Review: Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder

The talk of the town for the past months is this powder housed in a small bottle (emphasis on the small bottle).  I got this for 800 pesos with shipping. I was too giddy to try it because of the raves online. I was surprised when I got my order. I never thought that the bottle was this small. I even told myself, "800 na ito?"! in a disappointed tone.  I tried to console myself the next day that I should not be fooled with the size of the product. The quality should be the reckoning point whether I should rave or rant over it. I immediately use it the next day. I used a powder brush in applying it all over my face while I use a sponge to set my concealer. I was waiting for that wow effect that practically everyone was saying when they use this powder. On the contrary, I was disappointed because my under eye makeup caked! (bigtime!!!!) I had to redo it again. One of the things I hate is redoing my makeup especially when I am in a hurry.  I figure that I might be applying it wrongly so I got myself a cheap flat top brush from Landmark ( which I am soo loving!!)  and this cosmetic puff. I have watched a video of Gossmakeup Artist before recommending the usage of a puff for a flawless makeup finish

To no avail, my undereye makeup still caked. :( The oil control power of this powder is not really good (Take note that I use this alone without any primer underneath and that I have dry skin). This can't withstand the humid weather of Manila! However, I noticed that the powder did not entirely disappear from my face after sweating rather it left my face a dewy finish. It feels velvety on the skin and blends very well. It feels so light and looks au naturel when applied. The powder is yellow in color, hence, the name - banana. The color is very versatile and can suit those with yellow undertones even those with darker skintone. I find it best to use with full coverage foundation because it does not add another coverage or layer.  It does not highlight the dry areas of my skin. I have also observed that this works best under cool conditions like inside an air conditioned room or in the mall, etc. A lot of people have been saying that this can be used as a a setting powder for highlighting the face. I think I need to buy a concealer 2-3 shades darker than my skintone to see this effect. 
I hate the huge holes in the bottle. It makes the product dispensation super messy. 

What I love about this powder:
  • The color is perfect for my skintone.
  • It feels very light on the skin and has that velvety texture.
  • Melts on my skin as if it was second skin.
  • Gives my face that flawless finish.
  • Works best with heavy coverage foundations.
  • It gives my DRY FACE a dewy finish at the end of the day. Take note that I have to retouch my T-Zone every now and then.
  • I love the texture it gives on my face very soft and smooth.
What I hate about this powder:
  • This powder is overpriced (I THINK). I do not know why it is sold for 750 pesos, it is not even a high product to start with. I saw sis Juju of www.kitshop.multiply.com sold this baby for a whopping 590 pesos!!!!!!! hmmm..
  • It cakes on my undereye! Oh boy, I have tried all the tricks and tools to make this  work and it just didn't work. :( I will try using this with Etude House's wedge sponge and a fluffy brush. 
  • Oil Control is not good. Please note that I tried this powder while commuting - bus, jeep, tricycle. Reading reviews on line made me realize two things - first most of them are foreign bloggers, thus, their weather and climate conditions are different from ours. Also, this stayed well on local bloggers because of primer!!! So that means that staying power can be attributed to the primer and not with powder? Am I right or am I right? haha 
  • Not travel friendly. It is so messy to use.
The loose powders currently in my stash.

I think that Ben Nye and Palgantong Theatrical Powder have the most similarities. They are both use for the theater. Both delivers a smooth application but Ben Nye has a BIT more velvety feel on the face. Palgantong, on the other hand, does not cake when used on my under eyes, it has a better staying power and this gives a truly brightening effect on my skin. Palgantong is hailed as the Star Powder in Japan!!! You can refer to the photos above. The Ben Nye Powder appears a bit streaky compared to Palgantong.  I would buy Palgantong than Ben Nye. Btw, the Palgantong Powder was one of my first powders after the tragedy to to Phoebe of http://www.phoebeann.me/
 for this. You can buy Palgantong from http://beautyandminerals.multiply.com. For finishing powder with mattifying effect, go for Krave's oil control eliminator.


