Face Powder Face Off

[Shearer]

Has anyone used both Coty Airspun and Besame's translucent powders? If so, which did you like better? (Or is there a super-powder I'm unaware of?)

As it is, I moisturize, then use a brush with Besame's bisque souffle. I know some people think it's too heavy, but when I use the brush it goes on very light and I don't use much at all. The problem is, when I put powder over it, it tends to look almost clumpy at the end of the day. I tried doing without the moisturizer and my skin gets too dry.

Help a sister out, I think I'm walking a fine line here :)

[NicolettaRose]

If you have dry skin, you don't need powder since your skin does not produce a lot of oil, which leads to shine, and it might be doing more harm then good. Powder just sits on dry skin and does not absorb and might clog your pores.

If you have dry skin, a good foundation is all you need, and a foundation if you have blemishes/ acne to cover up. Use a foundation with a SPF, don't use pancake. Make sure to always clense, tone and moistureize, and exfoliate ocassionally to sluff of the dead skin cells. Gals with dry skin need to exfoliate more then those with oily skin.

[pigeon toe]

I don't use any sort of concealer or foundation beneath my powder, so I can't really comment on your clumpiness issues! However, I've tried both Besame and Coty powders (though the Besame was only a small sample size and somewhat difficult to use because of it), and Coty takes the cake for me.

The amount you get for the price is worth it. I don't have a ton of money to spend on makeup and it's a great product for a great price.

I have combination skin (slightly oily on my forehead, slightly dry everywhere else), but since I use a moisturizer and a greasy cheek stain as my blush, the powder absorbs the shine but leaves my face looking soft, not dry. I think as long as you have enough moisture between your face and the powder you should be fine.

[Shearer]

I think I'm going to stick with Coty airspun since the Besame stuff IS so costly.

My skin isn't normally dry, but we've been having an unusually dry winter here in So Cal. I'm pretty good about my cleanse, tone, moisture routine, so I'm going to change up the makeup a little and see what happens...

[mysterygal]

I've been unhappy as well with my powders until MK gave me some by Ben Nye. This stuff is absolutely amazing. It's extra fine so it doesn't cake on like some of the other brands sometimes do. Also, It doesn't add color to your foundation which is a big plus, especially if you are fair toned.
(in case your wondering why in the world MK's giving me make-up powder, it's because he's a make-up artist)

[Shearer]

I'll have to look it up... I am extremely fair toned so I was looking for something that wouldn't add any colour. Hey, free face powder from ANYONE is a plus, especially if it's a make up artist.

[Helen Troy]

I will recommend the foundation and powders from everydayminerals.com. They have a wide variety of colors, also many different very fair hues for cold, neutral or warm undertones. I have very fair complexion, and this is the only place I have found makeup to match my skin perfectly.

All their makeup is in powderform, also foundations etc. That is very good, because it just disappears into the skin. No caking at all!

They also have very light, soft, translucent ricepowder, with no color at all.

Cheap to!

[pretty faythe]

Right now I am trying a "Jane"'s translucent colorless powder. I have a dry/oily combo skin, so I do have to put a moisturizer or lotion on underneath for the dry parts which makes the oily shine like crazy, and the powder seems to be doing good. Ok, I am reading this and something isn't flowing quite right, but I'm sure the basics are coming across.
Faith

[Renee]

Has anyone used both Coty Airspun and Besame's translucent powders? If so, which did you like better?

I prefer the Besame. This powder never goes an "off" color on me (some translucents I've used in the past go orangey/beigey as the day wears on) and it also has the incredible staying power of the Besame eye shadows. It seems just as fresh at the end of the day as it does when I apply it. And, of course, I LOVE the scent!! :)

I moisturize my face in the morning after my shower. When applying makeup, I only use a little Max Factor panstick applied with my finger under my eyes, around nose, or anywhere I've got a little discoloration. Then I apply the Besame with the puff, kind of gently "pressing" the powder into my face and on my eyelids (I'm pretty white at this point!). Then I brush off the excess with a powder brush, and finish the rest of my makeup. Maybe you could try this technique? I think you'd be surprised at how much coverage the powder provides when applied in this manner, and it avoids the sometimes overly heavy look of all-over foundation plus powder.

