Happy late mornin’, ladies. 🙂 Here’s some good news to go with your afternoon tea or coffee — the makeup world’s latest gift to oily gals, Benefit Matterial Girl ($24).
Previously only available in Asia, it’s a loose, blendable mattifier — an ultra-sheer beige powder to camouflage even the greasiest patches (I use it on my forehead and nose) and create a fresh, matte look for use from dawn till dusk.
Cutie pie packaging
The pink bows on the jar had me at hello…
For starters, I love how compact it is (it fits in my palm) and that it doesn’t take up a lot of space in my makeup bag.
This bad boy takes me back…
I remember dancing to Madonna’s Material Girl (I had that shizz on tape) as a kid, rewinding for DAYS. I still hold out hope of one day being carried across a stage in a pink dress, le sigh. 🙂
Application tips
Although it comes in just one shade, it was developed to flatter a rainbow of skin tones. I’d call it a sheer beige tint. I bet it’d work well for most gals, but I’m guessing pale-to-medium skinned beauties will be able to rock it hard.
But if your coloring is similar to mine or darker, well, you may have to get a little creative with how you use it.
Consider ditching the washable puff applicator that it comes with. The thing deposited WAY too much product on me, resulting in a noticeable and heavy beige cast on my skin.
I found that applying Matterial Girl with a fluffy powder blush instead, using an uber-light touch, seemed to minimize the cast in both flash photography and daylight.
The bottom line
So far I’m really liking Matterial Girl. It hasn’t broken me out (knock on wood!), tames oily shine and looks flawless when applied with the right tools and technique.
For now Matterial Girl’s a Benefit online exclusive, but I’ll let you know if/when I hear anything otherwise. Hopefully Benefit pushes it out to counters soon. 🙂 Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: B+
Another day…
I’m feeling much better today than I felt yesterday, thanks to some tabby TLC, a bucket o’ Haagen-Daz and a few precious extra hours of sleep.
I’m amped about new playlist too. So far I’ve got Higher Ground by Stevie Wonder, Breathe by Fabolous and Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz (hot!).
I hope you’re having a great Wednesday so far. Let’s keep on keepin’ on!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Numbah 5 says
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 amOoh Lenny! *swoon*
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 pmHi Numbah 5,
Number five is alive! LOL, sorry, I couldn’t resist!
Michelle says
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 amLove the packaging! And for some reason, when I turned 35, my skin decided to revert back to my skin at 15 and become mega-oily again (what up with that??). I definately need this as a mattifier! 🙂
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:38 pmHi Michelle,
I’ve noticed that my skin has changed a LOT since I hit my 30s. One thing that doesn’t seem to go away is the pimples. 🙁
Have you tried MAC Blot? That’s another good one!
Sheila says
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:09 pmThe guy you pointed to in the Material Girl shot was my dance teacher, Karis. He was the best dance teacher I ever had. He was straight too, unlike most of the other dancers in that video.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:11 pmHi Sheila,
That’s so awesome! I gotta share my Six Degrees of Madonna connection — my high school drama teacher was an extra in Desperately Seeking Susan.
Kelly says
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pmHi Karen,
I love all their packaging, I can hardly resist! I just went to their store in SF 2 weekends ago (the one next to the MAC store) for the first time and wanted to move into the store it was so damn cute!
.-= Kelly’s last blog post… Zoya MatteVelvet Winter 2009 =-.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 pmHi Kelly,
That show is so much fun. I always feel like I’m just hanging out with the girls when I’m there.
Did you end up getting anything?
gio says
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:47 pmThe packaging is soo cute! I really want to try this but my skin is very pale so I don’t think it’ll suit me. 🙁
.-= gio’s last blog post… QOTW: In what order do you apply your makeup? =-.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pmHi Gio,
It’s *very* sheer — the beige probably won’t even register on you. Give it a go!
Sheila says
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pmKaren, I’ll share with you your six degrees of Kevin Bacon connection. I used to work with his sister.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pmHi Sheila,
Too funny! Do they look alike?
