NARS Soft Velvet Pressed Powder

Set and perfect your foundation with NARS' new Soft Velvet Pressed Powder! Suitable for all skin types, this pressed powder is enriched with hyaluronic acid to help retain moisture in the skin. The formula is said to reduce the appearance of imperfections, even skin tone and absorb excess oil.

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The Soft Velvet Pressed Powders are finely milled and feel silky smooth to the touch. They have a satin matte finish on the skin, they don't look dry or powdery!

This formula is more pigmented than I expected and it provides a bit of coverage, but the colors are sheer so I think every skin tone will be able to find their perfect shade even if there are only 8 shades.

I personally prefer to set my foundation with a loose powder, as pressed powders tend to look more cakey and powdery on the skin. I find that loose powders are better for my oily skin too (more mattifying).

This pressed powder is beautiful on the skin, it doesn't look heavy or emphasize dry patches. It blurs enlarged pores and doesn't dry out my skin! With that being said, I still prefer to set my foundation with a loose powder because the Soft Velvet pressed powder isn't mattifying enough for my super oily skin.

I always use a pressed powder for touch ups throughout the day though, and this one is fabulous for that purpose! It absorbs excess oil and blends out seamlessly into my skin. It doesn't look like a layer of powder is sitting on top of my foundation, and it doesn't look cakey.

I wish it came with a different applicator sponge though, the surface is soft but the edges are a bit scratchy.

Swatches on fair skin (NC10-NC15)

By the way, my skin is very pale right now (darker than NC10 but lighter than NC15, if you are familiar with MAC foundation shades), and Snow is too light for me. It's a very light ivory with neutral undertones.

I can use it if I mix it with the shade Desert, but I think Flesh would be a better match for me.

The NARS Soft Velvet Pressed Powder retails for $46 CAD for 8g and is available at Nordstrom, narscosmetics.com and cultbeauty.co.uk.

(I received these products in order to evaluate them and give my opinion, but rest assured that my comments are always honest and impartial. This post contains affiliate links.)