[RetroMom]

I also have both Coty and Besame powders. Basically, for me, the difference is price. The Besame has a heavenly smell and is very light, but the Coty is more cost effective for everyday use.

I stopped using Besame's foundation because I thought it was too heavy and after adding powder and rouge, my face felt very made up for daytime wear.

How exactly do you apply foundation with a brush? I would be interested to give it a try:)

[mysterygal]

I was thinking of another make-up product I had!:o
The powder I got from MK was from Joe Blasco

[beaucaillou]

Besame powder is okay, but I don't love it, especially for the price. (I do however, love their base.) Coty doesn't work for me. It looks alright for about 10 minutes.

I do love Bobbi Brown powder.

[Shearer]

Helen Troy, Ohhhh, thanks for the tip. It's hard for me to find a concealer or foundation that won't add colour to my skin.

Faith, I think you came across perfectly for what I was trying to say! When I use moisturizer, it clears up the dry parts and makes me shiny other places, hence the powder question. Oy!

RetroMom, Right now I'm using a foundation brush by Smashbox, just because I was able to get a set for cheap from one of their makeup artists. I think all the cosmetics counters in the mall have brushes you can buy and you can buy them separate at drugstores for much cheaper. They look like an oversized eyeshadow brush... like this. (http://www.smashbox.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/products.detail/productId/92c9fe49-28b5-4cf8-9614-b551ec387bca/) Basically, I'm hopeless at blending with my fingers, and using a wedge sponge soaked up my liquid foundation. I thought "painting" on foundation would be harder, but I get more coverage out of the makeup and it blends REALLY easily.

Everyone else: thanks for all the tips, I love playing around with makeup. mysterygal, I got the correction, thanks!!

:D

[ginny]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. :) I found this forum doing a search to find cake mascara a few months back, discovered Besame here, along with other great retro products and info.
I have used both Coty and Besame powders, and I have to say that they are very similar except for the "in the jar" color, fragrance, and price. I love them both, but use the Coty more due to price.
I noticed today at makeupmania.com that La Femme has a loose powder with a retro looking container, and it's cheap, too. I may try it in the future.

[ShrinkingViolet]

I will recommend the foundation and powders from everydayminerals.com.

Hooray, another mineral make-up fan! I use the foundation from Lily Lolo (http://www.lilylolo.co.uk) and I'm very impressed with it. Unfortunately the mineral foundation does go cakey if I apply it over my spf 50 sunscreen - but then again they say that the minerals naturally act as a sunscreen.

Sigh, the vast problems that a girl has to face... lol
Does anyone perchance know of a high spf non-greasy sunscreen for everyday use that works well with foundation?

[Kim_B]

I'm a Bare Minerals girl and will never use anything else...it is *the best* powder I have ever used, and I've tried a ton of them. It improves your skin too - helps even out skin tones and I've noticed a great improvement of the surface of my skin (soft, smooth and not dry and flaky).

[GoldLeaf]

.... spf 50 sunscreen - but then again they say that the minerals naturally act as a sunscreen.

Does anyone perchance know of a high spf non-greasy sunscreen for everyday use that works well with foundation?

The difference between spf 30 and 50 is miniscule. If you found a spf 30 that you liked, the difference is only 1%. Here is a quote from an article from the Journal of the National Cancer Institute LINK (http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/92/20/1637)


According to Weinstock, the cap on SPF labeling is not a major issue for the public as a whole. "I think that if the general public uses SPF 30 or greater, that’s sufficient." As Weinstock explained, SPF is a reciprocal function: SPF 15 lets in 1/15 of the burning rays; SPF 30 lets in 1/30; and SPF 50 lets in 1/50. Therefore, the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is only a difference of 97% effectiveness versus 98% effectiveness. "That little bit may be important to some people who have particular sensitivity," said Weinstock. "But, to the general public, it really is not that critical."

