MAC Blot Powder Review VS Mattify ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin

Two years ago, I discovered that Mattify ULTRA was my Holy Grail face powder. Yet, ever the beauty junkie, I’m always trying every product I can get my hands on. A friend of mine swears by Mac Blot Powder, so I decided to give it a try because I was looking for a portable pressed face powder. Well, here is my experience with MAC Blot Powder vs Mattify Ultra Powder:

MAC Blot VS Mattify ULTRA Powder

First, let me tell you that my friend who adores MAC Blot has near perfect skin, a slightly oily T-Zone, and almost invisible pores. She thinks that getting a zit the size of a pin head is the end of the world. I, on the other hand, am cursed with extremely oily, acne prone skin & occasionally develop cystic acne. Keeping my pores free of oil & makeup is a must.

Six Flags White Water

We were headed to an amusement park, so my makeup had to withstand a 3 hour drive, heat, sweat, and several dousings on the Water Coaster ride. I used my regular foundation routine (Mattify ULTRA Powder first, then Clarins Ever Matte). Instead of using the Mattify ULTRA again over the Clarins foundation, I used the MAC Blot Powder in Medium. At first, my face looked nice and fresh, and it did a good job of concealing pores.

When our drive to the park was almost done, I looked in the mirror.

Oil Blotting Sheets

**Gasp** my face was crazy shiny.

I grabbed some oil blotting sheets and went to town.  Automatically, I reached for my Mattify ULTRA powder, since it’s my go-to item for shine control. After a few minutes of frantically searching, I’d realized it had been left on the counter at home. This was a true disaster, because you can’t just buy the stuff anywhere, it has to be ordered online. When you have skin as oily as mine, yes this WAS a disaster!  The only powder I did have was the MAC Blot in Medium.

MAC Blot Powder

I patted the MAC Blot over my foundation, being careful not to streak my makeup. The finish looked nice and fresh again, so figured I was good to go. After a few hours of roller coaster fun, we took a break to get some food. I caught a glimpse of myself in a metal napkin holder, and my face was reflective with oil. I did a quick touch up with the MAC Blot, but realized it was starting to feel kind of heavy and thick. On the White Water Safari Coaster, my face got pretty wet, but the water just kind of beaded up & dried by itself. I was impressed that it didn’t disturb my foundation.

After a while I was oily again, so I re-powdered. With no time to worry about makeup, we hopped back in line for the coasters and finished our day around 7pm. By this time my face felt like it was caked in powder. I couldn’t wait to wash it off. One look in the mirror confirmed my fears – I was greasy, blotchy & the powder had settled into my pores.

After I re-did my makeup, I used the Mac Blot to set it. I saw that skin oils had transferred from the puff to the compact, giving the powder an oily sheen. I scraped off the top layer to reveal the fresh powder underneath. During the time I used the compact, this happened repeatedly, so I started storing the puff upside down to prevent oil transfer.

Fast forward to 3 days later…

Zits Everywhere!

My skin was a mess – had at least 10 breakouts. I checked the ingredients in MAC Blot & found that it has Dimethicone (silicone) which always causes breakouts on me. I thought that only liquid products like primers & foundation contained this, so didn’t even think to check before using the powder. That’s probably what causes this powder to feel heavy and waxy. If only it didn’t clog my pores, I would love the stuff, because it helps my foundation to be more water & sweat resistant. But combine a hot sunny day + dimethicone + sweat and for the next few days you’ll be cursing yourself for ever applying this stuff to your face. It will be breakout city if you are acne prone.

**Why is Dimethicone (silicone) bad for your skin? Click here to find out**

Final Decision: MAC Blot   VS   Mattify ULTRA

Mattify ULTRA is the face powder I use every day & it never fails. I wear it year round, both under and over my liquid makeup. Although it doesn’t wick away water like the MAC Blot did, it absorbs way more oil, requires fewer touchups, and doesn’t feel heavy at all. After years of searching for the perfect regimen to keep my skin free of acne, I really value the fact that the ULTRA doesn’t make me break out. Ever since I started using it as a primer, I’ve hardly gotten any acne at all.

