SPEND VS. SAVE: POWDER FOUNDATION PRODUCTS

For this edition of Spend Vs. Save, let's look at Powder Foundation.

I have two brands:

PRESTIGE WET/ DRY PWDER FOUNDATION IN LIGHT COCOA- 500PHP

MAC STUDIO FIX POWDER PLUS FOUNDATION IN NC40- 1600PHP

Prestige's powder products have good quality, as attested by some users, so it's the best cheap alternative so far for MAC sfppf for me.

Let's start with the case. Both are made of good quality plastic, though MAC's sleek black case is a winner because it looks pretty, classy and expensive, while prestige's could pass off as something that's cheap. The only good thing about the clear cover of prestige is you get to see the actual product inside, but the beautiful black case by MAC is the winner for me.

Prestige's case is kinda' big and a bit heavy than MAC's sleek and lightweight black case.

Let's take a look what's inside. Both have sponge compartments, which proves to be very hygienic, so both are winners in the Hygiene category. 

Prestige's mirror is under the powder base, which means you have to flip the case up and down so you'll get the powder and use the mirror, which is a flaw for me. MAC's mirror is correctly placed so you don't have to exert extra effort, which makes retouching more convenient and easier as compared to using Prestige.

As for the sponge, MAC's rubber sponge has excellent quality. It doesn't chip then fall off nor crumble. It'll last as long as you're using your studio fix. Prestige's powder is quite amusing because it has a two- faced sponge. The other, which is the rubberized part, suits wet application more, while the puff part, suits dry application more, which makes Prestige's sponge a winner in the applicator category.

Lastly, let's look at the actual product.

MAC's powder texture is a bit buttery than Prestige's semi- starchy powder texture. The buttery texture of MAC's provides a better coverage, so you're face will look very fresh and pretty after retouching. Plus, the buttery texture helps in making the powder color look more pigmented when applied on skin.

Prestige's semi- starchy powder is not that bad. It provides good coverage, just perfect for setting your foundation or removing oil on our face. In terms of coverage, MAC's excellent powder texture is much better because it provides a more even and better coverage than Prestige. But it doesn't mean that Prestige is nowhere near good. As you can see from above, both have an even finish on my skin. The problem maybe lies in the texture. If the powder of Prestige is more buttery or whipped, it may have the same effect as MAC's sfppf. 

The only good thing about Prestige is you can apply it wet or dry. Apply it dry for a sheer coverage and wet for a maximum coverage. MAC, on the other hand, is intended to be applied by itself only.

Both stay on my skin for around four hours (maximum). I also noticed that Prestige has little shimmers on the powder so your face will catch light, therefore making it look glowing. But it's not good if you have oily skin because it can intensify the oily- looking skin more. Don't fret, the shimmers are not too obvious when you apply it on your skin. It just gives you a nice glow.

The final verdict, If I have more cash left, I'd make room for a MAC studio fix because this is my HG brand for Face Powders. Since times are getting hard and my beauty lemmings are becoming endless, I'll have to sacrifice some things and it's time to unleash the cheapskate adventurer (again) in me. Prestige is still a good buy. I finally found something that's almost at par with MAC's sfppf.

SO FOR THIS EDITION, I SUGGEST YOU: 

SPEND, IF YOU CAN, BUT SAVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE