Chanel • Poudre Universelle Compacte • Pressed Powders

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rouge_noir on 1/15/2008 6:53:00 AM more reviews by rouge_noir

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

I just can't seem to get it right. After finishing my Bobbi Brown Pressed Powder, I decided to get a smaller compact for my purse, and settled on Givenchy Matmate. Since it's a compact foundation, it was good but sometimes the coverage was a bit too artificial. I lost that compact, and I was going to buy a Guerlain Parure until I read some unfavorable reviews here.

So I finally settled on Chanel, because I like their packaging too, and I always liked their loose powders. The choice of colors is poor, only 4 of them, but luckily 30 Naturel - Translucent 2 is a perfect match to my NW25 skin. Combined with a little blotting, this very fine powder allows for multiple touch-ups during the day and into the night without ever becoming cakey. Also, the large mirror is great.

If only Chanel had provided a compartment for the applicator as many of the competitors do! 9 out of 10 times I open this compact, the thing flies right off! I'm thinking of getting a retractable brush, otherwise it's just unmanageable.

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*TOP REVIEWER* daphn3_t on 12/30/2007 10:52:00 AM more reviews by daphn3_t

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I’ve been dying to try this pressed powder for ages!!! For some reason, Chanel makeup just draws me towards them. Perhaps it’s the packaging (that sleek matt black plastic), velvet pouch that comes with most of their products, I just love Chanel makeup. Besides, I’ve had great results using their foundations (Double Perfection Creme Powder Makeup, & also the liquid version which has already been d/c-ed), never broke me out ever.

Same results yield with this pressed powder. It is finely milled, and the colour suits me pretty well (I can wear both 20 Claire & 30 Natural). Nothing to be faulted at all, really. However, I wish Chanel would improve on the free sponges. I mean, I shell out big bucks, get great product, but lousy applicators?!

The ’sponge’ that came with the pressed powder is basically like a cotton round, flat and thin, not picking up much powder, not to say, sucky application. I’ve been using my powder brush with it, and I think if I were to bring it out, I’ll need to get myself a new sponge first. Ditto with the applicator that came with another of its foundation ( TEINT INNOCENCE NATURALLY LUMINOUS COMPACT MAKEUP SPF 10), it flakes off the main sponge and it can’t be used after a few weeks.

Chanel, come on!! Don’t disappoint us with such sub-standard applicators!

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evalien on 11/9/2007 7:48:00 AM more reviews by evalien

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

A very nice powder. Light, creamy, fine.
I'm not too keen on the colour selection. When I put the powder on it really shows until I blend it in. When set it does however look good and has very decent staying power unlike many powders I've tried before. Though i'm not utterly thrilled I don't think it's likely i'll find a better powder on the market.

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mers on 7/25/2007 6:23:00 PM more reviews by mers

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Another HG from Chanel. This translucent powder gives me an amazing airbrushed look. I apply with a skunk brush so I can use just a little to get great coverage that I use to set foundation. I use it over creme or powder foundation and it never cakes or looks chalky. I've used many HE translucent powders (Laura Mercier, Stila, T. LeClerc, Shiseido, Cle de Peau) and this is up there with the best of them, and better than most of them. The packaging is the average chanel thing -black plastic, black pouch, and non-refillable, which I hate!!!

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christine22 on 5/15/2007 12:40:00 PM more reviews by christine22

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

This is my absolute favourite powder! Goes on undectable... controls shine. Packaging is nice. Love <3!

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christine21 on 4/9/2007 8:26:00 PM more reviews by christine21

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

I love this powder, it is undetectable on your skin and very good for touch ups. I love pulling out my Chanel compact during lunch at school to do touch ups, everyone else has those cheap Cover Girl ones and this indeed is far better than any other powder I've used before. I used to be scared of powder...now I love it! I will repurchase.

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kathy_in_california on 2/4/2007 4:11:00 PM more reviews by kathy_in_california

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I have Poudre Universelle Compacte in Translucent 1. It is a decent enough pressed powder, but unlike some of the other reviewers I feel it's not quite as sheer, sort of a bit heavy. I don't use pressed powders too often, I usually just blot during the day or use my loose powder (Kanebo Translucent Loose Powder) for touch up. The compact is a little small, and I'm not wild about the applicator. I bought Poudre Universelle Compacte since I needed a pressed powder and I love Chanel foundation. I might buy it again, I'll see when the time comes...

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Tbauer on 12/21/2006 5:26:00 PM more reviews by Tbauer

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

I use this powder on and off depending on my mood. It is very natural, and completely undetectable, and the coverage is light. It is a good setting powder for a liquid foundation, but not pigmented enough to fly solo. This is a great powder for the acne prone because it really lets the skin breathe through. If you are really oily, you will either have to reapply or use blotting sheets.

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ipathgirl on 11/28/2006 1:02:00 AM more reviews by ipathgirl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I returned and purchased this item about 3 times. I know, I couldn't make up my mind. I got it purely for touch ups throughout the day and got 30 Naturel. I used a brush to apply it to my tzone and loved how it kept my skin matte but didn't look powdery or accentuated my pores. I could reapply it as much as I wanted and it would never build up since it's so finely milled. My only complaint is the color selection. 3 different shades, all of which do not suit me. I found the 30, when reapplied looked really dark and muddy on me, but the 20 was way too light and left a white cast. I really wanted to keep this one but had to let it go! Not to mention it cost around $45 CDN!! Just like all Chanel compacts, this one was so darn cute! Nothing compares to MAC blot for touchups though!!

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immoralfear on 11/12/2006 6:03:00 PM more reviews by immoralfear

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Black    

The quality is good, no doubt. This sets makeup well, keeps the shine at bay and does not irritate my sensitive skin. Unfortunately, I am in between shades and this also does not have enough yellow undertones to match my skin.

