Sephora • Matifying Powder Foundation • Powder

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chemistryfordummies on 6/18/2013 3:34:00 PM more reviews by chemistryfordummies

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

this was the first foundation product I ever used and I do like it. I don't reach for it all the time but I find that it provides decent coverage and it is very matte. I only use this in the summer when I feel oily and don't want to put on liquid or cream foundation. I don't have many blemishes or face discoloration, so I find that this is perfect light coverage to even out my skintone. I wouldn't repurchase because I'm sure that there are drugstore powder foundations that perform the same way, for half the price. Overall though, I like it

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montinez on 3/22/2013 1:14:00 AM more reviews by montinez

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

Horrible. I lost my receipt so I'll only receive store cred when i take it back =( i should've stuck to Mac foundation for only $8 more.

It's to white and chalky.
Doesn't last at all, I've used drug store makeup better than this.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Ultraviolet on 3/13/2013 9:37:00 PM more reviews by Ultraviolet

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Kinky, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This compact was the perfect example of unbalanced form and function. Sephora should have been ashamed of themselves for releasing a product which performed like > $30 but was packaged like it was < $3. The photo accompanying this review speaks for the frustration I felt when after a handful of uses, I accidentally bumped my makeup bag against fill-in-the-blank. A fluffy pomeranian. Air. The foundation cake cracked, crumbling into a mess which was almost impossible to remove from any cloth material with which it came into contact.


I finally decided to re-purpose the product as a powder, as it was a very close match to my skin tone. While it was mattifying, it did not leave my face excessively dry. Did not experience any adverse reactions from the formula, I could layer it successfully without a "fake" and cakey appearance. In other words, it was almost a holy grail.


They recently relaunched these compacts in a supposedly more user-friendly format, so their old relatives were on deep clearance. I picked up a few and didn't even bother attempting to use them normally--just used a heated knife blade to slice the foundation cake, and removed each wedge from the compact and placed into empty loose powder containers. If you are able to find any of these on sale, I highly recommend purchasing them and performing the same sort of Doctor Operation.


I'm not coming within 50 feet of these reformulated products without seeing a high amount of 4/5 star reviews for the packaging. At this price point, it's absurd to deal with any complications in that regard--especially when I could just pay an additional $10-$15 dollars and have no worries whatsoever.

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AJ3141 on 2/14/2013 12:38:00 AM more reviews by AJ3141

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

I have been using this about 9 months and love it! I've used it every day. I've tried using other powders and nothing else I've tried comes close to mattifying like this. The coverage is light, so I usually put this on top of BB cream/concealer if I use them. The main reason I use this is for mattifying and evening out my skin. It's about $20 and I like the sponge it comes with

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blowpop on 2/2/2013 2:00:00 PM more reviews by blowpop

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is a good product. It gives a decent coverage and matches my skin tone. It's not overly amazing but it works and I'm glad :)

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JadoreNelle on 1/23/2013 10:33:00 PM more reviews by JadoreNelle

Age: Unknown   Skin: Combination, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

This has been a staple product for me since I found it. It blends seamlessly and doesnt break you out. Only gripe I have is the packaging. When you get to the end all the powder falls apart and gets all over everything. Luckily, Sephora told me they are redesigning the packaging!!! The product formulation will stay the same, just revamping the packaing. Excited to see it! I wear D35 in this powder. UPDATE: The new packaging is horrid! It is nearly twice the size of the original package and comes with a ugly white half moon sponge instead of the black round sponge... Might have to rethink this foundation solely because I hate the packaging.

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grellsutcliffspears on 12/19/2012 6:56:00 PM more reviews by grellsutcliffspears

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This powder is nice, I suppose. Certainly NOT one of the best I've tried, but decent. Some things I don't like are; it has parabens, it doesn't last long, the packaging is EXTREMELY flimsy, and it's not completely matte, it's almost a satin finish on me. It does have a nice texture though, and it does not have a lot of fall out, also, I used to be an nc30, luckily I'm now nc25(I hate being tan. I'm trying to get to nc15(Iknow, it'll take a while)), so it's too dark. I like to use powders that are my exact skin tone, but it used to match perfectly. My friend loves it, but I guess I'm too picky.

