Best powder I've found for my combination skin. EVER.
And believe me, have I searched!!! I'm 28 with fair combination skin, meaning when I do break out, I have red spots for weeks at a time. I also sometimes get fairly large clogged pores on my nose, and some redness on my cheeks. Also have very fine lines under and around my eyes (late 20's) that always seem to attract makeup, in a bad way. I've tried all of the expensive mineral powders, the tinted moisturizers, you name it, I've probably at least tested it or it's sitting, collecting dust in my failed beauty product graveyard. I tried this on at Sephora. I was curious to see how it would look as a touch up powder so I applied it over whatever creasing, shiny makeup I had already been wearing all day. To my surprise (as when it comes to makeup, I had become somewhat jaded by all the claims the companies make) it went on SO smoothly; looking in the mirror, it barely seemed as if I were wearing powder at all! Still pessimistic, I wiped half of my face clean and applied it fresh. It toned down any redness immediately and covered any red spots or blemishes naturally. (Be honest everyone, unless you're going to be on camera or at an event, you don't need everything caked over - if you have a zit, it's visible - most people don't care except you.) The big test was whether or not it settled into my little lines and my pores. Such elation, you have no idea when it glided over my nose and over my pores, almost blending into them but not settling if that makes sense. It does mask the lines but I still like to use a primer as I don't believe there is any powder in the world that is going to magically make them disappear! I always do the hand test - since the area beneath your thumb is a nice somewhat wrinkled area (no matter your age, your hands have lines unless you're an alien) I always do a swipe there first, also to check the color tone. Even the most expensive powders, powder foundations, mineral powders, etc. seem to do a weird streaky or granule type thing. Nothing seems to spread evenly, especially when met with dry, oily or moisturized skin. I'm not sure some of these would spread evenly on silk! Speaking of, that's what this powder feels like! It's so light, not cakey whatsoever!!! It doesn't FEEL like you're wearing makeup. I don't use the sponges that comes with it, I don't think they work well for even coverage (they even seem kind of cheap Lancome!). Ironically I use my nice (not a cheap one from the drug store that loses it's cheap bristles all over your face) KABUKI brush! Swirl in the compact, swirl lightly onto your face! I pat it onto my nose very lightly as it is powder and I want to look natural. I'll then go back and make some light swipes with the gentler side of the brush - or a smaller blush brush, dusting it lightly off instead of on. I'll use my finger to lightly blend it into the pores on my nose, and if I have any large red friends on my face, or pigmented scars, I'll cover the brush with powder and again just lightly pat the area. It will look layered (but still not cakey) so I do the rest of my makeup (like, 1 minute) then lightly dust off those areas, like I do the tip of my nose. What I like is if you pat it on, then LIGHTLY dust it off, you can build up more coverage. And even if you think it looks too thick after applying (even though it still feels nice), it magically sets on your face in no time at all, making it look so natural!! I still get somewhat shiny on my nose (not NEARLY as much as with other products)by midday, which is only natural with my skin type, so I just use blotting papers (or tissue) and do a quick touch up. I've now settled on Dr. Jardt BB Cream (in the black bottle) and this. Even if I don't use the BB cream or a dot of concealer on any extremely obvious spots, a quick couple of swipes of this, I can be out the door without feeling embarrassed about my skin. Never feels drying or exacerbates my acne, or overall freaked out skin. I apply and my skin immediately appears more calm. I know it sounds cliche, but this product has soooo worked for me, and I will continue to order it. Note: as it wears down towards the end, be cautious of transporting it because like any compact makeup, it can break into pieces and fall all over you when you open it; have only had that happen when there is barely any left though. This has become the longest review ever but if anyone is going to purchase it, I just wanted to share my tips on how I've learned the best way to apply it to my own skin. Good luck! I know it's a frustrating search - but after all the money you spend trying to get a deal on cheaper products, you could have been using a great one. It lasts me a while as well, maybe two months? And I apply almost every day, sometimes twice a day. UPDATE: 4 years later and I'm still using this exact same product and still love it just as much!!! Also invested in Lancôme's new Visionaire line and it definitely improves the texture of my skin and evens out the tone (I'm a bit splotchy on my cheeks). I switched from Clinique's Smart Serum which is also a wonderful product but the Visionaire seems to work with my skin better. Read more