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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Review: Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Pressed Powder SPF30

I want to warn you right up front that I don't have any before-and-after photos to share with you in this post. I apologize about that, but given that this product is so close to my true skin color, and the finish is not powdery, I couldn't accurately photograph what it looked like on my skin. So I'm afraid you'll just have my words for this review--I'm so sorry about that!

Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Airbrushing Pressed Powder SPF30 in Translucent
(retail: around $13, 0.26 oz)

When I first mentioned that I purchased this powder, many of you said you'd like to see a review. So now that I've been using this powder almost exclusively for several weeks over a variety of foundations, I'd like to share my thoughts with you!

This product was released at the end of 2011 (you can see my "spotted" post here for the other products in the range).



The powder itself is embossed with a neat wave-like pattern that of course erodes with continued use:



Inside the compact, you'll find what PF calls a "Buffing Kabuki Brush":



While this brush is nicely constructed with soft, dense bristles (I mean, very soft, like babys-bottom-soft), I find that the narrowness of the brush makes it virtually impossible for me to use for any real buffing. I've tried using it several times, and the best analogy I can give you is that it feels like trying to use a car windshield wiper to wash your kitchen floor. The surface area of this brush is just too small--it would take forever to go in little circles on my skin with this and use it for actual buffing.


But back to the powder itself:


The above swatch was taken after I layered, and then layered some more product onto my arm. It really took a lot of layering before I could actually see this product well enough on my skin to photograph it.

Texture and finish:  The important thing to note about this powder is that it has a slightly creamy texture to it. It's not a "powdery" powder and it does not make the skin look flat. The shade Translucent isn't perfectly translucent, but it's such a close match for my NC20 skin that it might as well be. I find that, true to its word, this powder gives a nice, airbrushed quality to my skin. It slightly covers imperfections and it makes my enlarged pores look noticeably smaller. I also find that it doesn't settle into my fine lines.

Staying power: Now this is where it gets tricky. This powder does not play well with ALL of my foundations. As an example, I hated it when layered over my CoverGirl Tone Rehab foundation, which is a creamy liquid foundation. After only a few hours, my skin felt sticky and almost gooey when my natural oils came to the surface and mixed with the combination of this powder and my foundation. HOWEVER, this product worked quite well with my Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse foundation. After a few hours, my breakthrough shine wasn't bad, and my skin looked luminous and glowy, without becoming sticky. And over my Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF50 Powder Foundation, my skin looked AMAZING. No surprise that it worked so well with another PF product, but what did surprise me was how much it increased the staying power of my foundation (which already has incredible staying power for me), and how it added just the perfect touch of dewiness and luminosity to my skin without adding any extra shine. My Healthy Wear Powder Foundation is great on its own, but this truly takes it to the next level.

Fragrance: Put your nose up this product and you'll get: burnt plastic. I even smell burnt plastic during application, which is probably the one thing I strongly dislike about this product. However, a few minutes after application and the fragrance is not detectable to me.

FINAL VERDICT:
As with any face product, some people are going to love this powder while others will hate it. This is to be expected, and nobody's wrong here. It really depends on what OTHER products you wear on your face (moisturizers, serums, primers and foundations ALL play a role in how a powder is going to work for you). So my best advice is this: if you're looking for a setting powder that doesn't look powdery and can add a slightly dewy, airbrushed quality to the skin, this might work well for you. If you have dry or normal skin, I think your chances are probably a bit greater for success. If you have oily skin, then it's truly anybody's guess. I wouldn't consider this a shine-control powder by any means, but with the right products beforehand, I don't think it will add to or increase shine. It really depends on what products you use BEFORE you apply this powder, so just keep your receipt in case you need to exchange or return it after you've tried it (so buy it at CVS or Rite Aid, which both accept returns/exchanges on used products). I have very oily skin, and this powder worked nicely with some of my foundations, but it was kind of a disaster with others. 

So...are you willing to roll the dice? Have you already rolled the dice and given this one a whirl? Thoughts?
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40 comments

  1. Thanks for this review!!
    about the kabuki buffing brush, here's an example of how you should use it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DCiS1UyZxE&feature=g-user-u
    at 3:40.
    can't wait to try this product!

