I bought this in sand beige. I found that it provided little to no coverage at all. I applied with a brush, but the powder was uneven. My skin looked dull. I would not buy this product again.

This is a revised review from 2008. Edited for more clarity and added insight into the product and my experience using it. Most is from the original review, with some things re-written just to be clearer, and added details from what I remember during my initial use combined with more recent uses.


- Skip down to 'My Results' and 'Final Consensus' for short summary of overall thoughts on product -


What it Claims:
"For extra sensitive or breakout-prone skin! Minimalist formula helps reduce irritation and breakout. Offers the performance and coverage of a foundation with the blendability and natural finish of a loose powder in one easy step. Innovative sifter lid helps contain mess. Brush snaps in place for ease of use and convenient storage."


Claims - True or False?
1) For sensitive, breakout prone skin: False.
2) Coverage of a foundation: False.


Packaging:
I have to honestly say that this product possibly has the WORST packaging of any product I've used in the past. I found that it was so useless, it was more effective to simply transfer cases. The brush might as well be thrown out as soon as you have purchased it.
This powder comes in a dome-like container, with the brush nestled in the dome and the powder in a sealed off portion below. The packaging is transparent, allowing you to easily see what is left of the powder. The brush is very small, and has a silver/grey handle. Overall, it is a very cheap package that should be redone, as it is absolutely useless and can easily cause more issues.


Consistency:
The consistency of the powder, while providing minimal coverage, is very soft and silky. While it does feel soft, it does not stay on the skin, either when you touch your face or when you get oily/sweaty. I found it also caused me to look very shiny. for those with dry or dull skin, this would be a great alternative to other pricier brands, but should not be worn if you have issues with keeping makeup in place. Keep in mind though that when multiple layers are applied, it is likely to look and feel quite chalky and uncomfortable, even heavy. The colour selection is also limited, and even if it is sheer, it's pretty noticeable when you are not using the right shade.


Ease of Use:
As long as you have a good brush, application is easy. It's easy to blend it out when small amounts are used, and easy to concentrate it on certain areas. The packaging, however, is another story. If you plan on bringing this with you for touch ups or simply want to be able to access the powder without struggle, purchase empty sifter jars.


Bang for your Buck:
I would say that for a drug store product, the price is quite fair. Even when used on a daily basis, chances are it would last at least 5-6 months. That being said, I found that the results were no different than other powders I've used, so the jump in price might be off putting to most. However, you can often find their products on sale or on BOGO.


My Results:
Used to lightly dust over the face, it's not bad. Doesn't help much with shine, doesn't cover anything, but can even the skin tone out a bit. If applied heavily, it looks and feel gross. And can even cake up in fine lines and pores, looking really disgusting. Can also end up looking chalky while also looking a bit too shiny/oily. Possibly breaks me out as well, although I cannot 100% confirm this.


Final Consensus:
An easy-to-find powder that I would recommend to those with normal to dry skin as a finishing powder or as a light dusting to even the complexion. Just remember to go easy on the application. Would not personally recommend.
- Pros: Cheap. Lots of powder. Doesn't cause irritation.
- Cons: Possibly breaks me out, can easily look chalky, poor colour choices, poor coverage for its claims, horrible packaging.


Overall Rating: 3/5
Price: 2/5
Packaging Quality: 1/5
Would you buy this product again? No

I really like this powder and been using ti for years. The color selection is not great at all, but they do have several neutral and slightly warm shades to choose from. The packaging is not great but I haven't had major problem with it spilling all over the place so I am not to concerned with that. I do agree with others in that the brush they provide is a total piece of crap. Its rough and scratchy and basically worthless so I chuck it in the garbage. What I do love about the formula is the soft matte realistic finish you get. I apply it over Aromaleigh glissade and Aromeigh oil absorbing powder and it gives me that poreless smooth look.

If I could give this stuff 3 and a half lippies, I would. First of all, the color (I use Buff Beige) matches my skin perfectly. It does look very natural- at first. After a shift at my waitress job, where I'm running around a lot, this stuff turns slightly orange, so it doesn't have the best staying power. That's my only gripe with this. Otherwise, it doesn't make my sensitive skin break out and is a very fine, soft powder. Feels nicer on my skin than Bare Minerals does. I'm with the other reviewers who say to use the Bare Minerals kabuki brush. That's what I do. I didn't even try the brush it came with. Though this stuff feels better on my skin than Bare Minerals does, BM has more staying power. Otherwise, I like this more overall. The price can't be beat for mineral powder- I got this for $11.99 at Duane Reade, a pharmacy chain here in NYC. I will probably buy again, but if I have the money soon then I would go with the mineral powder from Make Up Artist's Choice.

