Most people I know are into liquid foundation and my weakness has always been face powder. It is the one out of the few makeup item I go through like no other’s business. I absolutely hate the sticky feeling of liquid foundation and I just cannot leave the house without dusting powder all over my face. Truth to be told, I was patiently waiting for L’Oreal Mat Magique to be made available in Malaysia several months ago after watching the review on it from ClickNetwork on YouTube. Boy I was sold! So when Maybelline out of the blue launched the White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder, I was intrigued but not intrigued enough to make a purchase. L’Oreal finally launched Mat Magique just a tad bit later than Maybelline and this curious cat was so tempted to know what’s the dealio with the two. I finally bought the Maybelline White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder when Watsons was offering a RM3 off from RM23.90 lol.
Would I thought of buying this if it’s not for the discount? No. I wouldn’t even thought about buying it. I have been reading lots of mix review on this product which explains why I have a reserve on this.
Maybelline White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder is a compact powder foundation that is said to have 5X sweat and sebum absorption power of regular talc thanks to it’s enriched Mineral Perlite. Maybelline named this feature as Clean-Touch Powder System. What this Mineral Perlite does is that it facilitates sweat evaporation, just like a face blotter. The only difference is this will continuously to blot away sweat and sebum during the wear. But the main feature that Maybelline has been promoting is the 12-hour matte look with no touch-up. This powder foundation is also said to give a matte finishing that brighten the face at the same time, smoothen and blends away imperfections. I can tell you now that I absolutely find it useless in this matter.
The casing is probably what most people went gaga over. Honestly it doesn’t impress me. It’s just a very normal casing. It is definitely quite well-made and the plastic doesn’t feel cheapo all together. The top lid is in white, while the bottom half is fully transparent. Now. I feel that for a compact makeup product, it is so icky to have a clear base. I find myself washing the sponge after a few usage because I couldn’t bare to look at it. I wouldn’t want to whip this out in the public.
The sponge on the other hand is also a teeny bit smaller than other drugstore powder foundation. It’s quite nice to use although I’ve ripped off mine on the first wash lol. Oh boy. You don’t have to worry if you too accidentally ripped off yours because you can buy the refill pack separately and each refill comes with a new sponge 😀
The powder I would say is quite finely milled. It feel soft on my finger and it is those type of powder foundation that could cling onto a well-moisturized skin and cause the makeup to cake-up. That is exactly what happen to me with this powder. I’ve prepared to review this product several months ago but because I ran into problem every time I used this, I was constantly finding for the right method and so I experimented with a few application technique and the below three method is what I’ve came up with so far. Let’s start from the worse to the best shall we?
Maybelline White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder comes in four shades to choose from – 01 Light, 02 Nude Beige, 03 Natural and 04 Honey. Surprisingly 02 Nude Beige is too dark for me and 03 Natural is the right match for my skin tone. So before I start with the application technique, I thought you might want to know my shade. 03 Natural that is.
Applied on top of foundation with a brush
I am well aware that this is a powder foundation which means it should be applied on its own. Most review I read said it is too cakey + thick if applied with the sponge and most people suggested using a brush instead. I know very well that applying the powder solely with a brush won’t help to conceal the acne marks on my face so I prime my face, applied a thin layer of foundation and applied concealer on the marks. All these on top of my usual day skin care and sunscreen.
This method obviously is not the best way as the powder cling onto my concealer on the jawline (see those white patches?) and on my under eye. It also doesn’t cover my pores on my nose, around my nose and inner cheeks. I find that my face gets oily after just half an hour.
Applied on its own with the sponge included
This is probably the easiest way and the way that most people would go for. It is not my favourite method unless I’m in a hurry or weekend where I don’t need a lot of makeup on. I want to show you how well is the coverage so no foundation or concealer is applied prior to the powder.
