And in this corner.... HD powder comparison

A few years ago, I tried MAKE UP FOR EVER's (MUFE) HD Microfinish Powder and fell in love with it. However, it's pretty pricy and I kept my eyes open for a cheaper alternative.

A I found it! e.l.f. has a much better priced alternative that is identical in my eyes.

on the left: MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Microfinish Powder ($30 for .35 oz)

on the right: e.l.f. Studio High Definition Powder ($6 for 8 grams, or 0.28 oz)

Both are colorless, mattifying finishing powders that can be used on all skintones- don't let the white color scare you. It virtually disappears on your skin. I absolutely cannot tell the difference between the two products.

AND, I actually prefer the e.l.f. container- you can see that is it larger. I like to tap a bit of powder in the lid and dip my powder brush in the lid before I apply. The lid for the MUFE powder is so small, it's hard to tap the powder in the lid without loosing product to the counter and making a huge mess. The lid for the e.l.f. powder is much bigger and there's less chance of powder flying out.

Bottom line: I see no reason to purchase the MUFE powder over the e.l.f. powder. Buy the budget alternative and spend the extra $24 on something else!

e.l.f. often runs specials, and thru today, they are offering free shipping on orders over $13.50 if you use code FREESHIP, plus ebates offers 5.5% cash back if you start your shopping there. I recommend checking out their studio brushes (you NEED a contour brush for your crease) or Warm Bronzer ($3!) if you are looking for other items to purchase.

And in this corner.... Clarisonic Mia vs. Olay Pro-X

I've been using a Clarisonic Mia on and off for a few years and really like it. I recently heard that Olay's Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System was a good budget alternative, so I ordered one and put it to the test to do a comparison.


On the left: Clarisonic Mia Skin Cleansing System ($99 at Sephora.com. In my state, sales tax is about 8%, so the total price is about $108.)

On the right: Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System(about $30 at Walmart, but can frequently be purchased from Amazon for cheaper: right now it's just $24 and eligible for Prime with no tax or shipping.)






Similarities:

1. Both claim to cleans skin/remove makeup 6 times better to basic cleansing. Both come with a small tube of cleanser.


2. Both claim to allow skincare products applied after use to absorb better.


3. Both are water-resistant and can be used in the shower.

Differences:

1. Olay's Pro-X has a smaller head and does not come with a brush cover.


2. Olay's Pro-X uses traditional AA batteries while the Clarisonic has an internal rechargeable battery. The Pro-X battery cover can be difficult to remove, but after reading reviews at Amazon, I didn't have a problem.


3. Olay's Pro-X simply spins the brush around in a circle at two choices of speed, while the Clarisonic uses sonic frequency to move the brush back and forth at more than 300 times per second, but at only one speed.


4. The Clarisonic has an auto-shutoff after one minute of use, while the Olay Pro-X does not.


5. There are five brush options for the Clarisonic such as Delicate and Deep, and they retail for about $40 for two. Only one type of Pro-X replacement brush is available, and it retails for $8.50 for two.

Bottom line: To me, there is not enough difference in cleansing to justify the price difference of $100. In fact, I believe the smaller brush head of the Olay Pro-X made it easier to use on small areas like my nose. If I were purchasing just one, I'd recommend the Olay Pro-X.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon referral links.