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All I Want for Christmas is Paul & Joe’s Ornamental Pressed Powder

By Lina on December 16, 2011

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..

DISCLAIMER: PR samp

This entry is filed under Paul & Joe, Paul & Joe, Powders. | 4 Comments

Benefit Hello Flawless!

By Lina on May 28, 2009

One of the newest additions to join the Benefit range is their pressed powder Hello Flawless. Judging by the name, your aim with this product is to achieve a flawlessly matte complexion. Lets check it out..

Application

As with most Benefit products the packaging is rather cool, it’s a black plastic compact with a white lid. There are two layers – the pressed powder on top, then the section for the sponge and brush below. Although I liked the packaging, I found getting to the bottom section tricky sometimes and have made a few nail marks in the pressed powder section because of this which is not ideal.

You can apply this in two ways, one with a brush for a lighter touch, the second with the sponge for heavier coverage. You can use this product on its own, or on top of foundation. I chose to wear it on top of my foundation as that’s how I usually wear powder, and applied it with the sponge.

Verdict

I think the thing to remember here is that people who would be drawn to a powder called “Hello Flawless” are looking for a heavy, matte coverage product, which is not what I am looking for at all. I have dry skin and because of this I found Hello Flawless just too dry and quite uncomfortable on the skin. It highlighted any dry areas I had and just sucked all the moisture out of my skin. But this is because I have dry skin, so I’m not this products target market. If you’re looking for a great mattifying powder for oilier skin this will definitely do the job, but if you just want something that will softly set your make-up without looking too dry or cakey this isn’t right for you.

They only do six shades in this range, I picked to the second to darkest in Toffee, it really wasn’t a good colour match for me, very pink and chalky looking. However the darker one up was way too dark, so my choice was very limited and that’s not a good thing either.

Overall I think this is good product for those girls that want full on coverage and not one ounce of glow or shine, just matte, girls who have oilier skin. I personally found it too drying on my already dry skin, and prefer a much lighter, softer finish. I’m sure lots of girls will like this but for me it doesn’t suit my requirements and I probably will be giving it away.

Here are some pics..

This entry is filed under Benefit, Powders and tagged Benefit Hello Flawless.

Bourjois Mineral Radiance Pressed Powder

By Lina on April 17, 2009

Despite me not being a “powder” girl, I was drawn to the Bourjour Mineral Radiance.
It contains mineral courtz that gives skin a radiant boost, but what mostly enticed me was the apparent non heavy, light coverage that doesn’t dry your skin out.

Although the word “matte” were banded around (still not a fan), I decided the pros (light, non drying, non cakey) outweighed the cons (matte). Plus, since the terrible incident of December ’08 where my Mac Select Sheer fell on the toilet floor in a club and smashed into a million pieces, I desperately did need a new pressed powder!

This is what the Bourjois website said about Bourjois Mineral Radiance:

“For a matte, yet radiant complexion

Micronized mineral powders in a hot pressed formula. Incredibly fine, lightweight and non-drying texture for a matte, flawless and natural skin.

Radiance boosting quartz and purified mineral pigments for a luminous complexion.

Formula enriched and anti-oxidant vitamin E that repsects your skin.”

My interpretation of this description, combined with the shade I chose, was that it was a blend of radiance/illuminance and bronzer, in a light consistency. It actually sounded pretty exciting! Maybe this was exactly the product I had been looking for, to lightly set makeup, add bronze/radiance, take away excess shine WITHOUT looking like cake crusty dry face?!

The shade I picked up of Bourjois Mineral Radiance was 05 Dore, it was the most suitable out of the limited three available in my local boots/superdrugs. There are actually five shades available of this product, with two higher than the one I bought. This doesn’t neccessarily mean they are darker, although 07 Hale definitely is, I think the different shades are just different tones; pink, peach, light brown and so on. In retrospect, had 06 Brun Apricot been available I would have maybe preferred that as it looks lush on their website – a warm, peachy/apricot.

Application

After applying foundation (Mac Studio Sculpt), after freshly washing and moisturising my face, I used a big, soft powder brush and gently applied the powder on my cheeks, nose, forehead, chin and jawline. It does come with a sponge, but I was hesitant to try that incase it picked up too much product. With powder, the technique is to ‘roll’ it over your base, similar to dabbing. That way it doesn’t move your make-up around, but just sets it. However, I wouldn’t advise that with this product. I think it could risk looking patchy, so I’d suggest a big round brush all over (just careful of any concealer work)!

Verdict

It applied like a dream. Yes I have to admit, at first I did think the colour would be too dark on closer inspection before applying, but now I think it is just right as the product is so light, it is not too heavily pigmented. It just resulted in me looking healthy and tan, glowing, with a nice natural matte. The perfect natural bronzer! The texture on skin is beautiful as well, again down do its lightness, it gives the perfect soft focus look without looking dry, cakey or cloggy. Far superior to any powder I’ve tried so far, including my Mac Select Sheer!

The best thing about Bourjois Mineral Radiance is that you can build and build coverage and colour without it going cakey or heavy or, ew, orange and dirty looking! It is honestly IMPOSSIBLE to go cakey with this so therefore great for touch ups too! Having gone through the “real” longevity test where I partied all night, minimal touch ups, woke up with my make-up still pretty much in tact I think it passed with flying colours! This product has now become a staple to my make-up routine.

All this for just £8. So cheap I am actually going to be purchasing some other shades! Will keep you posted!

Here is it with just some foundation and lip product (Bourjois So Delicate Lip Cream).