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

bebeblondie on 11/12/2012 7:10:00 PM more reviews by bebeblondie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

For reference, I have *extremely* oily, acne-prone, sensitive skin with a hard-to-match pale complexion with yellow undertones (everything tends to bee too pink/beige/orange/dark) and uneven redness in my nose/forehead/cheeks.

I was looking for a less expensive alternative to my regular foundation, Too Faced Amazing Face Powder Foundation, and I was also hoping for a bit more coverage and better staying power than the Too Faced provides. I chose this one based on the positive reviews here, and because I swatched just about every powder foundation in Sephora trying to find the closest color match to my Too Faced powder in Warm Vanilla (the best match I've ever had from a foundation thus far), and this powder came the closest in shade D20 I believe it was.

I was super happy about the price of this one, which is almost half of what I pay for the Too Faced. Unfortunately, though, I forgot to really look at the ingredients in this before purchasing. Although this does have slightly better coverage and staying power than my Too Faced powder, I absolutely hate the finish it gives, and I believe the mica and the bismuth oxychloride are to blame. I normally try to avoid face makeup with mica near the top of the ingredients list, as I find the finish just never works with my oily skin, as it always looks a bit shiny and unnatural to me. I've also read that bismuth oxychloride can have the same sort of shiny/unnatural finish on oily skin types. I wasn't expecting this finish since this foundation is called "mattifying," so I was hoping the finish would be completely matte like my Too Faced powder. I also noticed that this looked very powdery and obvious on my skin, whereas when I went back to my Too Faced powder I was amazed at how natural it looked compared to this one. Sadly, I realized I would have no use for this product, and ended up returning it to Sephora, which I rarely ever do. I won't be repurchasing it, but it might be alright for someone who doesn't have really oily skin.

Oh, and I forgot to add that the color didn't end up working for me; it appeared too dark/beige after applying it all over.

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josephinegarcia210 on 10/1/2012 11:16:00 PM more reviews by josephinegarcia210

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Grey    

This product worked greaat with my super oily skin!!!!!! i loved it the color was awesome and it looked so velvet smooth on my face ! i live in texas so it with stood the humidity and the oil with my primer it stayed with no problem! the color range they offer on this product is amazing. overall in the end i was allergic to this product, it cloged my pores and made me break out.

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*TOP REVIEWER* XxPRINCESSAxX on 9/27/2012 9:21:00 AM more reviews by XxPRINCESSAxX

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Tan, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Other    

This powder foundation has very quickly become an essential part of my everyday makeup routine. It has been helping me through some difficult skin times.

Some of the reviews here are really meant for their mineral powder which is way sheerer than this and is not a foundation really. So if its saying low/no coverage, its not a review for this. Also if the review states it came in a kit (buildable coverage), that is again for the mineral powder and not this.

I started using Retin-A and noticed increased breakouts, I got a facial and from there it went downhill. At 24 I started getting all-over breakouts worse than when I was teenager and to make matters worse, they were leaving horrible black scars. I had bleeding areas, active acne as well as varying degrees of dark scarring ALL OVER after spending years working on (and achieving) clear skin, so you can imagine how self conscious I was about this.

Anyways, the long story was necessary to understand how truly wonderful this powder is. I considered getting MAC Studio Fix powder since I needed very heavy coverage, but having used that in the past I knew it made my skin worse (pore-clogging), it would always oxidize and turn orange, and the transferability was terrible. And its kind of expensive. I decided to give the Sephora product a try, the price was way more affordable, I remember having a good color match with their mineral powder, plus there was a 10% coupon.

At first I got the wrong color match, but the coverage was amazing. Tan D33 I believe for my NC42 skin - D35 was too dark. Studio Fix and Clinique's Perfectly Real powders both oxidized and clogged my pores, despite their amazing coverage. This doesn't feel too heavy on, and the color DOES NOT change or darken. Also, it is heavy coverage but still natural looking. You can tell when someone is wearing StudioFix or that MUFE powder foundation - their face looks very powdery and almost fake. Some like that, and I agree it can look nice, but it's not an everday work look for me.

