Merle Norman • Luxiva Ultra Powder Foundation • Powder

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Babymutt01 on 5/1/2013 10:55:00 PM more reviews by Babymutt01

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Other    

I really like this foundation. It makes both foundation and powder in one step! No SPF though which kinda sucks. Great coverage. (About medium) and buildable without getting too cakey. For $25-30, it truly is worth it!

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Kimmybyers8 on 5/1/2013 7:14:00 PM more reviews by Kimmybyers8

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

This is perfect over a bb or cc cream. Last all day. Great for oily skin.

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PinkCarnation on 3/26/2013 4:43:00 PM more reviews by PinkCarnation

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is the best powder in the world. My color is Ultra Golden. I've used this since high school. You can use it as a stand-alone foundation if you wish. I have done that on days that I just want a light, sheer coverage. Typically I wear it over MN Lasting Foundation in Soft Bisque. This powder is the key to getting an air brushed look.
My one complaint is in the packaging. MN forever and always had the long white pearlesque compact. It was classy, elegant, a stand-apart look. Recently they switched to a plain black small compact. It was awful. It broke and just didn't have that same suave look. MN recently and "temporarily" so I'm told went back to the classic white compact. I walked into a store one day and bought the last 3 they had in Ultra Golden. MN please keep the white compact and don't change again. As the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke don't fix it."

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

lisbet on 1/26/2013 10:31:00 PM more reviews by lisbet

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight   Eyes: Hazel    

I was scheduled to have knee replacement surgery in December and I didn't want any foundation that would be liquid or creamy. I felt a powder would be easiest to apply while laying in bed. I had tried numerous foundations-I must have spent a mint on both high end and drug store products and nothing seemed to work. My complexion is about an NC25, but notoriously hard to match for some reason. The neck area has like a red rash from sun damage and while I don't need heavy coverage, I am developing some dark spots with my advancing age (58). I was tired, knees hurting, and I saw a Merle Norman store on my way home from a very tiring trip to the mall. It was about 5 minutes from my home and I had never noticed it!! I had associated Merle Norman with older women-but who am I kidding?? I AM an older woman now LOL! So I stopped and explained what I needed and the beautiful saleslady, who looked like a VERY well preserved 60's removed my makeup and remarked "why are you trying to cover your skin-it's still very young looking!" Well, I fell in love with her on the spot! She sold me some powder foundation in Ultra Chiffon which for the first time in a very long time actually blended well with my skin tone! I didn't even have to use it all over-just in the spots that needed evening. since then, I have received dozens (no joke!!) of compliments from friends who want to know what I'm doing different!! This is definitely my HG foundation. Just sorry it took me so long to find it and in my own back yard!!

9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cmayes71 on 1/21/2013 5:01:00 PM more reviews by cmayes71

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

Love this powder foundation! It is everything I could want in a powder foundation. On days that I don't want full coverage I just wear this. When I am going out I use this over the lasting foundation. I am pale and use this in light. The packaging is very sleek and user friendly. It gives a matte finish and wears well. If you get a correct match in this, you really can't go wrong. The new packaging is a nice update. I really cannot detect a fragrance in this. Some people may be more sensitive to fragrance in products than I am.

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

shomaq on 12/23/2012 11:35:00 PM more reviews by shomaq

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Grey    

After reading the ratings on this product I drove about 20 minutes away to try this product. It says it's a powder foundation, but it seemed more like a lightweight powder to me. Applied dry it seemed like an average powder, applied wet, I didn't like the finish at all. The fragrance is very classic, at times annoying. Packaging, I really didn't care for it, but more importantly I don't believe this product receives this high of a rating IMHO.

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SaylahVie on 9/10/2012 8:04:00 AM more reviews by SaylahVie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

This powder looked very nice when first applied on my face. However, when I stepped outside on a very hot and humid day it looked terrible. The foundation didn't allow for my skin to breathe so a film of sweat accumulated on my face. When I got back into the house and looked in the mirror my makeup looked dreadful! I immediately had to wipe it all off it looked so bad. I really like makeup I can wear no matter what I am doing and this did not live up to my expectations.

