NARS Loose Powder Review

NARS Loose Powder

NARS Loose Powder ($35) is a silky, triple milled face powder provides light, natural coverage to set makeup, soften color and smooth the texture of the skin. The ultra-smooth formula blends undetectably to absorb excess oils and maintain fresh looking skin with an "imperceptible" finish. It can be used to set foundations or it can be worn alone to even out and soften the complexion.

NARS Loose Powder is available in (7) shades: Snow (for porcelain to fair skin), Flesh (for fair skin), Eden (medium yellow skin), Beach (medium deep yellow skin), Desert (light rose undertones to enhance medium skin) and Mountain (deep medium reddish-brown skin).

For my warm, medium coloring, I chose Beach and it's a perfect match. I think it's a great match for around the MAC NC30-40 coloring.

Pressed and Loose powders have come a long way and more and more companies are launching these magical powders that don't give the illusion of a powder on the skin. I fully believe in setting your liquid foundation with a powder for the best lasting power, but the problem with some powders is that they can take away the glow from your foundation, making your skin look too matte and flat; and real skin isn't truly matte, so it can look unnatural. Sometimes it can even make your makeup look heavier.

Truth be told, I like to skip powdering if I can get away with it because I don't like altering the color and finish of my foundation, but I can't deny the fact that when I do powder my face, by night my makeup always looks better. Guerlain Meteorites is a staple in my makeup collection because it soaks up the oils from my skin so I don't look shiny/oily, and leaves a naturally perfected glowy veil on my skin without adding extra coverage.

When I do want a little extra coverage from a powder, I've really been loving NARS Loose Powder.

The texture of NARS Loose Powder is far silkier than any other loose powder I've tried. It feels absolutely weightless to the touch. When applied, it creates almost a blurred effect to the skin. Pores are less noticeable and my skin looks softer and smoother. I've read a review where someone mentioned that with each additional layer, the more photoshopped your skin looks - which is very true. It has a very soft, natural finish without the powdery appearance.

It comes with a powder puff, but I prefer using a powder brush and pressing the powder into my skin and then lightly buffing my face. If your skin is oily, the puff may be useful for applying in a press-and-roll motion to make your foundation budge-proof. It's also useful for touch-ups.

Enclosed in the container is a mesh sifter, and I find it useful so when I tap my brush in the container, it won't pick up excess product. 

The lasting power is very good. It helps keep my makeup looking great all day with only a little shine (on some days) by the evening. 

The only downfall for me is that my skin is a bit sensitive to something in the ingredients. So unfortunately I can't wear it every day without sprouting a pimple here and there, so I only use it a few days a week. 

Aside from that, I absolutely love this powder and I can see why so many people love it! I highly recommend trying it if you're in the market for a new setting powder. If you're skeptical, check out these reviews on Makeupalley. It's what swayed me into purchasing it!

Have you tried this powder? What do you think of it? What's your favorite powder right now?

The Round-Up

Pros: 

• Silky soft, fine, weightless texture
• Provides light coverage, so it can be used alone or applied over a liquid foundation for additional coverage and to set the foundation
• Gives a softened, perfected look to the skin
• Doesn't oxidize on the skin after it has been applied (some powders leave me orange hours later)
• Non-powdery finish
• Doesn't make the skin look dull or heavy
• Mattifies for hours - minimal touch-ups

Cons: 

• My skin is sensitive to powders in general, and this powder (minimally) breaks me out if I use it every day.
• The packaging isn't the greatest - it's big, bulky, a bit messy and catches fingerprints easily. 

Price: $35

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Review

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ($9) is described as a "1-step wonder" for your skin. It combines 8 skin benefits for instant skin perfection. These benefits include: bluring your skins imperfections, brightening up the skin, evening out the skintone, smoothing, enhancing and hydrating your skin, and lastly protects your skin with 30 SPF. It also doesn't contain any oils or heavy ingredients.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is available in (5) shades: Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Medium/Deep and Deep.

Since the formula is so sheer, it's very forgiveable if you pick up a shade that is too light or dark. I have the shade Light/Medium, and it works really well for me when I have a light tan going on - around the MAC NC25 coloring.

It has a really creamy wet consistency - very reminiscent of the texture of Physicians Formula Super BB Cream. The very creamy consistency allows the product to glide across the skin really well like a moisturizer. 

My method of application is my fingers, applying it as I would a moisturizer, in small, light circular motions until blended. If I want to build slightly more coverage (not much, though) I'll add an additional layer on certain areas by dabbing and lightly dragging the product down my face until blended.

The coverage is sheer to light. It won't conceal imperfections, but it will tint the skin as well as make the skin look more even. I really like the way it looks on my skin. I use facial self tanners, so sometimes my skin isn't always even, and this evens out my skin color well and makes my skin look smooth, fresh and dewy. 

This is ideal for those who already have pretty good skin, but would like something extremely natural and sheer on days where you don't want to wear makeup or don't want to look like you are wearing makeup. It's great for daytime, especially if you spend some time in the sun because it has a high SPF. You won't catch me running errands bare faced, but I like to wear this and a little concealer when I want to fake it!

Now, if I don't set it with a light dusting of powder, it's just a little too dewy for my taste. I've worn it without a powder on a few occasions, and my skin felt like it was greasy and just about every area of my face looked shiny. Because of that, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this BB Cream if you have oily skin. It's actually targeted for normal skin, but I find it to be really moisturizing, so I believe it'd work well for dry skin too.

Here's a super close-up of my fuzzy face. This is with one (generous) layer of product applied with my fingers. Does it look like I'm wearing makeup? My sunspots are still visible, but it has evened out and illuminated my skin pretty well.

I was fully expecting this BB Cream to disappear by the end of the day, but it actually holds up really well!

The overall verdict? I like it. You definitely have to be somewhat comfortable with your skin because it won't provide loads of coverage, but I actually like that on some days. If you like tinted moisturizers, you will probably like this product.

The Round-Up

Pros: 

• Lightweight
• Hydrating
• Dewy finish - brightens the skin and gives it a healthy look
• Has a light tint with sheer coverage for a very natural "no-makep makeup" look
• Great for the Summer or daytime 
• Suitable for dry and normal skin
• Squeeze-tube packaging - which is sanitary and works well for travel

Cons: 

• The coverage doesn't build up to much, so if you're looking for more coverage, you may want to skip out on this product - For more coverage, but a very similar product, try out Physicians Formula Super BB Cream. It has a light-medium coverage as opposed to sheer-light. 
• The dewy finish can look and feel oily if you don't set it with a light dusting of powder
• Not geared for oily skin types

Price: $9, at your local drugstore. Prices may vary based on location.