Gosh, I haven’t used loose powder in ages! Loose powder used to be a staple in my makeup routine but after discovering gems like Guerlain’s Meteorites and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, I find myself using those to set my makeup instead of loose powder as they don’t only set my foundation in place, they also give an illuminating boost to the skin.
I first noticed the Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfection Powders on the Sephora website about a couple of years ago. Having used loose powder that comes in plastic sifters for years, it’s very interesting that the Smashbox loose powders come with metal sifters instead. Fast forward almost 2 years on, and here we have a box of the Smashbox loose powder on my desk, just waiting to be checked out. So I did.
Great hidden tip!
Description:
This skin-perfecting powder creates a radiant, healthy complexion with patented hydration technology. It is the first anti-aging powder with the science of skincare built in, using an advanced formulation of pure gold, 48 minerals, 11 amino acids, and a powerful peptide to deliver antiaging benefits. The patented hydration system continuously revitalizes skin and provides a hydration that won’t accentuate lines and wrinkles.
The packaging looks pretty small in the photos so I expected to see a small jar but in real life, it’s actually quite a good size that fits my whole palm. I’ve read mixed reviews about the metal sifter but for me, I think it’s a nifty one. In fact, it’s a actually a shaver. When you shake the jar, it “shaves” the pressed powder out into loose powder. Quite an interesting concept, eh? As they’re loose bits of powder that are “shaved” out, I consider it as loose powder and not pressed powder.
I expected to have powder flying everywhere when I shake the jar, tip it upside down, etc but all that comes out is just a bit of powder on the mirror and the inner perimeter of the plastic jar. There’s hardly any mess on the sifter. I’ve given this a mighty good shake and the only powder you’ll see is on the mirror and it isn’t even a lot.
The one I have is in Light/Neutral
As for the loose powder, it’s very finely milled. It goes on the skin matte and keeps the skin oil-free for about an hour for my very oily nose before I needed to blot. There’s no shimmer in the powder so if a matte finish and complexion are what you’re after, it’s what you’re going to get.
There’s one thing I don’t get about the powder is the part where Smashbox called it “hydrating”. I’m baffled at the claim that powder can even be hydrating. A hydrating powder sounds like an oxymoron to me. I didn’t experience any sort of hydration on the skin. What I find with the loose powder is that if I use too much, it does sink into fine lines and accentuate them. But for a light dusting of powder, it’s all good. As for “halo” … er … huh?
At the end of the day, it’s a decent product. I wouldn’t say there’s much to cry about; after all, it’s just loose powder. Having said that, it’s good quality powder that isn’t chalky on the skin (unless you really pile it on your skin), gives it a matte finish without looking cakey (again, unless you really pile it on) and if you’re looking for travel-friendly loose powder that doesn’t mess up your makeup bag, I’d say check this one out. But really, I wouldn’t give much thought to the “hydrating” bit, especially if you have dry skin, because at the end of the day, a powder’s just a powder.
Smashbox’s Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder retails at AU$84.95 for 15g. You can pick one up at Kit Cosmetics, Mecca Cosmetica and Mecca Maxima. Pricey, but it’ll last you for ages even with daily use.
What I like about it: Interesting packaging with the metal “shaver”/sifter, not messy, decent oil control even for my oily nose.
What I do not like about it: The hydrating claims. It didn’t do any of the sort to my skin. Be careful not to use too much powder lest it sinks into fine lines and accentuates them.
Have you tried this before or any of the Smashbox Halo products (e.g. blush and/or bronzer)? Your thoughts? Yay or nay?
Disclaimer: This product was provided for editorial consideration.
Oooh! The shaving bit reminds me of a YSL one I bought because of well, curiosity 😛 Blame PB 😛
Ooh I didn’t know YSL had something like this. Must Google!
Hey Tine, I used to be curious about this one because I have the YSL in similar packaging and I love it. I believe this is the same, i.e. a pressed powder with a “shaver” sifter in which case, I don’t think it’s meant to be shaken to be dispensed, but you twist the metal bit to “shave” off some pressed powder, which transforms it into loose. I love that because the shaved bits of powder look so incredible, like shaved ice LOL! This way, you can control just how much product you need each time and it travels very well unlike a loose powder. Thanks for reminding me about this, I’m going to dig my YSL one out and have a good ol’ play with it. I remember I loved it to itty bitty bits!
Paris B recently posted..Falling for the hype that is the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder
I had no idea YSL did something like this, I had to Google it to find out what it looks like. 😛 There’s no twisting with this one. I think you just shake it out. Me, I just swirl my brush around it without actually shaving anything. 😛
Tine I have now a doubt:
I have really oily T-zone but my skin is really dehydrated so today I experimented not using my heavy-duty mattifying powder and mattifiying sunscreen, the results were impressing my skin lasted more time less shiny. So now I’m looking forward to a non-drying powder.
Do you have any idea?
Efrain recently posted..A dos años de haber tomado isotretinoÃna
Hi Efrain, sorry for the late reply. If skin is very dehydrated, I’d skip any sort of mattifying anything altogether. I’d use a dewy foundation (even though I have a very oily T-zone, especially the nose) and then dust a light sweeping of translucent loose powder to “set” the T-zone only. I find that this makes the skin look much better.