I have been asked if my focus is only on luxury brands and products. It does seem that way because I am picky. But if I’m to be honest, so what if it is? I’ve earned my stripes, and if people deem bloggers to be aspirational, then everyone aspires to some luxury in their life.
So, I’m unashamedly featuring the La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder today, a new release from a few months ago.
Now, lets get the nitty-gritty out of the way. La Mer is a luxury brand, with prices that befit its status. When they release a pressed powder therefore, it isn’t likely to come cheap. Like all luxury products therefore, it is something to aspire to own.
But more importantly, is it any good?
My short answer is that it is quite a decent powder, and I quite like it.
I have a few comments on the packaging. I love the slim packaging that is only about as thick as a compact mirror. It is slim, and sleek and the aesthetics draw the eye in. The silver cover shuts with a magnet, and feel sturdy and well constructed.
What I am less attracted to, is the frosted plastic base. Granted, it is a solid, sturdy plastic, and it makes the compact lighter to tote around. But I feel the contrast of plastic and metallic cover to be a little incongruous.
On the inside sits a thin sponge, with one side having a velvety feel. I don’t use the sponge provided, as experience has taught me that sponges pick up more product than I like, when it comes to powders. So, I prefer to apply the powder on my skin with a large powder brush. This offers a more diffused finish. However, the sponge will be handy for touch-ups, if you do that. It also applies more product on skin so do take note.
The powder itself feels quite hard to the touch. Swatching with my fingers yields little product, and if I press hard, it can come off powdery. However, it is to be borne in mind that this is labelled as a “Sheer Pressed Powder”. La Mer is quite up front about its texture.
I do find that my brush picks up product quite easily from the surface of the powder, and it then applies as a thin layer on my skin, to set foundation. You can “dab” your brush on your skin if you prefer a tiny bit of coverage, and more mattifying effect. I like just using a brush with a circular motion, as I prefer a lighter effect. I find it interesting, because it does set my foundation, but not so that it looks flat. It isn’t matte, but it isn’t shiny either.
What I like about this La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder, is how it seems to blend and meld into my skin, to offer a satin finish over liquid foundation. It also almost seems to blur the skin, rather like that of a filter. I isn’t easy to explain, but it does not feel powdery on skin, it is almost imperceptible, yet finishes your base makeup very beautifully. I often use this over a BB Cream or an illuminating primer/base on casual, lazy days, and it offers a better finish to the skin as well.
I cannot vouch for oil-control, as I do not have oily skin, but it does not dry my skin which is more important for me.
The shade I have is Translucent, and it also comes in 3 tinted shades – Light, Medium and Dark. I have not seen the tinted shades, but from what I have read, they are fairly sheer, as the name implies, offering just a tint of colour to those who need it. Translucent, although transparent which logically, should suit most skin tones, is rather light and may come off too light on deeper skin tones.
As pressed powders go, I do think that there is a lot of plus points about the La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder. The minus points would be the fragrance (sigh) and price. It can last you a while, as you won’t use very much each time (don’t, or it can be too cakey) but that initial outlay is usually the hardest.
IN A NUTSHELL
The La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder has a sheer texture, and offers a velvety satin-matte finish to the skin. It sets liquid foundation well, and is not drying for me. I use a powder brush, as I find that it offers a more diffused finish and you use less product each time. A sponge is included, if you prefer to touch-up on the go. I like how it seems to draw a filter over your skin, so it looks very flattering when worn. A lovely pressed powder, if you’re feeling lush :)
PROS: Compact packaging, Portable, Comes with a sponge that you can use for touch ups, Very fine textured powder that blurs the skin and makes it look like you have a filter on, No shine with satin-matte finish
CONS: Pricey, Plastic base packaging looks a little incongruous against the metallic cover, Fragranced
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who has the budget for La Mer and wants a very nice pressed powder for setting foundation and base
PRICE: RM370 | US$95 for 8g
WHERE TO BUY: La Mer counters and boutiques, Sephora (US), Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
If you’re interested, here are the ingredients for the La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder, extracted from Sephora:-
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Talc, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Boron Nitride, Zinc Stearate, Silica, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Polyglyceryl-2 Triisostearate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Succinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Squalane, Lauroyl Lysine, Kaolin, Algae (Seaweed) Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Seed Powder, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Powder, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D’orge, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Seed Meal, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Betaine, Calcium Gluconate, Ceramide 3, Cholesterol, Copper Gluconate, Disodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Magnesium Gluconate, Malachite, Methicone, Niacin, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Phospholipids, Pyridoxine Dipalmitate, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium PCA, Tourmaline, Trehalose, Tribehenin, Zinc Gluconate, Aluminum Dimyristate, Dimethicone Silylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Calcium Carbonate, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Hydrogen Dimethicone, Polyquaternium-51, PEG-8, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Linoleic Acid, Sorbitan Isostearate, Alcohol Denat., Urea, Fragrance (Parfum), BHT, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Bismuth Oxychloride (Ci 77163), Blue 1 Lake (Ci 42090), Carmine (Ci 75470), Chromium Hydroxide Green (Ci 77289), Ferric Ferrocyanide (Ci 77510), Manganese Violet (Ci 77742), Red 6 (Ci 15850), Red 7 (Ci 15850), Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850), Ultramarines (Ci 77007), Yellow 5 Lake (Ci 19140)].
Have you come across the La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder? Is it something that might interest you?
We talked about the question of “worth” once, so it is something you’d have to decide :) But I do like it, much to my surprise.
Paris B
Ooh La Mer! I am not at that price point. I think I’d rather spend on a Caron powder anyway; just the idea seems luxurious, haha. I think I have heard you wax more effusively over other finishing powders, heh.
Actually yes I have Kuri and I do prefer my other finishing powders, purely because I prefer a little more glow to my skin. I do find this La Mer one to be rather more matte than I like, but I also know that many people like that matte look :) But what I do like is that it helps my makeup stay put better especially when it’s humid like it is here, and that’s why I still use it some times (and add a highlighter LOL!)
Ah, so it’s particularly good if you have a long day. Good to know!
Very curious: how is it compare to Guerlain balls?
It doesn’t :) Guerlain balls give a more transparent glow result to the skin. This one will be for those who favor a more satin or matte finish. Also for those who want their base to stay put longer through the day as I find it does help. I’d use the balls over if I do. So it depends on the finish you prefer :)
The la Mer loose powder is a staple for me. I’ve used up 2 tubs of it and because the colour creme has been discontinued, I’ve been looking for a substitute. I might just give this a whirl. If anything, it’s a lot more travel friendly!
Yes, it’s the compact version of the loose powder. A little more mattifying I feel, but good for summer or in our weather here. Or maybe to set a foundation or base that is particularly “wet”
Oh my, I love powders, but the price is really up there. Do you know what is the price of the loose version? If it’s more product on the loose one, I may get that after I finish my other powders.
The loose powder is the same price Bee :) You get 25g of product I think which is more, theoretically, but because it’s loose, it is less portable. But very nice! :)
By the way, that necklace is really pretty! Have you talked about it on your blog?
I didn’t blog directly about that necklace, but it’s by Bowerhaus and they ship worldwide :)
Thanks! I noticed it in your recent post, heh