little white truths

I've been meaning to review this foundation for ages but haven't because it took me a while to get some swatches I was happy with. But I need to review it because the product is currently on my Project Pan list, meaning that it won't be around for too much longer.

As you may know, the Translucent version of this powder is my HG setting powder (I've reviewed it here), and I'm happy to say that I love this too, even though I'm not a powder foundation person. More on that below.

Coty claims/product details:

• A loose powder that helps minimise the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne, scars and other blemishes, giving your facial skin a smoother, softer look
• Can be used to help smooth and soften the appearance of your skin as a foundation, or used on top of your makeup as a setting powder 
• Long lasting and helps give full coverage that feels lightweight enough to wear all day
• Flawless finish that helps conceal and reduce the look of rough skin and helps correct uneven skintone
• RRP $20 AUD (approx) for 65g, but do shop around

Swatches, indirect sunlight:

 Direct sunlight:

This is a great product and I recommend it. It's probably the best powder foundation I've used, although I haven't tried a lot of powder foundation because I have dry skin and prefer liquids, so do keep that in mind.

It's a peachy beige loose powder with a very strong, perfume-like scent. The smell is bloody awful (I can hardly bear it), and even though I'd heard that it smelled strongly before I bought it, I was still surprised when I first opened it. Man it's pungent.

Indeed, the scent is so bad that I reckon it's the only reason not to buy it. I can smell it on my face after I've used it and my brushes smell of it. At least there's a fragrance-free version that's on offer (it's translucent) and thankfully the smell does fade a little over time.

The reason why I've been able to cope with using something that smells this much is, very simply, that it performs so unbelievably well. It smooths out my face so that my fine lines and pores seem to vanish into thin air. It's quite incredible. Even if you didn't want to wear makeup, I can see that you might want to throw a light dusting of this over your face because it has such a huge impact.

'Honey Beige' is too pale and too peach for my light/medium to medium, yellow-based skin, but because I don't usually wear it as a dedicated powder foundation, I can get away with it. A light coating will add a little coverage (so it's a good one to apply over a tinted moisturiser that's not covering enough) and a stronger dusting means I can wear this alone as my foundation if I want to.

What I love about it is that it makes my face look so much smoother (and therefore a little younger), and it does this without announcing itself as makeup - provided you don't apply too much. It also has a surprising amount of coverage for a powder so it's worth looking into if you want a powder foundation that manages oil and also evens out the skin nicely.

Overall I think this is a remarkable product and I recommend it. It's not too expensive (even by extortionate Australian standards), it all but eradicates the look of pores, it gives a perfected but not 'makeup-y' look to the skin, and it lasts well throughout the day. Plus you get heaps of product in the tub so it lasts for ages.

Love.