Almay • Smart Shade Smart Balance Pressed Powder • Pressed Powders

Where To Buy?

anonsensical on 5/20/2013 10:36:00 PM more reviews by anonsensical

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This comes in a nice little package, with the bottom snapping open to reveal a small brush... Overall it's a neat little compact that you can carry easily for convenience.

I don't find much use for this just on its own, to be honest - it just dusts on and doesn't have enough definition to mask whatever blemishes or imperfections are beneath, normally... But I love it in combination with my bb cream/foundation. It's very easy for me to look oily, and this sets things and matches well with my skin tone. The package isn't too bulky, either, so it's easy to just toss in my purse.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

mccfrausto on 5/1/2013 7:57:00 PM more reviews by mccfrausto

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I think I don't like the dimethicone in this product. Makes my combo oily skin look like crud

Perhaps I used too much though, and it might look better if I applied a primer underneath.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

chali26re on 3/7/2013 8:40:00 PM more reviews by chali26re

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Very nice pressed powder, as far as pressed powders go. Blends to a lovely, skin-like finish and doesn't appear too heavy - just right. This is like a finishing touch for me. Does it's intended job quite well. No need to spend more on high-end.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Amber4407 on 1/13/2013 10:43:00 PM more reviews by Amber4407

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

I love this for use over my bb cream. When I use other powders I look dried out. This is enough to keep me from looking oily, without being cakey. I also like that it is actually pretty shear. I randomly will tan during the winter just for a little glow and if I get a little darker it doesn't look too light. It would have gotten a five if I liked the brush more. I use a larger powder brush to apply because the one included is very stiff and I feel like it just wipes everything I put on off.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

perfumefiend on 12/25/2012 5:45:00 AM more reviews by perfumefiend

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I got this powder to go with the Almay Blemish Healing foundation. It is a lightweight powder that helps set the foundation and makes it last all day/ night. This powder does not make blush appear caked on or give that powdery look under your eyes or nose. It also does not accumulate on certain areas of face or in creases like some heavier powders do.
This powder is great and I would totally recommend also to those that don't wear foundation. It is super light but it gives a great coverage for daytime wear. When I run errands during the day I sometimes do not apply foundation so I usually just wear a powder. It provides sufficient coverage while still looking natural during the day and also sets great on top of foundation. I highly recommend!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

BrittCastsFireballs on 11/29/2012 3:57:00 PM more reviews by BrittCastsFireballs

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Red, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Overall, I like this powder. It's lightweight, manageable, and blends well.
It doesn't seem to have helped mask/control my oily t-zone, though.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

lovie1 on 7/20/2011 10:58:00 AM more reviews by lovie1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I brought the almay amart shade set and i love the powder at first i got the light one and it was too white for my skin so i brought the med and it blended perfectly i love this powder. not all cakey and dry. I would defienatly but again.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

laurenmn on 7/20/2011 1:34:00 AM more reviews by laurenmn

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Despite the fact that I'm tan, I bought this in light by accident. However, I used it over my liquid cashmere avon foundation and love the results. I don't use it only by itself because it doesnt do it's job, but only because i need heavier coverage because of acne scars. It absorbs oil, sets well, never cakey and lets my skin breathe. Will definitely buy again. Only cons, brush sucks. Get a Sonia Kashuk one and this little compact can do wonders!

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Cvincz on 7/16/2011 11:47:00 PM more reviews by Cvincz

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have tan olive skin. This product did not match my color and made me look pale. The product melted right off my face in the hot weather. It's not a powder you can wear alone. It might look good over liquid foundation.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

rororoboat on 7/15/2011 1:05:00 AM more reviews by rororoboat

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Really, really bad. So so so SO bad.
I had SUCH high expectations for this product. A powder that would match my skin tone and control my oiliness? It sounded like a dream come true. But ultimately, it was a major fail. It made my skin extra oily and it actually made me look WHITER. So it did the opposite of what it was supposed to do. Really would not recommend this.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

