NP Set Pasarella Powder Foundation

I've never liked powder foundation.. I feel naked with it on. It doesn't cover anything I need covered, and on top of that it never lasts for me. But there are those days when I can't stand the thought of painting on thick liquid foundation. Those would be the hot, sticky days that make up a lot of the year where I live. Now that summer has rolled around, powder foundation has become my new best friend! I recently picked up NP Set's "Pasarella Powder Foundation" from target. Here's what I thought...



What It Is: A compact powder foundation that claims to be unlike other powder foundation's in terms of it's moisturizing abilities. Contains Shea Butter and Pomegranate Extract, which seems to be this line's signature ingredient.
Application: After applying primer, I used the sponge the foundation came with to apply an initial layer on the cheeks, chin, and forehead.. basically where I want the heaviest coverage. Then, using a kabuki or mac 109, I get some powder on the brush and go over the rest of the face, blending everything out as I go.
Look: This gave me medium-ish coverage, heavier than most powder foundations, but still not what I'm used to. It didn't give look chalky in any way.. which is great because that's the reason I stay away from powder foundation in the first place.
Feel: Even though it didn't look powdery, it definitely made my face feel dry. This might not be the case with oilier-skinned wearers, though. I always finish my make-up routine with Fix+ anyway, so I wasn't bothered too much by how it felt.
Staying Power: This foundation's longevity is pretty impressive, it lasted a solid 3 or 4 hours for me (this is powder foundation we're talking about!). What I didn't like was that anytime I rubbed my face with any kind of fabric or cloth, the foundation would transfer right onto it.



Final Thoughts: The results I got from this foundation were definitely beyond what I expected. I love using this on lazy or hot days when I just don't feel like doing the whole enchilada when it comes to my make-up. For it's price, though, I would definitely not buy it again. It didn't do that much better than my previously reviewed Neutrogena powder foundation. My hard-earned dollars would better be invested in quality liquid foundations, and saved when it comes to the powder type...

This retails for $30 at your local Target. You can also find it at http://www.npsetcosmetics.com/.
The ingredients are: Talc, Corn Starch, Ethylhexyl, Methoxycinnamate, Triisostearin, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Zinc Oxide, Myristyl, Trisiloxane, Soybean Glycerides, Zinc Stearate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium, Sorbate, Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxydifluroethy, Peg Phosphate, Shea Butter, Dimethiconol, Tetrasodium Edta, Morus Alba Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Silica, Corn Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHT, Ascorbyl Palmitate MAY CONTAIN: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarines

Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation

I've been in the market for a new pressed powder. I havn't had a good enough experience with a high end brand's powder to decide there's a big difference (for me) between those and a good drugstore brand, which is how I ended up in the Neutrogena aisle at Target.
I remembered reading once somewhere that dermatologists suggest those with sensitive skin buy only Almay and Neutrogena from the drugstore. I dont have particularly sensitive skin, but when it comes to face products, I thought it'd be a safe bet to follow that rule of thumb.

I ended up buying the Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation Compact in shade 50, "Soft Beige"



What It Is: A mineral powder foundation pressed into a compact. Neutrogena's website says it's oil-free, noncomedogenic, and frangrance-free. It has SPF 20, but I wouldn't suggest depending on this.. you'd have to pack it on to get the full protection factor.
Application: I used this as a foundation and as a setting powder. As a foundation, I used primer, then applied this with the sponge it came with (actually quite nice), damp. As a setting powder, I sheered it out over my face with a soft kabuki. I liked the added coverage it gave me on top of my foundation.
Look: As a foundation, this gave me medium coverage with a matte finish, but I packed it on. This is definitely a sheer foundation. Over liquid foundation, this mattified any dewiness I got initially. I didn't like this, so I used Fix+. The color was too light for me, and it seems as if all these powders run light (hello mineral foundation). This didn't melt into my skin the way I'd expect a mineral powder to, but if blended really well, there's no powdery finish.
Feel: Although the product is supposed to have moisturizing elements, it left my face dry and tight-feeling when used as a foundation. It felt and looked better after I spray my face with some Fix+. As a setting powder, it did not feel as dry, but I still set with the spray.
Staying Power: As a foundation, (with the primer) this lasted about 4 hours. Not impressive. To set liquid foundation, the powder worked well, extending the liquid foundation's longevity.

