NYX HD Finishing Powder – Banana

NYX Cosmetics makes some bold claims about the HD finishing powder**. I decided to give this powder a try while browsing in the store, so I didn’t have any idea of what the claims were before testing it out. I think that ended up being a good thing because it allowed me to form an opinion without expecting anything specific.

The brand says this powder has a non-cakey matte finish that will soften the appearance of lines and pores. The HD finishing powder does come in 3 different shades.** I purchased the banana shade which is supposed to camouflage dark spots and dark circles. There is also a translucent shade and a mint green shade. The mint green shade claims to help with discoloration and redness.

So I can’t tell you anything about the translucent or mint green shades, but the banana shade only delivers on a couple of those claims.

NYX HD Finishing Powder, $10.00**

NYX HD Finishing Powder Banana Review and Swatch on Medium Dark Skin
NYX HD Finishing Powder – Banana

On first impression, the NYX HD finishing powder** looks quite nice. This powder is talc-based, so I knew that it would be mattifying, but you never know how much especially for my dry skin type. When applied lightly over foundation, it looks better on my skin than when I wear a powder foundation (like the Estee Lauder Double Wear). Although it does look nice, it still looks drier on my skin than I would personally prefer. I imagine that I would get along better with this powder in the summertime when my skin isn’t as dry.

When applied heavily, I can feel it mattifying my skin almost immediately and it feels tight. After letting it sit and settle in more, it’s slightly better, but this powder is definitely too drying for me. The longer I wear this powder, the tighter my skin feels and the drier it looks. But honestly, it never looks terrible or flaky. So I agree with the brand’s non-cakey and matte finish claims.

NYX HD Finishing Powder Banana Review and Swatch on Medium Dark Skin
NYX HD Finishing Powder – Banana

Speaking of applying this product heavily. I have to be careful with it because it is pretty powdery and it picks up on a brush very easily. You can see in the above image how much powder picks up on the brush and disturbs the pan after just one light dip.

Comparison to NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder in Crystal

I am only providing this as a comparison because it is the only other powder that I own that is comparable in shade. While they both function as translucent powders for me, they are not dupes or even similar. I just like to give you a point of reference for color and finish when I can. If you are interested in the NARS powder, it does work for me and you can read my full thoughts on that formula by clicking here.

Some other setting powders that work for my dry skin are the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural**, the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder**, and the No7 Lift and Luminate Powder. I also have a full post on these three powders, so if you want more details you can click here.

NYX HD Finishing Powder Banana Review and Swatch on Medium Dark Skin
NYX HD Finishing Powder Banana and NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder Crystal Translucent

Despite the white cast this appears to have in the swatch, this functions as a translucent shade for my Estee Lauder 4W4/MAC C8/NARS Tahoe skin tone. I don’t notice any ashy or grey cast when I use it.

So although this powder isn’t the best for me, I do think it is nice. I do not think the banana color does anything to minimize dark spots or dark circles as the brand claims. In my opinion, it is too sheer to help with discoloration. I also do not think that it softens the appearance of lines and pores. I think this is a pretty basic setting powder that mattifies. If you are looking for color correction or blurring, you’ll have to look at another product. If you have normal to oily skin, odds are good that this may work better for you than it did for me.

The NYX HD Finishing Powder is available for $10.00 at Ulta.**

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Have you tried the NYX HD Finishing Powder? What’s your skin type and how did it work out for you?


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6 thoughts on “NYX HD Finishing Powder – Banana

  1. I haven’t heard anything (until now) about the HD finishing powder, but I have heard people rave about the High Glass one. At least, I think that’s the one. They have so many! The High Glass is supposedly being discontinued though and is only available on Nyx’s site, so I haven’t tried it. Have you tried that one before?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I never tried the high glass powder because it looks so much like a highlighter that it makes me nervous lol. I did also want to try the high glass primer, but by the time I heard about it, they stopped selling the 2 darker shades. I’ve considered that maybe I could use the lightest shade since I’d be covering it up with foundation, but who knows.

      Liked by 1 person

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