Coastal Scents • Silica Spheres Powder • Loose Powders

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Selene2013 on 3/3/2013 9:22:00 AM more reviews by Selene2013

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

If you have oily skin this is heaven for you. I just love it.

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*TOP REVIEWER* cksa on 7/13/2012 11:57:00 PM more reviews by cksa

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I have to give this a low score overall because it just didn't work for me.

1. The CS silica spheres is much cheaper than any mainstream brands (including e.l.f.).
2. It gives your skin a smooth, silky feel and may help to control shine for some, but I didn't notice a significant difference on my super oily skin. Still had to blot at noon. I thought that there might have been a slight decrease in oil on the blot sheet, but it didn't change the fact that I still looked like I had smeared my face with Crisco.
3. Use just a super tiny bit--it'll make you look like you sneezed into a flour barrel otherwise. The CS jar I got mine in is definitely wanting in that respect even though it's perfectly functional as a storage jar, because it is impossible to get a small amount out. You'll need a separate sifter jar, and will probably have to cover up most of the sifter holes to prevent a silica OD.
4. Don't use it for nighttime photography, or anything that will require flash. You will, again, look like you sneezed into a flour barrel.
5. Sensitive skin, be aware! I initially liked the silica spheres, but using them made me realize that I am extremely sensitive to silica--I broke out in little irritated bumps within three days of use. I started paying attention to products that contain silica as a result, and because I found that I consistently broke out with any amount of silica in a product, I cut the ingredient out entirely. Silica does increasingly appear as an ingredient in a lot of mainstream facial products nowadays (no wonder, as it does make your skin feel awesome), so I am constantly checking ingredients lists for silica as well as the usual silicones. I suppose I at least have the microspheres powder to thank for discovering my silica sensitivity!

For an oil control alternative that didn't make me break out, try silk powder!

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

*TOP REVIEWER* hwnpunch on 6/26/2012 10:07:00 AM more reviews by hwnpunch

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

I wish I could remember which poster recommended this in another thread because she saved me a ton of money. I just got this in from Coastal Scents a site I was unfamiliar with but glad I found. I can't exactly call this a dupe of MUFE HD because it's the exact same thing without the huge price tag. Same ingredient (100 % silica) and milled just as fine or so close that I can't tell any difference. This goes on just as invisible and controls oil just as well. This was cheaper than the E.L.F version that I tried which is loaded up with a silicone filler and makes me look like I'm gearing up for Kabuki theater. I purchased a 1oz jar of this and a 1oz jar of the Cosmetic Microspheres (magnesium silicate) for less than what I spent on a travel jar of the MUFE HD powder at Christmas. My total bill for both products, standard shipping and taxes was less than $19. I ordered on a Friday afternoon and got my package on Monday. They also tossed in a generous sized mineral eyeshadow sample in a tiny flip top plastic jar. I'm using this silica to refill my travel HD jar since it's the perfect size. I'm sure that this 1oz jar is gonna last about a year since you need so little. Quality product, awesome price and outstanding shipping time. I will definitely repurchase.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Miaoudeminou on 5/28/2012 1:05:00 PM more reviews by Miaoudeminou

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I'm going to start by saying that I bought a container off Ebay. It was cheap and I was mislead to believe it was more than what I got. That's okay 'cause now I'm going through TKB Trading (1oz is $6.45 shipped). But I do have to say that this review is based off of the Ebay one I bought.
With that being said, this is a fantastic product. I apply a primer, my TM, apply the rest of my make-up (letting the TM "set"), and then apply the silica powder. Yesterday (5/27/12) the weather reached 90(F) here. I had make-up on, I was sweating like crazy and the make-up stayed. All day. I looked as good as when I started. My face just looked glowy instead of matte though. So yes and yes again will I buy this stuff. At work I didn't think it was working since my concealer doesn't tend to look so fresh at the end of the day but apparently this does work very well.

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camilka on 4/25/2012 6:34:00 AM more reviews by camilka

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

I'm giving it a five since it's the same thing as MUFE while the price is very low. Anyone can afford this. When you buy MUFE you pay for the marketing costs and the hype.

Apply this sparingly and with a small brush (eyeshadow brush is good). And only where needed. Too much makes you look kinda dead.

I ordered this together with three other powders: Cosmetic microspheres (magnesium), zinc oxide (for sun protection) and rice powder (for really humid summer days).

The cosmetic microsphere-powder is a much better powder for all over face because it reflects light and airbrushes a little, the way silica powder doesn't. Both powders makes your skin feel amazing, though.
If you're gonna order this, I totally recommend the microspheres too, maybe you could mix them together or something. If I could only pick one, I'd take the microspheres.
Hope this was helpful.

