Did your last jar of loose powder have a screw-on cap and a plastic sifter tray?
Mine did, and when I turned the jar upside down to load the tray with powder, the sifter holes dumped too much product onto the tray. Powder got everywhere — too much for my powder brush, and so much product that even just opening the jar caused powder to spill onto the counter and my clothes. Definitely not the most efficient packaging imaginable.
I love loose powder, but those sifter holes have always bugged me. I’m sure I’ve wasted a lot of product over the years because of ’em, and, dude, at $20-$30 a pop those jars ain’t cheap. I started getting all MacGyver to control the flow of excess loose powder, covering half of the sifter tray holes with tape, but it never worked well.
You better believe I praised the makeup gods when I first laid eyes on Stila’s Hydrating Finishing Powder ($32). A couple simple enhancements to the packaging design make it the Lamborghini of all loose powder jars, yay!
A Flip-Top Cap: Not Just for Pressed Powder Compacts
Rather than the traditional screw cap used with loose powder jars, Stila went with a flip-top cap like the kind you get with compacts. A small thing, but it makes the product *that much easier* to open. Plus, the flip top snaps shut, so you can tell when it’s properly closed. I’ve had screw-on tops come unscrewed in a purse before and dump powder everywhere. Sometimes the threads on screw tops don’t line up correctly when you’re twisting them shut, and the lid can just pop off when you least expect it.
An Innovative Sifter
Stila also improved upon the design of the familiar plastic sifter tray. They added a plastic twisty to the sifter that lets you control how open and closed the holes are, like the lid on a bottle of Kraft Parmesan Cheese. It’s a small thing, but it’s extremely functional. And for added peace of mind when I want to pop this bad boy in my purse, all I have to do is twist the sifter to close all the holes.
Not to Mention, a Fabulous Powder
Not only is Stila’s powder cleverly packaged, the powder itself works great. On my skin, the translucent powder looks natural and never like it’s caked on or obvious. It feels light and weightless, and I can wear it all day long without feeling like I have makeup sitting on top of my skin. Plus, it doesn’t break me out and controls shine for hours.
Nowadays, it seems like makeup packaging is driven more by style than functionality, so good job to Stila for giving us packaging that actually works. I really hope to see more lines adopt that kind of thinking.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
parisb says
September 21st, 2008 at 9:44 pmThat is truly good packaging. Looks like Stila actually gave some thought to it 🙂
parisbs last blog post..Review: Makeup: The Body Shop Deadly Desires Duo Eyeshadow – Eucalyptus Grey
Shockingpink says
September 21st, 2008 at 9:48 pmthanks for the review.i’ve been looking forward to hearing about this.i’ll definitely try it out! i love stila!!!
Dao says
September 21st, 2008 at 9:59 pmWow, that’s what I call “innovation”, sister! Gotta give Stila design team some props 🙂 I’m really annoyed at the sifter sometimes and wish all mineral makeup companies will change to this system.
Daos last blog post..Karl Lagerfeld x Steiff: Teddy Bear Fierceness!
*Jen* says
September 21st, 2008 at 10:46 pmKaren I’ve been vacillating on whether I need this for months now. On the one hand I WANT this, but ont he other the last thing I need is another powder to add to my ever growing collection! The messiness acts as a deterrent, but otherewise it sounds great. Thanks so much for reviewing this!
*Jen*s last blog post..Yves Saint Laurent ‘Rouge Volupte’ Lipsticks: Reviews and Lip Swatches (#1, 7, 8, 10, and 17)
froo-gal says
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:44 amthank you for posting this! i’ve been looking all over the place for a decent finishing powder in not-crappy packaging! now i’ll HAVE to stop by Stila!
froo-gals last blog post..Sometimes, warranties are fabulous.
Glosslizard says
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:46 amI’ve been wanting to try this because I always have issues with powder exacerbating the dryness of my skin, it’s great to know that the packaging rocks too! I think it is time for a Sephora trip! 🙂
tokyostargirl says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 amYou got me drooling over this just for the packaging!!!
tokyostargirls last blog post..FOTD
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:34 amHi Paris B.,
I agree. Now if only all of my loose powders came with a flip top and a sifter like this one!
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 amHi Shockingpink,
You’re welcome. I am *loving* on Stila these days, too! 🙂
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 amHi Dao,
It would be really handy, wouldn’t it? Have a great Monday!
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 amHi *Jen*,
Girl, I hear that. I have a lot of powders, too. Do you have a favorite?
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:35 amHi Froo-gal,
You’re welcome! I’m glad to know I’m not the only person obsessed with decent powder packaging. I hope you like it.
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 amHi Glosslizard,
I have dry skin, too, and I’ve found it to be a very comfortable powder. I’ve worn it over Chanel Teint Innocence compact foundation (I know you’re a fan!) and it looks great.
Happy Monday!
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:36 amHi Toykostargirl,
It’s totally drool-worthy packaging, girlie! 🙂
Adina says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 amHey Karen!
If you want to talk innovation, you have to try smashbox halo perfecting powder. Its a pressed powder that you turn into a loose powder by twisting the top which then “grates” the pressed powder into loose. I absolutely adore this stuff!
Karen says
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 amHi Adina,
That sounds really cool — totally makes me think of a cheese grater and cheese. 🙂 How is the coverage?
Tekoa says
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:17 amHmmm…”hydrating” and “powder” does not compute. I’m interested though, especially since my skin has dried up like Death Valley. *shakes fist at Accutane* The wedding planning is progressing well. I went to my first Bridal Show yesterday and sampled several vareties of cake. Its a very solem duty.
Sminkan says
September 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 amExcellent post! Thanks for the tip! This will make me choose Stila the next time instead of Lancome….
Sminkans last blog post..Misa Fatal Affair
Kelly says
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 amI wanted to tell everyone that this powder rocks! My skin is dry as the Sahara and now that I live in a MUCH drier climate (wet FLORIDA TO California) it’s only gotten worse! I tried some of this at Sephora.. and when it settled in my skin…I wasn’t itchy!?! Hallelujiah! My skin felt hydrated.
Jessica says
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:56 amThanks you the review. I like all Stilas products that I currently own. I will definitely try it out.
*Jen* says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 pmKaren my favorite powder is definitely my La Mer Loose Powder. There are so many great powders out there, but nothing compares to the beauty of this one! It gives me a flawless finish that nothing else can come close to!
*Jen*s last blog post..Yves Saint Laurent ‘Rouge Volupte’ Lipsticks: Reviews and Lip Swatches (#1, 7, 8, 10, and 17)
Shefali says
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 pmHmmm…this is definitely product for thought. I use MAC’s loose powder and have never had a problem with how much comes out of the sifter, but this is tempting and I like the functionality. Not a big Stila person…but I might just try this.
Adina says
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:49 amHey Again!
I guess I would say coverage is medium. I am not a heavy foundation kind of gal so for me its perfect. It covers up minor imperfections, and it just makes me glow. I think its great for a low maintenance face or as a finishing powder.
Kelley says
November 20th, 2008 at 1:16 pmI know this post is a bit old, but this product has been on my mind lately. How would you compare this product to Laura Mercier’s translucent loose powder with regards to texture, finish, feel, etc? Thanks for your info and I loovveee makeup and beauty blog!!!
Lisa C says
April 21st, 2013 at 9:31 amI know this is late, but I just have to say that this is my absolute favorite powder of all time. I’ve tried many different ones and always come back to this one. AND, have you ever checked out how much product you get? Stila has so much more product than all the other one’s I’ve ever tested. I hope they never discontinue this one.