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

jjuang on 9/10/2006 2:40:00 AM more reviews by jjuang

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This power is very very light. It is great for setting your makeup. It is also quite gentle on your skin. Because of its sheer coverage, you almost have to find a foundation w/ the perfect color for you. Chanel doesn't have a good yellow undertone powder though. I'm using the lightest color. It works well b/c it really does not change your face color much. If you want, you can build it up to lighten your color a bit for those winter days when you get just a bit lighter than usual. The only drawback is that this does not last long. You will probably have to touch up every 2 hours or so depending on the weather. I have since switched to origin's skin silk pressed powder for that it gives just a little coverage w/ great yellow-based color.

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specialkalle on 9/2/2006 4:44:00 PM more reviews by specialkalle

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

I bought this in translucent 3. I really wanted a pretty compact powder to carry around with me, and this is it. The powder is finely milled and looks good when used with a fluffy brush, you can also get more coverage if you use the little powder puff. If this wasn't Chanel, I would never have paid $45 for a powder, but it is and I'm a make up junkie. I am willing to try new things but wouldn't necessarily recommend it because of the price.

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*TOP REVIEWER* dollfaced41 on 6/24/2006 5:49:00 PM more reviews by dollfaced41

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

The first time I can remember wanting makeup was when I was about 7, eating luch with my grandmother. I saw a business woman in the tea room, chicly powdering her nose with a chanel compact. I've wanted one ever since. I purchased my first one in a Nordies GWP event, sure that after 11 years anticipation I would surely be disappointed.
I have severe combo skin; shiny in the T-zone and chin, but dry as the Sahara everywhere else. This powder is fabulous. It mattifies my oilies, without drying my skin out.
The puff included is the most functional of it's kind I've ever seen, with a soft, fluffy side for blotting and a nubbier side for more coverage. It's quite sheer, so if you're looking for a foundation, I would try one of the other powders in the brand.
However, as a pressed blotting powder, it is amazing. When I powder my nose, I don't feel like I'm sopping up an oil slick. I feel like that chic business lady powdering her nose in a tea room.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* Lucrecia on 4/26/2006 1:26:00 PM more reviews by Lucrecia

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This is an average product for me. It is sheer and doesn't give much coverage so it's good as a setting powder. However, that's about it...nothing so special about the texture or quality. I love the glamourous compact and the fact that it doesn't oxidise (unlike MAC Select Sheer). Only a few months after the first use, the surface also becomes hardened. I got this from Sephora in the states and paid about 45 US for it. For that price, this product is a disappointment!

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elli888 on 4/16/2006 10:32:00 AM more reviews by elli888

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

My powder code was #30 Naturel and i have fair-medium with yellowish tone complexion. The texture of the powder is fine n smooth but too thick for me n i think it made my complexion appeared dark after awhile. Packaging is classy with the velvet pouch. Dont like the puff that comes with it (thin n square). I find it hard to use. I dont like the smell of the powder too. So i gave it to my aunty. I find it a waste of money for something that doesnt add up to my expectations. Will not buy again.

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*TOP REVIEWER* iriss on 4/2/2006 6:07:00 AM more reviews by iriss

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This pressed powder is smooth, sheer, looks great and doesn't cake. Also it didn't break me out. I purchased 20-clair, i'm fair with pink undertones. I have some little freckles on my nose and my upper cheeks. Covering is light but that's what i want.( i don't have pimples and no need coverage). Powder is smooth and gives natural looking. I'll definitely repurchase.

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cron on 4/1/2006 3:59:00 PM more reviews by cron

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

I bought this in Peche (with tiny little sparkles, looks chic) to accompany my Poudre Universel Libre in the same shade. I wasn't sure what to expect of this pressed powder and how it would deal with my combination skin. Well, it passed very well :) I apply it in the morning and it will keep me matte for at least four hours which is very decent, considering this is not a matte powder. I need to apply only a very thin layer so it's quite economical. I've been using this for cca two months and the CHANEL stamping in the powder has only just come off. The only bad thing is that stupid sponge. It looks very cheap and gets dirty very easily. I'll try to replace it. I'm afraid this won't suit my combo skin during the summer months though, we'll see and I'll write an update then. I believe I will repurchase.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* Xxkonixx on 3/8/2006 3:26:00 AM more reviews by Xxkonixx

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

I found this product okay......the color is natural.....coverage is natural.....but i'm not sure if the quality is really consistence with the cost of it.......it almost give me the same look as my other powder but i gotta admitt no matter how much i use throughout the day.....it never gives me fine lines around my mouth or anywhere else like i use to at the end of the days.........but again...the packaging is really bad......... i think i'm not far from losing the plastic frame and having to make my own or something....also....it doesn't matify that well......so probably will try to look for something else when i'm done with this.......and you know in that price range you can almost have every options in the market.......UPDATE: color is too dark for me liked i'm tring to fake a tan.......coverage is not enough for my uneven skin tone...end up getting the double perfection compact at the end ...

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ladymastro on 2/9/2006 5:16:00 PM more reviews by ladymastro

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I LOVE, LOVE this stuff. It goes on so light and sheer, and is the perfect "topper" for my Chanel TN foundation. It completely absorbs any excess oils and evens out my skin without making me look chalky. I have yellow skin tones and used to wear BB and MAC before, but this is my favorite of them all. HG :).

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

saeal on 2/6/2006 11:26:00 PM more reviews by saeal

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

An okay pressed powder. I bought this for about 15 dollars or so while on a planeride to Japan, but after checking its actual retail price no way I'm going to repurchase this. I use a powder brush to apply this and yet I can see where exactly I puffed! Color choices are fine, but the powder itself needs to be much finer.

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