That gives an useful keyword to search for, "Aerosil". Finds among other stuff this document, which describes various uses of this silica stuff: https://glenncorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Aerosil_Sip...
Very fascinating peek to behind the curtain of cosmetics industry. The "dry water" stuff is in the last pages. Apparently their advertised "powder to cream" cosmetics are popping up in the market. They have a demo video of the stuff, but in that it doesn't seem to work all that well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmQTOU1KBkw
The commercial products using it (or similar stuff) seem to work fine though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QURu28QTlMU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_Bcyo4GmrY
(and now youtubes algorithms will be confused why I'm suddenly looking at makeup videos at the middle of night)
Imagine you could press it through a filter of appropriate size to block the silicate but permit the water ?
I'd like to see someone interact with it - is it possible to get "wet" from dry water? Can you get the water back out?