Watch out, hot! These ingenious powders come out of the oven
14.1.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Natalie Hemengül
Not all powders are the same. If you are looking for a beautiful glow, you should pay attention to how your product was made the next time you buy it.
My favourite powders all have one thing in common: they are baked in the oven. A manufacturing process that gives them very special properties. And the best thing is that they are currently experiencing a real revival. Party hats on! We take a closer look at the little cakes to celebrate the day.
Bake, bake powder!
Have you ever used up a powder and discovered a grid pattern at the bottom? Then there's a good chance that it was a baked powder. This is because a water-based, moist mixture - called cake - is first mixed and then spread onto small clay slabs (terracotta tiles). A fine plastic grid is first placed on the tile to prevent the powder from slipping away. The grid acts as a kind of link.
These small «cakes» then move into the oven, where the many small pores in the terracotta use capillary force to draw the liquid out of the powder mass and drain it downwards. If the liquid were to simply evaporate upwards without the suction effect of the terracotta tile, the surface would dry out quickly (which can lead to cracks), while the lower part would remain moist. When the cakes are baked dry, they are also known as domes due to their characteristic, dome-like curvature.
What characterises a baked powder
- Light texture: The powders have a weightless, thin consistency.
- Natural luminosity: The manufacturing process means that the pigments retain their ability to reflect light better. Keyword glow. For comparison: classic powders are pressed dry into shape. In addition, finely ground lustre particles or minerals prevent a flat, matt complexion and give the skin a subtle radiance. In this context, the term «blurring effect» is often used. It acts like a soft focus and makes the skin look more even.
- Light to medium coverage: You like it natural? Cool, that's what baked powders are particularly good at: looking like a second skin.
- Good blendability: The ultra-fine nature of the powder ensures that the silky texture glides effortlessly over your skin and blends with your make-up.
- Less «Kick-back»: When the brush hits the powder, the amount of dust generated in the pan is minimal. This is because the pigments are glued together «» by the moisture at the start of the manufacturing process. The result: hardly any crumbs. With pressed powder, on the other hand, the pigments are layered on top of each other in a dry state, making it easier to remove them from their solid form with a brush.
Drawbacks?
Of course, there are also disadvantages. Due to its sheer nature, redness is difficult to conceal. In addition, the powder surface can glaze over time «» . This means that skin oils that get into the product via the brush bind the particles and form a kind of layer. As a result, your brush hardly absorbs any powder. However, this so-called «Hard Pan» is easy to scrape off. And while the pigments in the baked powder hold together well, the dome structure as a whole is prone to breakage. This makes it a tricky travelling companion.
You also need a good hand when it comes to tools. Tightly bound brushes with natural hairs offer more resistance and release the powder particles more easily from the solid structure. Last but not least, baked formulas are generally more expensive as they require more time and energy to produce.
Face powder
−10%
CHF29.90 was CHF33.30 CHF3986.67/1kg
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Bronze
Bronze-01
Highlighter + Bronzer
Quantity discount
CHF5.50 CHF687.50/1kg
Catrice Sun Lover Glow
01 SUNKISSED VEIL, Bronzer, 8 g
Quantity discount
CHF7.90 CHF1410.72/1kg
Catrice Soft Glam Baked
030 Cheeky Coral
CHF37.50 CHF5769.23/1kg
NEE Terracotta Bronzer Nr. 251 6.5 g
Bronzer, 6.50 g
Quantity discount
CHF5.90
essence pure NUDE sunlighter
#b87333, Bronzer
CHF28.57 CHF8928.13/1kg
MAC Cosmetics Mineralize Blush
Love Joy
−10%
CHF29.90 was CHF33.30 CHF3986.67/1kg
Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder Bronze
Bronze-01
Quantity discount
CHF5.50 CHF687.50/1kg
Catrice Sun Lover Glow
01 SUNKISSED VEIL, Bronzer, 8 g
Header image: Natalie Hemengül
Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
Beauty
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