I meant to be ahead of the trend and bought this as soon as it came out, to be one of the firsts to review it. Then life happened. You make plans and god laughs, right? Well, better late than never.
The Translucent Loose Setting Powder is probably my favourite of all time, so I feel like I can trust Laura Mercier for face powders. I also have the Glow Loose Setting Powder and find that it looks more like a highlighter than an all over face powder for me, but that could be because I have trouble controlling the amount I apply. I wanted to try this pressed version since it seems like application would be easier.
I got mine in shade translucent. I’ve added two swatch pictures below because I couldn’t decide on which one the powder was more visible, since it’s not visible at all, which is actually a good thing – it is so natural, so skin-like, that it is hard to tell I’m wearing it. If you look at the area on the back of my hand between the index and middle finger, there’s a soft shine there – that’s the powder.
Texture and Application: the powder feels very soft and smooth to the touch, but it is not powdery at all – in fact, I would say it’s quite hard pressed if it wasn’t for the fact that it looks like a baked powder rather than a machine pressed one. Either way, it is quite stiff on the pan, to where you would be better off with a face brush that is a bit more coarse (to be able to pick up more product), but once it’s on the skin, the feel is quite velvety – almost creamy. This is made for a thin layer application – you can build it up, but that takes more effort and time than the average person has patience for. That thin application isn’t enough for my foundation to stop being sticky though.
Coverage and Finish: on me, translucent is right. I don’t feel like it adds coverage or colour at all, but I’m also obnoxiously pale, so that might be why. This adds a very natural shine – actually, luminosity is a more appropriate word – that is so skin-like that you can hardly tell it’s a powder. There is no shimmer at all, it’s just a light, soft sheen. If I build it up, it can look intensely shiny, like “I’m having an oily, pre-breakout skin day” shiny. It does not look like you’ve mistaken highlighter for all-over face powder, there is no shimmer or glitter, and it does not emphazise skin texture, but I wouldn’t say it’s blurring either.
Longevity: the first time I used it, I thought it had no lasting power, because my skin looked oily quicker than normal. That, however, was purely user error: I applied way too much, which made my skin look greasy instead of luminous. Using a moderate amount, like a normal person, and comparing it side-by-side to my tried and true Translucent Loose Setting Powder, I’m happy to report it keeps my foundation from creasing or moving for just as long and the setting powder (which is about 9-10 hours). I don’t think it’s bad at oil control, I just think that when oil does start to come trough it’s more obvious because it’s not over a matte base.
Packaging & Other Info: the compact is big and bulky, mainly because the lid is quite tall due the dome the powder has. At least there is a large mirror on the inside. It’s not heavy, and there are 7 grams of product in it, which is on the lighter side for full sized face powder and not really comparable to the 29 grams the Translucent Loose Setting Powder contains – but again, this is made for a lighter application. The price is around 42€.
Final Thoughts: this powder is per-fec-tion if you have dry, dull skin. I don’t. But my combination complexion can still enjoy it, and the trick is to wear a mattifying powder underneath. I have to use it as a finishing powder, not a setting one, but I’m not regretting this purchase, because it makes the skin look good. It’s less shiny and much more natural than the Glow Loose Setting Powder, and I recommend this one over that. Laura Mercier knows how to make a powder.
