PP12: Bourjois Java Rice loose Powder

Today I’m showing a product that sat collecting dust in my makeup drawers for years:

The Bourjois Java Rice loose Powder:

I got mine in 2013, in an anniversary set that contained a bunch of products, and it stated that it was limited edition:

But I guess this product proved to be popular because it’s now available alone, for about $16 for a 3.5g jar.

The Java Rice Powder is one of Bourjois oldest products and for their 150th anniversary, they reinvented the product with an updated packaging based on the original vintage style:

Source.
Bourjois claims:

A delicately scented feather-light powder that lights up and smoothes complexion in one step. Its radiant and velvety finish right away creates a youthful glow. One translucent shade is universal and lights up all skin tones.

I got this powder specifically to use as a setting powder for under my eye area since it has a tint of pink and a slight iridescence to it. It’s terrific for highlighting but doesn’t perform too well in preventing concealers from creasing.

Lately I’ve been mixing a bit of the e.l.f. HD Powder with the Bourjois to set my under eye and the combination has been working really well. The e.l.f. HD Powder is basically a really finely milled silica powder. But, it can leave the skin looking dull and flat. The Bourjois powder adds a luminosity back to the skin.

I use the Clinique Eye shadow brush to apply this to my under eye area.

Side note: The Clinique brush is way too big to use for blending eye shadows on my eyelids. See it how compares to the MAC 217. It is quite soft and fluffy so it’s good for use under the eye area.

It’s difficult to swatch powders like this. I took probably 10 photos trying to capture the sparkle.  The e.l.f. HD Powder is like Photoshop for your face.
The Java Rice Powder is only offered in 1 shade, and even though Bourjois claims this is universally flattering. I don’t think it would work on olive or dark skin tones – it would look ashy since it does have a pinky white base.

My last ditch effort to show the sparkle. Please don’t pull some CSI wizardry and steal my fingerprint.
I have tried to use this as an all over powder on my face but I find it too glowy. It’s better served as a highlighter for targeted areas – I especially like this for inner eye corner and cupid’s bow (upper area of the lips). note that this has no oil control properties whatsoever despite it being called a rice powder (unlike the cult product Palladio Rice Powder paper). I honestly don’t understand the name of this product… java rice? It does contain rice powder, but java? But, it was named 150 years ago, so who knows…

One of the best things going for this powder isn’t actually the product itself – it’s the container that it’s housed in. It has a sifter that can swivel and close up the holes. I have it set so that only one hole is exposed, so very little product dispenses (and even then, it’s way more than I need!) I’ll think of that I could travel with this container if I wanted to. You bet that once this powder is finished, I’d reuse this jar!

To use this, I tilt the closed jar upside down to get some of the product onto the lid. Whatever is on the lid is how I much I need to set both eyes.
Another thing I really like about this powder is purely superficial – it smells so nice! apparently the Java Rice Powder has the same fragrance of the little round Pot blushes. To me, it smells soft and floral… “Powdery Rose” is what I’d describe it as.

Ingredients:
Mica, silica, talc, CI 77891 (titanium dioxide), boron nitride, caprylyl glycol, phenoxyethanol, p-anisic acid, CI 77491 (iron oxides), parfum (fragrance), potassium sorbate, hexylene glycol, oryza sativa (rice) starch, caprylic/capric triglyceride, CI77492 (iron oxides), lauroyl lysine, CI 75470 (carmine), hydroxycitronellal, tin oxide, cinnamyl alcohol, eugenol, benzyl salicylate, linalool, evernia prunastri extract, citronellol, geraniol, amyl cinnamal, alpha-isomethyl ionone, hexyl cinnamal, rose extract, 12BMT010-1

For vegetarian / vegans out there, this product does contain carmine which is crushed beetle scales. Yup. YUM.

This product is made in Italy.

Pros:
• subtle finish
• Blurs lines and adds luminosity
• vintage looking packaging
• Well designed dispenser
• Soft scent

Cons:
• messy loose powder
• Colour may not be universally flattering
• Not suitable for those who are sensitive to fragrance

Stash worthiness: 7/10

I’m not sure what happened between last week and this week but I weighed this 6 times and still got this measurement, which is 0.002 less than last week. I didn’t eat any of this, I swear.

I’m so pleased to see the MAC eye shadow quad went down again!

Please check out my project pan pals for their updates:
• Ingrid of Curly.Spring.Blossom
• Jodi of A Brash Attitude
• Chanelle of Chanelle Hayleyyy

Do you set your under eye concealer? What do you use?

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