These are two very powerful brands in the make up industry which I want to compare. Not by brands though, but by product itself.
Mac MSF Natural (MSFN) is priced at S$ 47.00
Chanel Vitalumiere Powder (CVP) is priced at S$ 93.00
That is a mere S$46 difference. (You can actually purchase an 2 MAC MSF for the price of 1 Chanel!)
Texture:
CVP is the most refined and smooth powder I have ever touched before. It is super silky smooth even the compact is very fragile as you can see form the broken lines and cracks on my compact due to an epic fall. The powder has a nice rose scent which is a signature scent to many Chanel products.
Packaging:
MSFN has a matte plastic container with a printed logo on the front and consist of 10g of pressed powder.I love how it is easy to carry around and does not occupy much space in my make up pouch. MSFN does not have a mirror in it, I don't even mind about it though.
CVP also has a glossy plastic container with a deboss of logo on the front of the compact and consist of 13g of pressed powder. Due to its wide slightly bigger than a plam size compact, it takes quite a space in my make up bag which makes me just throw it in my purse. I dislike the packaging being so glossy that I can see my fingerprints on it at all times. The CVP also has a mirror in it.
Applications:
Unlike the MSFN, CVP packaging includes a flat soft brush and a square sponge. I must say, i did used both of them. So definitely a good say for me in this review entry. For the brush bristles, i find that it is a sheer- to med coverage. It is great for setting my face after a liquid foundation. As for the sponge, which is my best applicator for this powder, gave me a med to good coverage. Not fantastic but good. I can even use this as a powder foundation on my face and still look good.
It is a hit and misses when it comes to MSFN powder. Sometime I love how it looked on my face and sometime i dont. I feel it is too grainy in a way that I can see and feel the powder on my face. I have tried applying it with a brush. Coverage is sheer to medium no matter how I apply it be it brush or a sponge. This is perfect for setting powder but not as a powder foundation for me.
Experience:
CVP illuminate my face making me look so radiant. The fine powder nicely settles on my skin and does not shift. However, this powder do oxidizes on me hence the shade colour I took is slightly lighter than my skintone. It takes at least about 3-4 hours to oxidize to my skintone shade. I wore this almost everyday as a setting powder if not a foundation itself on days where i do not need any heavy make up on my face. It last a good 6 hours, which then my face will gradually turn oily. This powder was not suppose to be for oily skin users. And I have an oily skin, it does not make my face even oilier though.
As for the MSFN, it somehow does not make my face too flawless. It is just a powder which i could set my face with. Almost translucent to me. I do not see why people rave about this product but I believe in the saying "to each his own". The powder surprisingly does not break out on me because the Mac Studio Fix and Mac Studio Powder broke out on me badly. So this is a green light to most of you with sensitive skin. But dont quote me on that because not all skin types are the same. This powder made my make up last a good 4-5 hours after which my face will turn oily.
Verdict:
It definitely boils down to what your needs are. Do you want a powder to just set your face with? Or do you need a powder which can illuminate your skin. My personal preferences, I prefer the CVP even though it cost more, but it is a powder which does everything for me, set my powder, powder foundation, illuminator, blotter and more! It works so well for me that I hardly touch my MSFN anymore.
So its your call. Thanks for reading this super detailed review!