Reveiew: Kanebo Freshel powder foundation spf 30

There are two types of (pressed) powder foundation in Kanebo Freshel's line. One is the brightening one with spf 30, pa +++, while the other is the moisturizing one with spf 25, pa++.

This product has been released for many years. It's a drugstore brand with very affordable price. Personally I do not believe in any brightening effect in cosmetics, but I like the high spf in it.

Japanese and Korean powder foundations are famous for their high spfs. I do hope western brands can do more variety of powder foundation products with spf.

The powder has very high coverage with somewhat thick consistency. I am not sure if it's the right way of describing powder. But this powder is quite heavy. Even if I use brush to apply it lightly, I can feel its thick coverage.

If I put very emollient cream such as Clinique moisture surge underneath, it can make the makeup look a lot heavier. It looks like I top this powder with  many layers of cream foundation underneath.

I do not know if any person like this type of heavy makeup look nowadays. Like I said I prefer high coverage powder. I appreciate the medium to full coverage the powder offeres. But I do not want to look I have many makeup on but actually I have only a layer of powder foundation.

I think the powder foundation looks the best to apply on its own without too much skincare or sunscreen under it. It can actually work as sunscreen, cream foundation, concealer stick and powder --all in one in a powder.

It's a nice powder when I am in a hurry, without even 1 minute to apply sunscreen before it. But I still prefer to apply sunscreen before going out. The powder can also be good alternative makeup for those who are allergic to any type of liquid sunscreen and foundation.

With the very reasonable price (around $12 USDfor the refill) and large size (11g), and great coverage with high spf, Freshel powder foundation can be the best choice for anyone.

Review: Chanel Vitalumiere Eclat de Chanel compact makeup

This compact is probably my second most expensive powder foundation. It retails around $85 something plus tax. I got it almost free at murale, since I had some shoppers’ points to redeem.

The compact comes with a sponge, a nice brush and a nice peachy scent. However I usually do not use the included sponge and brush to apply for my makeup.

The whole powder compact weighs at 13 gram, which is a lot for a powder compact. Normally powder compact comes with approximately 10 grams.

Despite the eye catching packaging and the accessories comes with, I am not fan of this powder compact.

The compact, like all Chanel’s powder products, has very finely milled powders in it. The texture is close to Diorskin flawless compact, but not as creamy as Diorskin though.

I like the fact that it’s very hydrating. It does not accentuate any dry areas on my skin. But that is the only benefit to me. The coverage is sheer, much worse than mat lumiere powder compact.

The lightest shade they offer here in Canada, B20, is too orange and dark for me. I know there are lighter shades such as BO10 and B10 available in some other countries. I hope they can bring more shades here in the future.

In a nutshell, it’s a high quality powder compact which does not suit me. Nevertheless if you are looking for a low coverage powder with decent hydration, and if you love Chanel, it’s your best choice.

 

Review: Chanel Mat Lumiere Luminous Powder Makeup Spf 10

Chanel products are famous for the quality and the high price. The case of this powder foundation is with a simple black design, yet very classy and identical.

 

The powders are super finely milled. The texture is smooth and silky. There’s no scent to it.

The powder foundation is slightly dry for me in the winter time. The finish is towards to matte side when you just finish applying the makeup. But if you look into your skin closely, you can feel there's somewhat luminous effect to it. Just like its name—mat lumiere luminous powder.

The coverage is medium to the most. It can even out the skin tone, it can conceal around 80% of dark circles-- if you try to build the coverage up hard enough.

In my view, Chanel mat lumiere powder is more like a setting powder than a foundation. I never use any liquid foundation or bb cream underneath it, but I am sure it will do the job very well as a setting powder.

All in all, this mat lumiere luminous powder should be used as a setting powder, rather than being used as a foundation by its own. If you are looking for a great setting powder with some spf, it’s the best choice.

Review: Shiseido The Makeup Perfect Smoothing Compact Foundation

It seems that this item had been discontinued here in Canada in 2012. But it is still available on the US website. The US version has Spf 15 in it while Canadian version has none.

I feel the smoothing compact foundation is the mixture of Clinique almost powder makeup and Dior flawless compact. It has the glitter in the pan like Clinique and the same buttery and creamy texture as Dior.

Among all the shades, Shade O20 seems to be the best match to my skin tone while I20 looks a little bit darker and more pink than O20. Both shades look a little bit darker than my skin tone when first applied on. Nonetheless, this illusion does not last long. After an hour or so, the powder beautifully melts into my skin, and both shades look very natural on my face.

