Review on Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Powder! XD

Hi Everyone!

I am back, my sinus infection is gone (without having to take antibiotics! yay!) and I am starting my Master's program.

Today I am reviewing Make Up Forever's famous HD Microfinish Powder

I bought the mini which is 0.14 oz and cost $20 on Sephora.

What do I think of this product?
So, I bought this product to replace a very very old Maybelline finishing veil powder. That powder worked alright, it did the job and mattified my face very well. However, sometimes it would make my face a little powdery or cakey, especially underneath the eyes or around the nose. It was also very old, I think 3 or 4 years old and needed to be replaced. (Makeup and skincare are organic-based products and organic products decompose, even if they don't look like it =P)
Of course, this product was and is very popular and well known. I bought it for good reviews and it's high quality. If I was going to invest in something, it better be good. =P
And this product is great! I will not say that this is amazing and out of this world, because I rarely use foundation, concealer, or BB creams so consequently I don't use finishing powders a lot. However, it does everything that is says it does and it is worth the investment.
It is a super fine white powder that does not look white on the skin (except when you put massive amounts on your face and pose for flash photos). It does not irritate my skin (but might make me sneeze if I accidentally breath in the little cloud that rises up when I unscrew the cap XP).
 It does not make my foundation or concealer crease. It mattifies my face beautifully without looking cakey or powdery at all. It is long lasting and definitely keeps the oily shine away, though during the summer on hotter and more humid days, I might need to reapply or blot my face, if I am wearing foundation for the whole day. For a half-day or shorter event, no problem.
It is true that you can put as much powder on as you want and that no one can see it. However, like many have said, if you do that, and take flash photos, the powder will reflect and show a really ugly contrasting white cast on your face. I don't put that much because I don't want that. =P go figure.
I also love to use this under my eyes whenever I am wearing pencil eyeliner and/or mascara. It really helps prevent any possible smudging on the lower lashline/eye area, especially here in the East Coast where there is humidity + summer heat. In California, it's hot but it is dry, so I didn't need to worry about it that much.

Do I recommend this product?
This is a little pricy, but a little goes a long way. I don't think anyone needs to put on a lot and it does a great job mattifying the face, holding the foundation in place, and making you not look like you are sweaty, and oily mess in the summer. I consider this a great staple product and an excellent investment and I highly recommend this product.
Because you don't need to use a lot of product, for those who do not wear foundation often, I recommend the mini, it is cheaper and travel friendly as well. However, if you do wear foundation often, almost everyday, etc. it would be more worth it to buy the full size.

So I hope you found this review helpful. I know that this is a widely reviewed, well known, and popular product, so you may have heard of it's greatness already. =P
However, let's just say I am agreeing with the crowd who thinks of this product positively. =)
Feel free to write any questions or comments in the comment box below.
Thank you for reading and have a great day. =)

Review on Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil Translucent Powder!

Hi guys! =)

I just got back from my wonderful 6.5 hr ER shift =P and I so want to go to bed, but before that!:

Today I will be reviewing the Maybelline Mineral Power Finishing Veil Translucent Powder!

This product costs about $8-10 at any drugstore such as CVS and Walgreens, and at Ulta.
It contains 0.28 oz or 8 grams of product.
It is said to be 100% micro-minerals and have no oils, talc, fragrances, and preservatives. It is supposed to give healthy, natural coverage.


What do I think of this product?
 I have actually used this finishing powder for about a year now! But since I do face makeup occasionally (as in foundation and/or concealer with finishing veil), it took me a while to use this often enough to write a review.
The color is a very faint pale pink color, but applies on translucent. It has no fragrance and doesn't smell like anything.
The powder is very very fine and light, so I have to be careful when I'm using this since I'm kind of sloppy when it comes to loose powder makeup. =P
I really like this translucent powder! It is very affordable and easy to get. I do not need a lot for my face and I still have quite a lot left! This is great for setting my concealers, foundations, and BB creams and letting them last longer, preventing smudging and sliding.
And when I mean I don't need a lot, I mean it. Like, if you use it, use as little as possible! Because the particles are so fine, if you put too much, your face can look cakey or they will settling into your fine lines and wrinkles. So, less is more! =D
It came with a brush, which obviously is poor quality. That doesn't really matter to me, I don't expect much from brushes that comes with makeup. So, it's better to buy your own brush, don't use their brush it is scratchy and uncomfortable.
On the dry areas of my skin, I either don't put finishing powder on it at all, or I put it on the oiliest parts of my face first and the dry areas last! Dry skin usually doesn't need a powder to set it, because it can make the skin dry and show the dryness and flakiness.