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    1. Thank so much fior the helpful link! I think that if this brush were just a little bit longer, I could actually pull off that method of application, but it's so small. :(

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    2. I'd never heard of Goss. He has some great advice in his videos, and I like the tone, smart with a touch of humor.

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  2. PF makes an awesome kabuki that is sold seperately. it is that same metalicy blue with white bristles and it is the shortest hair kabuki i have even seen/used and it makes the coverage of their powders maxed out. i have only seen it for sale at ulta and select ones at that. if you ever see it, it is totally worth picking up!

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    1. I have this brush! It is amazingly soft and does a great job of moving product around evenly! Definitely a keeper!

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    2. I saw that brush when this collection first hit stores last Dec and I wish I would have bought it then, because I haven't seen it since. :(

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    3. I totally bought that for-real PF kabuki brush at WALMART, and I LOVEEEEEE it! The coverage I get when I use it with my PF Healthy Wear Powder Foundation (thank you a million times over for that, G! I'm on my fifth compact! LOVE it!!) is great, and it works really well, even around my nostrils and when taking the product down to the neck. It doesn't shed, and I've had it for 5 months already. I keep it in a little cosmetic bag, since it's so bulky, but that way it stays neat and sanitary. I highly recommend that blue flattop brush. It's great!

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    4. Here is a link where you can purchase the flat top kabuki everyone is talking about.I have been contemplating purchasing it for some time now but always talk myself out of it b/c I feel it might be similar to the ELF powder brush. Think I should go ahead since its on sale tho n have yet to hear any bad reviews from it: )
      http://www.drugstore.com/physicians-formula-airbrushing-kabuki-brush/qxp340296?catid=183638

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  3. Hmmm.... I'm interested in checking this powder out. I LOVE PF Youthful Wear Foundation, so I may find I like this powder too. That brush looks pretty worthless to me! Thanks for the review!

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  4. I really like this on its own! I have to agree with you on the smell though. I don't use it all that often, although it is amazing on my skin, brcause of its smell.

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    1. Yeah, it's pretty stinky during application, but thankfully I don't smell it after it's on!

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  5. Thanks for this review. It does sound like it would be a good setting powder. I currently mix my foundations and use maybelline's dream liquid mousse and the super stay.

    Xo

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    1. You're welcome! How do you like mixing those two foundations?

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  6. I have seen this reviewed on another blog this week, and now I want to try it even more. I haven't found my just right summer makeup yet. My freckles come out and anything too heavy looks weird. Thanks!!!

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    1. You're welcome! I hope this works out for you if you try it!

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  7. I just bought this at CVS, in Beige, because I wanted more coverage. I use it over a BB cream and it works perfectly (I'm NC 25, very dry skin). In fact it's just what I've been looking for for summer. Highly recommend!

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    1. So glad to hear that combo works for you. Yay!

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  8. I really like that it has SPF 30, so I might try it. Do you think it would work well with mineral foundation? (Right now I am still going through my Everyday Minerals samples, and plan to buy.)

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    1. I think it might! Since it works well for me over my powder foundation, I think it's worth a shot!

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  9. It looks so good :( I always felt like wearing a finishing powder over powder foundation would make it look cakey.Am glad its not the case.

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    1. Nope, not the case for me at all, and I think it has to do with the fact that this powder is slightly creamy. :)

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  10. I am currently using this, and don't care for it much. I use it to set Lancome Teint Idole liquid foundation. I think it works fine as a setting powder, but I disagree with you about it not making skin look flat. That is actually my complaint about the powder--I think it makes my skin look kind of dull and flat. On the other hand, I haven't noticed the smell you mentioned.

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    1. I'm so sorry this one isn't working for you. :( I didn't experience the flatness you experienced with any if the foundations I used with this, so I wonder if it has ro do with the particular foundation you wear underneath?

