Review: L'Oreal Mat Magique

At the beginning of the year, I wished for magical and incredible things to happen. The new Mat Magique All-in-One Matte Transforming Powder by L'Oreal Paris is proof that my wish may have been granted.

Am I exaggerating? Maybe. But seriously, if you've grown tired of dewy looks and/ or you want to try a more modern and matte look, then this product is heaven-sent.

I have been using my Mat Magique for almost three weeks now, and I love it because it offers:

12-hour matte and shine-free face. My officemates make fun of me because I'm that kind of girl who has to retouch her powder and lipstick before she leaves her office cubicle to grab lunch or snacks. What can I say? You never know when you'll meet your destiny or an old enemy, and it's always best to be prepared. Mat Magique lessens my touch-up time because it keeps my face shine-free from the time I apply it until I get home from work! It's worth noting though that I don't have extra-oily skin. If I do see some shine, all I have to do is blot and go. How does it do this? 30% of the Mat Magique formula is made of volcanic perlite, a natural, non-irritating sebum absorber that controls oil all day. According to L'Oreal Paris, this is the highest concentration of this shine-busting ingredient in a makeup product to date. This is perfect for busy yuppies who don't have time to worry if they still look presentable because they're busy shuttling to and from meetings.

Flawless and full coverage. I don't have problem skin and I only get a zit when Aunt Flo's about to visit, but some of my pores near my nose could use some help. Aside from keeping the oil at bay, I love that Mat Magique minimizes the appearance of these imperfections. It feels light on the skin, too!

Superior UV protection. SPF 34/ PA+++. Enough said.

For those who are not familiar with PA+++ (no judging here; I just found out what it means while researching for this post, LOL), here you go:

The PA rating system is used to indicate the UVA protection. The PA rating system ranges from +(least) to +++(most). There is no UVA protection rating system currently recognized by the FDA in the States. The PA system is mostly found in Asian products. (source)

All these, and it's only P499! Refills are sold for P399 each, which I'm sure you won't mind getting instead after you hit the pan because the Mat Magique compact doesn't feel flimsy at all.

Mat Magique is available in five shades: R1 (Rose Ivory), N1 (Nude Ivory), N2 (Nude Vanilla), G1 (Vanilla Ivory), and G2 (Golden Ivory).

L'Oreal Mat Magique in Rose Ivory

Now pardon the succeeding extreme closeups of my face; I needed to show you photos of the powder at work. (⌒_⌒;)

These photos were taken on January 1. My family went to Malinta to celebrate the new year with my aunts, maternal grandparents, and cousins.

Artificial lighting on the third photo because it was already night-time. I wanted to stay up and test it for as long as 12 hours but I was the only one remaining awake in the household and it was already way past my bedtime, heh.

These photos were taken on January 2. My aunt, two young cousins, and I went shopping.

My skin was being extra kind (thanks, skincare regimen!) and it wasn't that time of the month yet so no zits, but you may notice my pores.

Look Ma, no pores!

A few hours of shopping, chasing after one naughty toddler, and travelling to and from SM North EDSA later, my hair got noticeably more frizzy but aside from that, no shiny face as well! No retouching done!

Meanwhile, this photo was taken when I got back to the office after the Mat Magique media preview where our photos were taken by none other than BJ Pascual.

OH MY GOD, LOOK AT THAT FACE
Why can't I look like that every day??

Thanks to Anjie Gogna for my makeup! She used Golden Ivory on me and I find this shade suits me better. She also advised me to just use Mat Magique on my T-zone (forehead and nose) since I have combination skin.

Watch this space, because more photos from the media preview and a giveaway are coming soon! In the meantime, you may check the #BelieveinMagique hashtag in Instagram to take a peek at this amazing product and the fun event we had!

Have you tried Mat Magique? How did you find it? Mat Magique is now available in L'Oreal Paris counters nationwide so swatch to find your shade if you haven't yet!

Disclosure: The product was sent to me by L'Oreal's PR team but I was not required nor compensated to write this review. All opinions are my own. Please see my blog's complete Disclosure Policy here.