little white truths

While I have taken a full set of opening photos for this product, I can't be bothered editing them so I'm just using the above one from a recent Project Pan post.

This little 2g sample of powder foundation came from the Parcel, and I was ok about receiving it because I didn't have much powder foundation at the time and indeed it's now the only one I own.

Mind you, I don't like it at all. That's why it's on my Project Pan list. The thing I like best about it is the size of the tub (great for dispensing other powders into for travel); however even that has turned out to be a fail because the holes in the sifter are too large so the product is messier than it should be.

Foo.

There's the colour in bright sunlight:

And again (it looks a bit darker here):

Nude by Nature claims/product details:

• Doesn't cake, clog or even look like makeup at all! 
• Has an amazing lightweight, natural finish without harsh chemicals or irritants 
• Just a few swirls of the brush and even hard-to-hide blemishes including acne, birthmarks and scarring disappear from sight
• Also covers redness and enlarged pores 
• Formulated with kaolin clay
• Blends easily, with the natural oils of the skin providing a natural finish
• Free from talcs, parabens and bismuth, making it ideal for sensitive skin
• Contains SPF 15 
• Available in eight shades: Fair, Beige, Light, Light/Medium, Medium, Tan, Dark and Olive
• RRP $39.95 AUD for 15g, but do shop around

Now for swatches. 

What I've done in each of the three photos below is give you a finger swatch first, then I've done a brush swatch (I've applied two layers), then I've done another brush swatch where I've applied five layers and really built the product up.

Natural light (indoors):

Indirect sunlight: 

Natural light again for good measure: 

Verdict

Now I'm calling this a mini review because I haven't been walking around with this on my face for days on end during the testing period - I don't like it enough to suffer all that.

It's a standard powder foundation that comes in a little sifter tub and while I can't speak to the full-sized product because I don't own it, I can say that this little travel-sized version hasn't been designed well: the holes in the sifter are too large so I wouldn't throw this in my handbag - otherwise all the product would end up in the lid.

The powder feels reasonably finely milled to the touch but it doesn't look that way on my skin: on me, it looks and feels like powder. 

The product doesn't have a scent (although it does smell faintly of powder) so it shouldn't bother those who don't like fragranced products.

I have a few issues with this foundation. First, there's hardly any coverage so I need three thick layers to get anywhere. One or two layers does nothing for me, and by the time I throw on the third, this just looks cakey and awful on me.

Second, it does nothing for oil control unless you really pile it on. Now I have dry skin so that's not a problem in theory, but it's something to be aware of if you have oily skin. Mind you, the issue with this being rubbish at managing grease is that I can't use it as a setting powder to take the tackiness away from my tinted moisturiser so my powder products blend better. That's annoying.

What this all means in practice is that I have absolutely no use for this product because it doesn't work as a foundation and I can't use it in place of my setting powder.

Funnily enough, it's somehow too drying to use to set my concealer - which doesn't make sense since it doesn't do anything for oil control - but when I lay it down under my eyes, they shrivel up like old prunes, no matter how little I use.

What I've had to do in order to pan it, is apply a layer over my sunscreen to manage grease (which it does not do), then I go in with my primer and the rest of my makeup. So effectively I'm not actually using it for anything useful, I'm just using it.

Thank god I've almost finished it.

Overall I don't like this product and I don't think it meets its claims. Some people love it (see eg beautyheaven), but it's not the right powder for me.

Blurgh. I've given it a disappointing products tag.