Definitely a great replacement for MAC Blot Powder! Like other reviewers, I was a bit worried that this would wash me out due to the lightness of the powder. However, this blended in just fine with my skin (MAC NC 35) and took away any trace of shine/oiliness. I feel like the power of this powder is similar to Blot Powder, perhaps even a bit better. I really like the slimness of the packaging but am not a huge fan of the sponge that comes with this (but that's an easy fix). I'll be purchasing again!

This powder is a wonderful surprise! What a GEM! It's translucent, but to look at the powder in the compact you might be concerned that it won't match your skin. No worries--it matches and IS translucent! I'm an NC30 and this powder looks amazing on my skin. (Not just for WOC!) I'm also freakishly oily (darn genetics!) with olive undertones, and this powder kept me shine-free and looking really good for over 10 hours in heat and humidity! This surpasses my MAC Blot Powder AND Prep n Prime Powder! And looks better! After going through one compact, I bought 3 more online (I can't find it in stores near me). This economy has hit me hard--and this outperforms the expensive powders I thought I couldn't live w/o. I use a good powder brush and use a light hand; it looks seamless over sunscreen, over foundation, or just over bare skin. When I blot (out of habit), there is oil on the paper, yet none of it shows on my face. It's not cakey; it's not too matte. It's perfect for me! I wish I had discovered this before! (Ah... the money I would have saved--while looking BETTER!)

For only 9 bucks this is a steal! Works wayyyy better than MAC blot powder. This does not only mattify skin for hours but also smoothes out skin and blurs imperfections!

Just got this but so far I love it! Doesnt change my foundation shade like some powders do. Great matte finish and I personally think it has a smoothing effect more so than with regular powders. I'm thinking it's the silica and cones it contains. After it settles on my skin and my own chemistry blends with it it is makeup perfection. Used this with a stick foundation from the same brand which usually has me looking like a grease ball after a few hours. Not today! Typing now I've blotted twice and my make up is still going strong 12 hours later! This is unheard of! Only Revlon CS and ES Double Wear give me that sort of staying power. Noticed a bit of darkening of my foundation this evening but it could just be the bad lighting. All in all this is a keeper. I will keep a Black Opal Deluxe Finishing Powder in Neutral Light and Medium on hand like I always do for use with the foundations I have to use a powder to color correct but for the few I own that are a perfect match, this bad boy will be my go to as well as for touch ups if needed. I purchased the loose powder, not the compact thought. Had to note that as this is why I gave the low packaging rating. I dont like that the shaker top dispenser always releases too much powder but the all black container is super sleek! That I like. The power? Again, all LOVE!

So this afternoon i went shopping with a friend and got this powder - the last one, yay! - because of all the raving reviews here. I was going to buy the mac blot powder, but this one was a little cheaper :) (In my country it costs around 15 euro). When i got home, i looked at myself in the mirror and suprise, suprise: My skin was oily! Which was convinient in this case, because i was dying to try this out. The compact looks pretty fancy I must say, it's very sturdy.. Very good to take with you for touch ups. Although I dont think you need to do so as much, because i have applied the powder (on its own) about 5 hours ago and still no oil! Very natural, matte look. It makes my skin look so much better! So i am veeeery happy with this so far, I just hope this doesn't break me out or anything. I will try to remember to update this review in a few weeks! So far id recommend it to my friends.

Wow. Really wasn't expecting to like this as much as I do.

I am a shiny happy person. I don't like to blind people with the glare from my forehead. I do a rolling motion applying with a sponge on my t-zone, leave for as long as it takes to apply mascara, then I brush excess off. 6 hours later and people do not have to squint at me anymore. By the time it comes to the cleanse I have a dewy glow.
This works.

This is a really great oil control pressed powder. I've found over time that my oily skin generally prefers loose powders for controlling oil, but I have to say this one is pretty great and is definitely THE best blotting powder that doubles as a setting powder. (Better than higher end powders like MAC Blot for example - in my personal opinion at least ;D)
I'm 30years old and quite fair (NC15) with oily skin for reference. & I noticed when I opened the package that the powder does have some color to it and was worried the "translucent" wouldn't show up translucent on me and it would make me look too dark,(because the color does "appear" a bit on the darker side..) but luckily that hasn't been a problem as long as I don't go crazy with it. &I've been using it over top foundations as well as alone for "no makeup while wearing makeup" days ;)
I purchased this at one of my local RiteAid's (it's in limited RiteAid stores, if you are looking for one in your area they do have a "store locator" on the Black Opal website for reference, but can also be found online on several other websites for purchase as well.) I paid right around $9 USD which is very inexpensive. I purchased it in the middle of this summer when my face was definitely at it's oiliest and it performed beautifully. And I'm still able to use it now in October when my skin is no where near as oily(I'm actually a bit on the dehydrated side due to the crazy weather).
My favorite way to apply is with a brush - Not sure which brush is my favorite yet(kabuki, buffing, fluffy) -but even though I'm not sure which brush I prefer, I do know that I don't care for using the enclosed sponge- (we all know that *most* times the little sponges that come with drugstore powders aren't so great so this was no big surprise for me) I did replace it with a fluffier puff that I purchased separately but I still only use it for touch-ups on the go.
It also doesn't take a *ton* of powder to get the job done - I've been using mine several times a week, several times a day for 3+ months now and am barely showing a dip in the product, so you get more than you may think for your money :)
It comes in a slim black compact that is actually pretty sleek looking (oh do I hate it when compacts are bulky and not good for travel) I do wish the sponge/puff had a separate spot somewhere in the compact so it didn't have to lay on top of the powder but this is a very minor complaint for such an awesome product.
I also purchased the Black Opal Invisible Oil Blocking Mattifier and while it is nice, this powder really blew me away! Definitely a HG pressed powder and an awesome drugstore gem - I highly recommend and would repurchase.

I am glad to say this product exceeded my expectations because I thought for sure I'd be returning it to the drugstore. I have an extremely oily t-zone, but this powder definitely does its job and keeps me matte. I bought this to set my make up for my brother's wedding because I knew I wouldn't have an opportunity for touch ups the day of and as a member of the wedding party I would be taking pictures. I am glad to say this powder kept my make up fresh the entire day! I was afraid it would appear ashy, but it truly is invisible no matter how much I apply (I like to apply heavily as I hate touching up my makeup throughout the day). I usually like to apply powder products by buffing with a brush, but I find this product works best for me when I apply with a puff in a patting motion. Therefore, I just buy replacement puffs as needed. This is now my holy grail setting powder. Great product and price!

Very happily surprised by this product. I had read about it so long, and was looking for a portable remedy for the shine on my oily skin. I like that I can use it several times a day and it does not cake up on my skin. It does not change the shade or tone of the makeup underneath. I agree with other posters here about the puff. I just toss that out and use with a brush. I only gave it four stars because of the difficulty buying it on the ground near me and the useless puff, but if at least one of those two things would improve, I would call this a holy grail. I would repurchase again.

I LOVE this product! .. I'm a makeup freak so i definitely know when something actually works! Trust me, If U sweat regularly or have oily skin, its not a problem.. This stays on all day! The best thing about it is that It looks soo natural.. If there's anything a woman wants, its to not let her makeup look obvious and trust me .. This Is A MAKEUP MIRACLE!