The e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder in Cool is not new, but it's something that I've had my eye on for a while, and I finally broke down about a month ago and purchased it at my local Target. After using this powder almost exclusively for three weeks now, I'm ready to give you my opinion of it! And since many of you probably already own this one, I'm excited to see if my opinion matches yours. So let's get started...
e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder in Cool
(retail: $3 at Target and on the e.l.f. website, 0.4762 oz)
Please note the there is also a Warm version of this powder, as well as a brand new Shimmer version. For product info on all three shades, click here.
My full review, after the jump...
The little girl in me always gets excited by pretty Easter colors, and the gimmick-lover in me always gets excited to see how multiple shades will blend together once applied to the skin. So here's the color that is a result of swirling all four colors in this palette together:
It's sort of a white-ish, cream-ish gray on my skin, before it's been blended out. Here's what it looks like on my face (worn on top of e.l.f. Studio Tinted Moisturizer):
This powder doesn't add any color to my skin. I would say that it functions very much like a true, translucent powder, because I don't see any "tone correcting" benefits from it at all. It also doesn't add brightness. However, it does minimize the appearance of my giant pores and it gives my skin an overall appearance of smoothness.
And here's something I didn't expect:
This powder is FANTASTIC for setting my under-eye concealer. If you look closely at the image above, hopefully you can see that this powder really makes the texture of my skin under my eyes look smooth and flawless. It also keeps my concealer in place for the entire day, and helps prevent it from setting into my fine lines. SCORE! It's funny because I discovered this on the very first day of my testing period. When I went to blot my nose at noon, I looked in the mirror and discovered that even though my t-zone was looking oily and in need of a blotting, the area under my eyes looked pretty much identical to when I first applied my makeup at 6AM that morning. I was literally stunned!
Texture and consistency: This powder is very finely milled. It's not chunky or gritty, shimmery or glittery. It leaves very little, if any, fallout behind when you've swirled your brush on the surface of the powder. It leaves my skin looking smooth and it also make my skin feel smooth. It's definitely got a "silicone-y" feel to it (no doubt due to the dimethicone and silica in the formula) which is great for those of you who want to minimize the appears of fine lines, enlarged pores, etc. as this powder will not settle into the flaws in your skin. The finish this powder leaves on my skin can be described as "air-brushed" but not in a heavy, mask-like way.
Color: Like I mentioned above, if you're looking for a setting powder that will add some extra color to your skin, you won't get that with product. For all practical purposes, this is a translucent setting powder. On my NC20 skintone, there are no brightening or tone-correcting effects.
Performance: In terms of brightening and tone-correcting, this product does neither for my skintone. However, I think it's fantastic as a translucent setting powder that not only locks my makeup in place, but also keeps it looking fresh throughout the day. It also does a good job at oil-absorption, but I do find that I have to bust out the blotting sheets by noon, and again by 4:30 (just for my t-zone). But remember: I have very oily skin, so this is pretty much par for the course for me. As for this powder's performance in the under-eye region, this is where this product truly excels. I find that it works exceptionally well at making the area under my eyes look smooth and it keeps my under-eye concealer in place all day. It also prevents my under-eye concealer from settling into my fine lines.
Fragrance: None.
FINAL VERDICT: If you're looking for a powder to help correct the tone of your skin or add brightness to your skin, I'm afraid that e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder might not be for you. However, if you're looking for a translucent setting powder that can help give your skin the appearance smoothness by softening the look of your pores and fine lines, then this powder is definitely worth considering. I think this product does an excellent job of locking my makeup into place and keeping my skin looking fresh and flawless throughout the day. And the super-duper-extra-added-bonus of how it performs under my eyes makes it worth its weight in gold to me. Honestly, it's one of the best powders I've ever used for setting my undereye concealer. It keeps that area looking smooth and flawless all day and it also keeps my concealer from settling into my fine lines. I find that using a nice, fluffy eyeshadow blending brush to apply this powder to my under eye area really help with targeted application and control, so give that a try if you end up purchasing this product for your under-eye area. Hopefully you'll be just as pleased as I've been with the results. I truly love this product, but not for any of its actual claims! Funny how things like that work sometimes, huh?
Do you already own e.l.f. Studio Tone Correcting Powder in Cool? If so, I would love to hear how it works for you!
I love this powder! I use it on myself and in my kit. I recently bought the warm and shimmer. Warm is a nicer on my tanner skin tone, and shimmer adds a "natural" luminosity - all three are amazing products! I loved this review! :)
ReplyDeleteI have this and while I rarely use it all over my face, I do use select colors on their own for correcting and it does a nice job. I have a lot of redness in my eyebrows and the green helps a lot and I mix the yellow and pink to set my concealer to add that "peach: tone to correct any darkness.