After 2 hours:


Final Musings: I think this serves me well for the purpose I bought it for.. to set my foundation. It created a smooth base for blushes and bronzers so they wouldn't apply streaky, and made my liquid foundation last longer. My biggest problem with this is that it doesn't seem like it would last at all used as a foundation. I can't imagine how long it would have lasted had I not used a primer. I would go a color up next time too, although the shade I got is workable. All in all, I don't think this outperforms the next drugstore powder. The difference, I guess, is in the ingredients, so it comes down to you and your skin's needs.

This foundation costs $12 at Target, but I've seen it around with prices ranging from $9.99-$13.99.

Ingredients: Mica, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Dimethicone, Oryza Sativa Starch (Rice), Magnesium Myristate, Methicone, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Pantothenic Acid, Panthenol, Glycine Soja Flour (Soybean), Alumina, Silk Powder, Water, Polymethylmethacrylate, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Target Haulin'

I love Target ;)

I got Sonia Kashuk's loose powder, NP Set Liquid Veil (so excited about this one), Almay Clear Complexion foundation, an Almay lipgloss, and a Revlon lipgloss.

Sonia Kashuk loose powder in 02, "Colorless Matte"

I actually had the white one before. My thinking was that it was translucent, but it wasn't until I was done with it that I realized it was not in fact translucent, and wayyy too light for my skintone. So this time around I picked out a darker color, but even now I think going a shade darker wouldn't hurt. Two words for the finish of this powder: ethereal glow. For around $11, you get .14 oz, which I've heard many a complaint about. I never shopped Sonia Kashuk before, so I'm not feeling the pain about this powder shrinking in size over the years. But this lasts a really long time! My last jar lasted me around 8 months. You don't need to use a lot of product. What I don't like though, is that it doesn't seem to set my heavier foundations the way a pressed powder would. That, and it sometimes it cakes up my concealer if it's a cream formula. It works great to finish glowy TM's though, and the finish it delivers for the price makes this one a keeper for me.

Next swatches:


NP Set Liquid Veil in "Houston"
I love liquid highlighters, for the sole purpose of mixing them in with my foundations and TM's. The product description is so strange though. The jar states it is for hint of color, and it's called a "veil". Nowhere does it use the word "shimmer", or say something along the lines of "use on the cheekbones or for an all-over glow". So is this a highlighter?! I tried mixing it in with my foundation, but it didn't do squat. I also tried using it as a highlighter on certain parts of the face, and it didn't show up there either! Maybe it was too closemy skin tone, and I should have picked out a different color. Whatever it was, I'm so dissapointed. I was really hoping this would lend my foundation some golden shimmer for a pretty glow. This also comes in a pink shade, "Paris", and a darker bronze shade, "Buenos Aires". Liquid Veil Retails for $15.

Almay Pure Blends lipgloss in "Nude"
Gives my lips a pretty sheen. Really subtle, but still pretty. I prefer to use natural products on my lips most days, so their advertising sucked me in. Although the color is nice, I had a terrible experience with this. For one, the texture is terrible. It is so ridiculously gritty, applying it makes me feel like I've sworn off lip exfoliation for years. That, paired with the gross plastic smell... for $6, I wouldn't recommend this gloss at all.

Revlon lipgloss in 070 "Glossy Rose"
I don't normally buy drugstore lipglosses, but this one was marked down to under 2 bucks..I couldn't resist. I actually ended up loving this gloss! The name describes the shade perfectly, but my opinion of it in detail is that it is a mauve-y rose with golden shimmer, more accurately depicted in the swatch than on my lips. It looks really elegant... I would love to have this exact shade in a lipstick. This gloss isn't sticky in the least bit, but it has surprisingly good staying power. On my lips it had no scent, which makes it even better.

That's it for now. For nowwwwww....