Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder

I've been fairly obsessed with Make Up For Ever's HD Microfinish Powder ever since I tried it out at Sephora a few months ago. (Okay, maybe it was like 6 months ago! I can't remember, but it has definitely been awhile.) I kept telling myself that I didn't need any more powder, let alone a $30 powder, but since I couldn't stop thinking about it, I finally decided to take the plunge. This "high definition" powder purports to set your makeup, even your complexion, and soften the appearance of fine lines and blemishes with 100% silica minerals. I find that use of the term "HD" or "high-def" when it comes to cosmetics is usually a little silly, but I think this is the type of powder that professional makeup artists actually use to prep actresses and on-air personalities for high-definition broadcasts, so I'll let it slide. My verdict? This is a pretty fantastic loose powder. First of all, even though it's stark white in the canister, it's absolutely translucent on skin and never makes me look chalky. (However, I'm pretty fair to begin with, so I can't say for certain that it would work on darker skin tones, although the shade is supposed to be "universal.") It just sort of melts into your skin and disappears. Also, it makes your skin feel incredibly soft - that was what really got me at Sephora! And, finally, it does give you a kind of subtle, "airbrushed" appearance. I've noticed only two drawbacks: The first is the smell, which - while not strong - is a little odd. I don't know how to describe it; I guess it's just the scent of the silica? And the second is that, since this powder is so finely milled, it can be a little hard to control. If you treat it like Bare Minerals - swirl, tap, buff - you'll probably just end up with a little white cloud of powder and not much product on your brush. Try handling it a little more carefully and dipping your bristles in instead of swirling and tapping. Is it worth the $30? So far, I would answer with a resounding YES - let's just see how long this jar lasts! I'll let you know...

- Theodora