Things seem to have come full circle to me: the first ever foundation I tried was a compact powder foundation by Clinique and now I am loving this brand new loose powder foundation by Chanel. Today I will be reviewing in detail this innovative high end product.

Recently I had the opportunity to have a full makeover and skincare consultation by one of the international Chanel makeup artists, which you can read about here. I was actually looking forward to trying out some Chanel products that have a lot of hype, what I wasn't expecting was to fall in love with a powder foundation!

What is it?

The Chanel Vitalumière Loose Powder foundation is the latest release from this chic brand and they call it the "Chanel Light Box" as it contains high-definition pigments that smoothen and blur imperfections while giving a natural and radiant look at the same time. It contains canola oil derivative to improve the skin and provide comfort, mica powder to give a natural satiny effect and a sunscreen protection of SPF15. 

Chanel have also included a really cute mini kabuki brush with the foundation which is actually very soft and what I have been using to apply the loose powder. I have had the chance to try it out for almost two weeks now and I can give you my full, honest opinion.

The foundation comes in 5 shades, ranging from B10 to B50 and I have bought the lightest, Beige 10, which seems slightly lighter at first than its liquid counterpart. It's always a good idea, if you get the chance, to try it out in store before purchasing but if you are between shades I'd go for the darker one. 

Packaging

Chanel is one of the brands with the classiest packaging design. I love the sleek black cases with the famous symbol and they never seem to disappoint. In this case you will be pleased to find out that not only has it got beautiful packaging but it is also practical, specially considering it's loose powder!

The loose powder comes in a frosted plastic jar similar to the Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre which seems sturdy and could even be travel friendly as the lid screws on so there's no risk of losing all the contents. 

The best design feature is that the loose foundation is behind a flexible mesh so you won't have the powder flying around and making a mess. This makes it easy to use as you can press the brush onto this barrier and voilá, it's just as easy as that. 

As I said before, a mini kabuki brush is included in each box which will delight Chanel fans due to its cuteness and design. It's made of synthetic bristles and it's comparable to the Chanel Retractable Kabuki brush. It feels very dense and soft on the skin and does a good job. I have been using this brush for application and although a larger brush would make application quicker I like that it's great for hard to reach areas of the face. 

How to use:

I thought it would be more complicated and time consuming to use as the Chanel makeup artist warned me several times to work it well on the skin. To use just tip over the jar with the lid on, give it a tap and then open.

You can press the brush onto the mesh to pick up the desired amount of loose powder. I find that one tap will give me enough for a light coverage, whereas I have to repeat the process if I want more coverage. 

Contrary to how I've seen others use this, I was told by the makeup artist to work this powder into the skin, buffing it in circles to make sure the foundation blends seamlessly with the skin instead of just sitting on top. The included kabuki is soft enough to do this and yet still holds enough density to apply a nice amount of powder. 

I like to add a bit more foundation to those areas where my skin is oilier and I have been using it on its own or over the Hourglass Mineral Veil primer. You could also use this over a liquid foundation or BB cream as a setting powder using a larger brush and applying it lightly. 

Finish and Coverage:

This is where this foundation shines and the reason why I purchased it! When the makeup artist was trying it on I was quite upset to be trying out a powder foundation as I hate a powdery dry look, and when directly applied it seemed dry and flat. Once it set on the skin it transformed into a soft, satiny airbrushed finish. No powder in sight. 

This powder is extremely finely milled and no matter how much you apply it never becomes cakey. This looks very natural and light on the skin and doesn't settle into my pores or drier areas. The finish is neither matte nor dewy, I would say it's like satin and very natural. I would even say it looked better and more luminous after some hours of wear!

As for coverage, if you like a natural and light foundation this will be perfect on its own. It evens out redness and small marks, blurring out pores and fine lines, but you will still need concealer for more noticeable imperfections. 

Lasting power is incredible on me as I get the same wear time but with less shine on my oily T-zone. This is probably one of the main reasons why I'm completely in love with this foundation! I think it'll be the perfect foundation for those of us with oilier skin. 

This photo was taken at 8:30 pm whereas the other two before were taken at 2.30 pm although the foundation was applied at 9:00 am! I didn't retouch at all in all that time and as you can see I haven't got any shine even after all those hours! (ps- the photos aren't edited although I did change lipstick!)

Final Thoughts:

I think Chanel has come up with a new concept of loose powder foundation. Long gone are the days of powdery cakey finishes, now we have a natural glowing look to our skin. 

You must take into account its light coverage, if you have imperfections it will be better to cover them first. I would also suggest drier skins to moisturize well and use a primer to reduce the risk of the powder highlighting drier patches. I didn't see that happening whatsoever but my skin is oily so I would suggest that you try it out first. 

As for the price, it is on the pricier side as it includes a kabuki brush (Price in Spain: 49.50 euros, in UK: 55 pounds) and even though I love it I wonder what I will do with all these kabukis if I get one every time I buy the foundation! Perhaps they should sell the powder individually to keep the price down.

Overall I am in love with this foundation and I have been reaching for it daily as it gives me a light, natural finish and yet I know it'll last all day without touching up!

Would you consider trying a loose powder foundation?