Physicians Formula • Healthy Wear SPF 50 Powder Foundation • Powder

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*TOP REVIEWER* Thugluvgrl187 on 2/10/2011 10:41:00 AM more reviews by Thugluvgrl187

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I got this for 75% off at CVS and it sucked! It is so sheer and so light. Kind of chalky too. Not impressed with it at all. I was expecting better from this.

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jcookie123 on 2/6/2011 11:19:00 PM more reviews by jcookie123

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Curly   Eyes: Brown    

I love the idea of spf 50 in my powder... I purchased this in the summer but unfortunately this left me greasy..I think it has to do with the spf ingredients... I now use in the winter instead. Also choices of colors are limited...so it definitely looks like powder.

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husveges on 1/29/2011 11:25:00 PM more reviews by husveges

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

I got creamy beige, natural beige, and translucent medium (on sale at CVS) because I read the MUA reviews that said this runs light. I'm a ColorStay 180 Sand Beige (don't do the whole MAC thing, sorry), and I agree with the reviewer who said that creamy beige is cooler toned and more natural looking for light skinned, neutral undertoned girls.

Despite the reviews that say this runs light, I'm thinking of getting the light shade, too. These look a lot lighter in the pan or applied with a kabuki brush than they do applied with a sponge or after they sit on your skin for a while. They are dry, but I feel are less dry looking than Colorstay.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* ayngemac on 1/23/2011 9:32:00 PM more reviews by ayngemac

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I bought the darkest shade, and it was way to light for me (NC42). Why can't Physician's Formula make darker shades? I had to return it.

FAIL

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bluest1199 on 1/23/2011 9:29:00 PM more reviews by bluest1199

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I bought this powder because it had an SPF 50. I think that it works OK. It provides very light coverage so I mainly use it as a setting powder. I have found that it can be a little powdery looking if you apply too much reguardless of how much you blend. I think that this is a good powder to have in the summer because of the SPF and if you have really good skin this will give a nice matte finish. However, I have really uneven blochy skin so I have to wear something underneath that gives more coverage. However, I will still be repurchasing this product when I run out.

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neddykapoozle on 1/22/2011 1:22:00 PM more reviews by neddykapoozle

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

A little pricy for drugstore m/u, but worth it. This powder is the bomb diggety. I use it to set my TM or foundation, or even on it's own over primer. Lasts relatively well on my oily skin, but I need to touch it up midday.

I use the lightest color and use either a fluffy powder brush or a kabuki. The compact is easy to find with the bright orange and pink packaging. There's normally a coupon stuck right onto the package in the story so you can get it for a little cheaper.

I've used an entire compact up and am on my second one. Good powder to have around.

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wee_moggie on 1/9/2011 9:25:00 PM more reviews by wee_moggie

Age: 36-43   Skin: Oily, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this based on the reviews here. I LOVE THIS STUFF. I have a very fair, olive face, and I have such a tough time finding something that will match. I wasn't sure which color to buy; the Translucent Light looked too light, the Medium looked like it might work, but then again, perhaps the Natural Beige? I bought all three and was surprised to find out that the Light was the one! It goes on darker than it looks, and it goes on even darker if I use my Clinique Super City Block SPF 40 underneath it.

My big issues are controlling oil and a high SPF. I have melasma and it is such a battle! I prefer physical blocks to chemical ones, which is why I like the Clinique one, which has I believe around 14% titanium dioxide. I was astounded to read that this powder has 21% titanium dioxide, plus 3% zinc oxide! Fantastic! Plus, it controls oil better than any powder I've ever used! That's huge for me. You still have to re-apply later in the day, but I expect that from any powder. Plus, as another person mentioned, you do need to re-apply your sunblock, and this is perfect for that. It doesn't look cakey when you put more on.

My only teensy issue is the coverage, but I think that is just a personal thing. It can build to a medium coverage. I've been used to full coverage liquid foundation for years, so this is a considerable change from that. With this powder, I can still see the melasma spots a bit and that bugs me a bit, but I am willing to get used to it because the SPF is so high. My husband loves it and says I look so much better without all the liquid foundation on.

I love that I can use it on its own; my makeup routine is just a few minutes now, because the SPF in it is enough. I will still use the Clinique under it on days when I know I'm going to be in the sun a lot.

So, to summarize:

Pros:

SPF 50! In titanium dioxide!
Makes my makeup routine fast!
Controls oil better than any powder I've tried (I've tried lots)
Packaging has the puff apart from the powder (more sanitary)
A color that works for me!
Price is cheap, considering what I was paying for the liquid foundation

Cons:

Not too hip on the orange and pink colors (well, I had to put something in the Cons)

Definitely my HG. It's still hitting me how great this stuff is.

