The main component of latex powder puffs is latex, a foamed material based on natural or synthetic rubber. According to publicly available information, latex powder puffs can be specifically categorized into the following materials:
Natural Rubber (NR): Extracted from the latex of rubber trees, it was the earliest material used for powder puffs. It has good elasticity but moderate aging resistance and tends to become brittle with prolonged use.
Nitrile Rubber (NBR): Copolymerized from acrylonitrile and butadiene, it possesses excellent elasticity, oil resistance, and aging resistance. It is not easily deformed when wet and can be used both wet and dry, making it the mainstream material for mid-to-high-end powder puffs.
Styrene-Butadiene Rubber (SBR): Lower in cost and more absorbent, but its elasticity and durability are inferior to NBR. It is often used in disposable or low-priced powder puffs. In addition, some products will be labeled as "non-latex" materials, such as hydrophilic polyurethane (commonly known as "water-swellable"), which expands when wet and applies makeup smoothly, but is prone to mold; or silicone, which does not absorb powder and is easy to clean, but the makeup finish is somewhat stiff.