Mattify Cosmetics ULTRA Powder for Oily Skin

Out of this contest between two oil blotting face powders, I’d have to say that Mattify ULTRA wins, hands down. It’s a little less expensive than the MAC Blot too, which is always a plus. The purse size container of Mattify ULTRA is $14.49 including shipping on their website at http://www.mattifycosmetics.com and the MAC Blot was $24 at Macy’s.

Mattify ULTRA 

Pros:

Super oil absorbent

Feels very light weight on skin

Doubles as primer & setting powder

All natural, no parabens or chemicals

Does not contain Mica or Dimethicone

Cons:

Loose powder, tricky to apply on the go

MAC Blot Powder

Pros:

Sets makeup for water resistant wear

Pressed Powder, transportable & easy to use

Cons:

Not so great at absorbing oil

Contains Dimethicone, which clogs pores

Looks heavy & waxy after a few applications

Not 100% Natural Ingredients & contains parabens

Mattify! Cosmetic’s Long Lasting Eye Shadow – Swatches & Review

Finally! I’ve done some swatches of the Mattify Cosmetic’s Eye Shadows that I promised months ago. These show 4 of the 10 Mattify brand shadows that I currently own. They are super long lasting and the colors are unlike any I’ve ever owned.

Here are the ones I use most – am completely in love with these colors! Double click the picture to see it in a larger scale, because the small picture doesn’t really show all the pretty sparkles in the shadows.
(From left to right) Mystic Mermaid, Fields of Gold, Twilight, Earth Angel

Mattify Cosmetic’s Eye Shadow Swatches

I usually wear this Teal / Gold combo for work because it really brightens up my brown eyes and helps make me look alive when I would rather be sleeping.

Teal & Gold Eye Shadow from Mattify Cosmetics

 

The Teal (Mystic Mermaid) goes on with a liner brush, close to my lash line. Then I use the Gold (Fields of Gold) on my lids. Then I curl my lashes with the Shu Uemura Curler and use Tarte’s Lights Camera Splashes Waterproof Mascara.  (I just started using this mascara last week, and it has awesome staying power!) This is super easy for a daily routine – takes only about 4 minutes.

 

 

This Black / Nude combo I usually wear for a night out, because it creates the perfect smokey  eye.

Black & Nude Eye Shadow from Mattify Cosmetics

 

After using my Wet n Wild Liquid Liner, I apply the Nude (Earth Angel) to my lids, and under my brow bone. Then, I take a smudge brush to apply the Black (Twilight) to the outer corners of my eyes. I slightly blend it inwards about half way to the center of my lids.

 

 

 

Twilight is such an amazing color!! It has navy blue sparkles that really catch the light and accentuate your eyes. Before I found this, I had the toughest time creating a smokey  eye. All the shadows I had tried were matte black, and made me look totally dead, or like I had a black eye. Not pretty. But this one livens up my eyes instead of making my lids look grey and sleepy. Since it’s a loose powder eye shadow, it does cause some fall-out during application, so I would suggest applying it before you put on foundation.

When I get a new camera, I will try to post some actual pics of this makeup on my eyes. For some reason, my camera doesn’t do a good job of capturing the beautiful colors on my actual eyes like it does with the swatches. Sooo…. Instead I have found a few pictures online that are similar to the looks I’ve created with these Mattify Cosmetics shadows.

 

Teal & Gold Eye Makeup Look – Shorty2Sweet’s Blog

 

This is similar to my every-day look, using the Mystic Mermaid + Fields of Gold. Found this on Shorty2Sweet’s Blog.

Black & Nude Smokey Eye

 

And this Black & Nude Smokey Eye looks a lot like the look I create using Twilight + Earth Angel.