Steph B says
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pmHow does this compare to Bare Minerals new matte powder? They have a range of colors so I’m wondering if it is a heavier coverage.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:36 pmHi Steph B.,
Hmm, I can’t say. I used Bare Minerals once years ago, and it totally broke me out so I’ve stayed away from their foundation/powder.
jennifer says
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:08 pmI am so getting this..i think this will work great for me..thank you for doing a review..i will put this on my never ending list of things to get..lol
.-= jennifer’s last blog post… Lali Amora give away on her blog =-.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:35 pmHi Jennifer,
LOL, you and me both, girlfriend. My list is like miles and miles long!
meimei says
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pmOh, helloooo there Lenny! I am so going to go your way!
Topic: Yeah, I’d imagine that this is the kind of powder that would work on tanned skin if you use a big fluffy powder brush. I’d probably give it a shot, though – and now that I know that it’s available in Asia (I’ll check if any of the BeneFit sellers I’ve seen here in the Philippines might have it) I should keep an eye out when it becomes available.
.-= meimei’s last blog post… From the Vaults of Hacienda de Meimei: I Love the Nineties!!! =-.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:34 pmHi Meimei,
LOL! Ohmygosh, have you seen pics of he and Lisa Bonet’s daughter, Zoe? When did she grow up?!?
I hope you can find this powder someplace nearby. I have a feeling it’ll be able to stand up the P.I. heat and humidity.
Rachel says
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:31 pmYour comment about music for your playlist made me think…you mentioned the other day that you’ve been getting into Black Star recently. Do you have the song ‘Definition’? I think it’s probably my favorite 🙂
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 pmHi Rachel,
Nope, I don’t. Thanks for the rec — I’m gonna check it out right now. 🙂
Marisol says
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 pmThat packaging is cute! The one thing that I don’t like about benefit is their applicators. Like with Coralista or Hoola. how the heck are you supposed to use that crappy brush that it comes with? me no likey!
.-= Marisol’s last blog post… Another survey… =-.
Karen says
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 pmHi Marisol,
Yeah, I pretty much ditch most of the applicators that come with. I end up losing them anyway!
Although those lil’ sponge applicators do come in handy for smudging and for getting concentrated color in the outer V.
meimei says
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:51 pmKaren, I was just thinking the same thing about Zoe Kravitz recently – I had no idea she’d grow up so fast to become such a beautiful young lady!
As for P.I. humidity… yep, I could totally use every single mattifying product out there to counter all that sweating. It’s a good thing that most of my makeup is already in powder form – even if my skin hasn’t been oily in the last 15 years. :O
.-= meimei’s last blog post… From the Vaults of Hacienda de Meimei: I Love the Nineties!!! =-.
Karen says
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 amHi Meimei,
I’ve only been to the P.I. once (’bout 10 years ago), and I distinctly remember the how heavy the humidity felt. It was almost like you could feel it weighing your shoulders down!
Did you recently move out there? For some reason I thought you were from Hawaii.
Michelle says
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:35 amKaren, does MAC Blot hold the oilies at bay — or is it more of a touch up powder? I have been using the Rimmel Stay Matte — it is okay (plus, its like only $5 — cheap), but looking for something better. Maybe I’ll give the MAC blot a try!! I curse my oily skin daily 🙂
Karen says
September 3rd, 2009 at 7:56 amHi Michelle,
I think it does a great job of sucking up all the oil. When my skin was extra oily in my 20s it held up!
I’ve had people tell me that oily skin is a blessing in disguise! Dunno about that… 😉
Marce says
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 amI love this video of Lenny’s – and his dread locks. Hotness! The drums in that song are awesome…and how cool is the drummer? (Is that how you say it?) Go girl! 😀
As I’ve probably said a zillion times, I can’t get Benefit here but I read a comment above and might just give MAC’s Blot Powder a go. How about Prep & Prime powder? Is that good at controlling oil?
.-= Marce’s last blog post… MAC Euristocrats II – Swatches =-.
Karen says
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:16 pmHi Marce,
Yup, that’s how you say it! 🙂
I would TOTALLY go Lenny’s way, LOL!
Prep & Prime is pretty good at oil control, but to be honest, I prefer the lighter look of Blot Pressed.