In modern times synthetic materials are widely used for powder puffs.
It was reported that for synthetic fibers important factors in designing high-intake powder puffs are mostly geometric ones: fiber diameter, pile length, and space between fibers, with little dependence on material factors.
[1] Powder puffs have been used as a stereotype image for soft, careless femininity, as seen, e.g., in the term "powderpuff sports", including collegiate sorority flag football leagues.
The name of the Powerpuff Girls is a pun on "powder puff".
[citation needed] American inventor Ellene Alice Bailey (1853-1897) patented several versions of powder puffs and has been described as "America’s powder puff pioneer".