Teal and Gold Eye Makeup

Here’s a look I want to try using the Mystic Mermaid + Fields of Gold. A cool variation of the regular black smokey eye.

Nude Eye Shadow with Black Liner

When I want a really neutral look, I just use the Black Wet n Wild Liquid Liner + Mattify Cosmetic’s Earth Angel. This gives you a polished look, without looking over done.

Overall, I give the Mattify Cosmetic’s Long Lasting Eye Shadows an A+

Pros

• Very inexpensive at $4.99 each
• Last all day, even on my horribly oily skin
• Almost all the shadows have sparkles, but very smooth – not gritty at all
• Colors are bright and vivid, don’t look muddy like many other shadows I’ve tried

Cons

• Long lasting, but not waterproof
• Loose Powder Shadows, so they cause a bit of fall-out during application

They can be purchased at this link: http://www.mattifycosmetics.com/Long-Lasting-Eye-Shadow.html

Hottest Spring & Summer Eye Shadow Colors for 2013 – Teal Emerald Green & Teal Blue

And the hottest eye shadow color for Spring & Summer 2013 is…
(Drumroll please)

TEAL  EMERALD GREEN  &  TEAL  BLUE

Teal Eye Shadow – Spring Summer 2013

 

Believe it or not, Teal and Emerald are very user-friendly colors! They compliment ANY skin tone from very fair to very dark, and can be worn as a liner or an eye shadow to draw immediate attention to the eyes. These colors have a fun, lively effect & will brighten up your entire complexion.

 

 

Since I’m completely addicted to teal and emerald eye shadow, I’ve purchased these colors in several different brands ranging from drugstore to high-end. All of the ones below that I have tried function really well on oily skin, and are very long lasting. Here is a list of the best Emerald / Teal Green / Teal Blue eye shadows and eyeliners I’ve found:

Maybeline 24 Hour Gel –Very long lasting, waterproof, sweat-proof ($8)

Mattify Cosmetics Long Lasting Eye Shadow – Contain built-in primer to prevent creasing and fading ($5)

Stila Cosmetics Smudge Sticks – Water resistant, perfect for lining inner rims of eyes ($20)

Nars Shimmer Eye Shadow – Vibrant, high-pigment color – but you do need a setting spray to prevent transfer ($23)

INSPIRATION!

Pictures of  Emerald & Teal Eye Makeup

Teal Green Eye Shadow Maybelline 24 Hour

Teal can look awesome when applied across the entire lid as an eye shadow. Try the look above with Maybelline’s 24 Hour Cream Gel Shadow. It stays put until you use makeup remover to take it off. Perfect for wearing to a club or summer beach party, because it won’t sweat off!

Teal Eye Shadow – Vibrant Eye Makeup for Dark Skin Tones

Teal looks beautiful & vibrant on darker skin tones. To copy the sultry look above, use black liner for the lash line & water line, NARS Eye Shadow in Tropic on the lids and under lower lash line, and Mattify Cosmetic’s  Navy Blue eye shadow in Midnight Train for the outer corners.  These contain gorgeous silver sparkles, and high pigment color. However, these eye shadows aren’t waterproof, so you do need to use a makeup setting spray if you will be out in extreme heat or around water.

Mystic Mermaid Teal Eye Liner by Mattify Cosmetics

Emerald also makes a great eye liner color, even for those who normally shy away from bright eye makeup. It adds a color burst, without looking over-done and can be worn with either casual or formal clothing. To re-create this look, try using Mattify Cosmetic’s Mystic Mermaid Teal Eye Shadow with a damp liner brush. Finish with their Snow Bunny Sparkly White Eye Shadow in the inner corners, to brighten the entire eye area.

