Setting powders can be tricky for those of us with dry skin. Here are three powders that set my foundation for longevity without accentuating dryness or creating dryness where there was none.
Best for Luminosity: Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder (shades 4 and 5)
I like to pair the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder with one of my favorite foundations, the Clinique Beyond Perfecting 2-in-1 Foundation. Because the Clinique foundation has a satin finish that feels tacky on the skin, I like to set it without taking away the satin finish. So by using this as a setting powder, I get the longevity and dried down feeling, but the glow of the powder keeps my skin from looking dry or looking matte.
I’ll cut to the chase, I do not like this blush formula. Not only is it difficult to get a smooth application, but the metallic finish of the shade I purchased (butterflies) accentuates texture. I’ve used cream blushes before, but this is my first experience with a more liquid formula. The consistency isn’t runny, it has enough thickness to it that it doesn’t run down your hand or anything like that. I would imagine there is a learning curve, but I’ve given it enough chances to give up on that thought.
Today is another day in what is certainly theBalm’s longest 50% off sale. The sale originally started back on April 7 but has been extended several times since the original end date of April 12. If you aren’t familiar with the brand, they typically have these sales 2 or 3 times a year. No company is immune to times being hard right now so I’m sure that has everything to do with the sale extensions.
theBalm is a brand worth checking out if you are sensitive to either talc or parabens and like supporting cruelty-free brands Over the years I’ve tried a sampling of theBalm’s products and by far my favorite product of theirs is highlighter. The more recent release of the shade Bonnie-Lou Manizer is the swatch I am sharing with you today.
These blushes are quite hard to capture on camera, but I did my best. While both colors have shimmer in them Dominate has a heavier sheen and more noticeable shimmer particles. NARS describes the shade Dominate as a shimmering deep plum. When applied sheerly on the face, the plum tone is more pronounced. I do not enjoy the shade dominate for my preferences, I find it has too much shimmer in it. When I look at it on my skin the shimmer particles sink into my pores. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture the sparkles in either shade on camera without losing the actual color of the blush.
NARS Dominate Blush
NARS Dominate Blush
NARS describes Savage as a shimmering red brown and when applied to the face you can see that reddish tone come through more than the way it swatches. Savage is my favorite of the two shades. It has a less intense shimmer running through it that makes me look healthy and doesn’t accentuate my pores.
NARS Savage Blush
NARS Savage Blush
Both shades are buildable, so I think they would work for several different skin tones. I was pleasantly surprised that dominate was easy to apply lightly. In my past experience, NARS blushes apply better with natural hair brushes and these are no exception. They always apply splotchy when I try to use synthetic brushes. I think NARS blushes are ok, but I’m never blown away by them. I think there are better formulas at lower price points.
What’s your take on NARS blushes? Are they worth the hype?
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