Claire's Compact Powder

Claire's Compact Powder is a basic makeup item for people who want to set shine, even out skin, or carry something small in a bag. By our assessment, it lives in the everyday powder category where portability and a quick matte finish matter more than luxury. The good part is obvious: compact powder is simple, familiar, and practical when a face needs a little cleanup through the day. The trade-off is that it is rarely exciting, and like many powders it can look dry if the shade or formula is not a match. In practice the compact format is the point, because it is easy to stash and easy to use without much ceremony. It sits alongside other drugstore-style face powders rather than anything elaborate. This is a product for routine touch-ups, not for dramatic makeup work, and that is exactly how it behaves. By our assessment, it is competent enough at the small job it is meant to do.