My Face Was a Greasy Mess, So I Caved
Listen, I have the kind of skin that could probably fry an egg by 2 PM. I was scrolling through my feed, probably avoiding actual work, and this USHAS Powder kept popping up. Every video showed someone with a flawless, matte finish that lasted all day. I was skeptical—honestly, I’ve been burned by hype before (looking at you, overpriced primer that did nothing). But my current powder was basically just expensive chalk. So I figured, what’s another thirty bucks down the beauty rabbit hole?
First Impressions: Not What I Expected
When it arrived, the packaging was… fine. It’s a sleek black compact, nothing groundbreaking. I opened it up, and the powder itself felt insanely soft. Like, baby-soft. I dipped my brush in, expecting a cloud of product, but it’s not crazy messy. Here’s the thing though: the shade range is a joke. I got the “universal” one, which is a gamble. If you have very deep or very fair skin, you might be out of luck, which is a major bummer.
I applied it over my usual foundation. Can you believe this? The moment it touched my skin, that dewy (read: oily) shine just vanished. Poof. It didn’t look cakey or settle into my smile lines immediately, which is my usual powder tragedy. I was impressed. I went about my day, which involved a lot of running errands in humid weather.
The Real Test: A Full Day
I gotta say, the oil control is no joke. Usually, my T-zone is a reflective beacon by lunchtime. With this stuff, I checked at 3 PM and my forehead was still matte. Not “kind of okay” matte, but genuinely blotting-paper-free matte. It blurred my pores a bit too, which was a nice bonus. I didn’t even think about touching up until like, 6 hours in, and even then it was just a light dusting. For someone used to reapplying every two hours, this felt like a superpower.
Let’s Be Real, It’s Not Perfect
Okay, time for some honesty. That “concealer” and “contour” part in the name? Don’t rely on it for major coverage or sculpting. It’s a setting powder with a slight tint. If you have big red spots, you’ll still need concealer underneath. Also, if you go overboard, it can start to look a tiny bit powdery on dry patches. My advice? Use a fluffy brush and a light hand.
I made a quick comparison chart for you lazy folks (no judgment, I am you).
| Feature | USHAS Powder | My Old Drugstore Powder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Around $31 | Around $9 |
| Oil Control | Lasts 6+ hours, seriously matte | Lasts 2 hours, then it’s grease city |
| Finish | Soft, blurred, natural matte | Often cakey or chalky |
Final Verdict? I’m Keeping It
So, after using it for a solid month—through workouts, long workdays, and one very awkward first date—I’m a convert. Is it the only setting powder you’ll ever need? Maybe not if you have dry skin. But for my fellow oily-skinned humans who are tired of the constant shine battle, this is a legit game-saver. The price is higher than drugstore, but you use so little and it actually works, so it feels justified.
The limited shades are a real flaw, USHAS, if you’re listening. Fix that. But for the performance on oil control alone? Yeah, it’s worth the hype for me. It’s found a permanent spot in my makeup bag, right next to my trusty lip balm.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. I’m gonna go reapply this powder and pretend I have my life together. Let me know if you try it!
