REVIEW | Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

Sweater weather is officially over in Hong Kong, and it's now been replaced with unbearable, insufferable humidity. Yuck! The warmer climate has not been doing my oily combination skin any favors, obviously - my face is getting so greasy so fast, and it seems my beloved Laura Mercier Translucent Powder just isn't cutting it. So my desperation to rein in that shine ultimately led me to picking up the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder, and I'm finally ready to give y'all my thoughts!

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

$7USD at Innisfree
5g | 1 shade

As some of you may recall, I did a review on the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion SPF 50 last year and commended the brand's eco-friendly approach to all their products and packaging. This time around, I noticed that even my receipt was printed on recyclable paper. Sweet!

I was told by the sales associate that the No-Sebum Mineral Powder is one of their best sellers, and with a name like no-sebum I just had to try it out for myself. It comes in a small, portable jar with a sifter and a soft powder puff on top. When I buy new powders, I always tear off just half of the sticker on the sifter - you can better control the amount of product to dispense out, and it doesn't get quite as messy. I tap out a tiny amount of powder into the lid and either use the powder puff or a fluffy brush to apply it all over my face.

The powder is incredibly soft and finely milled - like flour - and you can barely feel it when you rub it between your fingers! Although the powder is white, it blends out to be translucent with just a slight brightening effect. The first thought I had after applying this on my face was how smooth and silky it made my skin feel. Wow. Definitely impressed. It doesn't settle into my fine lines, and I can even use it to set my under eyes - I just dip the pointy end of my damp BeautyBlender into the powder and dab dab dab.

After some trial and error, I discovered that instead of just using a fluffy brush and lightly dusting the powder all over, I get a much more long-lasting and shine-free result when I use the powder puff and push the powder into the skin. Not only can I visibly see the shine disappear right before my eyes, but I also get a shine-free T-zone for up to five hours before some dewiness starts to peek through. This, in my books, is a total win - I usually get shiny in just under two hours - and even afterwards, my skin just maintained a natural, dewy glow, with none of that gross, greasy nonsense.

Innisfree offers another version, the No-Sebum Blur Powder, that has a natural beige tint and a blurring effect that claims to smooth away pores and wrinkles, and would perhaps be a better choice for those of you desiring a bit more coverage but also a more natural, undetectable finish with no brightening effect. Once I'm done with this jar, I'm definitely considering getting the Blur Powder to compare the two.

Swatched | Blended out

The only other product in my collection that I consider to be comparable would be my Soap and Glory One Heck of a Blot Super-Translucent Mattifying Powder that I hit pan on a looong time ago. It used to be a favorite of mine, but just got pushed to the back of my makeup bin as time went on. It comes in a pressed compact, and although I find the Innisfree powder to be more fine and silky in texture, both powders are similar enough in performance to be pretty much interchangeable in my routine - both have the same lasting and mattifying power, with the only difference being that the Innisfree version offers an illuminating quality, and Soap and Glory's pressed version is more convenient for touch-ups. It's currently priced at $16USD for 9g, which is more than double the price of the Innisfree powder but also almost double the amount. Innisfree also offers a pressed version of the no-sebum powder, the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact at $12USD for 8.5g, that would also be a great option for traveling or touch-ups.

At just$7USD, the Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is truly a great bang for your buck, and it would be a handy addition to any makeup collection, especially if you have oily skin and need that extra help with oil control. In this current humidity, I predict that I'll be running out of this powder very soon...

REVIEW | Manu Atelier Mini Pristine

I'm coming up on my first work anniversary - seriously, how am I an adult now - and I decided months ago to save up some extra cash and get myself a present to commemorate the occasion. Just a job-well-done, you-survived gift, if you will. So without further ado, here's the big reveal - meet my new Manu Atelier Mini Pristine!

Manu Atelier Mini Pristine

Vegetable Tanned Leather in Reddish Brown

$4135HKD at Lane Crawford | $495USD at Shopbop, NET-A-PORTER

Manu Atelier is a relatively newer brand - it was co-founded by two sisters in Istanbul, Turkey in February 2014 - and their bags have been on my radar for quite some time now. I've been eyeing this gorgeous piece in particular for a few months, but had held off purchasing it since my boyfriend had gotten me the Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag for my birthday just last November, and I wanted to make sure that bag got some proper loving first. After stalking this baby online for the hundredth time, I decided to bite the bullet last week and strutted into Lane Crawford to finally bring this bag home with me.

Size |

The Pristine bags come in three sizes - Pristine, Mini and Micro - and I had a really difficult time choosing between the Pristine and the Mini. (The Micro bags, although super adorable, are way too small and all come with a chunky gold chain strap that just isn't my cup of tea.) After trying the two different sizes on in-store, I found that the Mini looked the best on my 5'5 frame, whereas the Pristine was just a fraction too big and boxy. The Mini can hold my Céline wallet, keys, and a small makeup pouch with ease, and my iPad mini is just able to fit snuggly inside. Obviously, the Pristine would be a better choice for a roomier fit, but I personally enjoy the Mini's compact size and overall aesthetic. The strap is adjustable and the bag hits me perfectly at the hip (just like the picture below), and can be adjusted longer or shorter depending if I wear it cross-body or just hanging on my shoulder.

Image from Lane Crawford

Color |

When I first laid eyes on this bag, I wanted it in the color black. What else, right? It took a lot of deliberation and self-reflection to finally convince myself that, no, I did not need another black bag. In fact, all the Manu Atelier bags come in such fun and beautiful color variations and combinations that I found it extremely challenging to narrow down my preferences. But I knew my best bet was to go for a neutral color that could complement any look or outfit. Lo and behold, Lane Crawford's website revealed that the only three color variations they had in stock for the Mini were Black, Reddish Brown, and Ice Beige, and one quick glance at Reddish Brown was all it took for me to know that it had to be mine - the color is to die for, and it truly looks amazingly stylish and effortless with anything I wear - obsessed!

Image from Lane Crawford

Leather |
Like all three of my Mansur Gavriel bags, this Mini Pristine also comes in vegetable tanned leather, but has a more refined and polished texture that makes me less anxious about wearing it out in public. Unlike my Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, which I have to physically shield and protect from everyone and everything when I'm out and about, I can carry this bag around with confidence and not feel the need to baby it too much. Don't get me wrong, this can definitely still get scratched and marked up, but the leather has a smoother, lacquered finish to it that makes it seem much more durable and less delicate than my Mansur Gavriel bags. Only time will tell, but the leather seems to be of premium quality and gets a two thumbs up from me!

As for the other features of the bag, it comes with a sturdy magnetic closure, hand-stitched corner guards, as well as an interior zipped compartment and textured fabric lining. Manu Atelier's overall aesthetic is very much reminiscent of Mansur Gavriel - clean lines, elegant silhouettes and quality leather. It's no mystery as to why I was so drawn to the brand from the get-go.

A word of advice would be, if at all possible, to purchase this bag in person as opposed to online. Speaking from personal experience, I had to ask the sales associate at Lane Crawford for three different versions of the same bag before I found one that was, in my opinion, in pristine condition - meaning no small scratches or veining in the leather. Yes, I understand that this bag may very well get scuffed up in the near future, but I'd very much like to be the one doing the scuffing. Ya feel me?

A week in and I'm absolutely in love with every single aspect of this Manu Atelier Mini Pristine - I can't stop using it! Uh oh, seems like I have yet another new brand obsession...