The included sponge provides a good application for me. I press it on, slightly blending, and buff it out with a clean mini-kabuki style brush. I should state that I use this in addition to a good coverage foundation (Maybelline Super Stay). Using this has helped me feel a lot better, as it is depressing each morning to see all those scars and marks and discoloration all over my skin. My family thinks the transformation is amazing because with this makeup on, you cannot tell what a nightmare my skin looks like underneath. My skin looks smooth, clear and even toned but still natural.

It hasn't clogged my pores at all, and I wear it for a VERY long time Monday-Friday, 7am-10pm (sometimes later). I know this because my skin has been able to heal and clear somewhat with the use of skin care products, so I know this isn't adding to the problem at all. Very rare for a heavy coverage product.

I should also add that it doesn't make me go shiny during the day, which is a huge plus for me since this has a tendency to occur with just about everything I use!

It may be too heavy for some (coverage wise, it doesnt feel heavy on), and believe me, I wouldn't be using it if I didn't absolutely require the coverage. I can't stress how helpful this has been for me, and the fact that it doesnt break the bank is another plus.

I should add that I have always followed a nightly makeup removal and cleansing routine, which is important generally, but especially when using heavy coverage products such as this. My cleansing routine is as follows:

- Makeup Remover (Clinique TTDO balm or Lancome Huile Douceur)
- Cleanser (it varies, but I always use with either the Olay ProX brush or a cellulose sponge)
- Toner (Clinique Level 2 or the blue Lancome one)
- Moisturizer and any treatment products.

I hope this has been helpful to anyone curious about this product. I have repurchased once and will continue to repurcahse as long as it is necessary to do so, which (as much as I love this product) I hope isn't too long. The first compact lasted me about 5 months which is amazing, so it's also a great value. Believe me, I do not use this sparingly!

=)

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

Kimdashylips on 9/23/2012 9:59:00 PM more reviews by Kimdashylips

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is a great foundation, stays on all day. Recently I went to day glow a crazy paint rave concert (google it) and it poured rain on me I was also soaked in neon paint and this somehow stayed on my face. Awesome. Love it

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*TOP REVIEWER* Xaephan on 9/16/2012 4:20:00 PM more reviews by Xaephan

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this on sale, in shade D10. It's not a bad foundation in terms of finish and lasting power, but unfortunately it doesn't provide any coverage. I like the way my skin looks after it, and I don't get very oily very fast (I still need to blot once during the day, at least), but it doesn't cover my blemishes or hide my pores. It evens out redness around my nose pretty well, but that's just it. If you have oily skin and you want a light coverage, this is pretty good.

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mirameia on 9/10/2012 5:20:00 AM more reviews by mirameia

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

Works waayyyy better than MAC foundations, hands down. MAC just leaves my skin so much oilier and causes breakouts despite so many raves about it. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this one. Sephora mattifying foundation lasts on my skin all day, keeps me looking fresh and not oily, doesnt break me out too. It has good coverage too! I will keep coming back for this product again and again. LOVE it.

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menacexofxvanity on 8/22/2012 1:54:00 PM more reviews by menacexofxvanity

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I love powder foundations. It's like a 2-in-1 for me. I love the natural finish and the coverage without the pore clogging and dewy residue. I was using Bare Escentuals for awhile but I could have sworn they decreased the size and kept them at the same price. The Sephora employee recommended me this powder foundation, and I'm glad she did! Has great coverage and evens out my skintone. I use concealer so I don't need anything too powerful when it comes to foundation, so this quality at this price ($20 for the compact and it's a decent size) is perfect! Highly recommend for anyone who desires light coverage.

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FlyLikeAG6 on 8/16/2012 5:32:00 PM more reviews by FlyLikeAG6

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

Picked this up in the lightest shade (D05) at Sephora because I was nearly out of my Cover Girl Fresh Complexion powder foundation, which I'd used for the past eight years. I'm between a NW15-20 and the shade match is perfect. This powder foundation is long lasting and offers medium coverage. I don't use the sponge in the package because a powder brush works so much better. The packaging itself is kinda cheap and awkward. I mean, who puts the mirror and sponge under the product that you have to flip up?


