Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder

Hey all!

I've got a review for you today on a staple product in my make up bag....pressed powder.

I can't go a day without it due my oily T-zone and have to apply it every morning to set my foundation and concealer.
I've been through tonnes of these powders, trying every brand you can imagine. I did like the MAC Pressed Powder but at £20 ish a pop it was not something I could justify. Others didn't last as long on my face causing my make up to slip by lunch and I was still looking for the perfect compromise, price and how long lasting it was.

Lots of people had suggested I try Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder, so snapped it up in an offer in Boots and put it to the test.

Rimmel state this is a long lasting pressed powder. I've been applying this onto my base in the morning using my Real Techniques powder brush.
It lifts really easily from the palette and applies onto the face easily too. It brushes onto the skin and leaves an even coverage, mattifying the shiny bits quickly and barely takes time at all.

I love the impression on the print too, how British!

After applying it in the morning this does last me the majority of the day without reapplication. Days differ and obviously when I go to the gym, all bets are off as normally the sweat runs down my face nowadays but normally when I get there I'm just starting to get a sheen over my T-zone.

Ideally I would reapply at lunch (normally 2pm) which would mean my make up would stay longer but I never have the time and to be honest I either go to the gym or go home and take my make up off anyway! 

The photo below shows how even the coverage is on top of my foundation:

And then with a full face of make up on:

If you like the make up look above then check back next week as I'll be telling you all about my new palette then!

I think the Stay Matte powder is worth every penny. It comes in at a bargainous £3.99, and if you spend £10 on Rimmel in Boots at the moment you'll get a free Scandalous Flex mascara. I always find their mascaras are great value so this is definitely worth picking up, I may even get it myself!

I'm so glad this was recommended to me, it has definitely saved me money from my MAC Pressed Powder without losing the quality and effects!

Have you tried the Stay Matte Pressed Powder? What will you be picking up from Rimmel to get your free mascara?

L xxx

Review: Smashbox Powder

Happy Saturday!!

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend so far!

I'm a big fan of powder, I use it in the morning to set my make up and throughout the day to stop my face looking too shiny.
This normally means I use quite a lot of it and so it's good to have one to carry around in my hand bag as well as at home.

Cue this little beauty from Smashbox.

This is their Photo Set Pressed Powder compact, which I picked up in Light.

I got mine from Cosmetics Company Outlet (I swear it steals all my money) so it was a little discounted but I believe it retails for £19. It comes in 5 colours with Light being the 2nd lightest, there is actually a Fair which is lighter which is definitely good news.
Light is a great colour for me but I can imagine over winter I might possibly need Fair when my skin hasn't been in the sun.

I love the neat black packaging, it's perfect for throwing in my bag and its small enough but strong enough too. The only downside is the black colour meaning it would get lost in my bag but I'm used to that already!
I'd prefer it to look good, which this one does. 

Inside the palette is the powder on the left, a large mirror and a sponge.

The sponge might be my favourite part, it's actually leather backed and is beautiful!
After I've finished the compact I fully plan on keeping the sponge as it's great quality and will hopefully last a while.

The powder feels silky soft on your skin and although I apply it with a massive powder brush (Real Techniques) in the morning for speed and even coverage, the sponge applicator is great for on the go moments and applying to troublesome spots where more coverage is necessary.

This lasts pretty well on the face and if you have dry skin would definitely last you the day. I do need to repowder my tzone around lunch time but that's because I'm picky and don't like my face to keep progressing over the afternoon to look like an oil slick at tea time, but each to their own!

You can see in the photos below that my face (awkward photos, always find them complicated!) doesn't look shiny at all and in the close up below it doesn't look cakey at all but has been mattified by the powder.

Having never used a Smashbox powder before I can say I am a firm fan, I'd buy this again and will be looking after the sponge ;)

L xxx

Don't forget to check out our giveaway here

Review: Mac Studio Care Blend Pressed Powder

This is one of my favourite products to use and I don't know why I haven't posted about it before.

I buy lots of powders to keep my T-zone shine free during the day and for touch ups.

I've been through a lot of them, and some are ok, but nothing works like this beauty!

I use the Medium colour which shocked me, as I'm very pale and am usual an NW20 in foundations from Mac.

I think the Light colour would probably wash me out as it is the right colour, just didn't expect it!

As always I love the sleek black packaging. It makes them easy to throw in your bag, it just annoys me how easily they scratch and tarnish as I love how they look when they're shiny!

This comes with a mirror and sponge as you would expect so it really is perfect for touch ups on the go

It doesn't last me the entire day when I apply it in the morning, though I expect this is more likely to be down to the primer and foundation I use as I'm trying to use up other brands at the moment that aren't quite as reliable as Mac.

This powder is amazing in my opinion, though I would much rather it be at a lower price obviously!

It does hit pan quite quickly when you use it every morning and also for touch ups throughout the day and the £20 price tag for 10g is a little steep.

However you get what you pay for, and with Mac you always know where you are!

What powder do you use to keep your make up set for the day?

I have a few others that I might do a post on soon to try and encourage me to use them up!

L xxx

We're still running our giveaway for one of the Selfridge's Beauty Boxes that sold like hot cakes, find it here to enter!