Clinique Blended Face Powder and Brush Review

This review has been long, long overdue and the pics for this have been hibernating in my drafts since a few weeks. So, finally, let me introduce you to Clinique’s Blended Face Powder and Brush.

I had been using Clinique’s Superpowder Double Face Makeup that I had bought from Thailand and I loved it. I had hit pan on that one and so, I had asked my mom to get it for me from USA on her last visit there. Then, while checking out the Clinique website, i decided I wanted to try out this loose powder so I told her to get this for me instead. This was two years ago and this powder is still going strong!!! 

This powder is really very finely milled and smooth. It is also quite sheer and blends nicely into the skin. It also helps in keeping the skin shine free, giving it a matte look. Infact, when I wear it in winters, it actually makes my cheeks feel a bit dry. I do have to blot my T zone after about 3-4 hours though. I would  recommend it for all skin types especially combination to oily ones. I mostly wear this by itself but whenever I wear foundation,  this is my favourite powder for setting it. 

Transperancy 3 is the shade I use and would be perfect for fair to medium skin tones. Because it is so sheer, you can also build up the coverage as required. It is also not cakey and does not look patchy even if you apply more layers or touch up later during the day. And it makes my pores appear much smaller and finer and hasn’t given me pimples either (touchwood)…..a big, big plus. 

As the name mentions, the powder comes along with a retractable brush. 35gm of powder comes housed in a sturdy plastic jar with a silver lid. When you open the lid, you see a plastic sieve tray for shaking out the required quantity of powder. The brush and the packaging are the two things that I dont like about this otherwise wonderful powder.  

The brush, in my opinion, is quite rubbish. It isnt thick and dense enough to be a blush brush, leave alone a powder brush. The bristles are also quite harsh and they shed terribly. In fact, the shedding started right from first use itself! I use an Elizabeth Arden brush to apply this and you can see the difference in size in the pictures. The only use for this brush is to load it with powder, retract it and shut it and its good to go even in your little clutch for a touch up later.

The packaging too can be improved. You have to really take care not to tilt the box or turn it upside down otherwise when you open it, you”ll get covered in a fine cloud of powder which will settle onto your clothes. And its for this very reason that this packaging isnt travel-friendly. 

I’ve been using this, almost daily, since two years now and while the silver lettering on the box (and the silver coating on the brush) has faded a bit, the powder itself seems like it will last me at least another 6 months.

I have almost 1/3rd of the box still left!!! Can you believe that? I think mom got it for $22 and I’m sure the price here must be higher, I still feel that this is a really good splurge. And when you think of how long it lasts, you will agree that it gives good value for money too!

Have you used this powder? Which is your favourite powder?