Today we have a weird one to review. Perhaps one of the strangest makeup products I’ve ever encountered. Keep in mind though that strange and weird do not equal bad. 😉 In fact, sometimes it may be that great innovation you never knew you needed. What is today’s mystery product that could be such a ground-breaker? It’s the BECCA Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder. So, is it a fantastic new beauty revolution, or a gimmicky waste of money? Time to find out! 😉
What the hell is it exactly? It’s a semi-peachy-toned translucent powder, but with a twist. This ultra-fine powder is magically formulated with 50% water and glycerin. That’s right. It’s a “wet” powder if you prefer. A hydrating powder even. BECCA says that it “creates a mist-like sensation on skin.” They consider it to be not just a setting powder, but also a refreshing powder to be used throughout the day. Definitely has the sound of a horrible gimmick or a breakthrough innovation, right? 😄 BECCA uses words like “silky smooth,” “invisible,” “seamless,” “comfortable.” They claim it is “ultra-fine” and light-reflecting to “smooth and blur fine lines and imperfections,” and it’s supposed to work on all complexions. Honestly, it sounds too good to be true….
I can genuinely say that I have never experienced anything quite like this on the skin and much to my surprise, I actually agree with all of BECCA’s claims…well, not certain about the “all skin tones” since I’ve only tried it on myself, but it works great with my coloring. It is the strangest feeling to apply this on the skin because it really does feel damp and cooling. It seems wrong and troubling, but just go with it because it also feels so right. 😄 You’ll be thankful in the end! To apply, BECCA recommends swirling a kabuki brush into the powder and applying where desired. I absolutely agree with this technique and I think trying to use a puff of any kind would be a horrible mistake, not to mention a waste of product. For a brush, you don’t need anything too dense, so I’ve been using my Real Techniques Stippling Brush and it works beautifully. I haven’t tried it under my eyes yet because I just haven’t been brave enough. 🤫 For the rest of my face, I tend to tap my brush across the skin wherever I want to smooth things out, need more staying power or want some oil-control (rare these days though). Basically, I just put it everywhere…besides it feels so amazing on the skin that it’s fun to apply…and it feels so nice on the contact with the skin!
Once applied, the skin feels soothed, hydrated and just so comfortable. The Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh is going to be your new best friend if you lean towards dry skin. I don’t find it feels tight or drying on the skin at any point throughout the day. On the other side of that, it also keeps excess oils at bay without making skin look dull, lifeless or overly matte. And instead of accentuating dryness, pores, or other skin texture issues, it genuinely does blur all of it…and stays that way throughout the day. It’s a flippin’ miracle powder! Somehow it manages to do everything and I think it will work for any skin type. I have not tried it yet as a refresher throughout the day mainly because I have no need to refresh anything with this powder! My makeup is set and doesn’t budge, oils are under control, texture is minimized, and my skin is so, so comfortable all day long! The “mist” sensation doesn’t last long and you’re not left with anything sticky, tacky, or tight feeling on the skin. I really don’t understand how it works, but works it does! 🎊
Since this powder is so lightweight, it does have a tendency to poof all over. BECCA clearly took this into account and packaged it perfectly. They’ve gone with a combo of a mesh overlay on the opening topped with a plastic flip top to help keep the moisture sealed within the powder. Both coverings contain the ultra-fine powder pretty well, though you will lose a bit to the air with each use (most loose powders have this issue anyway and this literally just floats into the air never to be seen again so it’s not messy in the traditional loose powder sense). Having the mesh over the main “dispenser” means you don’t need to dump powder out to use it properly, thus minimizing waste. It’s still perfectly easy to dispense the powder – just dip the brush into the mesh and you’ll see powder filter onto the brush hairs. Often any extra powder dispensed seems to be sucked right back into the mesh, but should it not be, or if the jar is jostled around a bit, the extra plastic overlay not only keeps the moisture contained, but also prevents the powder from getting all over under the screw-off lid so that you don’t have issues with half of your powder spilling onto every surface it touches when you open the container. I really like this packaging and wish more companies would take a hint from the design. I suppose some could find it a bit fussy, but it really does minimize waste and mess. It’s genius!
I was absolutely expecting to be disappointed by this powder, or at best find it to just be a standard old setting powder, but I am so happy to say that the BECCA Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder lives up to every claim! It is pricey at $38 for 10g/0.35oz, but I just checked my former go-to setting powder – the Cover FX Perfect Setting Powder – and it is the same size. Still a somewhat expensive powder, but absolutely worth it! Whether you have dry skin (it’s fantastic on my drier skin) or oilier skin, I think you will be impressed with this powder. It really does do it all and it lives up to its claims, plus it feels so nice on the skin – perfect for warmer weather too! Absolutely a fantastic innovation in the rather boring world of translucent setting powders. I cannot sing the praises of BECCA’s Hydra-Mist Set & Refresh Powder enough!!!
3 Comments
This is such an amazing review! 😀
I’m so glad you enjoyed it & I hope it was helpful!
I really like this powder, though the cooling effect disappeared after 5 months of use (and I take care to keep the lids closed). It does keep oil at bay really well and works well with other water-glycerine based primers and foundations – gotta be careful about matching ingredients for best finish – but I find in a few hours it can settle into deep lines so I don’t use it much on my forehead and neck. I do find it leaves a tint to the skin so fair people beware.
Really, I find it’s a good powder that does its job of preventing the wet base products from breaking or creasing, and its wonderful packaging – the mesh! the double lid! – makes it a winner for me.