Sparkling Teal Blue Eye Shadow from www.iamamermaid.com

Here is a beautiful eye shadow look that combines teal blue with shimmering white sparkles. The blog where I found this (www.iamamermaid.com) doesn’t list the products used. So, I’ve come up with some ideas of my own! For liner try Stila Cosmetic’s Smudge Stick in Peacock or Blue Ribbon. For the pale blue eye shadow, add Mattify Cosmetic’s Day Dreamer to your lids, and blend very well so just a hint of blue is present. Finish by dusting some glitter over the top, like Lime Crime’s Gemini or Virgo.

Check out more blog posts from MakeupGuru4u!

MUFE Pro Finish Powder Foundation Review – Great Product for Oily Skin

http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/02/27/mufe-pro-finish-powder-foundation-great-product-for-oily-skin/

I Hate BB Creams! Why Beauty Blemish Balm Creams Do Not Work for Oily Skin

http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/01/31/i-hate-bb-creams-a-rundown-of-why-beauty-balm-blemish-creams-do-not-work-for-oily-skin/

Best Tinted Moisturizer for Oily Skin – How to Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer

http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/01/17/the-best-tinted-moisturizer-for-oily-skin-how-to-make-your-own-tinted-moisturizer/

The Best Tinted Moisturizer for Oily Skin – How to Make Your Own Tinted Moisturizer

best tinted moisturizer for oily skin

Tinted moisturizer for oily skin is very difficult to find. Most formulas are too emollient and transparent for oily, breakout prone skin. They typically don’t cover any flaws, and leave skin looking even oilier than it does without makeup.

Most makeup for oily skin on the market feels heavy and thick – not a good texture, especially during hot summer months. Women with oily skin would love to have a tinted moisturizer that covers blemishes and controls oil, since those of us with oily skin have been left behind in the world of tinted moisturizers. The solution? Make your own! A customized tinted moisturizer can easily be created using Aloe Gel, combined with your favorite liquid foundation.

Aloe Vera Gel has numerous benefits for oily and acne prone skin, or for any skin type in general. It promotes new cell growth, reduces inflammation, assists in fast healing, and adds moisture without any greasy residue. Those with acne prone skin will love its cooling & refreshing properties, and its ability to reduce swelling and clear acne faster than with no treatment at all.

Aloe Gel Moisturizer for Oily Skin

One of the best Aloe products on the market is Makeup Artist’s Choice Aloe Jelly with Pure Lavender. Their formula is 95% organic, contains no parabens, is incredibly light weight, and mixes wonderfully with other cosmetic items. This can be purchased at www.makeupartistschoice.com for $8.75.

If you prefer an Aloe Gel without any additional ingredients, try the 100% Aloe by Roots Herbal. This goes for $9.99 at www.rootsherbal.com. Aloe gel can also be found at most health food stores, but make sure you’re purchasing one that is actually 100% aloe, without any chemicals, alcohol, or preservatives added.

Once you have selected an Aloe Gel, decide which liquid foundation you are going to mix it with. For oily skin, the best foundations are matte, and are marketed specifically toward oily skin. Drugstore brands typically fade after 3-4 hours when they come in contact with the sebum from your skin, so you’re better off with a high quality foundation from a department store. These range in price from $25 – $30 but are well worth the cost, because they last for 8+ hours even on oily skin, and in high humidity.

If you must go with a drugstore brand, try Maybelline’s Superstay 24 Hour Makeup or Rimmel Lasting Finish 25 Hour Foundation. These deliver a smooth finish, stay put for about 4 hours, and cost around $8. Although their names imply that they will last 24 hours, they do not. Perhaps they would on dry skin, but certainly not on oily skin!

Two of the best high end brands are Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Max Cover Foundation and Clarin’s Ever Matte Foundation. These both cost around $30, provide complete yet light weight coverage, and a flawless finish. Normally, concealer isn’t necessary, because these two foundations are so packed with pigment. These stay in place for about 8-10 hours on oily skin.

