Battle of The Finishing Powders

Hi everyone!

So now that you all know about my obsession with having a completely matte face, I thought I would do a little product comparison today!

I love a good finishing powder as part of my makeup routine and I find that it really is one of the most important aspects of achieving that totally matte look that I am after. I have tried SO many over the years but have recently fallen in love with NYX HD Studio Photogenic Finishing Powder.

 It is a totally translucent, mineral powder that sets my foundation and concealer perfectly. It can be a bit on the "powdery" side, but not in a cakey way, and the texture is so super fine that it easily blends and virtually disappears once I apply my bronzer and blush. 

It has quickly become my favorite finishing powder! My only complaint would be that it is a loose powder which can be really messy and difficult to travel with. Which leads me in to my thoughts on another setting powder I've been trying out for a few weeks now. 

I was longing for a pressed setting powder that was decently priced, great for not only everyday use, but great for touch ups on the go and extended traveling too. Well, a few months ago, during one of my many Ulta trips I came across Tarte's Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Pressed Finishing Powder. I thought all of my finishing powder dreams had finally come true! It felt so smooth and silky when I swatched it on my hand! I was head over heals! Problem was it was always out of stock in my local Ulta stores and it was a bit pricier than I was hoping to find. But one day, it was finally in stock so I quickly scooped it up and decided that it was fate and the price would be worth it! 

So, for the last few weeks I have been testing it out and I've gotta say... I am totally disappointed. While the product feels amazing going on and it is less messy and "powdery", it does not keep my face matte nearly as long. I am shiny and oily in a matter of a couple of hours. Huge, huge, huge disappointment! I find myself going back to my much more effective and much less expensive NYX option. The mess of the NYX finishing powder  is a small price to pay for a totally matte finish to my face! I have repurchased the NYX finishing powder several times now, but must say I will not be repurchasing the Tarte version. The price points are a large factor in this as well. At $9.99 the NYX powder is much more affordable than the Tarte powder at $34.00. If you are looking for a great finishing powder, I would highly recommend giving the NYX one a shot!

If you have come across any other finishing products that you love, please let me know in the comments below! Always looking to give new products a try! 
I hope you all have a great weekend! I will be attending a bridal shower and bachelorette party this weekend so I am super excited! I could not be happier to celebrate a great friend- she totally deserves it and I know it will be a great time!

♥ Nichole

NYX HD Studio Finishing Powder Translucent Finish $9.99

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Pressed Finishing Powder $34.00