Urban Decay The Velvetizer Review & Swatches
Urban Decay The Velvetizer Translucent Mix-In Medium ($34) is a new silica matte finish powder that can be used to set makeup or used as a mix-in to make any foundation matte in finish. Sounds interesting? At first, I thought it was but after thinking about it a little bit I was like, “Well, maybe Urban Decay is just being a little extra with their marketing!” You know, trying to sell you snow in the Summer because in reality what this is a very, very silky powder but that’s all it is a powder. And you can basically use any powder you have and mix it in with your foundation should you like.
Here’s some deets.
Urban Decay The Velvetizer scores major points for being a very, very soft, silky, fine-milled powder. It has a cool, slippery silicone-like texture that we all know our many dealings with silica transparent powder. I think Urban Decay did perfect the texture though. It’s a very fine, silky consistency and for that alone I’ll rave it.
However, at the end of the day it’s pretty much your a regular old transparent powder that gets a little boast of excitement because Urban Decay decided to attach “Mix-In Medium” to the name and recommend you go all Tom Cruise Cocktail and mix it with your regular cream foundation to create an entirely new, matte finish one. Because really, suddenly plain old setting powder takes on a new meaning if it means you can cocktail, mix, and create something new with it right? Don’t act like you were semi-intrigued when you read about this because I know I was like! “Oh! Interesting!” but it quickly occurred to me, “Well, I already have a slew of transparent powders, I can do the same thing with any of those right?”
The Velvetizer isn’t a powder I need nor is it something I’d make use of. I have dry skin and try to avoid setting with powder. I admit Urban Decay’s formula is lovely and it applies quite well but user beware, it does leave behind a white cast so a little goes a very long way. I wouldn’t say it’s going to set your makeup for complete all day oil and shine-free finish. You’ll get some mattifying from it but nothing that’s going to completely curb oil for the day.
Before I talk about the mixing process, which is really what probably has you most curious, I’ll tell you a little about the packaging. You see, at the time, everyone at Urban Decay was sitting around and obviously having a late night and possibly a bit overtired when they decided it would be a good thing to house powder in a jar that contains a velvet label. Head desk, repeat, again and again. Like the original Naked Eyeshadow Palette, this has a velvety label that surrounds the jar. Sure, it’s pretty and purple but after a while it is going to get incredibly grimy and gross. Not a smart packaging choice to say the least. It’s 0.28 oz in size and $34 which depending how you see it might be a tad expensive if you’re keeping Etsy and indie mineral companies in mind when making your purchase as we all know for ten bucks you can get yourself some good silky silica at any number of indie stores.
Now the fun part….!
Mixology!
I actually found the mixing process incredibly messy. It’s difficult to shake a dime-size amount of powder out and combine it with cream foundation but where there’s a will there’s a way. After mixing it with a few different foundations (Too Faced Born This Way, Hard Candy Glamoflauge Mix”�in Pigment Makeup Drops, and even Urban Decay Naked Foundation) I just felt it made the creams stiff and difficult to blend. It turned the creaminess of the foundations into a very powder, thicker texture that seemed to pill on my face as I applied it. It wasn’t a good look to say the least. I suppose if you’re oily you might see better results but being dry it wasn’t a good luck.
In the end, Urban Decay The Velvetizer is a very fine, silky powder but that’s all it is. Which means if you already have one in your stash that you’re using daily you really don’t have to run out to buy this one.
Urban Decay The Velvetizer is available now at sephora.com.