San San Pressed Powder

Shade: 04 Porcelain

Price: Php 118.00

Where I Got It: local Mercury Drug

San San Pressed Powder is a budget friendly face powder. It has SPF 15 and is also enriched with vitamins A, C and E.

Packaging

Much like the San San Eyebrow Powder Duo that I have featured a few months ago on this blog, the packaging is also flimsy; there's fat chance that this will shatter when dropped. Careful there!

I appreciate the long mirror inside the compact and the perforated slot for the sponge applicator. I don't like the rubbery smell of the sponge applicator tho. As much as possible, I avoid using it because the smell literally transfers and lingers on the face. The quality of the sponge is great for applying the product, it's just the smell that I can't handle.

I was in dire need of a pressed powder when I purchased this because I had just ran out of my Maybelline White Super Fresh powder. My choices were pretty limited since my local Mercury Drug doesn't carry much cosmetics. I was even in doubt that this shade - 04 Porcelain - would fit me. I would never consider myself porcelain-skinned. LOL. I am light to medium, with warm undertones. I saw on the cardboard container that the color representation had yellow undertones so I picked this one.

Thankfully, it's actually not too light on the pan and in fact looked natural on me when applied.

It yields light coverage and has lessened the appearance of my dark circles. It also minimized the appearance of my pores. Since it only yields light coverage, I prefer using it as a setting powder after applying a liquid foundation or a bb cream. It feels smooth on the face and gives a matte finish. It is also light weight. Try not to pile on too much though, as it can get cakey.

I'm afraid that the biggest negative aspect about this product is its poor oil control. That's bad news for us oily gals. I oil up in less than 2 hrs of wear time. It doesn't have oil control claims though, so it's kind of a give away.

Another thing is the smell of the powder (again). It seems that since it is housed with the sponge applicator, the scent has transferred and now, even the powder smells rubbery. 

To conclude, I may not repurchase this in the future considering that I prefer my powders to have better oil control capacity.

However, if you don't have an oily skin and prefer light coverage, this could work for you.

If you also have a sensitive nose, prepare to chuck the sponge applicator. LOL.

XO,

Carissa

It is a pressed powder that promises to do more than control oil. It has Bright Plus technology and SPF 19 which protects skin from the sun and pollution while locking in moisture.

I love the black packaging - it instantly makes anything look chic. It's also very sleek so it's very convenient to use, especially for us office girls. It's not made of a sturdy kind of plastic though so handle it with care because it won't survive a fall.

I have a light-medium skin tone with warm undertones and I think I made a good choice in picking the shade MP102 Oriental. I also have an oily skin so when I read in the label that it is specially designed for controlling oil, I was very eager to try it.

So, to break it down, here are my comments.

The powder is very fine and it feels soft and smooth to touch when applied. It is very lightweight and doesn't feel chalky.  It has a muted powdery scent which is not bothersome. 

It might look too yellow on the pan but it doesn't look like it at all when applied, as you can see on my before and after photos. Take time to study my bare face. LOL. This powder gives a light coverage. It won't go beyond that no matter how many times you layer it. I've tried going overboard but it also didn't get cakey, thankfully.

My dark circles were reduced a bit. A few dark spots were also partially covered. My skin tone was evened out. I think the best part of it was that my pores were minimized.

Since the coverage is only on the light level, I prefer using this as a setting powder to my foundation or bb cream.

By the fourth hour of wearing this, I can see the oil seeping on my nose and my chin. But I still looked good...so hey, this powder's not bad.