I originally reviewed the Urban Decay Hydromaniac Tinted Moisturizer in July of 2022 and was less than impressed. The shade range had a lot of gaps and the shade I picked (60 Medium Dark) is very orange. I don’t like it any better now than I did then when used on its own, but by pairing it with the NARS Soft Matte Advanced Perfecting Powder (Bay) I’ve found a way to use it. As I mentioned in my other Better Together post, I’m not suggesting that you should buy two products to make something work. I am only hoping to inspire some experimentation or at least a willingness to consider that products have a learning curve.

My biggest issue with the Urban Decay Hydromaniac is that it looks heavy and accentuates my texture issues. Raised eczema patches, pimples, fine lines, you name it, this formula accentuates it. Keep in mind, that this has a dewy finish, and that type of finish is bound to highlight some issues. But in comparison to other dewy products like the MAC Studio Radiance Face and Body and the Smashbox Halo Healthy Glow All in One Tinted Moisturizer, the Urban Decay looks worse on me. I have discovered that applying it with a beauty blender takes away some of the heaviness, but it still isn’t smooth enough for my preferences. 

My other issue with this formula is how orange the shade looks on me. Urban Decay has recently expanded the shade range for the HydroManiac Tinted Moisturizer, so I’m clearly in the minority of people having an issue with the finish. If it wasn’t selling well, they wouldn’t have added shades. So there could be a better shade match for me, but since I don’t like this on its own, I wouldn’t repurchase it.

For my dry skin type, the NARS Soft Matte Advanced Perfecting Powder is a decent talc-free powder. I had previously only paired this powder with natural finish formulas and found it could be too dry at times. However, pairing it with Urban Decay HydroManiac has given me a way to enjoy both the tinted moisturizer and the NARS powder. Not only does it set the Urban Decay tinted moisturizer well enough to keep it from settling into lines and pores, but it also gives me a smooth, blurred finish. I’m assuming that the hydrating oils present in the Urban Decay HydroManiac are responsible for this combination working so well together. Whatever the reason, I’m happy I discovered a way to use these products.

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	$ 19.00 Sale Price $ 38.00 Regular Price
NARS Soft Matte Advanced Perfecting Powder, Bay

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Have you tried The Urban Decay HydroManiac Tinted Moisturizer or NARS Soft Matte Advanced Perfecting Powder? What do you think of them?

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