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dmchee on 11/30/2011 11:29:00 PM more reviews by dmchee

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

I bought a 1oz jar from coastal scents and woa, this is more than I expected! It's probably about..oh..50mL of powder in a 100mL container (roughly). I put some into a sifter container and the powder, being so finely milled, went everywhere. I dusted some onto my freshly washed, moisturized face using my Ecotools blush brush and the powder flew everywhere. When I applied LM tinted moisturizer on top, the finish was matte and not as dewey as usual, indicating that even though I couldn't see the powder, it is there doing it's thing. Unfortunately the mattifying effect did not last as long as I'd hoped -by the time I reached work 1 hr later, I could see tiny beads of oil on my nose, and yes, I had to blot again mid-day and late afternoon. I think it's okay -not a miracle product but it does mop up oil to some degree: without silica, I'm a greasy mess but with silica, I get just tiny beads of oil which is as good as it gets, from what I've tried so far. Maybe if I can develop a technique to brush this onto my skin without so much of it flying off, I can get more oil-absorbing power from these spheres.

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Annakie on 10/25/2011 11:02:00 AM more reviews by Annakie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I needed a mattifying setting powder and was considering purchasing either Tarte's version or MUFE's until I saw people mention that these $30 powders are essentially just plain silica dioxide and you can order it much cheaper from mineral makeup suppliers. I actually ordered mine from TKB Trading but am putting the review here because this seems to be the hub of activity on this subject and it's basically the same thing.


I have to admit, getting a ziplock baggie of nondescript white powder in the mail did not give me a lot of confidence in the product, but let's be honest, almost all makeup we buy is made in China and we work on faith that it is what it says it is. Part of the reason plain SiO2 costs so much when purchased from a cosmetic company is you're paying for packaging and marketing, and if it saves me money, I can do without that. I carefully spooned the powder into an old BE mineral veil powder jar and use just a little to set my liquid foundation in my oily t-zone. Just like what they sell at Sephora for a fraction on the price--boom. It definitely keeps the shine at bay for me. You can also try adding small amounts of mica or kaolin to make the powder a little more luminous or add a different shine absorber.


I'd also like to address the silica scare going around the Internet and in some of the posts below this one. Do your homework, ladies--not all silica is created equal, and this is NOT the type of silica that causes silicosis. The difference is that cosmetic silica powder is "amorphous hydrated silica," which is a synthetic silica that is less abrasive than the crystalline silica that causes lung scarring (and even then, mostly in industrial settings where you're breathing dust all day). Amorphous silica has not been shown to cause silicosis. Most of the confusion lies in the fact that most companies just call it "silica" on the label, without giving you the specifics. There's a good extended discussion on this issue here:


http://www.sterlingminerals.com/blog/tag/hydrated-silica/


I still try to avoid breathing it--I wear a breathing mask when transferring it to a container, don't breathe in when applying the powder to my face, and you can even use a damp brush to apply so it doesn't dust up--but I do that with any loose powder. But if you breathe in a tiny bit occasionally, it's probably not going to hurt.

17 out of 17 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* jaylyn85 on 10/20/2011 9:16:00 AM more reviews by jaylyn85

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

This powder is fantastic, it is exactly the same as MUFE hd powder. I have tried both and I would never be able to tell the difference. The price for this is amazing, I don't understand why anyone would spend extra money on a brand name product, when there is an exact dupe out there. I got 1oz of this stuff, that will last me forever. It does a wonderful job at filling in fine lines and enlarged pores and definitely keeps me looking matte. The only downfall I can find is the jar that it comes in, It really doesn't do much to stop it from becoming air born. You do need to be careful not to breath this in, as it isn't great for your lungs and unfortunately the skrew top jar it comes in does not help.

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

blahblahh on 5/29/2011 12:58:00 PM more reviews by blahblahh

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is the first powder I ever find to be too drying for my oily shiny face. This is a remarkable feat on its own. It is also so clumpy, so eating up the healthy-skin-glow off my face. I look like a zombie.

The ways I've tried to make this work:
1. used different brushes for application
2. had proper scrubbing & moisturizing beforehand
3. mixed it with TM or sunblock
4, used it as setting powder / finishing powder / primer powder

Alas, nothing works. Simply put, this powder has zero soft focus effect yet accentuates my pores really well, including those I didn't know I had.