ReplyDeleteI have been very curious about this one. Doesn't sound like I 'need' it. I have been using NYX HD powder and it's been fine for me. Yet, for the price of $3, you can't beat that for its performance with your concealer and pores.
ReplyDeleteI have this. I think it's okay - it's not bad, but it's nothing special. I definitely agree that it goes on like a translucent powder.
ReplyDeleteI like the yellow for under my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI love this powder..I've been using it for years to help set foundation on my oily pale skin. I've never noticed the under-eye fixing effect but will have to try it specifically for that...I hate the way the circles under my eyes look, ugh!
ReplyDeleteI had pretty much the same opinion--it's basically just a translucent powder, BUT it's a good one. I did find it was better at tone correcting if I used only one color on a specific part of my face, but not well enough to use it as my only makeup. I also really liked how sleek and sturdy the compact itself is. It seems like a minor detail but it's nice to have such an inexpensive product that still comes in quality packaging, especially if you want to carry it around for touchups.
ReplyDeleteForgive me if you've answered this before, but what kind of brush do you use to buff your powder? I'm in the market for one.
Have you tried the e.l.f. powder brush? Its amazing! I have 5 of them, 2 for me and 3 for my kit.
DeleteI love using this as to absorb oil, but it makes my blemishes look very cakey.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice a white cast in photos from using it?
ReplyDeleteI also have been using this for quite some time to set my under eye concealer and absolutely love it, more so than any other powder that I have for that use individually - even Benefit's Powderflage! And for the price plus quantity, you definitely can't beat it! Now I'm intrigued by the Warm version....
ReplyDeleteI use this product (with a Philosophy makeup brush I got from Big Lots no less). I really liked the concept of the Bobbi Brown undereye concealer duo: a concealer and yellow toned powder. I am East Indian and have ridiculous dark circles. On good days I can go with just concealer and use the yellow powder only. On less than great days I use a color corrector, concealer and this powder. The green does help with any redness.
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what the warm version is like, but I didn't see it available at Target. In terms of powders, I do like the Elf HD powder better, but this works best with my under eye circles. I'm not sure what the pink and blue powders are for... they are untouched in my compact.
Pink is for brightening and mixed with the yellow will make the perfect peach color for correcting dark undereye circles :)
Deleteooh! This is a great idea. I use a dark peach color corrector. I'll have to try it. Poor blue will just be on his own, as I haven't figured out what it does.
DeleteWhat a nice surprise! After reading this review, I would definitely try it out!
ReplyDeleteWow who knew? I have been so hit-and-miss with ELF I never know anymore but have always picked it up then passed it by, fearing it was chalky. Next trip to Target, it will be first thing in the cart :) I have recently *ahem* discovered that I need a much better under-eye setting powder and was eyeing Powderflage so if this is not cakey and not to mention tons cheaper, I'm there. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI have this languishing in a drawer doing nothing. Going to try it out today as an undereye setting powder. thanks for the tip!!
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you chose the Cool version when your skin is NC20. Was this an attempt to neutralize your warm tones? I'm NW20 and use a yellow concealer for my redness.
ReplyDeletehuh, Kashinka asks a good question. I don't know that I have seen the warm version of this or assumed it was a bronzer. now I am curious if I've seen one besides this. it too called a correcting powder? as an NC20 (15 in winter I too usually use yellow or peach for undereye as they don't turn grey on dark circles but since I swapped away my Banana powder I don't have a neutralizing powder like that. I don't care for Lemon Aid by Benefit so gotta try this! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this powder for undereyes, too. If you mix just the red and yellow tones, it does a nice color-correct on dark circles. But I'll have to use it more as a general powder, especially since I'm trying out BB cream this week!
ReplyDeleteI love this powder and just use my big brush to swirl it all together. It goes on great over bare skin, primer, foundation, BB cream or any combination thereof for a beautiful finish that lasts all day. It does not look cakey and powdery on the skin like some powders do either. I am over 45 and fair skinned so I have to be more careful about using powders as they tend to make my skin look dry and older, but not this one. It gave me a nice even tone and looked natural when I finished applying it although at first it did look bluish-white. I forgot I had bought this and it was laying unused in my drawer until I came across your blog a couple of weeks back and after your review you convinced me to give it a try. I am totally loving this makeup now!!! A steal for the price and I am telling everyone what a wonderful bargain E.L.F is! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI saw this listed as a dupe for the Laura Mercier secret brightening powder on Pinterest!
ReplyDelete