Max Factor Creme Puff Compact Powder

What a brilliant buy this was. It is soo cheap and yet gives better results than many of the excruciatingly expensive high-end powders I've used.

I have a slightly oily T-zone which can become flaky-looking if I use too many powders or other dry facial products. Max Factor's Creme Puff keeps my nose shine-free longer than any other coloured powder I've tried but doesn't accentuate flakiness or dry out my skin at all. I apply it over my primer, concealer and setting powder in the morning and it creates a really smooth, poreless, natural look that lasts until the end of the day. By early afternoon my nose looks slightly glowy but not at all shiny, and if I want to mattify it a bit I simply give myself a dusting of Creme Puff and have flawless skin again in an instant. The coverage is also pretty good for a pressed powder. I wouldn't wear this on its own over my slightly rosacea-prone nose, but when applied over concealer the redness is almost entirely eliminated.

There are a couple of drawbacks, the obvious one being the smell. Creme Puff has a VERY powdery (and probably artificial) scent, which could deter some people. It isn't that the smell is unpleasant - it harks back to glamorous 1920s ladies powdering their noses in front of their vanity tables - but it's just SO strong. I have got used to it now though, and it does vanish once you've applied the powder and put the compact away.

More annoying than the smell, in my opinion, is the sponge that is supplied with the compact. It's really abrasive and scratchy and does not allow you to apply the powder smoothly. I quickly disposed of it and am now using the lovely soft sponge from one of my old compacts. I'd recommend you do the same to ensure the best, smoothest application.

As far as choosing the correct shade goes, the little colour squares on the amazon page actually seem fairly accurate. I have very pale skin so went for what I presumed was the fairest shade, Truly Fair. It has turned out to be a good match, and I would recommend it for most pale-skinned women. It does have slightly pinky undertones, but luckily this hasn't emphasised any redness on my skin at all. If you have very bad rosacea or acne, though, you might be better off going for a more yellowy shade such as Candle Glow.

This is a very effective and very inexpensive product, which I imagine is why it's been around for so long. Hopefully it'll be around for a good while longer, as I intend to use it for some time to come.

I bought this when I was having trouble finding my usual compact powder, a L'Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Powder W1 Golden Ivory. The shop assistant recommended translucent which would cater for most caucasian skin tones but as I'm pasty white, the fair would have been a better option in hindsight. As far my knowledge of makeup goes, translucent means it's a powder that blends into nothing, while anything else blends into whatever shade it says it will (at least it's how it works for mineral powders).

It has a particular scent to it which is its trademark. Personally I don't like it because it smells like my grandmother's makeup box but others cite this as the most important decisional factor. If you don't know what the smell is, go to your local drugstore and smell it and come back and buy it off Amazon as it's cheaper.

Otherwise I'm very pleased, it blends in nicely, it's superfine and you can barely feel it on your face.

PS: It doesn't come with an applicator unless you count a protective thin sponge applicator so have a brush available for your first use.

Pleased to have received this Max Factor creme puff powder, been using this product for years, and only too pleased to find it at a very reasonable price..Excellent purchase!!!