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

dalala on 8/15/2012 5:59:00 AM more reviews by dalala

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is my hg powder foundation! Been using it for a year...Really gives great coverage (on it's own wet, and dry application patting on red spots). Color match is right on. The ingredients are simple and did not ever irritate/break my skin out. Although the packaging is ugly and bulky, I love how the sponge is separated from the powder. The powder itself is not chalky and does not crumble easily. It is creamy and looks great on top of my liquid foundation. I use both the sponge it comes with and a powder brush. I hate going in to this store, so I phone in my order at Merle Norman and they deliver it to my house for free! Give it a try!! :))) For shade reference I'm an NC25 and use this in ultra neutral

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

Sisterhazel on 8/9/2012 8:40:00 PM more reviews by Sisterhazel

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I have oily skin with large pores, redness, and old acne scars (some discolorations, some pock marks). This is my favorite powder foundation for my skin type. It controls oil, covers my red, does not oxidize, and does not accentuate my pores or scars. The color selection is good, lots of cool, warm and neutral options. With primer, this will stay on for 7-8 hours. After that, it is easy to touch up and reapply to areas that need it. I never have a problem with it looking cakey or clogging my pores. I have seen reviews that say Maybelline Purestay powder fdn is a dupe for this, but I disagree. The Maybelline did not have the oil control, staying power or natural-looking finish of the Merle Norman, and for that I am willing to pay the higher price. This is a wonderful product!

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

annievell on 3/26/2012 5:09:00 PM more reviews by annievell

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

WOW I can't believe I've never written a review for this powder from Heaven.
Like most of you, I've tried a hundred different powders...this is in a league of it's own. I usually use this as a finishing touch over my dinair foundation, it has a beautiful finish, doesn't get oily, doesn't oxidize, DOESN'T CAUSE BREAKOUTS, and can also be used alone for a gorgeous and more natural coverage. this is my HG powder forever.

12/14/12 **UPDATE***
Still in love- still the best foundation ever.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

bblissd on 3/15/2012 9:49:00 PM more reviews by bblissd

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

i ADORE this powder foundation! i've been using it for 13 yrs (started when i was 19) and STILL love it! i'm a self-proclaimed beauty junkie and still venture out & try new powder and foundations but i keep coming back to this one!
it goes on so smooothly and i really like how i can build the coverage- from sheer to full on (although it can look a bit cakey if applied in that strength). personally, i like a bit more than sheer so my skin looks flawless.
some ppl do & some ppl don't like the smell- but i LOVE the smell. can't quite describe it but it smells kinda yummy to me! lol
i have dry skin in the winter and this is great over moisturizer. i have slightly oily t-zone in the summer and this is awesome over my spf lotion. seriously- can't go wrong. i think i'd die a little death if MN stopped making this as it's the ONLY product i've continued to buy since my teen yrs!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

sabrinalovesmakeup on 3/5/2012 7:39:00 PM more reviews by sabrinalovesmakeup

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have very dry skin and Im always looking for powders that don't make my t zone flakey looking but yet still set my foundation and in always come back to this one!!! You can wear it alone say You dont feel like putting on a lot of makeup you could apply this and get some coverage or apply after foundation and it makes you look flawless! It's amazing I think it's one of those products that are great for all skin types!!!

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

livieTree on 2/25/2012 11:29:00 PM more reviews by livieTree

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Shade reference: NC15 mac
My shade in this product: ultra cameo

This is my go-to foundation for all seasons. Even in the summer. Its light, gives coverage to where I need it and never gives me any problems. I think i might also be a bit bias to this foundation mainly because it was one of the firsts foundations I used when I first started with makeup. However that might actually prove how good it is. I started with makeup at 14-15 I'm now 20 and I still always keep a backup of this in my stash. I like to try different powders and different products but this will always be a staple.

Besides foundation I also like to use this to tone down blush when I get a bit too heavy handed. It never looks cakey or over done. It is matte, and light wearing. If you are wearing this in the summer you will need touch ups, but since I'm always home by mid day I just remove it and reapply before I go out.

Again excellent foundation.

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

betel on 2/21/2012 5:13:00 PM more reviews by betel

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is AWESOME! It controls oil like nothing I have ever seen. I usually used the Everyday Minerals Finishing Dust but I was shiny by 11:00 AM so I had to reapply but no so with this powder and I am oily! I dont know why but I LOVE the smell too even though it fades soon after you apply. I put a little on with a blush brush after I moisturize with Lucy Minerals Ambrosia, then I apply my Lucy Minerals(excellent coverage like none other)then I finish with this and it perfection all day long and I mean all day! I have found my HG Finishing powder.

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

laureliscool on 2/19/2012 5:17:00 PM more reviews by laureliscool

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've been using this for 2 years and seen it through 3 different packaging changes, all better than the ones before it (the design picture above was incredibly clunky and hard to use, now it is a small black compact that is easy to transport.) I bought it after I found a small compact of it in my grandmother's makeup. Clearly, this product has been around for quite a long time and is trusted to do the job. I am yet to find any foundation, let alone powder, that beats this. It can be applied for minimal or maximum coverage depending on the time of year and dryness/oilyness of my skin. It doesn't cause any breakouts (I've slept with it on one time and it did not cause any type of breakout then either). My only complaint is it can be a bit cakey looking if you haphazardly brush it on. It takes some time for me to make sure I don't get little flakes or dry patches because of it. It sets in about 10 minutes. Moisturizer goes on over it surprisingly well. It does wear off my skin, but I have bad combination skin so this is as good as it gets unless I use a primer. The price is a bit steep, but overall it's completely worth it.