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*TOP REVIEWER* BarbItalia on 5/25/2011 9:38:00 PM more reviews by BarbItalia

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This product is fabulous; I bought the 8 oz. jar over a year ago and still have lots left. It's the only product that conceals the enlarged pores on my nose! At the time of purchase I also bought a few of Coastal Scents' rotation sifter jars and keep one filled from the large original jar, which has no sifter. I don't use this over all of my face, but only beneath my eyes (to set cream concealer when I don't use mineral concealer) and on my nose and center of my face after mineral foundation. I do have a trick to soften and conceal large pores: After foundation, I shake some product into the jar lid, load up a finger full of powder and lightly RUB it over my nose and other large-pored areas. Then I apply my finishing powder with a brush and gently buff over the silica-powdered areas. The coverage I achieve this way far exceeds what I can do with any of my brushes or even with a flocked sponge. Nothing makes my skin look as fine as this does, applied in this manner. And, there's virtually no powder flyaway with this method. Really great stuff, you should try it!

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

*TOP REVIEWER* Chelles93 on 5/21/2011 3:39:00 PM more reviews by Chelles93

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Wow.

I was ready to give up on finding a nice powder that would set my beloved Phys. Form. tinted moisturizer.

I can wear this over my Eucerin SS and the PF and instead of looking dewey or greasy, I look polished. (Most physical sunscreens are too greasy for me to use in the summer, but I just started Retin A and I want a few layers of it to prevent more sun damage - and this allows me to use them.)

I have huge, ugly pores and this makes them look waaaay better. I apply it with a cheap $1 E.L.F. brush - the brush doesn't hold a lot of powder so I can't apply too much.

It does lighten my skin a bit, and sometimes I sprinkle a little directly onto my bronzer and mix them together. Looks great.

I don't use it under my eyes, as I think it would be too drying. I do use it on my eyelids before my eyeshadow, though.

Love it, will repurchase.

Edit: Updated for summer weather.

It's been incredibly hot and humid here - temps above 90's. If I wear this, I kind of sweat underneath it, if that makes any sense. On days when it's that swampy outside, I've decided to stick to just sunscreen and a lighter layer of tinted moisturizer and if people don't want to see my pores/acne marks/red spots, they can go suck an egg.

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

ciiindyyy on 5/2/2011 10:47:00 PM more reviews by ciiindyyy

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

HOLY CRAP!
Girls, what are you DOING TO YOURSELVES?
Research the damn product before you slather it all over your face!
This product causes Silicosis!

"Silicosis (also known as Grinder's disease and Potter's rot) is a form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, and is marked by inflammation and scarring in forms of nodular lesions in the upper lobes of the lungs."

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achuh on 4/23/2011 4:01:00 AM more reviews by achuh

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

really wanted to like this but didn't work for two reasons:

1. it made my face super itchy for some reason :/ i've used products with silica in them before, but maybe the 100% silica just doesn't work for me

2. it accentuated the flakies on my chin/cheeks

i love how it gives the "soft focus" translucent glow to the face and makes pores look invisible...but the dealbreaker is the itchiness. i could handle using a heavier moisturizer on my drier parts because i love the finish so much, but i just can't get past the itchiness that sets in 10-15 minutes after i apply this (plus, if i sweat even a little bit it makes me want to scratch my face off...not pretty). **i tried mixing it with various loose powders in different ratios, but couldn't get it to work. if i added more silica to get a "soft focus" finish my skin would itch, but if i didn't use enough silica to make my skin itch i lost the soft focus effect**

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

*TOP REVIEWER* xxxstrzxx on 3/29/2011 11:35:00 PM more reviews by xxxstrzxx

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I have really oily skin and this stuff controls my oil so well for most of the day. I had previously used the MAC prep and prime, and I believe it's like $23 versus the coastal scents silica powder that was around $5 and you get so much more. I think the coastal scents one blows the MAC powder out of the water. I use a fluffy duo fibre brush and swirl it all over my face after I apply foundation. It fills in my large pores and controls my oil. The only con about this procuct is the packaging. It comes in a weird plastic jar and every time you open it the fine particles fly everywhere. I found a solution to that, I just purchase the little powder containers from coastal scents and just transfer a bit into there, it is really similar to the bare minerals packaging. This solves the bad packaging issue. I would recommend to those with oily skin, or any skin type looking for a really good and affordable HD powder :)

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Aniax021 on 3/4/2011 1:46:00 AM more reviews by Aniax021

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair   Hair: Blond, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This stuff is GOLD!!!
I have tried many drugstore powders only to find them super cakey on me, and they just don't hold, at the end of the day I'm left very shiny looking, and I can feel the oil on my skin. Not good.

I have very oily skin, and this is the only thing that works for me. It's about $4 for a jar and I ordered like 4 of them for only $20ish dollars and so worth it, I think it's been like a year if not more and I still have 3 jars left.
Because this works so well I only have to apply it once in the morning and I'm good for the whole day! Now that's a good feeling when you know your makeup is in place and your oilies don't show up. and you don't feel oily!

