REVIEW: Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 (swatches+pics)

I had the chance to try Estee Lauder's Nutritious Vita-Mineral Loose Powder Makeup SPF 15 ($34 USD for 15g) when I received a sample of it a few months ago with an order I placed at the EL website.

Estee Lauder makes beautiful claims with this mineral foundation:

"Nutritious creates a healthy, radiant look.

Erases signs of fatigue.
Enhances the beauty of your skin with a natural, vibrant finish.
Oil-free.
Controls and absorbs oil, without drying skin.
Is gentle enough for sensitive skin."

I haven't given mineral foundation a chance since my makeup addiction started in 2007, mainly because my skin can't stand bismuth very well. I decided to check this one out since it mentions it's 'gentle enough for sensitive skin'. Though I knew it probably had bismuth (and it does), I thought maybe it wasn't in big quantities, or I should say, in a concentration that affects my skin as soon as I apply it. I guess I was right. I consider my skin looks great with this foundation and really believe EL's claims about it enhancing my skin with a radiant finish. I wouldn't say it's very sparkly (sadly, many companies equate radiant finish with sparkly ingredients and/or glitter!), but my skin looks...wow. Very refreshed.

I apply it using the method explained by EnkoreMakeup in this VIDEO. I use my Sigma 197 brush or my Coastal Scents Bionic Flat Top Buffer Brush. I pick some product, spray the brush with MAC's FIX+ Spray and then apply first by stippling the product on my face, then buffing it in. My skin then Iooks almost poreless! I think it does a decent job controlling oil, not top of the notch, but good. Intensity 3.0 works nice for my NC37 skin and IMO, it provides medium coverage at most.

But sadly, now comes the 'bad things about it' part:

--It tends to oxidize: my skin gets darker (and I have used it with/without primers, different primers, etc)

--My skin does start to itch a little if I begin to sweat a lot--and remember, I work at a construction site...so yeah. Sometimes I'm in my Site Office, sometimes I need to be walking around the whole site...

--I find it to be long lasting if I stay in a cool environment, but the foundation does transfer and rubs/off as soon as I start to sweat. So I have to be careful not to touch my face specially at work...which is kinda impossible.

All in all, I REALLY like it. I usually wear it on weekends. My skin has not reacted to it badly (i.e., pimples) except for the itching if I get hot. Though it never feels like the mineral powder I once tried from Physician's Formula. The horror, lol.

RATING: 4/5

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