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scarmica on 2/15/2012 8:43:00 PM more reviews by scarmica

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I became a Merle Girl after trying this foundation, due to the great reviews it got on MUA; especially its oil control ability. I am oily and because I am oily I am acne prone. I'm always on the hunt to control the slick. I have even tried the milk of magnesia method (broke out) and a fantastic oil control sunscreen from Kao Biore (UV Perfect) which also broke me out. Seems anything that's labeled as "mattifying" breaks me out (why oh why...isn't that the opposite of what it's supposed to do)? Anyway - I bought this foundation in Ultra Golden in the summer and was super-impressed from the first time I used it. Very natural, buildable coverage (I would say up to medium) - it does not look chalky like most powder foundations I've tried - even if I get it on my eyebrows, they don't get that dust-coated look. It covers imperfections pretty well, although I'd be hard pressed not to use concealer (I do *not* have a peaches & cream complexion) but concealer goes on well over this foundation. And for those of us over 40 - I should stress that while it doesn't settle into lines (I don't put it under my eyes), it doesn't really disguise them either. Just makes my face even and helps control that oil. I still have to blot a few times over the course of the day but this foundation lasts and lasts through those blots and still looks great at 5 o'clock (not just-put-on, but not streaky, cakey or patchy either). I just bought another in Ultra Buff to match my winter skin. This is definitely my HG foundation - recently tried to switch away to save $$, and tried several liquid foundations - all of them broke me out (thank heavens for return policies). I have to stick with powder foundations and this is absolutely the best one out there that I've tried. Don't hesitate!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

EmmaW00dh0use on 1/20/2012 2:31:00 PM more reviews by EmmaW00dh0use

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Green    

Use this as my foundation a lot. Covers well and sets makeup well. It does go on much better with a sponge than a powder brush because of the creamy consistency. The new black packaging looks very modern in my opinion. The cream and gold doesn't do much for me.

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HistoryLady71 on 11/20/2011 8:20:00 PM more reviews by HistoryLady71

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I began using this two weeks ago after using a Revlon product that looked fine but broke me up horribly. Since I began using this I have had no new breakouts. The color (Ultra Golden) is fantastic on me and blends beautifully. I find that if you apply it with a foundation brush it gives medium coverage that is buildable over trouble spots. If this doesn't break me out I will definitely buy it again. I use other Merle Norman products I absolutely love: blush, lip pencils, etc. I am not sure why I hadn't tried the foundation before but now I'm a fan.
ETA: As of 4/2012 I have stopped using this for a couple of reasons: 1) the Merle Norman store that I could easily get to has closed, but 2) more importantly, I've discovered that the Skin79 Pink BB cream gives me much better results.

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*TOP REVIEWER* psmitty on 10/1/2011 3:48:00 PM more reviews by psmitty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Wow, absolutely amazing in all areas. I love powder foundation, as liquid typically breaks me out or feels heavy. Powder, however, can rub off, get oily, oxidize and have bismuth oxychloride. This is perfect: great lasting powder, decent coverage, transfer resistant, soft matte finish, very pale yellow shade for me (extrememly hard to find) and incredible oil control. No breakouts at all! I love Dior Forever powder, but it makes me a bit oily in the summer and my other beloved Lorac Wet/Dry has limited coverage for gross days. All-in-all, I can say enough and will stock up. I wear this with MN cover-up, flawless oil-control powder, cream blush, lasting cream eyeliner and Supreme Lash mascara and primer- still looks perfect 12 hours later. UPDATE: Can't imagine a better foundation. No breakouts and lasts so well, and looks completely natural. I usually blot every hour- with this and the Flawless Oil-Control powder, I didn't blot once today. Love it!! I'm also loving the cream eyeliner. Merle Norman is so underrated.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* dddoxie on 9/22/2011 10:29:00 AM more reviews by dddoxie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Wow. This is the powder I've been searching for all my m/u life. I've used several setting powders from DS to HE and this is the only one that doesn't look too cakey, powdery or separate a few hours into the day.

I lightly apply it over the Luxiva Lasting Foundation (which is another OMG HG) and I honestly do not have to touch up AT ALL. I use Ultra Neutral (I'm NC25) and it is the perfect color for me. It controls my oilyness and does not break me out.

I use an ELF complexion brush and lightly pat the brush in the powder. There is also not a lot of fall-out or waste because the powder is pretty dense.

The powder is fragranced too, so beware if you're sensitive to that. The packaging is a bit bulky. It's a black compact that is about 1/2 inch thick.

All in all, this is the BEST powder foundation I've used so far. I was also told by the MN SA that this is their number one selling product of all time. Go and try it!

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