I tried Jess Hunt’s REFY Skin Finish Powder and here are my honest thoughts

I had officially broken up with powder make-up. We were done, over, finito. I had blocked them on Instagram and even archived our cute couple photos from Italy 2019.

Finishing powders, powdered blush, baking powders... all had been replaced by their creamy counterparts for fear of dreaded Cake Face. Apart from a smidge of theLaura Mercier Translucent Powder dabbed under my eye (I'm only human after all!) I had become a fully-fledged powder phobe.

The drastic make-up overhaul meant I looked fresh, glowy and like I definitely have too many steps in my skincare routine.

However, the downside of shunning powder? I sometimes look like I've quite literally just legged it for the bus at all times. Sometimes glowy make-up can look a teeny bit erm, sweaty and it's really not my preferred vibe for a 10 am meeting with Jane from Accounts.

So when Jess Hunt's cult-favourite brand REFY announced they were launching a WATER-based powder, I almost fell off my chair. The claims from the product were everything I could have hoped for - a natural, skin finish powder that absolutely does not look cakey.

But is it actually any good or is it clever marketing to make me spend the best part of twenty-five quid? I put it to the test...

What actually is REFY's Skin Finish powder?

It's REFY's brand-new launch that is made for people who hate powder. It's water-based and feels wet to touch (genius) and removes any unwanted shine.

REFY claim that the powder 'smoothes, hydrates and sets skin for the perfect finish without mattifying. It works to absorb oil from the skin and the spherical powder particles give a soft focus and blurring effect.'

There are two universal shades, 01, which has a yellow or warm undertone and 02, which has a pink or cool undertone. Judging by the marketing videos, it suggests that 01 is for light skin and 02 is for darker skin tones. Jess Hunt, herself is shade 01.

How do I use REFY Skin Finish?

You only need a small amount of powder on a beauty blender (REFY sell their own sponge that is supposedly the perfect tool to apply the product).

It must be applied with a dry sponge, so no wetting your beauty blender under the tap, huns. Or else.

You softly dab the product over areas on your face which feel a little too shiny. Under your eyes to set concealer and on your t-zone, are good places to start.

REFY Skin Finish Powder, an honest review

I was ready to hate this (I'm a powder phobe, remember!) but I really enjoyed how cooling and hydrating the product felt on my skin. I have combination skin with dehydrated patches and I find that often anything matte just makes my skin look awful within minutes.

This however, is easily the best powder Ive used to teeny touch-ups. At first, I did use the sponge a little too hard with way too much product and I did find hours later it went a little cakey around my nose. Use a tiny bit with a light hand and you're golden. Literally.

Pros:

It disapears into skin seamlessly and you look instantly look airbrushed.

You only need a tiny amount so one pot will last you ages

It feels cooling, hydrating and almost nourishing on skin.

There are two universal shades which means it's easy to find the right shade (01 for white skin tones, 02 for dark skin tones).

Cons:

The packaging is big and bulky and I would not trust myself with this on a night out (nor have space in my handbag)

If you use a lot of product and dab too hard, it does go a bit cakey, so use sparingly and um, chill out!

Conclusion

If you are prone to cakey make-up or are after a more natural make-up finish, you absolutely need to try this powder and pronto.