I've been using this product all summer and it has worked well. I dust this on after my TM and concealer and it holds all day. No oxidizing, minimal transfer, no caking after 10 hours. Honestly, though, I'm not sure why I switched to this Sephora foundation for this summer. I guess I just wanted something new, but CG Fresh Complexion works just as well (same coverage, same mattifying and oil-control power) as this $20 product at less than half the price. I obviously love Sephora, but this product is not better than a DS find. I'm taking off one lippie for the packaging and one lippie for the price. I will not repurchase.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Xxkonixx on 7/13/2012 8:06:00 PM more reviews by Xxkonixx

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

This powder broke me out really baddd.....i even started to have bumps around my eyes areas which i never experienced from other product.....

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NirvanaxSunbeam on 7/13/2012 2:12:00 PM more reviews by NirvanaxSunbeam

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I got this foundation as a part of Sephora's buildable cover kit, and I actually really liked it. I would say that this has medium coverage, which is really all I need to even out my skin and cover up some old acne scars. As far as oil control goes, it's pretty decent; I can wear it for about four or five hours before I really need to blot. The colour I use (the one that comes in the Tan builable cover kit) is D35, which matches my skin perfectly (I'm NW35 in Mac SFF). I have repurchased this since my original one ran out and I still love it. Definitely a good buy.

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kaye_511 on 7/11/2012 12:34:00 PM more reviews by kaye_511

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

I always like trying new products so I thought I would pick this up after my Laura Mercier Foundation Powder ran out. I tried it on in the store and D34/Tan worked well for me. I'm usually pretty fair but right now I'm tanned. However, when the SA was helping me with this product, she did not mention to me that it was an oil-free foundation so after a few hours of wear, the foundation looked very cake-y and I looked very oily. Also, the foundation oxidized so much that I looked so dark and it no longer matched my colour. I also didn't like the packaging. I find it very hard to open and I don't like how the mirror is underneath where the sponge sits, why bother having a mirror at all? Overall, I was not impressed with this foundation. I'm not meant for oil-free foundations since I prefer to look more matte than dewy and I like my skin to look very polished and flawless and this product clearly did not do that. I exchanged this the next day for my usual Laura Mercier Foundation Powder in no.5, even though the colour is a little light for me right now, and sucked up the $25 price difference.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Aishteru85 on 7/7/2012 9:13:00 AM more reviews by Aishteru85

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Tan, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I use this as a setting powder and I have it in 30-Medium? This is actually darker than my skin tone, I'm NC35. The staying power is okay, can get cakey/orangey if you over apply. Controls oil for abt 3 hours after I put on and then I started to get shiny. I dont blame this powder though. I am naturally very very oily. It has a medium coverage so when you layer it over a light coverage foundation, it provides added coverage. Texture wise, its not too powdery. Quite soft and velvety. I have tried using this alone, and I felt like it made me look too muddy and it disappears after 3 hours of wear. So if you're looking to use this as a powder foundation, it might work for you if you have normal to dry skin since it has medium coverage. But if you're oily, look elsewhere. Since I use this as a setting powder. It works decently enough on me for that pupose,but I will not be repurchasing as I'm sure there are better powders out there.

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*TOP REVIEWER* uraznbabygurl on 5/28/2012 5:04:00 PM more reviews by uraznbabygurl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm starting to get back into the groove of pressed powder foundations. They just seem more compatible with my skin in general. Liquid foundations just melt off my skin, and primers only make my skin more prone to breakouts. Loose powder foundations are just way too messy. Lastly, most mainstream mineral foundations contain bismuth oxychloride, which irritates my skin. So I'm glad I found this powder.


As someone else stated, this isn't bad for a "high-end" powder. I like that it has medium coverage and has a natural matte finish. Keep in mind that this will NOT cover blemishes, dark spots, etc. You will need a separate concealer for that. This powder lasts me about 4 hours before I start to get oily, so unfortunately I don't like this powder as much as I thought I'd like. I also find the coverage to be too sheer for my liking.


For color reference, I'm NC25ish and I wear the powder in D22 & the Perfecting Cover concealer in Beige 25. I could get away with the D25 shade in the powder, but it's just a tiny bit too dark and has significantly more green tones.

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