Review: ZA, Kate & MAC - Powder Foundations

Let me start off by saying I don't have that many different brands of foundation - I've never been picky about them since they more or less have the same function. I'm all about eye makeup - shadows, liners, ALL THOSE COLOURS. Hence, I only have three powder foundation compacts and one bottle of liquid foundation in my makeup arsenal.

The powder foundation compacts I own - the silver case is ZA Two-way Foundation (the case is a limited edition from 2010), the black case with many fingerprint smudges is Kate Lasting High Coverage Powder Foundation and the round black compact is MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.

Decided to do a little comparison for the powder foundation, and here are my findings!

ZA Two-way Foundation (Foundation Case: $10.20, Refill $18.50 @ Watsons)
I have been using the ZA Two-way Foundation for as long as I've started using makeup, which is at the age of 15. It's a drugstore product and thus, was affordable for a secondary school student with little pocket money. It wasn't cheap, mind you. Priced at about $23 for a case and the foundation, it was almost a week's allowance. However, compared to the other foundation compacts on the market, it was still relatively affordable and had great reviews!

I have used it for about 11 years now and even though I've ventured to other brands, I always have this in my stash as it's still my go-to foundation. The shades are numerical - I'm a 22 when I'm fairer and 23 when I've got a bit of a tan.

The website claims that it has micro fine powder which aids in a natural finish, that it helps to make pores unnoticeable and it has SPF20.

Let's see how it fares.

I like how the powder makes my skin looked looked flawless in the morning. I didn't blot at all throughout the day and after 11 hours, there was hardly any shine! The foundation did kind of wear off a little so my blemishes and hyper-pigmentation showed a little but no shine!

Eyeshadow Primer: e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
Base Highlight: Virgin (from Urban Decay Naked Palette)
Lid: Gunmetal (from UD Naked Palette)
Outer V: Creep (from UD Naked Palette)
Middle: Half-Baked (from UD Naked Palette)
Eyeliner: Clio Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner in Golden Black
Mascara: Eyeko Skinny Brush Mascara
Blusher: MAC Powder Blush in Springsheen

Kate Lasting High Coverage Powder Foundation (Foundation Case: $14.50, Refill $34 @ Watsons)
I purchased this after glowing reviews on Makeupalley and wanting to try something new, I snagged it at Watsons at a 20% discount. However, the case and the foundation are sold separately so when you buy both, it can be quite pricey.

Off its website, the powder is said to 'cover visible pores, redness and pimple marks'. It also has SPF20. My shade for this is OC-C.

You can't see it but there's a bit of shine on my cheeks. Nothing too serious but the foundation has also faded a little, although not as much as the ZA Two-way Foundation did. I do like this foundation a lot - it's finely milled and has great quality but for its price, I would still reach for my ZA Two-way Foundation anytime.

I also have an issue with the glossy packaging that the Kate foundation comes in - it's black and sleek, yes, but it scratches so easily and the high shine means LOADS of fingerprint smudges.

Eyeshadow Primer: Etude House Proof 10 Eye Primer
Base Highlight: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Hourglass Beige
Lid: L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Sassy Marshmallow
Outer V: Creep (from UD Naked Palette)
Eyeliner: Bourjois Regard Effet Metallise Metallic Eyeliner in Bleu Clinquant
Mascara: L'Oreal Curl Impact Collagene Mascara
Blusher: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Hussy

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation ($51 @ MAC stores)
Another lengthy name for a compact! The website claims that the powder 'provides a smooth, flawless, all-matte full-coverage finish'.

I was in a MAC phase and purchased this together with their Blot Powder. I'm NC35 by the way.

Please ignore strange figure in background - husband got into my picture. -__- Anyways, what I really like is their high coverage. It does cover the pores better than the other two foundations, and it does a good job at staying put throughout the day. However, my chin was looking a little bit oily but taking into account the fact that I did a lot more walking about in heels on a really humid day (stayed in air-conditioned office the entire day for the previous two pictures), I can't fault it. It's not like my entire face was shiny and generally, my blemishes were still nicely covered up! Doesn't have SPF though so slather on your sunscreen!

Eyeshadow Primer: UDPP in Original
Base Highlight: Virgin (from UD Naked Palette)
Lid: Buck (from UD Naked Palette)
Contour: Smog (from UD Naked Palette)
Outer V: Hustle (from UD Naked Palette)
Middle: Half-Baked (from UD Naked Palette)
Eyeliner: Clio Kill Black Pen Liner
Mascara: Christian Dior Diorshow Iconic Waterproof Mascara
Blusher: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Hussy

Note: I did all 3 looks using the sponge applicators they come with. However, I prefer to use my Sigma F82 Round Kabuki Brush to swirl on powder foundation as I find it helps to erase pores better. Also, all done without my staples of face primers and Urban Decay De-Slick/All-Nighter Makeup Setting Sprays for better comparison purposes!

So, here's a summary:

ZA Two-way Foundation: Love it, foundation fades throughout day, many pretty limited cases to choose from each Christmas!
Kate Lasting High Coverage Powder Foundation: Good but a tad pricey for drugstore product, finely milled to cover blemishes, foundation fades a little throughout day.
MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation: High coverage and fills in pores nicely, oil shows through mildly, foundation stays put.

What is your favourite powder foundation?

Review: MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet

I'm not a fan of gel liners. They're too much of a hassle in the morning - unscrewing cap, using a liner brush and careful strokes, cleaning off the residue on the brush (or the liner will harden the bristles) and screwing on the cap tightly to prevent the pot of liner from drying out. Honestly, pen liners are much less trouble.

When I saw the colour of the MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet though, I knew I must have it.

It's a gorgeous deep plum in the pot with kind of a metallic sheen to it. The texture of the gel liner is creamy as well, and goes on the lids so smoothly with little to no tugging.

Ignore those streaks - I've used this a couple of times now. It's 3 grams of product in a little glass pot which is typical of gel liners, and it costs about S$28 at local MAC stores if I'm not wrong.

However, the colour payoff has disappointed me. It isn't intense on the lids. In fact, it looks faded and sheer. If you want a colour akin to what is in the pot, you'll probably need to layer it on. I already find gel liners time-consuming but if I have to layer on the colours, that's just adding to the hassle.

What is with the overexposed image?

I didn't go over the eyeliner more than once since I was headed for work and just didn't have the time in the morning to do that. Hence, I achieved a really sheer line that wasn't even close to the purple in the pot.

Eyeshadow Primer: UDPP in Original
Lid: Peach (from NYX 10 Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Strike a Pose)
Countour: Lilac (from NYX 10 Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Strike a Pose)
Outer V: Copper Red (from NYX 10 Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Strike a Pose)
Eyeliner: MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet
Lower Lashline: Maybelline 2-In-1 Impact Shadow Liner in Purple
Mascara: Silkygirl Big Eye Collagen Waterproof Mascara

Ooh hair stuck to lashes!

11 hours later...

To its credit, it didn't fade anymore than it originally looked. It didn't transfer as well on my monolids so that's a big plus. It didn't even smudge in the inner corner of my eye which is the DEATHZONE, where all eyeliners smudge no matter how waterproof they claim to be (my inner eye is always kind of wet hahahaha ewww gross).

Pros - creamy, doesn't dry up easily, smooth application, no fading or smudging.
Cons - low colour payoff

If you're patient and willing to layer, I'm sure the colour will turn out gorgeous. I've seen a few photos of the Macroviolet looking like it's supposed to (colour in pot) but I believe that's achieved using multiple layers. If you're lazy like me, then a pencil will be better off for you.

Would I buy this again? If they improve the formula for a more intense colour, then yes!