We Tested 4 New Makeup Launches—Here’s What Performed

Bottom Line: Four New Launches, One Clear Standout

New makeup launches tested by editors in real‑world conditions—heat, humidity, long office days, and even heavy rain—are the most reliable way to judge performance, comfort, and value beyond brand claims.

After putting four buzzy products through long days and sweaty nights, the verdict is clear: Natasha Denona’s Hy-Glam Setting Powder is the workhorse for anyone who needs setting powder durability above all else, while Hung Vanngo’s Red Carpet Skin Luminous Foundation is the most versatile base if you are willing to learn its coverage sweet spot. NARS Notorious Mascara earns high marks for clean, extended lashes but stops short of a dramatic falsies effect, and Patrick Ta’s Major Sculpt Shape & Shade Anywhere Artistry Sticks shine for detail work more than fast, all-over sculpting. Together they form an editor-approved makeup products short list for soft glam fans and perfectionist detail-lovers, not minimalists or those who dislike any learning curve.

Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Setting Powder: Built for Storms

This translucent loose powder is designed to set and blur skin while making whatever sits underneath more waterproof, more sweatproof, and more oil-controlling. On paper it sounds like another full-glam powder, but the real surprise is how it behaves under stress: one editor wore it through an 85-degree festival day, pre-thunderstorm humidity, pouring rain, flooding, and mud pits, and her base makeup stayed put. Ten hours later—after dancing in the rain and sweating under a poncho—her complexion still looked intact, which is the kind of durability most powders only promise on the box.

Design-wise, the compact includes a puff and a twist-off lid with a covered sifter to minimize mess, with an optional sponge for a more airbrushed finish. The feel on skin is surprisingly flexible for a long-wear formula: it controls shine on oily and combination skin without turning patchy, and it isn’t so drying that some drier complexions can’t use it. Trade-offs? It is still a powder—if you hate any soft-focus matte effect, you will notice it. But if you have been burned by cakey powders, this is one of the few that can handle extreme conditions and stay comfortable.

NARS Notorious Mascara: Clean Length Over Heavy Drama

Notorious aims to be a do-it-all mascara, promising lift, length, volume, definition, humidity resistance, and several hours of wear. Its formula uses a water-first base with flexible film-forming polymers that wrap each lash, plus waxes and conditioning oils to build body. In practice, that translates to long, fanned-out lashes that stay defined instead of clumping into heavy spikes. One editor focused on length and separation, while another insisted on a “defined, weightless-looking lash,” and both were satisfied with the result.

The brush’s slim, slightly wavy shape with mixed-length bristles combs through lashes to keep them separated while depositing enough product to build intensity. Two coats kept lashes curled through some of the most humid summer days with only a faint shadow under the eyes, likely from rubbing rather than smudging. The main downside is texture: this is a very wet mascara, so it needs a moment to dry and can transfer if you blink too soon. Some users may wish for more volume; if you want a false lash effect, you may still reach for another tube, but if your idea of the best performing mascara is one that elongates and fans out without flaking, this fits.

Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Shape & Shade Anywhere Artistry Sticks: Precision Over Speed

These new sculpting sticks are not standard chunky contour tools; they are slim, double-ended sticks made to enhance smaller, precise areas like the eyes, lips, nose, and jawline rather than only carving cheekbones. The formula walks a deliberate line between creaminess and staying power: it glides on, stays blendable for a short window so you can soften edges with the built-in brush or fingertips, then sets down with the lasting power of an eyeshadow stick combined with the blendability of a contour stick.

In use, they excel at detail work: shading the sides of the nose, adding depth at the lash line, or subtly reshaping the lips without bleeding into fine lines. These sticks feel made for days when you want to spend more time perfecting your makeup rather than racing through it; the format rewards patience and a light hand. The trade-off is that they are less efficient for broad, speedy contouring and may feel fiddly if you prefer swipe-and-go products. If your sculpting sticks review wish list includes surgical precision and all-day wear more than convenience, these belong in your kit.

Hung Vanngo Red Carpet Skin Luminous Foundation: A Flexible Base with a Learning Curve

Hung Vanngo’s debut foundation is a serum-style liquid that aims for long-wear, medium-to-full coverage and a blurred, softly radiant finish, powered by dimethicone, niacinamide, squalane, hyaluronic acid, and a film-forming polymer to boost longevity. The shade range spans 38 options, built by prioritizing depth first and designing each shade to be neutral by default, with subtle golden or cool shifts so more people can match within eight tone families. Two editors—a dry-skinned assistant and an oily-skinned beauty lead—tested the formula for two weeks to see how it behaved across skin types.

On oily skin, the foundation stayed intact after eight hours at the office and commuting through peak summer humidity, with no fading at the jawline, no breakdown around the mouth, and no settling into lines or dry patches. For dry, sensitive skin, the initial application felt too heavy and too full-coverage when over-applied, but a second trial with proper skin prep and a dewy primer made the finish more comfortable and flattering. The main con is that using too much product quickly shifts it from natural to mask-like, so this base rewards thin layers and careful blending. If you are willing to experiment, it can become a customizable everyday or event foundation for multiple skin types.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Setting Powder if you need makeup to survive heat, humidity, or rain without budging and do not mind a soft-matte finish.
• Skip the Natasha Denona Hy-Glam Setting Powder if you avoid powders entirely or prefer a dewy, unset look even at the expense of longevity.
• Buy the NARS Notorious Mascara if your priority is long, fanned-out lashes with clean separation and reliable, humidity-resistant wear.
• Skip the NARS Notorious Mascara if you dislike wet mascaras or want intense, high-volume drama from a single product.
• Buy the Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Shape & Shade Anywhere Artistry Sticks if you love detailed contouring and want slim, precise sculpting tools for eyes, lips, nose, and jawline.
• Skip the Patrick Ta Major Sculpt Shape & Shade Anywhere Artistry Sticks if you prefer quick, broad contour sticks and minimal fuss in your routine.
• Buy the Hung Vanngo Red Carpet Skin Luminous Foundation if you want a neutral-toned, buildable base tested on both dry and oily skin for two weeks and can commit to testing your ideal amount.
• Skip the Hung Vanngo Red Carpet Skin Luminous Foundation if you dislike medium-to-full coverage, dislike neutral undertones, or prefer sheer, slap-on-and-go skin tints.