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gankochan on 1/5/2011 4:57:00 PM more reviews by gankochan

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

I am allergic to sunscreen--my eyes burn, etc.--and this is one of the few sunscreen products I have used that does not cause my eyes to weep. I purchased the product on a lark, without reading any reviews, and feel as if I struck gold on a budget.

Coverage: Just right, not too much and not too little
Finished look: A bit dry right after application, but within one-half an hour the look is smooth and even.
Sunscreen: My eyes don't burn!

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gloriasolideo on 1/1/2011 3:29:00 AM more reviews by gloriasolideo

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

The thing that makes this stufff essential, for me at least, is that you're supposed to reapply sunscreen lotion often--which I never do, for fear of ruining my makeup. With this stuff, I lightly dust it over my face during the day, and--voila--protection!

I buy the stuff for my two daughters, too.

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

wildviolet on 12/28/2010 3:03:00 AM more reviews by wildviolet

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I absolutely love this foundation. I actually bought it to wear around the house as a sunscreen (I wasn't planning on wearing it in public) because I didn't think the color would look good on me (natural beige). It actually looks scary light in the compact but when I put it on it has the nicest finish and perfect color. I never wear foundation but I have been wearing this product over my sunscreen and am so pleased with how it evens my skintone and it even covers my dark circles. It has great coverage in my opinion and it isn't drying or caking. I plan to buy another as a "back up". I have fair skin, black hair and this gives me the nicest little touch of color so I don't look like Elvira :-)

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rimmela on 12/25/2010 10:16:00 PM more reviews by rimmela

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I do like this, as it has rather full coverage. It CAN look powdery or change color. Needs to be touched up. But I haven't tried it with MOM, so we'll see. Coverage is medium to full, buildable, but I still use concealer. The SPF 50 is a GREAT plus. I might repurchase.

UPDATE: Color leans a little pink but is the right depth. Finishing off with something like Maybelline Shine Free loose powder which is quite yellow offsets it, however.

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saartjesmile on 12/14/2010 9:57:00 PM more reviews by saartjesmile

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

I have very fair, extremely hard to match skin, and I'm seriously loving this powder. To be honest, I don't have very many issues with my skin, and all I really look for in a foundation is some evening out of my skintone, mild to moderate oil control, and overall just kind of a "finished" look. I was looking for a new powder, and when I saw this on sale and saw that it also had a physical sunscreen, I just had to buy it. I own it in Translucent Light, and it's a perfect match for my super pale skin. It's obviously wonderful in the summer, when I can powder my face to control oil/sweat, and it does double duty as a sunscreen! It gives a lovely, airbrushed look to my skin, and I love knowing that it will prevent me from frying like a shrimp in the sun.

As usual, if you need lots of coverage, don't use only a powder, because it won't be enough. I use a concealer under this to cover up my dark circles when I need to, but aside from that, it's the perfect amount of coverage for me. And to the person who "hit pan" after 5 uses... you're probably using too much. I bought mine in the summer and have used it nearly every day since, and I haven't done that yet. If you've ever used mineral makeup, you won't have a problem with the "feel" of this, it feels almost the same. If you're used to a cream-to-powder, however, it might take some getting used to.

In short, it's a wonderful, all-around product, that is far better in comparison to, say, CG clean powder, which I have also used. I love it, and I'll definitely stock up when it goes on sale again.

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

365686 on 11/20/2010 4:29:00 AM more reviews by 365686

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

I find it so interesting that other people have compared this product to Diorskin Forever compact because THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING! The Dior compact goes on smoother and finer, but is also hydrating, so I think PF combats my oil a little better. Surprisingly, despite the lack of shades to choose from, PF matches my skin better. My pale, olive skin is VERY hard to match. I think I wear the natural beige in PF and it matches perfectly whether or not I have a tan. The coverage is also buildable and subtle. In the Diorskin, I wear a 3 and it's just a tad off no matter how pale or tan I may be. What I always loved about the Diorskin was the coverage and convenience of the powder foundation. I hate liquid foundations and BareMinerals just doesn't have the coverage that I want. Just like the Dior, I can use a blending brush to buff in the PF foundation and it makes my makeup application process easy and quick. I use the pink sponge to cover the more discolored areas like acne scarring and around the nose. I honestly don't even care about the SPF 50 and could do just as well without it.

