REVIEW | Laura Mercier's Secret Brightening Powder x Translucent Loose Setting Powder

All you oily skinned girls out there like me know that there's a fine line between looking glowy and looking greasy. Because I live in a humid city like Hong Kong, it exacerbates the problem and I often look (unfortunately) like the latter. I'm super happy to introduce two powders from Laura Mercier that have become a lifesaver for me - not only do they keep the shine away, they also help set my under eyes beautifully so there's no creasing and I look more awake and less zombie-like. Score!

Laura Mercier
Secret Brightening Powder | Translucent Loose Setting Powder

$25 USD (0.14oz) | $23 USD (0.33oz) at Sephora, Laura Mercier, Nordstrom

Both these powders come in a sturdy plastic jar with a screw-on lid. It can get a little messy when you open them, but the product is so good I can overlook the messiness. I have the Secret Brightening Powder in Shade #1, and the Translucent Loose Setting Powder in Translucent. Both these powders are so finely-milled and feel oooh-so-soft on the skin. I just can't even.

The Secret Brightening Powder has been the only powder I've found (so far) that really prevents creasing under my eyes while also brightening the area up. I will admit - there is very slight creasing at the end of the day (because I have lots of fine lines under my eyes - sigh) but this does as good of a job as it possibly can. I also find it really does help brighten and diminish the look of my very dark circles. There are teeny tiny flecks of shimmer in the powder, which I'll be honest, threw me off at first, but now I really appreciate it since I can see how it helps add to the illuminating and diffusing quality.

The Translucent Loose Setting Powder is the only powder I've been using for the past few months to set my entire face, and I don't find myself stopping anytime soon. I find it really leaves my face looking flawless and I don't look ever look greasy by the end of the day like I used to. Hollaaa! The powder is super silky and it just feels nice and luxurious when I apply it.

I use the Secret Brightening Powder strictly under my eyes, but the Translucent Loose Setting powder I will use on the face and also under the eyes when it's just kind of a blah day and I don't need that extra coverage and oomph for my under eyes.

Secret Brightening Powder | Translucent Setting Powder

 Blended out

Blended out completely

As you can see from the swatches, the secret brightening powder is -wait for it- more brightening, while the translucent powder disappears on the skin. 

I usually apply these two powders using either the Real Techniques brushes or my beauty blender. First off, let me just say that the Real Technique brushes are aca-mazing and I have multiples of each brush to prove it. I use the RT Blush Brush to apply the translucent powder - I find that the large brush head isn't the best for precise blush application (as the name suggests), but is great for a light dusting of powder all over my face. I use the RT Setting Brush to apply the brightening powder under my eyes - the size and shape of this brush is absolutely perfect for this.  On days when I'm using my beauty blender to apply my foundation, I'll just use it to apply both powders as well -  I use the pointed end to apply under the eyes and the rounded bottom to bounce powder all over the face.

Real Techniques Blush Brush | Real Techniques Setting Brush | BeautyBlender

These Laura Mercier powders are, in my opinion, the best setting powders out there. Let me know if you love these as well, or if there's another powder that you swear by instead!