I am going to start this post by saying that I genuinely have not been to Target in months.

This week I found myself with a little time to kill in a specific part of town, and there happened to be a Target nearby. Before I walked in, I gave myself the usual pep talk because, like many of you, I have a tendency to spend more than I planned at Target – especially if I haven’t been there in a while.

And yes… admittedly, that happened.

But something else happened that completely caught me off guard.

One of the things I went in for was an eyeshadow. There’s a specific inexpensive brand and a specific color that I love. It’s kind of my thing, and I was out.

What I wasn’t prepared for was discovering that every single makeup company in the makeup aisle had multiple loose setting powders.

What?

We’ve already talked in this space about how trends come back around, but honestly, I had no idea we were doing loose setting powder again.

So naturally… I came home and went down the rabbit hole.

For the last several years, makeup has been moving toward a much more natural, dewy look. The goal was to achieve skin that actually looked like skin.

Loose setting powder never completely disappeared, but makeup artists started using it much more strategically. Instead of dusting it all over the face, they used tiny amounts only where makeup tended to crease or get shiny.

But then social media got hold of it.

Beauty influencers on TikTok started demonstrating these techniques, millions (apparently!) of people copied them, and makeup companies responded. 

Today’s powders are much finer than the ones many of us older gals remember, and they’re designed to blur, brighten, and set specific areas instead of flattening your whole face.

Which explains why every makeup brand at Target suddenly seemed to have an entire collection of them.

I am not exaggerating when I say “entire.”

Brightening

Translucent

Hydrating

Banana

Blurring

Talc-free

Lavender

Long-wear

Honey

Soft-focus

Mineral

Peach

Finishing

HD

Pink

Oil-control

Yellow

Radiant

Deep

Matte

Setting

Natural

Green

Silica-based

The fact that “powder is back” wasn’t that surprising.  Trends swing back and forth all the time. (Welcome back, side part!)

But standing in that aisle was completely overwhelming. I realized I couldn’t have purchased a loose setting powder if my life depended on it.

I had no idea what problem I was trying to solve.

My absolutely gorgeous makeup artist friend Callie (probably wouldn’t buy her makeup at Target but I bet she) would look at those same shelves and immediately start asking questions:

• Do I need to reduce shine?
• Brighten under-eyes?
• Blur texture?
• Avoid dryness?
• Set concealer?

Why?

Because when we know what we need, more options become useful. 

But when we don’t know what we need, more options feel like chaos.

And yes, this applies to a lot more than the makeup aisle. 

Most of us spend a lot of time trying to make better decisions.

Should I buy this house?
Should I leave this job?
Should I read this book?
Should I change my major?
Should I take this medication?

And we often just start by gathering all the options.

But thinking about Callie being in the makeup aisle reminded me that experts make decisions differently. 

They start with better questions.

If you’re in the middle of a decision, here’s how you could make it easier for yourself – BEFORE looking at all the options.

First, define the problem you’re trying to solve.
“I need somewhere to live” is a different problem than “I want more space.” “I’m unhappy at work” is different from “I need a healthier boss.”

Next, decide what a good outcome would look like.
Knowing what you’re hoping to create immediately narrows the field.

Finally, consider the options that actually solve the problem.
Not every possibility deserves equal attention. Look for the ones that help you make the decision you’re actually facing.

Now you’re comparing a handful of meaningful choices instead of sorting through everything available.

I can’t wait to hear about a decision that became easier once you got clear on the problem you were trying to solve. And if you’d like help sorting through the options, asking better questions, or finding a little more clarity, I’d love to be your coach. I actually am an expert in that.

PS Since my absolutely gorgeous makeup artist friend Callie accidentally became part of this whole post, I asked her which loose setting powders she actually recommends.

• Laura Mercier Ultra Blur Loose Setting Powder – Great for blurring pores and fine lines while giving a soft, natural finish. Especially nice for normal, dry, and mature skin.
• L’Oréal Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder – A more affordable option that helps blur texture, controls shine, and keeps makeup looking fresh throughout the day.
• Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Setting Powder – Wonderful for brightening under the eyes, setting concealer, and giving makeup a smooth, long-lasting finish. It also comes in a wide variety of shades.
• e.l.f. Set It Bright Loose Setting Powder – Designed to brighten and color-correct while setting makeup. A great budget-friendly choice if your goal is to look a little more awake and refreshed.

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PPS If you liked this post – or any others, I’d love you to pass me and my work on to a friend.  They can find out much more about me here if they’re interested!