Your Favourite MAC Powder Dupe for only £3.99

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation was my first ever higher-end product and I used it religiously for many years. This was back when I considered putting powder on my face by itself as a full makeup look...

As much as I love MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, I couldn't afford to repurchase it every time I ran out, especially on my student budget. I wanted to find something similar that won't hit my purse as hard.

With my dry skin, I have a simple criterion for the perfect powder. I want the powder not settle into the cracks or highlight any of my dry patches and stop cream products from creasing on my face. I also wanted a powder that will even out my skin tone, which is why MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation had been a firm favourite of mine.

I choose to compare Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Warm Beige to MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in NC25 because they have the closest shade match that I could find, despite the fact that Rimmel's Warm Beige is slightly lighter and MAC NC25 has a more golden tone. Once blended, they look almost identical.

Price - Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is only £3.99 and the price has been the same for many years. You are likely to get it for cheaper with its frequent 3 for 2 deal as well. On the other hand, MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation is currently £23.50. I have noticed that the price has been going up slightly every year which is why I have stopped buying them. I have noticed that MAC rarely ever offer any discounts until very recently when they had a 20% off weekend. I expect MAC will offer more promotions similar to this in the future as a way to stay competitive against other makeup brands.

Packaging - For me, this is where the price difference really shows. I really like MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation packaging as it comes with a sponge applicator and a mirror. All packaged up in a sleek black plastic compact which is great for on the go touch up. Personally, I am not a fan of Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder packaging at all. The clear plastic screw lid looks cheap and flimsy. With its lack of an applicator, mirror and durable packaging. It's not made for travelling.

Texture - Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder has a coarser powdery texture and a little fallback. Whilst MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation has a more velvety texture and the powder looks like it melts smoothly onto your skin. 

Ingredients -  MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation contains Silica, which helps to maintain a matte finish by absorbing oils on the skin, as well as finely milled Talc to provide a smoother, less reflective, matte finish. When I had a normal skin type, I loved using this powder by itself as I find that it has great coverage and gave me a smooth and even skin tone.

Full ingredients: "Talc, Silica, Isostearyl Palmitate, Methicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol."

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder also contains talc. The second ingredient on the list is Mica. Mica's shimmering properties are usually used in powder makeup to achieve an illusion of smoother and radiant skin.

Full ingredients: "Talc, Mica, Magnesium Stearate, Polyethylene, Petrolatum, Phenyl Trimethicone, Dimethicone, Polybutene, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil/Huile Minerale, Propylparaben, Zinc Oxide, Parfum/Fragrance, Aloe Barbadensis, Polysorbate 20, Bht, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Butylparaben. [May Contain/Peut Contenir/+/-: Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Ultramarines (Ci 77007)."

Personally, I don't know a lot about ingredients in cosmetics but I have decided to provide the information for knowledge purposes and it's completely up to personal preference which one you want to go for.

Usage - Due to the lack of coverage that Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder provides, I only use it as a setting powder. I find that the powder tends to accentuate my dry patches but it does a good job at providing a matte look.

MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation gives a very good coverage and can definitely be used on an everyday basis to replace liquid foundation. I think that it will work better for people with normal to oily skin. If you have dry skin, you can still use this powder when you have exfoliated to get rid of your dry patches. For me, I don't use this powder anymore because I have grown quite fond of the dewy look for the past few years.

Despite the difference in price, I find that they both last quite well on my skin but the more problematic areas such as around the nose will require a touch up after a few hours. 
Recommendation - If you are looking for a setting powder on a low budget and are not worried about ingredients. I would recommend trying Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder as it does exactly what it says it was going to do. 
If you are a girl on the go that wants a compact powder to provide an even skin tone without a mess of liquid foundation. Then go for MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation.
Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder is available from Boots. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation is available from MAC.
Let me know what is your favourite powder below?

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