PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: SHISEIDO PERFECT SMOOTHING COMPACT FOUNDATION IN 080 OCHRE+SHISEIDO CASE FOR POWDERY FOUNDATION

Here's an initial review on Shiseido Perfect Smoothing Powder Foundation in 080 Ochre

PRICE: 1800PHP (REFILL TYPE)

PLACE BOUGHT: SHISEIDO, LANDMARK, MAKATI CITY

OTHER LOCATIONS: SHISEIDO STANDALONE STORES AND RETAILERS NATIONWIDE

Screen shot taken from Sephora.com

- Spreads on smoothly with a soft touch, even on dry, coarse skin

- Instantly minimizes the appearance of uneven skin tone, fine lines, and pores for a natural, vibrant complexion

- Beautiful finish lasts all day long without fading due to excess oil or dryness

- Formulated with moisturizing ingredients: Royal Jelly Extract, Hydro Wrap Vitalizing DE

- Contains Micro- smoothing complex,* a Shiseido exclusive ingredient that protects against the harmful substance that accelerates decline in barrier function, which can cause skin roughening

THE VERDICT:

Mom was feeling generous last Sunday because she gave me her debit card and told me to get myself some make- up. It was such perfect timing 'cos I've been meaning to get a new powder foundation because I've already hit the pan on my MAC Studio Fix. I was thinking of hurrying to MAC before mom changes her mind, but decided to try Shiseido's top- rated powder foundations.

Geez, it took me a while at the counter because I made sure that I'll get the perfect shade. A refill costs 1600php, so I'd feel really bad if I get the wrong shade. My perfect shade in Shiseido is 080 Ochre.

Shiseido has a couple of variants for their powder foundations such as the Brightening, White Lucent, Supplist, Perfect Smoothing, and Sheer Mattifying to name a few. And mind you, these are all best- sellers!

I got Perfect Smoothing Foundation because the "Smooth" word appealed to me. I have a few nasty post- acne marks that my MAC Studio Fix Foundation can't cover up. According to an SA, this foundation is their best- seller. Well, you'd expect to hear that from an SA because they are trying to sell. But indeed, she is damn right. After a few jumps, I'll tell you why.

Comes with a high- quality rubber sponge. In case you want to change your Shiseido sponges, drop by Muji and look for their makeup sponges. They have the same quality as Shiseido's but for only 135php. :)

For a refill, it's pretty expensive. But the product is what you're actually paying for. Shiseido sells their powder foundations and compacts separately.

What turned me off when I first saw this are the golden micro glitters embedded on the powder. You guys know how much I dislike glittery stuff. But surprise, surprise. It doesn't show up at all once applied! Please click on the picture for a better view of the glitters.

Here's the compact case.

PRICE: 990PHP

TOTAL PRICE OF THE FOUNDATION+CASE= 2790PHP

There are two types of refillable compacts. This slim rectangular case, and a smaller square case with a sponge compartment which retails at 1100php. I don't mind the size. This one's cheaper, and I'm perfectly fine with it. The more expensive case is small but fat. So in terms of space, both cases will eat some space in any make- up bag. So I just settled for the cheaper one. At least the slim rectangular case has a huge mirror for me to see my face better.

Sleek and classy. You can really tell if a make- up is expensive. They look sophisticated!

Tiny holes for the sponge to breathe.

The left part is where I should insert the powder foundation refill. If you're planning to get this product, make sure you hear a clicking sound when you insert the powder refill. That means the powder is secured and won't fall off the case.

TADAH! LOL. :)

Here is my bare face. You can see that I am not so happy with my marks. :p

Here is my face with the powder foundation. My skin seems like it was photoshop-ped here!

080 Ochre is a tan shade with yellow undertones. The good thing about Shiseido is, their shades fit yellow- toned gals, and they have a huge shade range to fit almost any skin tone. As far as I know, this is the darkest shade.

Coverage is amazing. Here is my left face with the nasty acne marks. Sorry, I don't wanna show 'em hehe. Amazingly, the foundation concealed it completely. It's something my MAC Studio Fix can't do no matter how much I layer it!

The coverage is medium, and the powder is intended for dry use only. A little amount goes a long way. Coverage is also buildable, but for me, I'm good to go with one or two swipes. So I'm pretty sure this powder will last me for more than 3 months.

Here's a closer look at my skin. Big pores ain't my problem. But see how the powder magically made my skin smooth and almost flawless.

The powder is creamy and easy to blend. For me, it's better to use a sponge on this one because swirling a brush on top of it may produce great fallout.

The SA recommended that I should get the Sheer Mattifying one since I have oily skin, and the Perfect Smoothing powder is not good at keeping oil at bay. It's good for people with dry skin because the Micro- Smoothing complex makes the powder glide effortlessly on dry skin without looking cakey and flaky. It's also infused with good extracts such as Royal Jelly, Vit. E, and SPF 15.

In around 2 or 3 hours, my face starts oiling up. But I don't mind 'cos I have oil blotting papers with me. The good thing about this is, the coverage stayed even if my face is already oily. The nasty acne marks are still concealed all throughout the day, and I only need to retouch around once to twice, same with my Studio Fix. But with my Studio Fix, the coverage fades along with the oil on my face. :/

Overall, I am head over heels with this powder. Why did I try it just now? I should've heeded the advice of my fellow beauty bloggers. :p It's 1800php, but it's hell worth it. Come to think of it, MAC is around 1500php or more ('cos I heard they've raised prices again) and an additional 100-300php for a Shiseido powder foundation means better coverage, smoother skin appearance, and happier faces. So what would you get? :)

The Beauty Junkee loves it and she highly recommends it!