To summarize:
- PF is comparable to Diorskin Forever compact
- PF has less shade selection, but blends better with my skin
- Diorskin has smoother application, but cost way more
- PF works very well for my oily skin type, and is affordable
- This PF has great coverage
- The PF compact is totally cute!
- I will buy this PF compact again, but I kinda wish it wasn't SPF 50

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goddring on 11/16/2010 3:33:00 PM more reviews by goddring

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

This is so great for the price. I use the lightest shade and even though it looks too pale in the pan my my skin tone (light-medium), within a few minutes it melds with my skin to look matte and smooth. I have sunspots that are fading nicely now. I have taken to wearing this on most days instead of my more costly foundations. In our hot, sunny Texas climate this wears really well. NO parabens either!! I like the way that the sponge applicator is separated from the powder too. Get it at Ulta using their coupons and it is amazingly cheap!

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*TOP REVIEWER* bombasticclassic on 11/14/2010 10:19:00 PM more reviews by bombasticclassic

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

Wow... I am just so impressed by how advanced skincare has gotten that we can have SPF50 in a POWDER! And a very, very decent powder at that. I am NC35 and Creamy Beige is absolutely perfect - so to the reviewer below who is NC35 and rated it down because Natural Beige didn't match, you should definitely try this shade! I'm surprised that this has SPF and has not broken me out once yet. But it is a pressed mineral powder, so I guess I shouldn't be so shocked. Great finish; matte but not too matte if you know what I mean. It does not feel like powder "chalky" on my face, nor does it feel like a sunscreen IMO. Oil does come through by about midday and I find myself reapplying at about 4 or 5pm. Do I mind though? Absolutely not, the only other powder that I find lasts that long is my Diorskin Forever compact. Which leads me to my next point - the finish and wear time of this powder really reminds me of Diorskin Forever powder. I've been pleased with my Diorskin powder for the last couple months, but wasn't sure if it the $46 price tag was worth it for a great, but not fantastic powder. Now that I've tried PF's SPF50 powder, I'm positive it isn't worth it. Not only are most aspects exactly the same (finish, wear time, longevity, doesn't break me out, portable etc), but this is a quarter of the price, AND it has SPF50. Once I use up my Diorskin Forever, I'm never looking back.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* OmToast on 10/25/2010 10:08:00 AM more reviews by OmToast

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

After a full face sunscreen stoppage for several years (I find most of it irritating) I'm trying to be prudent about it, especially as I live in the southeastern US and have definitely noticed some sun damage, as well as a perpetually pink nose in the summer. I finally found a great SPF35 moisturizer I can use daily (Origins Brighter By Nature), but I am frequently in the position of needing to be outdoors for an extended period late in the day, by which time, I have noticed, I need a touchup. Figured powder would be perfect, and this was the only readily available one in my area. I'm pretty fair, so I nabbed the translucent light. My feelings are mixed.

1) it looks *great* on. Very minimal coverage (I did not want any), but just enough to even out my skin tone a bit. Not chalky or powdery, at all. Essentially invisible, but better.
2) it does give me the slight sunscreen pinchiness that I so object to, but it does not seem to break me out.
3) I'm not totally enamored with the feel. I played softball when I was a kid, and after lond days of tournament ball, I could not wait to get home and shower, yes, but specifically wash that nasty infield dust off of my face. This is not that bad, but although it doesn't look like a powder, it does definitely *feel* like a physical sunblock powder. Blecch. If I do not repurchase -- and I don't really know that I would -- it will likely be due to this.
4) The compact is very cute, but $13.99 (Target) for a drugstore translucent powder is kind of steep. And the little pink blender sponge it comes with, while it applies the product decently (powder brush is better), is sort of gross to drag across your skin. Plus, as I use this primarily for late-day touchups if I have to be out for prolonged periods, I feel like it's just going to get really gross, really quickly, and I'd be replacing it with drugstore sponges. That I then have to carry around a travel powder brush is sort of irksome to me.
5) Sun protection seems to work.

Like I said, mixed feelings. Works well, is not terribly objectionable, but just don't know if it's worth the price, in the end.

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

annikarey on 10/17/2010 2:56:00 AM more reviews by annikarey

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

The powder is good in providing me coverage. I always reapply this every 40 minutes. The translucent light powder matches well with my skin tone. The powder does cause a bit of a mess when applying. The number one thing that causes problems for me is that the powder will leak out when I put it in my handbag or make-up bag. When you look at the compact closed, you will see gaps on the side. This is where the powder will leak from. I also wish there are more selections in shades. Four shades is not enough. Overall, the foundation is good thanks to the medium to full coverage. But the packaging needs improvement.