On first trial, I applied my trusted Kiehl’s Micro-Blur Skin Perfector prior before the powder foundation and the weird thing happened. The powder glides on the skin with a cakey coverage that looks like I had a mix of sticky substance on. It is absolutely horrible that I have to remove everything, wash my face and reapply my skin care to start over again. On most of part of the face, the powder covers well. It doesn’t do a thing for redness or acne marks. It also adhere to the fine lines on my under eyes, making it even more obvious from far. As you already know, these fine lines on my under eye is one feature that I feel insecure about. When the powder clings onto the lines, I looked haggard. It’s even worse with the dark circles, of which the powder fails to cover.
I also find that the powder fails to cover the pores on my nose. When I tried to swipe more powder with the sponge, it become cakey. No matter how hard I ran the sponge over my nose, none of the powder covers up the ugly pores. Let’s not talk about the pores on my inner cheeks shall we. It’s quite obvious that the powder foundation doesn’t smooth it out.
Mattifying wise, it’s not as good as the 12-hours matte look claim. My face gets oily on the normal rate.
Applied over foundation with the sponge included
This method is by far the best method that I’ve tried so far. In order to get the smooth, medium to full coverage, I need to apply foundation and conceal all the acne marks on the face before using the powder foundation. Then I used the sponge included, apply with light stroke and patting motion. Light stroke application enables the powder foundation to glides on the face, giving it a medium to buildable full coverage while patting application is to push the product into certain areas such as around the nose corner, nose, inner cheeks and under eye. This will also help to cover up the large pores as well.
Without any doubt, applying over foundation with the sponge gives a smoother finishing and coverage. Honestly it doesn’t look as heavy as I thought it would be. This full coverage method also helps to keep shine at bay. It does look better after it sets and after my face starts to oil up a bit. So far the powder foundation doesn’t oxidize on my skin by mid day, which is good because almost all foundation turns darker on me.
Would I buy the refill after I’m done with this? Most probably not. I’m not impressed with this one despite the rave everywhere. It doesn’t sit well on people with larger pores like I do. I still had my mind on L’Oreal Mat Magique and that would be my next purchase after I finish the 764679 powder that I’m currently rotating 😀 😀 😀 . Nonetheless the Maybelline White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder is one of the affordable powder foundation for students or those who is on a tight budget. At RM23.90 it is definitely cheaper than Mat Magique and the refill cost even cheaper. In the long run, this powder foundation will not burn a hole in your pocket. As for me, I just prefer something else and I don’t mind splurging on other expensive alternative if it’s good.
This makes me wonder, are you into powder foundation? I used powder mainly to set my foundation so I would prefer a pressed powder that offers a tiny bit of coverage, not as thick as this White Superfresh. If I have thicker foundation on, I would opt for translucent finishing powder 😀 . What about you?
Maybelline White Superfresh Long Lasting UV Cake Powder is available at all leading pharmacies and department stores nationwide.
Price: RM23.90, refill cost RM11.90
Visit Maybelline Malaysia Facebook page for more exciting news, tips, makeup videos, promotions and many more at https://www.facebook.com/MaybellineMalaysia
Website: http://www.maybelline.com.my/
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. I bought the product on my own.
Comments (21)
Between all method the last method gave you an even skin tone from the face to neck. I’m using Clarins powder compact foundation as recommended by you previously =)
You are absolutely correct! I find it to be better and smoother coverage as well. Oh I still have that Clarins 😛 . I’ve gone through a few of them but mainly using it as setting powder instead of powder foundation.
I haven’t used pressed/compact powder in the longest time ever, mainly because I don’t like the cakey look/feeling. I normally set my base makeup with loose powder. That aside, I do have one compact powder (bought like 2 years ago) that I sometimes bring along just in case I need to powder my nose, haha. XD
Hehe! I bring a blotting powder compact (http://www.street-love.net/2014/02/review-za-groovy-smoovy-oil-blotting-powder.html) in my purse for touching up on the go. It helps to keep oil at bay for the next 2 hours minimum 😀
I’ve never used a compact powder for anything more than powdering my nose too! I will use powder for a light sweep to mattify or set but as a foundation itself – I dread appearing too powdery.
