AVON Final Touch Pressed Powder

(RRP is £4 from Avon, however they regularly have special offers on certain products)

This product claims to leave a 'flawless matt finish' which is absolutely perfect for my skin which has a tendency to be oily and shiny, especially on nights out. The packaging is black with a hint of pink - the pink being very hot and bright, but it does look a little cheap and tacky. I tend to find with AVON that certain products of theirs look really classic and classy but the Colour Trend ranges let the side down, they may be cheaper but they do look it too!

The pressed powder comes with a little black leather-esque puff pad which is really soft on my skin and is good to have such a lovely applicator. The issue though is that it drags and after a very short while can get 'destroyed' and roughened.

The colour looks quite dark in the palette but on my skin comes out a tone which suits me well. The powder also smells absolutely gorgeous - perfumey and powdery without the expected 'old woman' type smell. It's flowery and smooth on my skin. I use this over the top of my make-up to essentially 'seal' it as well as prevent shine on my skin. It does work really well and finishes off my make-up wonderfully. I've read from the website reviews that some people simply where this as foundation - for me the coverage would be too little as it is just a powder but if you're confident and fancy something to stop shine for 3 - 4 hours this is perfect. Again, the price reflects the product and it's what I'd expect for £4 - I'd go as far to say it's better than expected.

Natural Collection Pressed Powder

(Boots, £1.99/10g)

I picked this up from the Natural Collection as an alternative to my Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder which I found wasn't working. They differ very much in price and I must say this is definite value for money. I picked this up in neutral although it's also available in cool and warm.

It claims that it reduces shine on your skin's serface, sets foundation and finishes faces without adding colour or texture. This is perfect for me - although I have combination/shiny skin I do lean more towards the oily side and suffer from shine across my T-zone and lower cheeks. Of course this is a massive pain. My Rimmel powder used to stay clear of this but recently hasn't been as affective and kept breaking in the pot - very annoying!

The formula itself is powdery but not too chalky and does exactly as it says. One sweep over the areas that get shiny and I'm set to go. It doesn't look too obvious and leaves my skin feeling nice and soft without feeling dry. The only downside in fact is that it does make my foundation look a bit plain, disappointing considering its statements that it doesn't add colour. However - I blame this on the fact my foundation is relatively darker than my skin but I've chosen a pale pressed powder. It does blend in well though which is a saviour.

This is a very impressive product considering the price tag and how little product is needed so it has longevity as well. I'm really happy with this and it's in tact still several months after buying it!