EDIT: Still I love this product. But my skin is drying out now that I'm in my mid-40's. I started adding the product directly to moisturizer to make a tinted cream while I search for a moisturizing foundation I like. This is working out well for now. Just another way to use it if anyone else is dry or has this product lying around...since there is so much. Make your own tinted moisturizer with it.

I also use Pur Mineral 4-in-1 and like that a lot....just gets expensive for everyday. I sometimes mix the 2 on a brush. Both have good ingredients.

ORIGINAL review:

Really like this product...The dome lid is bulky but great to break down the minerals. After loading up your own favorite brush, scrunch the minerals and break them down into the dome lid, tap off excessive, then apply. You need to buff on your face less if you break down the minerals like this in the domed lid. May sound crazy, but it works for me. That brush is stiff, but a slightly stiff flat top brush is good for application. I just use a larger one. Has good for your skin ingredients with a natural spf.

I recently made the switch from liquid foundation to powder. I bought this in 'creamy natural'. First off, the bottle sucks. Second, the brush sucks. Third, the price sucks. Okay, but once you get past all that, it's pretty alright. I get natural coverage and it lasts most of the day. I put this in a different package and use a different brush, I also apply Rimmel primer under it. I have noticed I haven't been breaking out as much since switching to this, even around the time of the month. I would continue buying this just for that fact!

I have been using this product for 2+ years. I have sensitive skin and am acne prone, so I figured this was a good option. It wasn't until very recently that I realized this product was making my skin itch... I know that sounds stupid because I had been using it for so long, but I figured that it was because my skin just didn't like any type of makeup. Then I put the mineral powder on the top of my hand to make sure the color still matched my skin tone (I recently moved to an area where I get a lot more sun) and after 3 minutes, my hand started itching. I have since tried different mineral foundations and they do not make my skin itch, so I am not allergic to mineral foundation per se. I have not been able to isolate the ingredient in this product that makes me itch -- I've compared these ingredients to that of mineral foundations that don't irritate my skin and they are pretty much the same. It could be the concentration of the offending ingredient?

It seems like I am in the minority because others tend to like this product for sensitive skin, but I just wanted to note that it doesn't work well for all people with sensitive skin.

Other things I did not like about this was its complete lack of oil control. If anything, I tend to look more oily at the end of the day with this on, as opposed to no makeup. As other have also mentioned, the brush is horrific. I bought a nice mini kabuki brush from Balm to use instead.

Definitely will not purchase again.

I really do love this mineral foundation but the color choice is extremely limited and the undertones are a bit too ruddy for my taste. I have a lot of pinky-orangey undertones that I like to counter with a more yellow-golden foundation and this one isn't the best for that. But the finish is beautiful and stays put all day! I have actually slept in it on a number of occasions and did not find that it broke me out at all.

First of all, let me get the negatives out of the way. Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Powder has THE WORST packaging I have ever seen. The container consists of four levels. The bottom portion holds the actual powder, and then above that there is a little plastic divider with holes punched in it (this is where the powder is dispensed). Above that, there is a little lid that flips over the holes to hold the powder in. On top of the lid, there is a little space to keep the kabuki brush that comes with the product, and then there is a plastic dome lid that goes over THAT. This is extremely annoying because not only is the dome lid easily cracked (I broke mine within the first week), but the little flip lid often comes open and spills powder out. In fact, to even GET any powder, you have to turn the entire cover over and gently shake it. Also, though the powder is *supposedly* talc-free, it is very chalky and messy before application. I don't recommend powdering your face if you are wearing Sunday best or sitting on your sofa because this powder gets EVERYWHERE. The price is kind of steep for a drugstore product--I paid $11 for mine--but it has worked better than any other drugstore powder I have used. My last complaint is the little kabuki brush that comes with this powder. The brush is extremely scratchy, very sparse, picks up product unevenly, and smells like a barn animal. I took one look at this brush, threw it into the garbage, and bought a cheap (and really nice) Ecotools Kabuki brush from the drugstore. However, despite all of these negative aspects, the powder itself works really great. I found the perfect shade to match my NC20-25 skin tone, and it does not look unnatural like some powders. Unfortunately for some of you, this is not what I would consider a full coverage powder. Though it does provide sheer coverage, I mostly use it as a setting powder for my foundation. So if you have problem skin such as acne or scarring, know that this will not stand on its own. Overall, I do recommend this to set foundation, and I will repurchase again.

Okay, so I used this product a little over a year ago. I absolutely loved it at first but I ended up switching to a creme foundation for a few months until i realized that was leaving my skin to shiny, so i started using this to set that everyday. And I really liked it, until i re-purchased. It's staying power is not so great and the packaging is awful. The little brush it comes with is too rough and when you oped up the flat cap powder goes EVERYWHERE!!! Not recommended.