[fortworthgal]

I'm a Bare Minerals girl as well, it is the only makeup I wear. I do sometimes deviate and use a different eyeshadow or blush, but generally I stick almost entirely to BE. However, I don't care for the Mineral Veil powder at all. It is practically solid cornstarch and it doesn't give a matte finish, and it also didn't seem to last. I MUCH prefer Burt's Bees powder, or Coty Airspun. I've been using the Coty for a while now and I really like it, although I may switch back to Burt's during the summer. I may give the BE powder another shot, but I wasn't all that impressed with it.

For the price and quality, you just cannot beat Coty Airspun.

[beaucaillou]

I'm a Bare Minerals girl and will never use anything else...it is *the best* powder I have ever used, and I've tried a ton of them. It improves your skin too - helps even out skin tones and I've noticed a great improvement of the surface of my skin (soft, smooth and not dry and flaky).

I've always wondered about their products. How is the texture? Does it give a very matte finish?

[Kim_B]

I've always wondered about their products. How is the texture? Does it give a very matte finish?

I was worried when I first bought it that it would look caked on and rub off on everything, but it doesn't at all. The texture is very smooth and doesn't feel like you're wearing any makeup at all, which is what I love the most about it. I'd go to a store such as Ulta and try it out. I haven't tried their eye shadows or blushes, so I'm not sure how those are; their lipsticks are good as well...(no, I'm not a spokeswoman for them, I just really like their products!)

[beaucaillou]

Thanks Kim B! I will be sure to check it out. I have yet to find a powder that I can say, "I'll never wear anything else!"

[Helen Troy]

I have noticed that many of you girls say that you have very fair skin, and that you therefore want very pale powder/foundation to match it. (Like me!) In daily life, I seldom meet girls who look as pale as me, or who uses as pale powder. Also, considering how difficult it is to find paler shades in usual make-up brands, the cosmetics companies don`t seem to find a high demand for pale make-up.

That makes me wonder: Why are so many of us Fedora-girls in need of paler makeup? Are we less out in the sun? Is the vintage-loving gene connected to the gene for fair skin? Or, could it be that other girls with fair skin wear darker make-up to look more tanned, while we modern vintage-girls are less likely to follow fashion on this point and more willing to like the skin we are born in?

For me, it`s the latter. Nature painted me in pale hues, and sun makes me red, not tanned. I hate to sunbathe anyway, it`s boring! I think make-up that is too dark for the skis color looks fake and stupid, and have never wanted to follow fashion, so I opt for the "pale and interesting-look".

What do you girls think? Are we vintage-lovers more often pale then the rest of the population, and why?

[GoldLeaf]

Being tan didn't really become popular until Coco Chanel came back from a yachting trip and accidently was sun burned. However, she was so popular that the tan caught on a bit. Being pale used to be a sign that you were a woman of high standing and didn't have to expose your skin to the harsh elements.

In the 30's and 40's it became acceptable to be seen in public in a bathing outfit and women ventured outdoors in clothing that was increasingly revealing.

I am pale, for two reasons. One, my skin coloring is on the pale side. Second, I don't want to age poorly or develop skin cancer. I guess I have a third reason, I was a goth girl for many years, and being tan is a big no-no lol

I am 30 and I look in my early 20's. I attribute that to the care I have taken with my skin. While I enjoy the sun and the beach very much, I always am careful to protect myself. I tan easily and burn rarely, which makes staying pale difficult sometimes. With any luck, I will look like my mom, who at 60 looks 45.

[pigeon toe]

As for pale skin, I've always had a weird pale skin that neither burns nor tans. I take it as I'm the mixture of my parent's skin, I'm super pale like my dad (who burns very easily), but have my moms resistance to burning (she has olive skin and tans), so I guess the two cancel each other out and I'm always a constant shade of pale!