I’m glad you wrote this review because every other person that has done a review on this product basically just waxed lyrical about it but texturally, I would be nervous about just using this without any liquid product beneath it.
I imagine I would feel like I needed to apply a primer then just to make sure it all sticks and doesn’t fall off my face but it sounds like it doesn’t work with this product as you had to redo after you applied it over the Kiehl’s micro blur. What a waste of effort then.
I’m going to pass on this one too.
It will look a bit powdery at first especially if you keep on layering as the coverage is not exactly the best around but once the face starts to oil up a bit then it looked slightly better.
I’ve seen 99% good review on this. Only one person so far that I googled and read that she didn’t quite like it. Initially I thought I have a faulty unit because everyone has been raving on it. Probably these 99% users are with smooth skin. My pores are so ginormous. It doesn’t work as good as I thought. I will only trust reviews that said it’s good if they provide a supporting “after” photo. Otherwise to me it’s just waxed lyrical about it.
It doesn’t do well with primer especially primers that is mattifying, which is a bummer because all my primers are mattifying. It doesn’t glides on at all.
I was totally unimpressed with this as well. My go to base has and always will be MAC’s powder foundation. It’s so, so excellent! It’s the only makeup product I’ve ever used up, and almost hit pan on my second! I’m in the process of testing both this and Mat Magique too. Will keep you posted <3
Phew. Someone who share the same thoughts as me on this powder! I have the MAC one as well. It doesn’t work well on my extra oily skin last time but recently it blended well onto my skin. Perhaps I wasn’t as oily as before 😀 . Yay! Do keep me posted on Mat Magique. It cost more than this Maybelline lol
This sounds like too much work. I hardly use pressed powder foundations and think I only have one from Lunasol. But I do like loose powder foundations though. I can understand the appeal of powder foundations since they are fairly quick to use but not when you need to layer it on top of another foundation.
Exactly. It doesn’t serve the convenience purpose if I have to apply liquid foundation first. This would suits those without much flaw on the skin. If you’re talking about people with acne marks, redness and large pores like my skin, this just doesn’t cut it. I was hoping this would serve as a quick setting powder. I have other powder that works better.
Nope. I’m not happy with it either. I should have waited for your review^^
It’s okay. I didn’t know I’d review it too. Luckily it wasn’t that expensive lol
I still don’t like compact powder. Same as you, my face will become oily vey fast. But recently I am interested with Laura Mercier compact powder. I am not sure with the name, the one that claim can use as dry compact powder and wet it to use it as concealer.
Its call smooth finish foundation powder i think.
This one? https://www.lauramercier.com/store/shop/Apply%20Foundation_Smooth%20Finish%20Foundation%20Powder_prod1020001
Yea I think this is the one!
Some compact powder is quite good like the ZA and Clarins. My guess is some compact powder is too dry therefore our skin dehydrated thus become more oily. Laura Mercier is a good choice! I’ve tried their translucent loose powder and it’s good 🙂
Ever since I started using Yadah air powder pact, I lost all interest in any other compact powder 😛
Eeeee. I’ve been wanting Yadah one for quite some time cause it’s cute. Now I want it more!
My skin is combination/oily skin. What it claims made me grab this powder. It’s looking good right after application then for the few hours, I hate how it feels on my skin even though it didn’t look shiny and I kinda like how it brightens my skin. However, I feels that its too heavy on my skin. I don’t know why I haven’t ditch this powder out from my vanity. But if I found a better powder, I won’t looking back at this. By the way, I like how you share your experience with this product.
Same here. What it claims makes me purchase the powder. I’ve yet to try L’Oreal Mat Magique. It should be slightly better than this Maybelline based on the review. It is heavy on the skin. For me it doesn’t covers well especially the ginormous pores. Try ZA two way foundation powder. I’ve used it for more than 10 years and it is way better than this one.
Thank you for liking the way I share my experience 😀