Nichido Final Powder vs BYS Matte Finish Loose Powder
I have been trying to search for a cheaper alternative for my Clinique Blended face powder. I think I found it! And it only cost me a small fraction from the usual amount I spend for my loose powder.
Goal: Cheaper, will blend and won’t cake on my liquid foundation, will stay put even under a hot summer day in the Philippines, won’t break me out, will last at least few hours, would only require few touch ups and plenty enough to last me a couple of months
Skin: Combination and oily skin
As much as I love my Clinique blendable powder so much, it was pretty expensive so I wanted to try out any drugstore brands that could serve as a cheaper alternative. So, I went to do an internet research and found quite few brands that offer loose powders for affordable prices. I found Nyx, Maybelline and a local brand Nichido (I was really curious with the Nichido powder because everybody is raving about it). I immediately went to SM North Edsa in search for the powders I found in the internet, unfortunately, I was only able to find one that fit my budget of 500 pesos (Nichido powder). So, I decided on picking BYS in case it has better formulation than the Nichido powder.
Packaging wise, they are pretty similar. Both have a clear body and black caps, with white text printed on the top. The Nichido powder significantly has more amount than the BYS powder. According to the packaging, the Nichido final powder has 25 grams, and the BYS powder only has 12 grams. The price is also significantly different. The Nichido only cost me Php 150 pesos (approximately US$ 3) while the BYS cost me around Php 400 (approximately US$ 8).
When I was buying the Nichido powder, to be honest, I was kinda suspicious that it will work on my skin tone because it was very pale in color. I was worried that it will be just like those white oil control powder that Korean brands sell as finishing powder to their BB creams/cushion (they sort of create this white mask on my face whenever I top it on my liquid foundation). It was also so cheap that I have this preconceived notion that it will not work like or as close as my Clinique powder would. It also contains specks of glitter that I thought will reflect light, and therefore will not be flattering in photos. I did swatch it on my hands, and it disappeared when I blended it out with a finger on my skin. I picked out “Creamy Glow” on recommendation by the sales lady.
At the BYS counter, I picked up their matte finish loose powder. The sales lady insisted that it is better than the Nichido one because it is matte and it doesn’t have the specks of glitter that the Nichido powder has. I notice that they have more shades than Nichido and it appears that they have colors that can cater for darker/morena skin which appealed to me more than the Nichido. I swatched it and like the Nichido powder, it disappeared in my skin. I notice that it was also darker in color than my Clinique powder so I was kinda expecting that it might make me look tanner than usual. I picked out “Sand Beige” as recommended by the sales lady.
When I got home I immediately compared my Clinique powder with the other two (Top, Middle, Bottom: Nichido Final Powder in Creamy Glow, BYS Matte Finish Powder in Sand Beige, and Clinique Blended Face Powder in #02 Invisible Blend). As shown in the picture, my Clinique powder is a bit yellowish in undertone (which is usually an indication that it will blend quite well with foundation and might offer some coverage), while the Nichido is paler in comparison, with the BYS powder being darkest in color out of all of them.
I actually tested each of the powders using my usual skin care and makeup routine. Since it is also summer here in the Philippines, I thought this will be the perfect time to test any makeup longevity and whether or not it will cake.
Skin care routine and foundation: Current moisturizer (The Face Shop Le March The Therapy Anti-Aging No Shine Hydrating Cream), Sun Block (Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence), Primer (Revlon Photoready Pore Reducing Primer), Favorite Foundation (Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer in True Beige), and Setting Spray (Maybelline)
For Day 1, I used the Nichido powder.
I do admit, I think I overdone it a little bit in this picture. I didn’t remove some of the excess powder using a brush when I applied the Nichido powder using a damp Beauty Blender.
The Nichido powder results are as follows:
Blend-ability: Very blendable (although I have to admit it is not that reflected in this picture) but it does adhere to the foundation quite well. It even keeps your foundation’s color (I was pleasantly surprised by this because not all powder does this)
Coverage: does not cover anything because it is translucent when it gets blended out
Longevity: It stayed for me for hours with very little touch up needed. Again, I was pleasantly surprised. I tried it under a hot summer noon and it still stayed intact with minor cracking on my sweatiest facial areas. It doesn’t look horrible like other powders would be after many hours at work.
Mattifying: It is mattifying and helps your foundation to be intact. I only had very minor shininess on my cheeks, nose and forehead. It works even better than my Clinique powder in this department.
Color: It does give a little bit of a white cast. However, you can easily fix it by brushing off excess powder after using a Beauty Blender and with a bronzer. I also notice that it doesn’t oxidize like other drugstore powders I used before. Also, very little goes a long way with this one (very budget friendly if I might say).
Baking not Caking: Thank God it is not caking like pressed powder does! And when I tried baking (which I didn’t do with my Clinique powder because it has the same color as my skin), it was freaking amazing. It kept my under eye makeup intact.
Messy Packaging: The supposed powder stopper or sifter does not inhibit the fall out of the product. A lot of the powder falls out whenever you open it.
Fragrance: It does have fragrance but not too much. It might be a concern with other people with sensitive skin.
Breakout: No breakouts at all.
For Day 2, I used the BYS powder.
I looked sad because I am. I was really disappointed with the BYS powder. At first it blended well, although it was a little bit darker than what I’m used to. However, after a while, it settled on my fine lines and textured skin. Because it is mattifying, it made my skin look drier than it should be. So yeah, it was a bad makeup day.
The BYS powder results are follows:
Blend-ability: Definitely blend-able using a Beauty Blender sponge
Coverage: Does offer a little coverage compared to Nichido most probably because of the pigment
Longevity: It does lasted me for hours on a hot summer day but because of how it appears on my skin I was hesitant in putting more for touch-ups
Mattifying, too mattifying: It is mattifying, too much to be honest. It settled on my lines, imperfections that should have been invisible under my foundation. It helped that I used setting spray to let my skin appear more hydrated. I don’t think girls with dry skin will like this formula.
Color: Darker for my liking. Their range does not have my color. It also oxidizes on my skin.
Texture: I notice that the powder tends to stick together to create very small powder balls (whenever I open the lid). Whenever I use a damp Beauty Blender it has a tendency to stuck together like a press powder. I’m not sure why it does, maybe it has something to do with the formulation.
Fragrance: Smells a bit like old makeup.
Breakout: No breakouts on this one either
Overall, I liked the Nichido powder more than the BYS one. I have been using it for the past few days and it has worked for me more than the other drugstore powders do. I’m definitely going to repurchase it. If Nichido can offer a yellow toned powder, or offer more color range I might even replace my Clinique powder with their powder.