Surratt Beauty Diaphane Loose Powder Compact…A Video Review

Above: The Surratt Beauty Diaphane Loose Powder Compact…style meets substance.
Ever since swatching nearly every product in the gorgeous Surratt Beauty line late last year (swatches can be found HERE and HERE), I have been patiently waiting for the arrival of the Diaphane Loose Powder Compact.  Sold exclusively at Barney’s NY, this loose powder-meets-secure compact has been sold out company wide and only recently arrived back in stock about a week ago (the Compact and Powder are sold separately but retail, in sum, for $40).  Once notified, I promptly ordered both the matte and luminous versions and excitedly awaited their delivery.  Now, after having used it diligently for the past week and a half, I am thrilled to officially review this makeup wonder!
Kindly scroll on for images, swatches, my video review + demonstration as well as the Bottom Line…
Above: The compact comes with a fluffy puff that perfectly grabs and applies the powder.
Above: To avoid cross-contamination, the powder puff resides on a tray that separates it from the actual powder.
Here’s what Barney’s NY has to say about this powder:
Exclusively Ours! Founder Troy Surratt believes that “All good design eliminates excess waste and is responsible.” With minimal and recyclable materials, his Diaphane Loose Powders reflect that philosophy. Sets makeup, mattefies, and minimizes the appearance of pores. Loose powder made portable. Rechargeable. No mess case keeps your powder in place. Hold on to your charger and refill it with your favorite shade. Simply click and lock shade in place. Shades are easily replaceable. 

Above: When the tray is lifted, its airtight side (the white part) is revealed and the powder is released once the initial sticker is removed.
Above: The powder is dispensed through a mesh net layer and gently pressing the puff on it will release more powder.  This is a closeup image of the luminous formula. 
Ingredients:  Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silesquioxane Crosspolymer, Methylmethacrylate Crosspolymer, Lauroyllsyne, Boron Nitride, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite Squalane, Silica, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Tocopherol, Hydrogen Dimethicone.  May containe (+/-): Mica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.

Above: Taken in natural daylight…yikes, sometimes my skin is quite translucent…vein alert ; ) 
The powder is so finely-milled that it was nearly impossible for me to adequately capture the its appearance in swatches.  Light as air and essentially translucent, it immediately melds with the skin upon application…the Radiant version is just slightly more yellow in tone than the Matte (which is a pure translucent white), though it might be difficult to perceive that in the images above and below.  
There is no fragrance, the formula plays well with sensitive skin and it does not “flashback” in flash photography.  I find that it effectively keeps my oil at bay and doesn’t build up or look the slightest bit cakey, even after a couple of touch ups during the day.  The powder is perfect for refining pores and adding subtle mattification to the skin, erstwhile remaining completely undetectable on the skin!

Above: Taken with a flash…no flashback whatsoever!
VIDEO REVIEW:
Below: Wearing the Surratt Beauty Diaphane Loose Powder Compact in Luminous.

Bottom Line: The Surratt Beauty Diaphane Loose Powder Compact was definitely worth the wait!  Coupling the seamless benefits of loose powder with the portability of a compact, this is truly a revolutionary product.  If you are interested in procuring your own compact and want to order from Barney’s over the phone, I suggest working with one of the incredible West Coast Surratt Beauty specialists: Satya Linak at Barney’s Beverly Hills (310/276-4400) and Shayla at Barney’s Union Square San Francisco (415/268-3547). Highly recommended!
** This post contains  affiliate links; my disclosure policy contains additional details on how these work.

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Comments (12)

  • MG Reply

    I can't decide if I should purchase this or hold off until the release of LMdB peau vierge powder…decisions decisions. I recently bought the Sierge Lutens Teint si Fin powder too thanks to you (oh you're such an enabler!) so I'm trying to behave and only buy the best one rather than all of the great powders out there! And by the way, you look so beautiful here…this photo looks almost airbrushed, but i know it can't be since I've seen your video for this. Are you using a concealer under your eyes or is it just foundation? I'm just in awe at how flawless you look!

