Episode #9 - Take a Powder

Okay, go get Lip Gloss and Laptops show #9: download the MP3 file - 40m 17s, or read the shownotes page.

Kerry Anne's Powder Picks

Laura Mercier Translucent Pressed Setting Powder ($40CA, $30 US .28oz/8.1g) This powder has won me over. It's expensive but I don't care, I'll buy it again. Laura Mercier is well known for her foundations and powders for good reason...they rock. It is translucent which means that I don't have to switch powders with the seasons. This powder works on any skin tone, dark or light, and it really is invisible. I use it to set makeup, because I don't care about shine. Should I? Are people really offended if I appear in public with a shiny face? Anyway, it is scent-free, comes with a great sponge for application, and has a lovely satiny texture. The website says it won't settle into lines and pores, and that's true. The Loose Setting Powder is also an excellent product, but the compact suits my lifestyle better. Highly recommended.

Rimmel London Stay Matte Compact Powder Foundation ($7.99CA, $6.49 US .32 oz/9g) Is it a powder? Is it a foundation? I don't care because I embrace the diversity that is this "powdation"! The package says it "covers like a foundation with the smooth finish of a powder". It works like a combination of both on me so I stuck it in this category. I wouldn't bet on this one to set your makeup, but it will make your skin matte and smooth. The colour blends seamlessly into my skin, and actually makes it feel softer. It claims to last for up to 6 hours, though it actually lasted less than that on my combination skin. It is oil free, blends like a charm and feels so soft and silky. Definitely a great product to carry around in your purse to even out skin tone and rid your skin of shine. The coverage it provides is quite sheer, and can be applied with a wet or dry sponge. The one they provide in the compact is fabulous. With only six colours in the line, I was lucky to get such a close match for my complexion too. Score!

CoverGirl TruBlend Pressed Powder ($13CA, $7.49US .39oz/11g) "Advanced powder technology adjusts to match 97% of skin tones, helping you reveal a natural, most flawless finish." (covergirl website) I must be in the 3% minority on this one, because this powder did not work as they claimed. The shade I purchased was Translucent Light, yet it wasn't translucent in the least. It did not blend into my skin at all, but rested upon it like a thin chalky veil. It accentuated dry patches on my face that I did not know existed. It looked altogether unnatural, particularly when compared to the previously reviewed products. Too bad, because they've come out with some really sweet compact cases for this line, which I'll never have, since I won't be shelling out for this one again. Available in six shades.

Remember to wash your sponges, and keep the side you use on your face away from the powder. If you get an oily layer on your powder, simply scrape it off with a clean butter knife.

Airdrie's Powder Picks

Airdrie's picks for face powder at three price points (low, medium and high) are as follows:

1. Cover Girl, Pressed Powder (Various choices, $7.49 CAD)

I've been using Cover Girl pressed powders since childhood when I would sneak a little from my mom's make-up cabinet. Now I keep a few on hand for every occasion. They are cheap, portable, and do a great job to reduce shine, giving a great matte finish to my skin. This product can be used instead of foundation, for a light look.

2. MAC, Blot Powder, Pressed ($22 CAD)

MAC Blot Powder adds no colour to my face, but is great for setting foundation and using for touch-ups to absorb oil. Also available as a loose powder, it is the choice of professionals.

3. Guerlain, Les Voilettes Matt Voyage Powder ($60 CAD)

I love this pinkish translucent powder for it's violet scent. Truly a luxury product, be sure to try before you buy. I have not reached the buy stage yet, as the price it too high for my budget right now. However, it is available to test at any Guerlain counter.

Reality Check

It's fine to have fun with cosmetics, but we need to keep it in perspective. Having a shiny nose signals that you are young, energetic and alive. Who needs to cover that up? We at the Lip Gloss and Laptops podcast want people to have fun with their looks, but the ultimate goal is to feel beautiful on the inside. In a society where we are bombarded by digitally altered advertising and celebrity culture, it is crucial that we take time to really question what it means to be beautiful. The following is an excerpt from a Dove Campaign for Beauty press release:

For girls, low self-esteem and a negative body image can start at a young age.

• One-third of all girls in grades nine to 12 think they are overweight, and 60 percent are trying to lose weight.
• Only 56 percent of seventh graders say they like the way they look.
• Studies show that 57 percent of girls have fasted, gone on diets, used food substitutes, or smoked more cigarettes to lose weight.
• Research also shows that messages girls receive from the media can damage their feelings of self-worth and negatively affect their behavior. More than one in four girls surveyed feel the media pressure them to have a perfect body.
• Girls who watch TV commercials featuring underweight models lose self-confidence and become more dissatisfied with their own bodies.
• As a result, girls question their own beauty: between 50 and 70 percent of girls of normal weight believe they are overweight.

"The existing narrow definition of beauty is not only unrealistic and unattainable, but clearly it also creates hang-ups that can lead girls to question their own beauty", said Philippe Harousseau, U.S. marketing director for Dove. "It's time to free the next generation from these stereotypes and give girls the tools they need to discover their own definition of beauty."

(source: Dove)

Food for thought.

Mrs. Peacock: "Yvette, is there a little girls' room in the hall? Yvette: "Oui, oui, madame." Mrs. Peacock: "No, I just I want to powder my nose, thank you." - From the 1985 cult classic film, Clue, which was based on the popular board game.