I always, always go for the dewy, illuminated ‘radiant’ look when it comes down to bases but I have to admit, I’m sometimes a little bit jealous of velvety smooth, satiny perfect finishes that some skins have with a matter base (usually found on porcelain complexions). You know when someone’s skin is all delicate and perfect, a little dusty but not caked? It’s a look that I would like the option of wearing, every now and again, but can’t because it just doesn’t suit me or my skin tone.. Or didn’t until I tried Paul & Joe Ornamental Pressed Powder in All I Want for Christmas.
Usually with a powder I’d wear it just on my T-Zone as a form of setting my make-up and to blot excess shine; my base is usually still very dewy after applying it. However, one time I was just having a play around with some eye make-up at home and decided I wanted my bare skin to be more flawless, to give a better idea of the full look. Instead of reaching for foundation, I simply applied a little concealer under my eyes and then spread this powder over the rest of my skin, with the puff it came with. Not how you should apply powder at all, but in this instance it worked. Despite being translucent, it evened out my skin amazingly, with no horrible dry patches and further more gave me the satiny, velvet skin look I’d often desired. I couldn’t believe how a powder alone had done this.
On the night in question when I was playing with my make-up, at home..
So now, whilst this is also a superb powder for setting make-up, after foundation, I mainly keep it in my out-and-about make-up bag as it’s perfect for when you’re caught out the next day, from the night before, and you just need to quickly even out your complexion without caking on too much make-up. I’ve actually used it several times for this reason already, and it’s never let me down so far! For a less ‘Lina’ and more conventional example, I would say it’s great on its own as a lightweight, day time base that softly conceals. 
Also the fact that the packaging (as always with Paul & Joe) is so gooooorgeous, it really is a delight to have in your make-up bag (I’ve gotten a few comments already when taking it out to use).
I can’t say that the shimmer parts are visible on the skin like they are in the compact, but maybe they are what makes the matte powder part so wearable – that it’s not SO drying (FYI I have super dry skin) and very easy to apply. Fool proof without ever going cakey or patchy.
This Paul & Joe Ornamental Pressed Powder in All I Want for Christmas is part of their seasonal Ornamental Holiday collection, from where I also got sent this Luxury Pouch clutch – I was under the impression it was a make-up bag before receiving (always on the quest for the perfect sized make-up bag), but now on further inspection it’s clearly not, right? This is a regular hand bag clutch, yes?? Beautiful, all the same though.. 
Lx
DISCLAIMER: PR samp
