The Eliminate Shine Mattifying Spray Powder (Sonia Kashuk for Target) is welcome new entry into the genre of facial powder. Most powders are sold loose in a pot (or in a plastic tube behind a brush), or compressed in a compact for application. This new item is sold in a compressed metal air bottle with a spray nozzle on top.
I was excited to try this. I have my large loose pots of facial powder (Clinique for normal use, Prescriptives Magic for a hint of illumination). Those are conventional options that work well as a finishing touch for my face. Unfortunately, they are also messy - there's a lot of waste when using these large vats. They don't travel well: having makeup you need to put a rubber band around, or a stick in a Ziplock, is NOT attractive to pull out.
I have my Stila pressed powder as well, which is neater for travel but a tad trickier to apply evenly over a set face, unless I am using the pressed powder *instead* of foundation that day (good when in a hurry).
Spray powder pros -
This product definitely combines the best of both worlds. It's super easy to apply, provides almost zero waste, and travels well. The application is very sanitary (if one keeps their brush clean) and the product should remain stable, unlike the other powder container categories that eventually become petrie dishes for germs.
Spray powder cons -
This product requires a little bit of a learning curve to use properly. For one thing, you have to figure out what makeup brush offers the best size for applying the spray powder. For another, you have to resist the temptation to simply spray the product directly on your face. I didn't experiment with this myself, but suspect there would be much waste and an uneven application.
So, back to figuring out the right makeup brush:
I don't recommend using a large, typical powder brush with this - you have to spray too much product into the brush...and then it all gets lost and dries in the brush, instead of on your face. This creates a lot of waste and leads to the product being more expensive than it has to be.
Through experimentation I found a medium sized blush brush is exactly what's needed to apply the spray powder just right. The Duwop Double Sized Brush shown offers two ways to get a precise application and also looks cool. :-) But any medium blush brush will do.
How to apply the spray powder:
With the blush brush, I only need to use two small applications - I spray the brush once to coat it, quickly swiping over the shiny parts of my face (T-zones). Then I spray the brush a second time to get a large facial once-over. I follow up with what remains on the brush to get in the little creases and corners (areas around the nose, upper lip, eyes).
When used in this manner, you can ensure your product lasts as long as possible and also provide a nice, even translucent set to your face. It's possible to get rid of the shine without any product buildup.
A few hours later (keep in mind this is a summer test) my powder is still in place. I am not as matte as I was when I first applied the spray, but I am still not noticeably shiny.
The spray comes out of the compressed can with a nice cooling sensation that feels really light and lovely on my skin.
My suggestions to the cosmetics developers at Sonia Kashuk and Target:
A large size spray powder like this one, with an SPF 15 added, would be a permanent, hard-working, multi-use staple on my vanity desk.
As it is, the product gets high marks for effectiveness, portability and that hard to quantify "neato" cooling sensation. I like things that are convenient, quick, non-messy and stylish.
Altogether, when used properly, this product is well recommended! My caveats are - use it with a medium-sized blush brush to prevent powder waste. Keep in mind the contents are under pressure and treat accordingly (do not smoke when using, do not puncture, do not store on a hot surface, etc). And be sure to wear a moisturizer or foundation containing sunscreen underneath the spray powder, for daytime use.
You can find the Eliminate Shine Mattifying Spray Powder and Duwop Double Sized Blush Brush at Amazon.com:
Sonia KashukŪ Eliminate Shine Mattifying Spray Powder
| DuWop Double Ended Brush