I have the same reasons as GoldLeaf for embracing my pale skin (minus the goth phase!). Since I was a child, everyone in my family would tell me to protect my skin from the sun, and I've been trying my hardest to take care of it. I'm not afraid of aging, but the main reason why I neither smoke cigarettes nor sunbathe is because I don't want my skin to show it in the future.

[Emmababy]

i have celt skin tone from my mother, you dont get much sun in birmingham and i hate being in the hot so...that about sums it up

[HadleyH]

Let me tell you that if there is one thing that is hammered into our brains everyday, here where I live, is that too much sun is really, really bad for you, so we should stay out of it.
Since I'm an obedient girl, I do what I'm told. ;)

[princessofcandl]

I'm not pale. I'm Mexican. Hahaha... but I hate tan lines. I wear lots of sunscreen for skin health and to avoid tan lines (I will tan walking to the mailbox). But I am not tan.

It gets a bit challenging cuz, IMHO, you can wear dark colors (especially reds) only so far. At some point you get too "dark" to wear those colors. Then you have to switch to light colors to emphasis you lips. During summer months I end up avoiding reds infavor of corals or pinks. Otherwise my lips fade into my face. Again, this is a personal opinion.

[VanillaT]

I haven't tried Besame powder yet, but I have tried the Coty Airspun. I like the Coty pretty well. I would like to let everyone know however, what my favorite powder is. It only comes in one shade, but that doesn't seem to matter (actually the gal that introduced me to it was a v. dark-skinned). It is the Cornsilk powder (I use both the loose and compact versions). It smells something heavenly to me, and it gives me the correct matte look that I go for without giving a lot of heaviness or adding any strange colors. Just wanted to let you all know about it. Oh yeah, and it is also pretty affordable. Just look in the Sally Hansen section of your drugstore/megastore... they should have it there.

[Shearer]

I must have gotten my pale skin from my dad's side of the family, because my mom has olive undertones and can tan very nicely. My dad's side had Irish redheads and Germans and I swear I can burn on a cloudy day!

I live in Southern California, so I really feel like the odd duck sometimes, especially during the summer when everyone is SO TAN and I'm just searching for the next spot of shade :D During the summer I have to be careful what I wear, how much sunscreen I put on, and how long I stay in the sun, because I have gotten some very odd burn lines.

If it was up to me it would be cloudy and cool year round and I could wear coats and stockings and hats as much as I wanted!

[mysterygal]

Up until a few months ago, I loved sporting a nice tan. Whether it be from the sun or the bottle. For me it took two things to embrace the pale; #1. was getting the comment from two people who I highly look to for advice, saying that the tan needed to go. #2. I went on a routine dermatology appointment and ended up having 5 moles that looked very questionable and had to be biopsied asap (the results turned out to be totally fine..thank God!).
Now I find that I absolutely love having pale skin! Now I"m just in the search of a good make-up product. Everything I've tried so far has either a pink hue to it or just doesn't have the coverage that I'm satisfied with.
I've just finished reading a book on this topic (the beauty trend of fair/pale skin) this has actually been the favored look for women until very recently.

[RetroModelSari]

I do my best to keep myself pale cause I have a olive-greyish skin when I tan - not very pretty. I adore pale skin on both men and women. All my boyfriends had only one thing in common: Pale skin and cute freckles... lol

[jitterbugdoll]

I am extremely pale by nature; my skin simply does not tan. This makes finding foundation and powder a very difficult thing, as almost no company makes a shade light enough for me (you ought to look into 'stage' makeups, as they offer a wider range of colors and are not at all heavy if applied properly.) I can wear both Besame and Coty powders, though I don't use the translucent shade that Coty makes. Instead, I use their lightest shade, Rachel No. 1, which is nearly white and a perfect match for my skin. I do find powder to be a must even though my skin in on the drier side; I prefer creamy makeups which tend to leave an oily finish, thus requiring powder.