Revlon Nearly Naked Plus Ben Nye Banana Powder

I think Ben Nye is just one of those over hyped products I wished I did not cave to.  I honestly think that it is not worth  the 800 pesos I paid for because in all aspects and degrees, it did not impress me.  Please do note that I have specifications in rating a product. For a powder - does it suit my skintone? Is it worth the money? Does it control my oilies? etc. Will I buy again? Never.

I do not want to rain on others' parade. This powder has the qualities others are looking for. Sadly, it is not for me. I am still contemplating if I will be selling my Ben Nye Powder.




Godbless everyone!!

 
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A blog of young Filipina lawyer and Professional Makeup Artist who found interest in makeup and blogging during her law school life. Peek into her blog to get a dose of ramblings about life, beauty and everything in between.

36 comments

  1. It is overpriced! I bought mine from Beautyholic Manila sa FB.. Php 800 for the big (3 oz) jar na and Php 450 for the small one (1.5 oz, like the one you have)!

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    1. whoa!!! ang mura ng bili mo!!! inggit mode ako!!

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    2. Oh so mahal. I got mine in trinoma "pure beauty" yata ang name ng store, 6 oz is nearly 700.

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  2. I agree!! i just got this recently and its really nothing special to me and it looks too yellow and dark on my nc25-30 skin tone

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    1. Yay!! Hi cydangie!! Enjoyed your recent tag video!!!

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  3. Yay sobrang mahal talaga. hihi.. so sad kasi ndi nagwork sau. Ung iba kasing nababasa ko o.a naman sa pag ka review? Kaya ung iba naaatat talaga bumili..ganun din ako minsan .. natry mo na sis with primer xa tas ganun parin b effect sau?

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    Replies
    1. it last longer with primer.. :)) However, I do not like using primers for everyday use..

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  4. hi, Donna! You got overpriced with 800pesos! I bought mine at Pure Beauty in Serendra for only Php300.00 for that same bottle. But I'd have to agree with you, I don't really like it that much. I find it grainy. BUt it's best to use as setting powder for my BB creams using a kabuki brush. I don't recommend using it to set concealer, because it's too grainy for me. To adjust the yellowness of the color, I mix it with my Lewis & Pearl face powder in a tub. So much easier to use that way.

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    1. OH EM GEEEE!!! pwede bang ireturn to sender ko itong ben nye!!! naloka ako ahh!!! nakakainis!! thanks Chryztyne for the heads up!!

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  5. It's overpriced kase ung friend ko she was asking for my cc 'cause she saw a website selling small ones for only $7 e. She wasn't able to buy one bec. her cc keeps on getting rejected for some reason. But we were so frustrated kase sayang, pwede panamang ibenta. Lol :D

    Kung yung maliit $7 magkano pa kaya ung malaki :)

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    1. AY naku Yette!! nakakainis talaga!! grabacious!! this ben nye is not even worth it! kaloka

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  6. baka po mahal din yung pinagbilhan nya bka reseller xa mahal ang kuha nya kya bnenta nya ng mahal. may bnilhan din po akoh nyan s multiply before sbi nya 740 lng yung 3 oz. kya lng nung pauwi n xa dto pinas pnagbyad dw xa ng custom kya add xa ng 360 pesos s price kya bnenta nya sken ng 1100. di dw po nya kc akalain pgbbyrin xa before dw nung umuwi xa di nmn daw. bka dpende po cguro un s knuhaan nya kya mhal den ang benta sa inyo :)

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  7. Hi Donna, pampalubag loob na yung 350 sa Pure Beauty ay ung Neutral tapos 600 yung ganito. Kakabili ko lang kahapon so nagamit ko na ngayon, gusto ko naman siya, kanya-kanya siguro talaga. :)

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  8. Over priced nga! :( i bought the bigger bottle at Make up pro for 800 only. It sucks when sellers take advantage of the product na na a-out of stock agad to sell it on a very steep price.

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  9. Thank you for your honest review!

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  10. Aww. Its really overpriced and sadly it doesn't work. I also read a lot of positive reviews about this powder, parang lahat gusto to, but I didn't order right away, I was quite hesitant because of the price din.

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  11. Ang mahal nga ng bili mo, I bought mine from Make up Pro. 600 lang yung malaki.