The smoothing compact has as high coverage as Cle de Peau’s powder foundation. It actually performs very similar to (maybe even better than) Cle de Peau. It does not dry my skin and the lasting power is superb. In my view, it’s a hydrating powder for normal to dry skin.

The finish is matte in the first few hours, after 4 hours of applying, my skin looks glowy (but not oily at all) as if I have highlighted my skin.

The refill cost around $38 CAD plus tax. The price is almost one-third cheaper than CdP. If you prefer the finish of CdP’s powder foundation and do not want to spend that much, the smoothing compact could be a dupe for it—they are born to the same mother Shiseido, after all.

Review: Skin79 BB compact SPF 35 PA+++

What comes into your mind when you see the word “BB”? People might think it has something to do with bb cream. This compact I am going to review has nothing to do with cream, it’s a compact powder foundation.

The Skin79 BB compact reminds me of Laneige sliding pact, which is also based on the mobile phone’s design.

 

The powder looks pink at the first sight. However when I apply it onto my skin, it matches my skin beautifully. As time goes by, it looks more and more natural on me.

The coverage is medium to me. It does not conceal the imperfections on my face totally, but it looks natural as if I do not wear makeup at all. The powders just melt into my skin. The finish is not flawless nor glowy, it shows some minor imperfections with a natural skin look. It evens out skin tone perfectly.

It claims to have SPF 35 and PA+++ in the powder. However I do not see any active ingredients there. Probably it’s only available in Korean language which I do not understand at all.

It’s a good everyday powder foundation. It covers skin up lightly with natural look while provide high uv protection. I like how it evens my skin tone naturally and beautifully.

Review: Shiseido sun protection compact powder foundation spf 35

This is probably by far the powder foundation with the highest protection available here in Canada. I know Physicians Formula has a powder foundation with spf 50, but sadly I have never seen it here in any drugstore.

The sun protection powder foundation seems to be as long as Shiseido’s sun screen in history. It has the same scent as Shiseido's sun screen which I dislike-- It makes me dizzy when I apply it in the sleepy morning.  Fortunately the smell does not stay long in the pan.

The shades look very dark on the display, but ones you put it on the face it’s another story. SP20 and SP30 both work for my Asian NC 20 skin tone. The color match is not as horrible as its rival sister-Cle de Peau’s powder foundation.

The powder is smooth and creamy when you touch it. There’s no powders flying everywhere or fallout when I dip the brushes into the powder, which is a big plus. One of the powder foundation I experience with the most powder fallout when I dip the brush into the pan is its another rival sister—Shiseido sheer matifying powder compact.

In terms of the coverage, it can go from medium to fall. It easily covers up my menstrual acnes and dark circles. The finish is not natural. If you are looking for some nude finish this is definitely not your choice.

The powder foundation probably has the best staying powder.  I wore it to walk and run under sun in very hot summer time, the foundation did not transform at all. What I needed was a little blotting on my t-zone.

There are 12 grams in the pan, which is a big value. Most of the powder foundations have only 10 grams. The refill retails at $35 CAD plus tax. I am not fan of the blue case design, so I put into empty Clinique almost powder makeup case. As you can see from the picture below that the case is slightly larger than the refill, but it stays well so far.

 

All in all, if you are trying to find a big sized powder foundation with high coverage, high UVA/UVBprotection, high staying power, good texture with the reasonable price as a department store brand, this is yours!

  

Review: Cle de Peau powder foundation

Cle de Peau belongs to Shiseido company, and the prices are almost twice more expensive than average department store products. This powder foundation (REFILL ONLY) retails at $95 CAD plus tax. The sponge and case are sold separately.

The powder foundation has no spf in it, which is a big disadvantage to me. However the US version shows that it has spf 21 in it.

Both shade I10 and O10 are too pink to me; while BF 20 and O 20 are too dark for me. There’s no perfect shade match to my skin though this powder foundation is supposed to be suitable for Asian skins.

The powder texture is fine and smooth, but not as finely milled as Clarins’ everlasting powder foundation. The coverage is great. It can cover up menstrual acnes without problem. Nontheless it’s too dry for my under eye area, it accentuates fine lines.

I expect more on a powder foundation with such high price tag, but it seems that it does nothing special to me. There are so many products which cost 1/3 of its price do better jobs. Though it covers up really well, it is not hydrating enough for my under eye area. What is worse is that it offers no UVA/UVB protection to me. I do not think I will spend so much money again on an OK product.