First Impressions: Maybelline Clear Smooth Face Powder
September 25, 2008 by Sasha Manuel
Filed under Makeup
Photo© 2008 Sasha Manuel
Maybelline New York
Clear Smooth
Shine Free Face Powder
1. Shine free finish:
Combined oil absorbing ingredients remove shine, for a clean, shine-free finish.2. Silky smooth texture:
The extreme fine powder glides like silk and melts smoothly on skin. It covers flawlessly but looks perfectly natural.
Having a combination skin, I’ve been on the look out for great products that’ll help me correct it or, at least, get by with a certain amount of decent skin on a regular basis. But I’m not here to talk about more hardcore skincare products but this new makeup that I’ve recently gotten my hands on.
After seeing the ad on telly for quite a bit now, I had begun to wonder how this Maybelline Clear Smooth Face Powder would actually perform. When it comes to makeup application, I don’t really use a face powder. I even just recently started using a foundation, Elizabeth Arden Intervene Makeup, but I’m still curious on how I could benefit from using a face powder.
I learned that the Clear Smooth Shine Free Face Powder from Maybelline New York is marketed especially for Asian women. This is a good thing since it’s better to use something that’s especially formulated, this is to reduce side effects or unsuitable shades on the varied Asian skin tones. I also found out that it’s fragrance-free, oil-free, and non-comedogenic. It’s good to know that it won’t clog pores. I also appreciate the SPF 18. Hey, sunscreen is sunscreen! It’s available in four (4) shades: Fair, Natural, Honey, and White.
What I have is in the warm Natural shade. I found Fair to be too pink-ish, Honey to be too yellow-ish, and yes, the White shade is white. My skin colour is naturally in the brown shade seen in Asians.
Suggested use: Pat gently on face, concentrating on oil-prone areas.
I’ve read some of the reviews on it and they say that it’s long-wearing, resists humidity all day, and the need for touch up is minimal after eight (8) hours upon application. I guess this is one thing that I’m sure I will definitely observe since I often don’t re-touch my makeup, except for lip gloss and blush on occasion.
I find the packaging of the face powder to be fresh-looking and quite reminiscent to green packaging used by Clinique, only a bit brighter. Though, looking at it up close, it’s quite obvious that it’s the kind of plastic that will easily scratch and look worn out once you start shoving it in your vanity kit or purse as you bring it with you.
For Manila-based beauties, it currently costs Php 199.00 and is available in most drugstores and beauty stores and sections that carry Maybelline.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to using it: with the whole she-bang of makeup and close to au naturale — with just the face powder on. This is going to be interesting. Any of you tried it? Let me in on the pros and cons?
I’ve been a powder user for so long before I’ve used Foundation. I have used the old Maybelline pressed powder, the one in square pan, can’t seem to remember the name, anyways to make the comment short lol I have read some mixed reviews on this so I didn’t get my hands on them, I will be waiting for your review on this!
thanks in advance
I already know someone who carries the Honey shade as a staple powder in her kit. I’ll post the review up as soon as I’m done.
This is also my everyday powder
I love it! 
It’s cheap and doesn’t make me break out.
I also use the Honey shade, very natural looking.
That’s cool! I believe Honey is perfect for your type of fair skin.
This is the only face powder that works for me. It’s very affordable and it does perform its job of keeping the face shine-free and flawless-looking. It lasts longer too, when applied with powder brush. =)
I prefer the oil control of the face shop’s phytogenic pressed powder. The cloth powder puff that came with this compact scratches my skin, and I had to buy a sponge puff that now makes the compact difficult to close even if I bought the thinnest sponge puff. Great price though
i have used this powder before. since im naturally fair, im using the honey shade which i just bought yesterday. i was actually getting the lightest shade but i remembered that the color made my face too pink. i have a pinkish-white skin with yellow undertone. when i used this one, gosh! it blended well to my skin it was like im not wearing anything at all. and my face stayed matte all day. plush it’s only 199.00 so i this is gonna be a staple
nice packaging too, its sleek and fresh green. comes with a thin puff and a huge mirror 
you can see your whole face 
awesome presentation. I am feeling craved.