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    1. Whats the FB page of Make-Up PRO?

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  12. Super overpriced. :( I've been dying to try this as well, I hope it works well with my skin type.

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  13. That's the very reason why I didn't and wont cave in to this hype, THE PRICE :) I'm too cheap maybe, but I'd rather try the Fanny Serrano one. or any other loose powders like those from local brands. :) Thanks for your honest review,

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  14. Sis!!! It was great to finally meet you!!!!

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  15. Sisses,magingat kayo when purchasing products OL. A friend of mine who is a MUA just discovered this online shop selling fake Ben Nye Luxury Powder. Kilala itong online shop nato and to think na ang mahal pa niya magbenta ng products. So far, I've heard na Ben Nye palang ang fake sa products niya.

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  16. Try the yellow powder at mom & me...no difference at all and cheaper! Been using it since college.

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    1. i also use the same product since yr 2000 but cant find the store anymore. where do u buy yours? pls help i love that product!!!tnx!

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  17. Im using pagalantong and super tipid! Thanks for the review now di na ako bibili ng ben nye hahaha!

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  18. Palgantong rather

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  19. This by far is the best setting powder. I would definitely recommend this product to family and friends and whoever else is looking for an amazing setting power!!

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  20. I think there are more amazing products that will suit you! Thank you for this review :)

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  21. Your review is pretty straightforward! Thumbs up! Thanks :) but still i want to try it! Where can i buy the cheaper one again?

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  22. Hi! The Great Commission badge really caught my attention! I am also from CCF! :) That's so awesome!

    Absolutely good post about Ben Nye. I'm so into this product nowadays and was looking for reviews how other people apply it. Too bad you bought yours at a higher price, got mine from ebay for P650 but its already free shipping so I'm pretty contented with my purchase. We have the same reaction when I got mine because my parcel was so small and I was like "This is it? I thought the bottle will be huge."

    For the another anonymous who asked where you can get a cheaper Ben Nye, I heard that you can bought one at trinoma for P499 (the 1.5oz). Planning to buy my 3.0oz next time once I drop there. :) Perhaps you can check out ebay as well.

    My golly, I super like this product.

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  23. Sayang ngayon ko lang nabasa itong review mo about ben nye. Before ako bumili ng ben nye, nagbasa muna ako ng mga local blogs and i thought the reviews are promising. But heck, tama ang review mo, hindi nga ito pang humid weather. Tsaka hindi sya commute friendly. Kasi pag commute, may contact ka sa dirt and heat, kaya almost 1 hour lang nagtagal sakin itong powder. I sweat a lot, and sadly nawala agad ang effect ng ben nye.

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  24. I was about to order this. Thank God read your review. I sweat a lot. I think it's not for me too.

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  25. hi miss Donna! thank you for your review :)) can you make a review dun sa flat top brush mo na binli mo sa landmark? please? thank you!

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  26. Many of these comments say that it is so expensive but you are living in the Philippines where it is very common to find fake cosmetics and hate to break it to ya but 800 pesos is not that bad. If you think about it people abroad buy this off amazon for about the same price after taxes and shipping. I love this powder and also have dry skin. I usually use a powder puff dab it on my face and let it sit there for 2-5 minutes and then use a powder brush or a fan brush to sweep the powder. I say don't shoot it down so fast try the other colors they have to better match your skin tone. Love this product and for the price you pay it is worth the money. For insurance with the humidity in the Philippines I use this with MUFE setting spray. :))

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  27. Sorry to break it to you, but what you all guys probably bought are fake.. even at 800php for a 1.5oz is already cheap. If you'll check the price of Ben Nye of authorized retailers in Los Angeles, a 1.5oz bottle of Banana Powder is already at 16-16.50usd... plus 10% tax and shipping cost.

    Even at Ben Nye Co., Los Angeles located at Leewan Ave. does not have a retail store. You'll have to call them to tell you where you can buy their products. And in their website, they strongly dicourage buyers to look at Amazon and Ebay for their products as they are aware that there are fake versions being sold online. So please be careful.

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  28. sayang wala talaga ako mabilhan dito sa Davao nito Bha huhhuhuuuhuhuhuh

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