CroGirl89 on 5/19/2011 7:56:00 AM more reviews by CroGirl89

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I really like this. It blends surprisingly well and works well with the matching foundation. I use a larger brush to apply it. It really does work with your skin tone, and I find that it even offers a bit of a brightening effect. Someone else noted that the powder doesn't go all over the place/fall apart and I agree.....and that is very nice. I hate the cheap plastic container it is in, though.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

aminn00 on 5/9/2011 12:47:00 PM more reviews by aminn00

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this at Rite Aid since they allow returns on cosmetics. I decided to keep it since it blended well even with my occasional uneven skin tone. This is a very lightweight powder. I like the ingredients - no talc - & the powder provides a nice coverage without being heavy or cakey. My natural skin color is light olive, so I bought it in “light/medium.” The color blended with my natural skin tone as advertised.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

UTdaisy on 4/21/2011 1:12:00 PM more reviews by UTdaisy

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I don't usually buy Almay products, and I was disappointed with the liquid Smart Shade, but I had a coupon that made this nearly free, so I figured I'd give this a try.

The packaging is very inexpensive and the brush is dreadful. However, the powder is totally fantastic and a definite re-buy. I have fairly oily skin and I'm so pleased with how well this controls the oil whether I'm wearing it alone as a light coverage foundation or if I wear it over liquid foundation.

I use a small flat-topped brush to buff this into my skin, and to press it gently into the crevices around my nose. It leaves a nice matte finish without any powdery finish and stays matte all day.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Philipmom02 on 4/5/2011 10:31:00 AM more reviews by Philipmom02

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is a nice new product from Almay which I am quite pleased with. I got it to wear over their smart shade balanced liquid in light. I wore this in Light as well but I could also wear the light/med shade without it looking too dark.

It goes on like a regular powder, and it doesn't create a lot of powdery mess when using a brush like other powders (ex. PF) As usual the provided brush isn't great but it will do the job on the go. I used a dense fdn powder brush to apply and made sure to buff it into my skin and it did give a nice finished, and poreless look.

There really is no scent to the product and the plastic package actually feels pretty strong and secure for what it is. The brush actually locks in the bottom so it doesn't shake around which is nice.

After several hours it still felt light, and my skin didn't feel slightly dry or 'tired' which is nice to have from a DS powder. It's coverage is relatively close to my Jane Iredale fdns, and I can see it being used for a cheaper alt. I haven't had any change in coloration or chalking with it being layered on at the end of the day. There is no bismuth which is nice. And it is pretty common to find on sale so I would wait for that before buying if you are not sure if it would work for you.
Overall its a nice sheer powder that blends well and stays put. Will be great for summer. And seems to work well over a liquid or TM base for more coverage/setting.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* dawn65 on 2/17/2011 2:38:00 PM more reviews by dawn65

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This is the new pressed powder that has been added to the Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance line. The concept is the same as the other products in that it is supposed to instantly transform into your ideal shade. It is also supposed to keep your oily areas shine-free and dry skin softly hydrated. I have never been a big fan of Almay products, so I am pleasantly surprised at how much I like this. I buff this on my skin with a kabuki brush (the little brush included with the product just doesn't work for me) and although this is a pressed powder, it almost has a creamy texture to it. I find it to be very lightweight and it does not get cakey throughout the day. I have oily skin in general and find that I do have to reapply during the day, but I don't think any powder can keep you shine-free all day. I also do have some slight dryness between my eyebrows and on the sides of my nose. I found that it does not emphasize the dryness but rather seems to lightly moisturize those areas. I have darker olive-colored skin so I bought the darkest shade which is "medium". It does not appear to light nor too dark and it does not appear too yellow nor too orange. It really does seem to just blend into my natural skin-tone. This powder has no sparkle/shimmer in it and while this does provide a matte finish, it does not appear too powdery or flat - my skin looks dewy. I paid $12 for this at Walgreens which is on the high-end of DS product pricing. However, I don't mind paying a few dollars more for something that really works for me and therefore would repurchase.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No