from years ago. This season's matte is

soft-focus and plush: skin that looks smooth and velvety, with a finish that feels polished rather than

heavily made up. The beauty editors behind this trend

describe it as lightweight skin tint where you actually

need coverage, plus a finely milled powder pressed

strategically through the areas that get shiny — with

dimension brought back on the cheeks through cream blush or

a satin highlighter. Not all-over glow, not all-over matte.

Velvet: smooth in the middle, alive at the edges.

Here's the part I love as a Mary Kay Independent Beauty

Consultant: this trend was practically written for one of

my favorite products — Mary Kay® Silky Setting Powder.

Why this product fits the velvet skin trend

Silky Setting Powder delivers exactly what velvet skin asks

for: a photo-ready, soft-focus effect in twelve

complexion-perfecting, skin tone-matching, silky-smooth

shades. It minimizes shine while giving natural-looking

color correction, so the look of uneven tone and minor

imperfections is softened without that "made up" feeling.

The formula is a real multitasker. A plant-based emollient

keeps it feeling whisper-light while helping minimize

dryness and flakiness — which is the whole difference

between old-school powdery matte and this season's velvet

finish. It's dermatologist-tested, tested for skin

irritancy and allergy, suitable for sensitive skin, and

non-comedogenic. And it's free from mineral oil,

fragrance, wax, silicones, and parabens.

It also plays well with everything else in your routine.

Wear it alone as a subtle complexion enhancer on those

"less is more" days — it gives you that soft-focus veil

with barely any effort — or layer it over your favorite

foundation or CC Cream to set your look and extend its

wear.

How to get the velvet finish: my 3 steps

Step one: with the lid on, gently shake the powder jar to

dispense the powder. This keeps the application light and

even — you never want to dunk a brush into a loose powder.

Step two: remove the lid, lightly swirl a big fluffy powder

brush (my pick is the Mary Kay All-Over Powder Brush, $16)

into the powder, then tap off the excess. Tapping off is

the step everyone skips, and it's the step that keeps the

finish velvet instead of cakey.

Step three: apply first to the center of your face and work

your way outward toward the hairline and jawline, blending

well. Center first is the whole strategy: your T-zone is

where shine shows up first, so that's where the powder

goes. Keep it off the high points of your cheeks for now —

you'll bring dimension back there with blush or a soft

highlighter, which is what separates velvet skin from flat

matte.

Shade and selection guidance

With twelve naturally-you shades ranging from fair ivory

through beautifully bronze, there's a true-to-you match —

and here's a tip that helps: choose the shade that matches

your overall complexion rather than your lightest spot.

Since this powder can subtly color-correct, going with your

true tone gives you the most even, natural-looking result.

If you sit between shades, I usually recommend the slightly

deeper one for fall — skin tends to be warmest right after

summer.

Who it's for

If your makeup separates or gets shiny before noon, this

is your product. If you've avoided powders because the

last one made you look dry or chalky, the plant-based

emollient in this formula is the reason to give powder

another chance. And if you love the "less is more" vibe —

tinted SPF, a little blush, done — Silky Setting Powder

worn alone is one of the easiest one-step complexion fixes

in the catalog.

Fall is a season of fresh starts for our routines, and your

complexion deserves one too. Press the powder through the

center of your face, leave your cheeks alive, and let your

skin do the talking — softly.

Ready to find your velvet? Visit BeautyWithErica.com or

shop my Mary Kay site at www.marykay.com/wsa — and message

me anytime if you need help picking your shade. Choosing

the right match is literally my favorite part of what I

do.

— Erica, Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant |

BeautyWithErica.com