Those with oily skin will find it helpful to apply an oil absorbing base primer before the tinted moisturizer. The best powder primer to use is Mattify! Ultra Powder for Oily Skin from Mattify! Cosmetics. Applying this powder before your tinted moisturizer will protect the pores from foundation and absorb a large amount of oil and moisture, giving you longer lasting makeup that is highly resistant to humid weather. It can also be applied after the tinted moisturizer to create an air-brushed finish and set makeup for longer wear. This powder costs around $14 at the www.mattifycosmetics.com website, and is a must-have product for those with oily skin.

Now that you have purchased Aloe Gel, Foundation, and Primer/Setting Powder you’re read to create your very own customized Tinted Moisturizer for Oily Skin! For a sheer tinted moisturizer, add a bit more Aloe Gel to the mixture. You can adjust the amount of Aloe Gel you use, until the consistency and coverage are to your liking.

Here are 4 simple steps for making and wearing your own Tinted Moisturizer for Oily Skin:

Step 1:

mix liquid foundation & aloe gel on a palette

Using a spoon or disposable wooden mixing stick, mix 1 part Aloe Gel with 2 parts liquid foundation on a palette

For example: 1 pea-sized drop of Aloe Gel + 2 pea-sized drops of foundation

Step 2:

Powder for Oily Skin Mattify Powder

Apply the Mattify Ultra oil absorbing powder primer to your face, using a fluffy powder brush

Step 3:

how to make tinted moisturizer for oily skin

Apply your freshly mixed tinted moisturizer to your face in sections, blending downwards. You can use finger tips or a cosmetic sponge or brush.

Step 4:

Powder for Oily Skin by Mattify Cosmetics

Apply Mattify Ultra Powder as an oil absorbing setting powder to ensure long lasting makeup and a flawless finish. This can be applied with a powder brush or powder puff to set the tinted makeup for longer wear.

Additional Tip:

*If you already have a favorite oil-free moisturizer, try mixing that with foundation in place of the Aloe Gel. Some people prefer the lightness of the Aloe Gel, while others may like a creamier moisture-based tint. Although, for oily skin, I would highly suggest the Aloe Gel.

The best part about making your own tinted moisturizer is the fact that YOU can adjust the amount of pigment. Most tinted formulas on the market do not contain nearly enough foundation pigment to conceal any type of blemish. Do you know any women with completely flawless skin? Didn’t think so! By creating your own tinted moisturizer, you can add as much or as little pigment as you need. With this process for making your own formula, now even women with blemish prone and oily skin can enjoy the lightness of a tinted moisturizer!

Check out more blog posts from MakeupGuru4u!

Hottest Spring & Summer Eye Shadow Colors for 2013 – Emerald Green & Teal Blue
http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/03/04/hottest-spring-summer-eye-shadow-colors-for-2013-teal-green-teal-blue/

MUFE Pro Finish Powder Foundation Review – Great Product for Oily Skin
http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/02/27/mufe-pro-finish-powder-foundation-great-product-for-oily-skin/

I Hate BB Creams! Why Beauty Blemish Balm Creams Do Not Work for Oily Skin
http://makeupforoilyskins.com/2013/01/31/i-hate-bb-creams-a-rundown-of-why-beauty-balm-blemish-creams-do-not-work-for-oily-skin/

Best Products for Oily Skin – 3 Steps to Apply Makeup Like a Professional Makeup Artist

The achieve perfect matte makeup for oily skin, use a mattifying face primer, foundation & powder. People who have oily skin end up with oily break-through very quickly if matte products are not used.  If you’ve ever wondered how celebrities appear to have flawless, shine-free skin, follow these steps to find out!

kim kardashian makeup for oily skin

1. APPLY A MATTIFYING FACE PRIMER FOR OILY SKIN

Begin with clean, dry skin. If you typically use toner, make sure it is alcohol-free. If you wear moisturizers or sunscreens, be sure they are oil-free. If applicable, apply toner, then moisturizer or sunscreen, then primer.

