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...

MONTHLY FAVORITES | May 2016

It's June already. How the heck did that happen?

May was quite a chill and laid-back month for me, and that really reflected in the makeup that I chose to wear. My favorites last month were all products that gave me a very minimalistic yet summery look, and I didn't really fuss over blush, eyeshadow or mascara. I just wanted to have a radiant, glowy complexion and look put together. Wait, I want that all the time..

Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Vanilla|  

I did a full review on this product last week, but long story short - I love how this applies and how it makes my skin look natural and perfected. It's been my go-to base for everyday (when I'm not directly in the sun - I talk more about my issue with the SPF in the review).

First Aid Beauty Eye Duty Triple Remedy: Brighten, Depuff and Smooth in Fair/Medium |

I hauled this recently and have been using it every single morning, without fail. It's the best morning pick-me-up since the applicator is cold and helps you feel awake instantly while helping cover your dark circles (albeit not completely). Works great under concealer and I look forward to using it every morning.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer in 42 Rich Bronze |

I've wanted this cream bronzer for years (seriously) after hearing it was a dupe for the ever-so luxurious Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base. Those who own both attest to the striking similarities in texture, application and finish, and whenever I can save money, trust that I will! This applies as a cream but blends into a smooth, powdery finish. It's great for using on natural days - there's no shimmer or glitter - and warms up the skin without looking like makeup.

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop |

This has been the only highlighter I've been reaching for all month. I already raved about it in my haul post, but I'll say it again - this is stunning. The peachy gold shade is so beautiful and flattering and you look like a freakin' Greek goddess in the flesh. Need I say more?

Soap & Glory One Heck of a Blot Super-Translucent Mattifying Powder |

Just because I want to look glowy doesn't mean it's okay to look like an oily mess. This mattifying powder used to be my absolute favorite - before Laura Mericer's Translucent Loose Setting Powder came into the picture - and now I use them interchangeably, with this being a lot less messy than Laura Mercier's jar format. It's very well-loved and for good reason - it has a smooth texture, is invisible on the skin and keeps the areas I want (like my T-zone) shine-free for hours.  

Sonia Kashuk Rich Bronze | Becca Champagne Pop | Soap & Glory Mattifying Powder

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien |

I got this sample as part of the birthday gift from Sephora last year, and it's a super pretty rose pink, MLBB shade that is perfect for everyday. It's not overly opaque (yet rather buildable, which I prefer) and is really comfortable on the lips. Doesn't last too long on me - only about two hours 'cos I'm always munching on food - but I don't mind reapplying.

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish |

You can't look beautiful and radiant if you have dry, chapped, flaky lips. This is a gentle but effective exfoliating scrub that gets rid of dry flakes (yuck) and makes my lips feel super soft and smooth afterwards. A tip would be to apply this dry, since the crystals slightly dissolve when wet. Also, try not to get this in your mouth, because although it smells amazing - like lemon and brown sugar - I can't say the same for the taste.

e.l.f. Cosmetics Small Tapered Brush |

I hauled this from Target recently with the sole purpose in mind of using it with my highlighters, and it has been perfect for that. The tapered end makes it super versatile - I can also see myself using this to blend concealer, set the under eyes, and even for contouring. Definitely picking up a few more when I get the chance.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Nail Color in 205B Sugar Coat

This is a milky, nude pink shade that has been my favorite nail color for any and every occasion. It makes your hands look so darn pretty and elegant, and helps pull your entire look together (it really does!). I've been wearing this all summer and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. Oh, and did I mention this is $1.99 USD?!

That's a wrap, thanks for reading! 

Here's hoping the month of June lasts a bit longer than May did. Next thing you know, summer with be over and fall will be upon us..