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bzz on 10/12/2010 3:19:00 PM more reviews by bzz

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Curly, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I have been using this product for a few months and am still on the fence about it. I bought it this summer because of the spf 50. I have a hard time finding spf products that do not break me out.. so far this one has not. I purchased this in Translucent light and have very fair skin. I am a 110 in MUFE HD for reference. At first I tried this as a foundation and found the powder to give a light to medium coverage that is buildable...drawbacks are that it does look powdery on the skin and does accent fine lines even when buffed in with a brush... forget the pink puff. It's scratchy and makes for cakey looking application. The color matched my skin tone very well but would look a bit chalky if applied to a medium coverage... definitely needed some blush to look like I was still alive. The spf does seem effective for every day wear. I did not go to the beach with it though as I am very fair and didn't chance that it would be waterproof. As, I mentioned before, this powder did not break me out which is great because I have sensitive/ combo skin that tends to be more oily on the nose in summer. However, by the middle of the day I looked like I had a oil slick on my face... not normal for me, even in the summer. This surprised me because my skin felt a bit dried out by the powder when I first applied it in the AM. There must be something in this product that causes some people's skin to over-produce oil. Despite the midday oilies, I continued using this all summer long. I would just blot and reapply to the worst areas and it was fine. Now I have reverted to just using this as a setting/ blotting powder until I find a better sunscreen soloution. I have found that using less makes for less oily looking skin by midday but it is still a bit more oily than usual with other powders.

EDIT: I will not buy this again...it did break me out after awhile. I have found that mineral makeups break me out.

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

ladydayholiday on 10/8/2010 11:57:00 AM more reviews by ladydayholiday

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I love this foundation! The compact packaging quality is fantastic and I like the little pink sponge- it makes application really easy and cuts down on the fallout. I purchased it in the translucent light, which looks ghostly white in the pan, but matches my face when I put it on. I wear Buff in Revlon Colorstay and Light Ivory in L'Oreal Visible Lift Serum Absolute. I've noticed that all of Physician's Formula products tend to look light in the package but go on a few shades darker on the skin. It's medium coverage- it doesn't cover up my strawberry hemangioma scar as well as Colorstay does, but I typically use a concealer for it when I'm not using Colorstay anyway.

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*TOP REVIEWER* stephani99 on 10/4/2010 2:29:00 PM more reviews by stephani99

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Other, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

EDIT: months after my initial try and initial Epic Fail with this, I finally got it to work as well as the many glowing reviews claim it does. I was cleaning out my swap box and thought I should give it another try before parting ways permanently. After asking around, in which I expressed my problems (too dry, cakey, bad shade (Translucent Beige), I discovered the problem and the solution was a very simple one, to the point I had to smack myself in disbelief- - I was applying WAY too much in a manner that only made it worse. I was using the sponge, the one it came with, and when that didn't work, I had tried again with a different latex sponge. Once took MUA's advice to use a kabuki brush, I was amazed at the natural look, feel and length of wear I ended up with this product applied that way. It blended right in and looked like I was wearing nothing. No more cake-y, flaky line-enhancing mask-like look, no dry, tight feel, no making my dry/combo skin even more dry that it already was and no weird orange tones or darkening later in the day. I have to moisturize well first, as I do with all powder foundations due to my skin type (even the PF box directions recommend this for us dry gals). So less is definitely more with this and in the end it's deceiving how little you can apply and still call it foundation, once you do it right to begin with, unlike what I was doing at first. I don't know if I'm getting the full SPF 50 benefit using so little but otherwise, I'm now quite pleased with this cute orange compact and will be trying the liquid version next.


Suffice it to say, I had to delete my original scathingly bad review (sorry gals who said it was helpful, but give it another try with a kabuki brush if you had the same issues I did) because not only does this work as well as MUA and another makeup blog or two said, I had none of the issues I previously experienced, not realizing it was me and not the foundation itself. I simply had to change years of programming that "pressed powder foundations always require application with a sponge" because this is not the case. Thanks PF and I'm sorry MUA.... I will never doubt your wisdom again, or at least, I won't be as quick to judge until I exhaust ALL the options. *hangs head in shame* I still think it's a little pricey for drugstore, but it seems all ds makeup is undergoing a change to higher quality along with higher prices, and this brand does go on sale quite a bit. This also needs a much wider shade range so it still only gets a 4, but that's still a huge improvement from my original 1 rating and "no I wouldn't touch it again if you paid me to buy it" because in fact, I have repurchased, twice :)

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No