POWDER PRIMER:

These work best, as they are very matte and do not add any oiliness to the skin. An excellent one to try is Mattify Cosmetics ULTRA Powder ($13), because it is very light weight, highly oil absorbent, and will not promote breakouts or clogged pores. Brush it on your entire face, using a fluffy powder brush.

LIQUID PRIMER:

If you insist on a liquid primer, try Korres Silicone Free Primer ($28). It is one of the only cream primers in existence that does not contain irritating dimethicone (silicone). Apply it with your finger tips or a concealer brush.

IMPORTANT

**Those who are breakout prone and/or have oily skin should NEVER use a primer that contains dimethicone (silicone). This ingredient is in almost all gel & cream face primers, including Smashbox, Too Faced, Benefit, Cosmedicine, and Monistat Chafing Gel (often recommended for use as a primer). Dr Brand’s Pores No More also contains dimethicone, although the nasty side effects are lessened because the product contains antiseptic Tea Tree Oil as well.

Watch out for dimethicone, because it will clog the heck out of your pores, make oiliness worse, and can cause massive acne breakouts. It is essentially the same ingredient a construction worker would use to calk the base of your bathtub and toilet, in order to prevent water leakage. Why anyone would want to put that on their face is beyond me!

2. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS WITH YOUR LIQUID FOUNDATION

To get the most even & natural finish, a brush or sponge should be used to apply liquid foundation. Your liquid makeup should be labeled as either “matte” or “semi-matte” and should not contain oil.

FOUNDATION BRUSH:

When using a foundation brush, apply foundation by working 1 section at a time and using downward strokes. It’s very important to sweep downward to avoid tiny hairs on the face from standing up. Dab the foundation brush into the makeup and sweep onto skin. After each section has been applied, dab with a sponge to even out any streaks.

BEAUTY BLENDER SPONGE:

To apply liquid foundation with a sponge, first dampen the sponge and squeeze out excess water. Dab the tip of the sponge into foundation and sweep onto sections of the face using downward motions. Pat (don’t rub) makeup into place until desired level of coverage is achieved.

The most important step to achieving a matte look for oily skin is to use a mattifying face powder and foundation. People who have oily skin end up with oil break-through very quickly if matte products are not used.

3. USE AN OIL ABSORBENT SETTING POWDER FOR OILY SKIN

LOOSE POWDER:

This is the best type of powder for oily skin, because it is light & airy, gives an airbrushed finish, and usually provides optimal absorption. It can be applied using swirling motions to blend, with a fluffy powder brush, kabuki brush, angled brush, or powder puff. Mattify Cosmetic’s ULTRA Powder (the same one used as Primer in step 1) multi-tasks as a transparent loose setting powder. Dust it on over your foundation to create a perfectly matte complexion that will stay fresh for hours. It can be re-applied throughout the day, without adding coloring to the complexion, and without looking cakey.

If you prefer a loose powder with some pigmentation, try Mattify Tinted Powder ($15) or Coty Airspun Powder ($7). These are both up to the task of absorbing oil while setting makeup for long wear.

PRESSED POWDER:

Pressed powder is less than ideal for those with oily skin. Here’s why:

When the powder puff is used to pat the powder onto your skin, the oils transfer from your face to the powder puff. When you place the puff back into the pressed powder contaner, the oils transfer onto the powder. This coats the top of the pressed powder with skin oils, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Also, pressed powder can look un-natural and heavy – as opposed to loose powder.

If you must use pressed powder, be sure to use blotting papers to soak up excess oil before re-powdering, and wash your powder puff once every 2-3 days. Some companies such as MAC and Mark Cosmetics have come up with a solution to this, by creating a larger compact that houses the puff in a separate chamber with air circulation. Even with this system, it is wise to wash or replace the puff once a week.

Viola! You’ve created the perfect matte complexion. Now you’re ready to walk the red carpet…or at least to make an enviable entrance into your next event!