The only thing and it's a small prob. but in the summer when it gets hot and humid sometimes when you apply this and when you sweat you see some white marks on your face, or under your nose, in places where you sweat, but it's no big deal, I just rub it off and I'm good. So I'm fine with that, it doesn't bother me.
But LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff.
Def. will repurchase. Def. will recommend to others.
Very happy with it. and it's super cheap for the jar that you get. =)

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*TOP REVIEWER* BayRidge on 2/19/2011 10:31:00 AM more reviews by BayRidge

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Thanks MUA for introducing me to this gem! I was used Too Faced Primed and Poreless and liked it very much but found that going through a container in about 2 months would prove to be a bit too expensive. So I brought this instead and am in heavan. I think for those with darker skin it can be tricky to apply, but for fair skinned ladies, its a godsend. I bluff this into my skin, on top of TheBalm Time Shelter TM or YSL Apricot Primer, using the tiny ecotools kabuki brush (yes, the one in the travel kit!) and its magical - no more gaping pores, fine even skin. I find if I lightly dab some of the L'oreal primer over the TM, its even better (haha). I transfer this to a powder sifter from Sephora. So good I haven't touched any other loose powder I have - Palladio, NARS, Coty Airspun - they look and feel so clunky by comparison.

To take the white edge off, (like the days I wear SS and nothing else) I'll put a bit of Benefit Georgia as a finisher to add some depth to my skin.... its a dreamy combination.

Seriously, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying this product.

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

mxhx on 1/26/2011 1:56:00 PM more reviews by mxhx

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

I've been looking for a good setting powder for so long. I have normal to dry skin but my foundation seems to oxidize fast and i hate looking oily. A little goes a long way wiht this and it really keeps my face matte and nice compared to all other powders i've used. I tried the cody..airspun? and catscosmetics...and dream matte powder...and this is the best. i love it!!!!

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kblack on 10/18/2010 9:23:00 PM more reviews by kblack

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I tried this after I read reviews here,( of course). For at least a year I mixed 3 parts this to 1 part Palladio rice powder to give it a smidgen of color. Very nice, but several months ago I started getting stress eczema under my eyes. By Friday I looked 1000 years old under the eyes---weekend away from work and some under-eye treatment and I'd be fine by Monday. By Tuesday, though, the patches would start reappearing and the rice powder/silica mix just emphasized the scaly skin.

After reading people say good things about other white powders for PPPs (Vampyre Veil, for one!) I thought I'd try just the silica spheres with a fluffier brush. This was over Estee Lauder DW foundation and Dermablend concealer on a couple of melasma spots; MAC Cubic blush on top. It was so...illusion-veil-y! I didn't see a whitish cast and looked in regular lighting, outdoors, and fluorescent lighting. I really felt that there was an improvement over the course of a 12 hour day.

I still will probably get my weekday stress eczema (as I still work in Hell) but I'm hoping that the plain silica spheres, applied with a super-fluffy brush and light hand, will skim over the top and not sink and oxidize onto scalies and make them even more noticeable. They did mattify my T-zone (still active even though I am 53) with no need for touch-ups or blotting. I also felt that my ES was a bit more set, EL didn't budge as much as usual, but that could have been just my perception.

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

ayaspiralout on 10/15/2010 6:34:00 PM more reviews by ayaspiralout

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I thought this was nice as a setting powder until I saw how it looked in pictures- it made me look ghostly. I like the way it makes my skin feel to the touch and it controlled my oil well. I may use it under my foundation as others have suggested.

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

*TOP REVIEWER* katrosado5 on 10/6/2010 6:23:00 PM more reviews by katrosado5

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I've had this product in one of my makeup drawers for quite a while. I had used it as a finishing powder once or twice but for some reason even though it's a wonderful finishing powder I wasn't crazy about it because for me it was difficult to buff out and not have it show as very light (it's a white powder).

I have had some issues with primers of late, the silicon ones break out my face for some reason, the water based ones are like I have nothing on at all. I'm 48 and have mature skin, I abused my skin in my teen years and early 20's so not only do I have fine lines to camoflauge I have dark spots etc.

I took this out last night and decided to play a bit with it. This is what I did but the results were so amazing I thought I would share in case anyone else wanted to play a bit with it.

After my moisturizer, while it was still a bit tacky, I took a brush (held my breath because this does dust up and float around quite a bit) and applied this as I would like a finishing powder on top of makeup.

Then I applied my foundation over. WOW. Amazing almost flawless skin. I had a social function I was going to last night and I had two ladies my age tell me I had gorgeous skin. I have NEVER had anyone tell me in my life I had nice skin much less gorgeous skin.

So there is my story :-D Play with it this way if you like too, if not no harm no foul.

16 out of 16 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No