[Emblaze]

I have a bit of a powder-related dilemma you might be able to help me with, if you would be so kind. :o

Having heard so many good things about Coty powder here, I decided to type it in to eBay and see if any sellers had any for sale. I bought the only result the search brought up - something called 'L'Aimant de Francois Coty Dusting Powder'. Is this the right stuff? It came today, and I've succeeded in making myself look like Caspar, and in covering my black jumper in a dandruff-like covering! I followed the instructions I've read here (Put on loads with the cute puffy thing it comes with, then brush off with a make-up brush) but it didn't look right, even though my skin is quite pale. The powder is very white and just looks like talcum powder.

So, what is this stuff I have bought and how is it supposed to be used? :D

[jitterbugdoll]

It sounds like a perfumed talcum powder rather then a facial powder; Coty's face powder is scented with the scent L'Origan, though they used to make face powders scented with each of their popular perfumes.

[Miss Neecerie]

I have a bit of a powder-related dilemma you might be able to help me with, if you would be so kind. :o

Having heard so many good things about Coty powder here, I decided to type it in to eBay and see if any sellers had any for sale. I bought the only result the search brought up - something called 'L'Aimant de Francois Coty Dusting Powder'. Is this the right stuff? It came today, and I've succeeded in making myself look like Caspar, and in covering my black jumper in a dandruff-like covering! I followed the instructions I've read here (Put on loads with the cute puffy thing it comes with, then brush off with a make-up brush) but it didn't look right, even though my skin is quite pale. The powder is very white and just looks like talcum powder.

So, what is this stuff I have bought and how is it supposed to be used? :D

Well 'L'Aimant is a perfume by Coty...so it sounds to me as if you have bought a perfumed dusting powder which would indeed be white powder, instead of a cosmetic face powder.

What you are looking for is called Airspun Loose Powder...

http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=2131814/form_keyword=/

[Emblaze]

Well 'L'Aimant is a perfume by Coty...so it sounds to me as if you have bought a perfumed dusting powder which would indeed be white powder, instead of a cosmetic face powder.

What you are looking for is called Airspun Loose Powder...

http://www.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=2131814/form_keyword=/

What is the correct use for dusting powder? I've never heard of it!

[Miss Neecerie]

What is the correct use for dusting powder? I've never heard of it!


think of it as powder for the body that makes you smell nice...and in a warmer climate sometimes helps keep you dry and not as sticky.....

[jitterbugdoll]

think of it as powder for the body that makes you smell nice...and in a warmer climate sometimes helps keep you dry and not as sticky.....

And they are also good for layering scents, if you want to increase the staying power of your perfume (soap, lotion, perfume, powder.) But you wouldn't want to use it on your face, as it could potentially irritate sensitive skin.

[Emblaze]

Thanks! :D

[~landgirl~]

Hooray, another mineral make-up fan! I use the foundation from Lily Lolo (http://www.lilylolo.co.uk) and I'm very impressed with it. Unfortunately the mineral foundation does go cakey if I apply it over my spf 50 sunscreen - but then again they say that the minerals naturally act as a sunscreen.

Sigh, the vast problems that a girl has to face... lol
Does anyone perchance know of a high spf non-greasy sunscreen for everyday use that works well with foundation?

I am another Lily Lolo user! I use to use BareMinerals, but so expensive over in the UK and sometimes difficult to buy from the US. Lily Lolo works just as well and not a bad price either!

[ginny]

Unfortunately the mineral foundation does go cakey if I apply it over my spf 50 sunscreen - but then again they say that the minerals naturally act as a sunscreen.

Sigh, the vast problems that a girl has to face... lol
Does anyone perchance know of a high spf non-greasy sunscreen for everyday use that works well with foundation?

One that is pricey but works so well under makeup is Shiseido SPF 55 lotion in the blue bottle. There is also a cream version of this in a blue tube, but you get half as much for the same price. Someone with dry to very dry skin probably could not use these, but usually for those people, regular "greasy" sunscreens are not a problem. :)