Review: Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder

My fellow oily-skinned girls, have I got a treat for you! Hate having your make-up melt off your face or having to blot every few hours? Let me introduce you to a product that worked miracles for me: Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder.

I finally, after many years of searching, found a foundation I was completely and utterly in love with (MAC Pro Longwear, for reference), so now I just had to find the perfect setting powder for it. I wanted something that was long-lasting, wouldn’t cake and would keep my oil under control. Enter Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder, my gift from the cosmetics gods.

De-Slick Mattifying Powder is a translucent finishing powder that is designed to set make-up and provide oil and shine control throughout the day. The powder comes in a purple compact that feels sturdy and has a satisfying weight to it; it’s small enough to be very travel-friendly but it doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy at all. The compact itself is also quite pretty.

Although the powder is white in the pan, it’s invisible once applied on the skin. There is no tint to it at all, making it workable on multiple skin types and tones. Since the powder is completely translucent, it doesn’t cake and it doesn’t look or feel as if I’ve put anything extra onto my face. It’s like an invisible oil barrier.

I’ve been using this product for about two months now and I still cannot believe how well it works. I am oily all over, not just in the T-zone. I’d grown accustomed to having to constantly re-touch my make-up throughout the day or sneak a peek in mirrors to make sure my foundation wasn’t melting up my face. But with De-Slick, all that worrying is history.

I have never found anythingthat controls my oil as well as this, plus I adore that it doesn’t disturb my make-up at all. I can dust it over my face and it doesn’t move around my foundation or make my face look powdery. I used to have to use blotting papers multiple times a day, but with De-Sick, I only have to use them maybe once all day, if at all. Or instead of blotting papers, I can simply pat on a bit more De-Slick and I’m good to go.

The compact comes with a cute little sponge which sits nicely inside:

However, I’ve found I get better results by dusting on the powder with a big, rounded, fluffy brush. I use my Bare Escentuals Flawless Face Brush, but if you have anything similar, that should work just fine. The sponge works well for touch-ups, but I feel a big brush makes it easier to distribute the powder for all-over application and that method of application seems to give me better initial oil control as well. You don’t need much, just a gentle dusting across the face. I typically put a little extra on my chin, since that’s where I tend to get oiliest throughout the day.

At $32, it’s on the pricier side, but you get a lot of product here (11.4 g) and a full application does not require much powder. After about 60 days of near-daily use, I don’t even see a dent in the pan. De-Slick also comes in a gel and spray format. I’ve never tried the gel and while I really like the spray, I feel the powder is a little more effective for me personally. (You could even use the powder in conjunction with the spray if you like—sometimes I do!) Your mileage may vary, but personally, this is one of those rare products that if it were ever—God forbid—discontinued, I would easily buy up a whole back stock without a moment’s hesitation. I love, love, love this product!