      I'm glad you haven't noticed the smell though! :)

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  11. Hi G. I got PF Healthy Wear compact spf 50 at OCEAN STATE JOBLOT for $ 3.50. Wanna stock up? Let me know and I'll send it to you I' m going today for myself. no problem Linda. I live in Ma

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    1. You are so sweet!! Thank you so much for the incredibly lovely offer, but I stocked up during the late CVS clearance sale, so i'm still good! :) xoxo

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  12. Great review! I totally agree and I've been using this for a few weeks myself. I don't love it because I do need the oil control so I'll be switching it out soon!

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    1. Thank you! I'm so happy to hear you can relate to my experience! :)

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  13. Wait a minute! You put this powder OVER the PF powder foundation that we both so love LOL? It never even occurred to me to do so (to put a powder over a powder), so now I'm going to have to give it a go and see how that looks (not cakey at all???)!

    I have both (you already knew I had the powder foundation lol), so yay for experimenting tomorrow!

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    1. Yes!! Can you believe it? I don't normally put powder over ”our” (lol!) foundation, but I wanted to see how this one worked with another PF product and WOW! Girl, you need to try it STAT! And I would be offended if you didn't come back here to tell me what you think! ;)

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    2. Ok, I've been road testing this for a few days now (the first test was during one of our band's gigs, which is ALWAYS a great way to test out the performance of a powder lol) ...

      ... and I think you're onto something here! While the difference may seem minimal, the biggest change I see is that the final finish makes me look not so powdery, if that makes sense. This Airbrushing Powder adds more of a natural look to the powder foundation ... a more natural sheen? Am I babbling?

      And like you, I didn't care much for this over a liquid foundation that I love ... it didn't much control oiliness, and appeared to cake slightly towards the end of the day. But over the powder foundation, go figure!

      (And these ramblings prove why I read only, and do not blog LOLOL.)

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    3. Whew!!! I an so glad it worked for you!! And yes, I totally agree about it giving a more natural finish!

      Also, did you notice that it increased the staying power of your Healthy Look? For me, it really seemed to keep things in place longer.

      Thanks, hun, for giving it a try! xo

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  14. My Target was selling PF products BOGO earlier this week when you redeemed a coupon stuck on the product packaging. I bought this powder and the Mineral Wear 16 Hour Airbrushing Loose Powder (also SPF 30). I also like the compact powder as a setting powder. What really impressed me this week, though, was the loose powder, I used it a couple times this week instead of liquid foundation, and it has performed beautifully! I am very pale (NC-20ish) and wore this SPF powder over my SPF 30 moisturizer to the state baseball play-offs today. They were held at noon in Round Rock, TX -- can't find a much worse time to be in the sun. Not only did my face not sunburn but, after sweating for 2+ hours, my makeup still looked really good! This powder held my blush and eyeshadow in place. Kudos to PF on this one.

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    1. Wow!! What a great tip about the loose powder! Thanks so much for sharing! I'll definitely have to give that one a shot! :)

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  16. G, what powder do you use over the CG Tone Rehab foundation? I bought that after your review, and like it-however I find that it stays kind of oily on my skin...maybe it's my finishg powder (Mac mineralized skin finish) that's not an ideal combo...

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    1. I've had really good luck with the Covergirl pressed powder for oily skin, BUT I've noticed that powder is now on clearance at CVS, which i'm hoping doesn't mean it's being discontinued.

      Did you catch my sightings post a little while back about the new CG & Olay pressed powders? They're a counterpart to Tone Rehab, which i'm hoping means they'll work nicely with this foundation! I'll definitely review it after I get one. :)

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    2. Ah, I did see that post but did not put the two together :) I will make ONE last CVS clearance trip for the CG powder :) thanks for the suggestion!

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  17. I just sent my DH out to buy this for me earlier today and I'm excited to try it over my foundation, as I'm looking for a good cruelty-free powder to replace my beloved MAC Mineralized Skin Finish. Holding on to the receipt though, in case it doesn't work... regardless, fingers crossed!

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  18. I love this powder over the original Revlon CS or Rimmel Lasting Finish. I think it helps the foundation look more airbrushed and natural.

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  19. ive only recently tried physicians formula and i LOVe it. havent tried the powder though, just the blush and some skincare. so amazing!

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