Last week, I was all moany and groany about taking photos of used products for a review so I decided I’d put my money where my mouth is, and show you a product I’d been wanting to talk about for some time, but which I never got round to because of… you guessed it, photos. I actually have a picture of this item brand new but it was an awful picture. But never mind the photos, theBalm Sexy Mama powder is one I think worth taking a look at because it does what it says 🙂
I can’t remember where I picked this up but it wasn’t at Sasa where theBalm cosmetics are sold locally. So, I don’t know the local price and if anyone can help me out, I’d really appreciate it! 🙂 What Sexy Mama is, is a translucent setting powder. Nothing terribly fancy. Even the packaging is nothing terribly fancy and I’m not sure how this powder makes you look like a Sexy Mama but there you go!
The powder comes in a cardboard case inside a cardboard sleeve. I would suggest you keep it inside that sleeve especially if you plan to tote it around for touch ups. The powder can open up easily otherwise and you might end up with a mess. The packaging is simple and straightforward and the imagery is certainly eye catching too. Besides, how could you really overlook something called Sexy Mama right? 😉
The compact is quite sturdy and there is a large mirror inside for touch ups on the go. The packaging is very compact but that also means you do not get a brush with the product (good : I dislike most brushes included in compacts; bad: its hard to apply on the go unless you carry a brush around with you).
A translucent powder, it comes in just one shade, which is a light, slightly yellow toned powder. Texturewise, I find it a bit chalky and powdery, so when you take your brush to it, it has a tendency to fly everywhere. However, there is no discernible colour when I swatch on my skin hence the lack of swatches.
Transparency or translucency is of course a good thing, because you do not want your setting powder to mess with your makeup. It goes on last, after you are done with your base, or even after you have done your face. The purpose is to help your makeup stay on for longer and Sexy Mama does this by absorbing oil and you only need a thin layer. Remember, this is a setting powder not foundation.
In most circumstances, I’d totally slate this powder but having used it off and on, I find myself quite liking it. The powder claims to have anti-shine properties, and claims to keep skin to a soft matte finish. Now, it must be said that I don’t have oily skin. I do however, sometimes end up with a bit of a shine as the day wears on, especially if I happen to go outside in the sun during the day. But I found that if I dusted on a light layer of Sexy Mama, it did help keep my skin shine free for most, if not all of the day. I will note that it does not make my skin look matte – just keeps away that tell tale oil shine.
I usually apply it after I’m done with my base makeup and I find that it helps my blush stay on longer too. As I have said, I don’t have oily skin so I honestly do not know how this will work on someone with oily skin but I do believe that it will help to a large degree, to keep your skin looking shine free for longer.
Sometimes, I just use it on its own and although it offers no coverage or colour, it keeps skin looking shine free which is a good thing when you wear certain sunscreens that can get a bit oily as the day wears on.
A word of warning: Use only a thin layer and don’t reapply too often. This is a setting or finishing powder and you aren’t supposed to use this as a foundation. I like to just use a large fluffy brush, roll it in the powder, tap off excess and dust all over my face and I’m done. The powder is a little powdery as I have noted, but if you do it this way, you get a thin layer on your skin and really, that’s all you need.
In a nutshell
The Sexy Mama powder by theBalm is a translucent setting or finishing powder meant to be used after completing your base makeup or after you complete your makeup, to set. All you need is a very thin layer as the powder can be chalky if too much is applied. I find that it helps keep my skin looking shine free all day (I do not have oily skin) and helps my base and blush stay on all day without too much fading.
Pros: Translucent powder does not mess with makeup, Does keep my skin shine free all day, Cute and compact packaging
Cons: Powder is a bit chalky and can fly about
Who will like this: Anyone who has skin that might turn oily throughout the day
Here is the ingredient list for Sexy Mama
I don’t know if the tiny oil absorbing spheres do exist but it seems to work well enough for me. I don’t use this one very often and I in fact, had forgotten about it for a while. I rediscovered it recently, and use it especially when I know I have to be running around outside and I was impressed all over again. I love it when this happens 🙂
Have you tried Sexy Mama? Do you like anything else from theBalm?
I quite like some of their products. The blushes aren’t bad. I have Hot Mama and Down Boy but I refused to get Frat Boy because I hated the design although I liked the colour 😛 The Shady Lady eye palettes are pretty decent too but I haven’t tried much else. Share a rec if you have one!
Paris B
theBalm Sexy Mama translucent powder Price: US$19 Availability: Sasa stores in Malaysia or online at various online stores including thebalm.com
I’ve been looking for a translucent powder because my sunscreen (Cancer Council) does leave me looking greasy 🙁 I remedied that with some compact powder but I realised without liquid foundation, the pores on my nose are visible.
Can I use the same brush that I use for foundation for translucent powder?
Yes! That’s part of the reason I couldn’t use the Cancer Council on the face. I found it too oily. I think a foundation brush maybe too dense for translucent powder. It’s best to use a fluffy powder brush so you get a thin layer 🙂
I just opened my MUFE HD Powder. Another translucent powder? haha. =P Kind of obsessed with loose powder, have stock of at least two other brands now…
Have heard that the MUFE one is good. I used to use the MUFE Super Matte. Good stuff! The compact is easier to tote around 😉
Yes, first time using it, and I am immediately blown away but the fineness, the weightlessness and the mattifying effect. So nice.
Try Laura mercier mineral finishing powder. Good for combi skin as the skin stays oil free. I have convinced at least 15 persons to buy it!! Say bye bye to touch up!
Thanks for the rec Esther 🙂 Must be really good stuff!