Do I recommend this product?
If you want your makeup to stay on longer and you have normal to oily skin, then yes! I definitely recommend this finishing veil. =) This is also great for humid weather/environments so you don't look like you're the melting witch in the Wizard of Oz XP.
If you have dry skin, just make sure to exfoliate and moisturize properly before applying foundation. And try to get a hydrating foundation and maybe even hydrating primer ( I like Smashbox!) so your skin won't dry out from the makeup. Use as little finishing powder as possible and if you have very very dry skin, you may not need it at all!

So, I hope you enjoyed this review. Thank you for reading and I will talk to you later! =) good night!

Let's talk about Finishing Powder!

Hi everyone!! It know it's been a bit since my last post. I'm currently vising my bf since he went to study abroad last quarter so we have been hanging out a lot recently =)

Okay! So, finishing powder or finishing veil is supposed to be a light, very powdery translucent powder. It is made to keep foundation and/or concealer to last longer; preventing it from sliding or smearing off the skin.
This is usually recommended if you have oily skin, if you are wearing make up for a long time, for a night out (b/c clubbing and dancing can definitely cause makeup to melt), or if you are in a humid environment.
For dry skin, depending how dry your skin is, I think it is okay to put on finishing powder as long as you don't accidentally microexfoliate the skin because that would cause your skin to shed and give a flaky appearance, which is not good....
For "kinds of finishing powders", they should all be translucent, I don't think I've heard or seen one that has certain shades to them, though they might look slightly pink or whitish. The point is to create a seal for the makeup not to add anymore color or anything.

Applying Finishing Powder!
Okay, so I have seen many ways people apply finishing powder. And I suppose from a professional's standpoint there is a correct way of doing it, and most people are actually doing it wrong.
A lot of people get their powder brush, dip it into the powder, and lightly dust it on the face and/or buff it into the skin. Apparently, (again from a professional's standpoint or i guess common sense) that has the tendency to push and wipe the foundation and/or concealer off, making the skin have an uneven appearance and color.
Now if you apply it the "wrong way" and nothing bad happens and you don't see your makeup being wiped off or streaks forming or something, I think it doesn't matter that much, i think it's okay. If it works for you, then that's good right =) I don't use foundation and I just use small amounts of concealer so it doesn't happen to me. I suppose it depends on the amount of foundation and/or concealer you decide to use, a thicker layer would be more likely to be messed up if you start wiping it with a powder brush.
Apparently, a powder brush is meant to knock off excess powder, not put on powder.
For the professional or correct way to apply finishing powder, there are two ways I know. (credits to gossmakeupartist)
1st way: using a Powderpuff
First, you get a powderpuff and dab it into the powder, pat it on the back of your hand or fold it in half and rub it. Next you take the puff and press it into the skin (NO rubbing or anything), just pat and press into the skin gently. Finally, you get your powder brush and lightly knock all of the excess powder off!
This is a good way for people who tend to accidentally put too much powder on their face, which gives a miss-cake-face appearance.
2nd way: using the Powder brush (more correctly)
First you dab the brush into the powder and lightly tap off the excess. Next you lightly press and roll the the flat side of the brush into the skin and roll. You continuously press and roll. And your're done! If you feel you put too much just get a clean powder brush and again lightly brush off the excess.

So now you're like uhhh, this sounds confusing. Yes, I'm sorry if I have confused you, but don't worry! Here is an excellent tutorial by gossmakeupartist that shows the correct application techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9lyg9DNfsY

This was a pretty short post, finishing powders are pretty straightfoward: "finishing" "powder" haha, you know. But if I was unclear on anything or you have more questions, feel free to comment and I will get back t you!

Talk to you all later! =D