    January 21, 2014 at 4:20 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      That is a tough one, MG…let's think about it this way…if you have the Serge Lutens, the Surratt and the LMdB Peau Vierge, you just may own the great "powder trifecta!" I think they all serve different purposes with the Surratt being the most sheer and invisible, the Serge Lutens being somewhere in the middle and the LMdB (I suspect) having the most coverage (with a light to medium buildable finish). I am still patiently waiting for the LMdB, but know it will be different from this Surratt gem!!

      Thank you so much for your kind words!! I am wearing Cle de Peau concealer in Beige (it's like an airbrush!) under my eyes…a perfect match for my "dead of winter" skin ; )

      I always love hearing from you…thanks for being such a lovely reader and do keep me posted on what you decide..xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      January 22, 2014 at 6:04 am
  • Julia Reply

    Your review came at a great time as I am almost ready to replace my current powder, NARS Light Reflecting Loose. Are you able to compare Surrat and NARS at all? I've been alternating between NARS and YSL Semi-Loose for the past year and ready to try something new. Looks like a trip to Barney's is on the agenda for the weekend!

    January 22, 2014 at 2:13 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Julia,

      Thanks for your comment…glad that my review was timely for you. I find that the NARS is similar to the Surratt luminous in the fact that they are both slightly radiant, however, I get better mattification from the Surratt and I also don't get the slight white cast that can sometimes come if I put too much of the NARS on ; )

      Have a ball at Barney's and do keep in touch…xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      January 22, 2014 at 6:06 am
  • Jenny Reply

    Hi there, thanks so much for your reviews. I have both powders and two compacts in my Barneys.com shopping cart. Can't wait to receive! Quick question, what eye and lip makeup are you wearing in your video/photos above? Thanks so much.

    January 22, 2014 at 4:49 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Jenny,

      My pleasure! I am so excited that you are getting both powders…they are amazing! I am wearing a combination of By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon and Brown Perfection on my eyes and Limecrime Babette with Surratt gloss in Coquette on my lips. I actually filmed a tutorial on this look and really need to get to editing and posting it ; )

      xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      January 23, 2014 at 6:38 am
  • Jo Reply

    Hi,

    What foundation are you wearing in the video. Your skin looks flawless. Thanks

    January 23, 2014 at 12:37 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Jo,

      Thanks so very much! I am wearing a combination of IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness (over Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge #2 as a tinted primer) and Daniel Sandler Sculpt and Slim contour powder.

      xoxo,

      –The Beauty Professor

      January 23, 2014 at 6:39 am
  • Summer Reply

    Hi Beauty Professor! I finally got my hands on this powder today after waiting months and months for it to be restocked at Barneys here in NY, and I am so excited!! However when I went to remove the initial sticker over the powder cartridge, powder flew everywhere, so I stopped peeling it off and patted it back on. Do you have any recommendations on how to most cleanly remove the sticker by any chance? Or do you think a mess just isn't going to be avoided….I just don't want to waste any if possible. Thank you so much! Best, Summer

    June 5, 2014 at 8:28 pm
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hello Summer,

      So excited that you finally received this powder…it is a phenomenal formula and so tough to procure ; ) Loose powder in a compact is a tricky enterprise, and I think it is pretty unavoidable to loose a touch in the process of prepping the compact. I just gently shook/tapped the powder to settle it at the bottom of the cartridge as much as possible and then slowly removed the sticker. You can use the powder puff to absorb the fallout for your first application! This is always in my purse, bouncing around, and I don't have any escape out of the compact (though it may rise through the net and cover the powder puff, which I am fine with) so all in all, removing the sticker may be the most challenging part of the whole process!

      I hope that helps…enjoy this incredible formula!

      xx and keep me posted,

      –The Beauty Professor

      June 5, 2014 at 8:36 pm
  • Yilin Reply

    Hi Beauty Professor, it seems like your prefer radiant to matte! Not sure which shade should I get. Which shade will you recommend if I have combination skin with huge pores? Thank you! 🙂

    June 5, 2015 at 6:15 am
    • The Beauty Professor Reply

      Hi Yilin,

      Thanks for the question…the radiant performs just as well as the matte to mattify skin and I love the little bit of extra glow. In turn, I recommend the radiant!

      xx,

      –The Beauty Professor

      June 7, 2015 at 6:21 pm

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