Cool! I will have to try this one out. I only have one blush Frat Boy and I like it and I have a lot of their eyeshadow palette-well not a lot, 3 haha. My problem with them is the RIDICULOUS international shipping charge they have.
Oh yes!! The shipping from the website is MAD! Don’t know who they’re trying to kid. Do you have a store selling it near you? I liked the colour of Frat Boy but the packaging put me off. Much too young for me 😛 was tempted by the neutral palette though.did you get that?
No, not the palettes unfortunately. For some reason they sell the rest of their stuff up here, but not their palettes. So weird. I did get that Neutral one on Hautelook a while back, haven’t had the heart to try it yet haha! I should though, hey? Silly Tracy! 🙂
Haha! You so need to try that palette and then review it 😀 The uneven placement of the colours drives me crazy though, part of the reason I couldn’t buy that one >.<
In Mexico I think I can’t get locally The Balm and this one of the product I really want to taste, because I have MUFE HD powder (is only silica) and it doesn’t really help to stay matte a long time, also I defeated Urban Decay’s De-slick in a tube, so I’m searching for that HG.
Hi Efrain another reader seems to think the MUFE HD powder is a star! Guess this is more proof that different products work on different people. Perhaps you could try ebay?
i love thebalm’s bahama mama! It is a great quality bronzer and such a great price too! You should definitely try it if you can – the powder is so finely milled! 🙂
Thank you for the rec Joyce! I saw it once but was afraid it was too brown. Will give it another go! 🙂
Do let me know if you get to try it 🙂
Hey there, I have that bronzer too! That’s the only product I have from this brand. I don’t put it on my cheeks but use it to for shading along my jawline. It really helps to make my face look smaller/sharper. I have many positive comments when I contour my face.
Btw, just a side irrelevant note to ParisB. I came back from
Paris this weekend. I found whitening products on the shelf of pharmacies there by Bioderma. Main thing is they use to whiten is glycolic acid to exfoliate the surface of the skin. I also bought an enzyme peel of caudalie with glycolic acid in it. So far, I have used it a couple of times. Seems pretty cool…
Hiya Shay, it seems that I have to check the bronzer out! It’s interesting that you mentioned whitening products in France, because I never thought the Europeans were into it. I was using some glycolic acid product too but mostly for exfoliating skin. Its good stuff if your skin can take it 🙂
Yeah, u shld check out the bronzer. It’s matte, so really helps to shape the face.
Yeah. I am surprised that Europeans are into this area. I have used the glycolic peel mask and found it great! My acne marks and dull uneven skintone is improving. I just realized that among my bioderma haul is an anti blemish gel serum with glycolic acid too! Putting it on first time tonight. Hope it helps me to get rid of my clogged pores.
Btw, what are the glycolic products you use? I don’t think I see much of this in the Asian market. Could you please do a blog post? 🙂
I was using the Alpha H Liquid Gold. Had a Ho hum result from it which is why I haven’t blogged it yet. I don’t see a lot of glycolic products locally but I remember seeing some from a brand that escapes me now. If I remember I’ll be sure to update. Some people say that it makes skin too sensitive but I think it depends on each person’s skin.
Uuuu theBalm 🙂 I truly believe that there is a group out there is San Francisco saying “Hey, let’s do a make up brand with fancy vintage packaging in mediocre quality” 🙂
I have lots of stuff from theBalm, the eyeshadow palettes (theShadyLady group and the look-a-like naked palette, I can’t remember its name), lipglosses (PERRRRFECT!), blushes (good stuff!), tinted moisturizer and primer (ehhh!) and goes on…. Overall, it is a good brand. I do believe Benefit and theBalm are basicly the same and at least theBalm deserves its credit due to the fact that its price tag is almost 1/3 compared to Benefit.
Haha! I think you could be right about the packaging although I agree with you too about how similar they are to Benefit and at such a smaller pricetag! I was eyeing that neutral palette too (can’t remember the name either!) but wasn’t too keen on the packaging 🙁
This translucent powder doesn’t seem to exciting to me–I prefer my setting powders to be loose…I do want to try some theBalm shadow palettes and blushes though!
I just realised I haven’t used a setting powder in a while. Says lot about a) the longevity of my foundation and b) how not very oily my skin is Haha! But I do notice that makeup always look better after setting so I really should get back to it!
Good to know this works for you but I can never use up loose powder! LOL! I think I still have 2 unopened jars at home. Come to think of it, I don’t even know why I bought them… -___-”
The only thing I tried from The Balm is their Shady Lady palettes which I think are good value for money. Wonderful eye shadows 🙂
I think the Shady Lady palettes very good quality for the money too! I have used up only 1 or maybe 2 loose powders in my time and that was when I’d use them daily. I’ve been very lax of late 😛
I’m intrigued with this! Will check local Beauty Bar if we have this 🙂 Thanks PB!
You’re most welcome! Hope you find it where you are! 🙂
What an amazing packaging! And I want to get their newest Balm Jovi palette.
I saw that one and loved the name lol! But is way too expensive to ship here 🙁
i love their packaging..
One of the few adorable ones out there 🙂
Love the name and the packaging of the product. Caught my attention. I have some fine lines and when using powder, sometimes they look worse. Any application tips?
If fine lines are clear, try applying less powder. A very light dusting only if necessary. Or also use a primer as that will help blur lines.
I have been looking something new an alternative powder for my oil skin, this sounds tempting. The packaging at a first glance resembles a DVD cover… I wouldn’t have thought it was a translucent powder ..Thanks x
I’m a 13 year old Singaporean and I want to buy this but it is $30 at sasa and I’m not so sure if I should buy it now. Any advice?
Is it really very chalky?