I bought this compact because a friend who's been using it since 2010 refused to try anything else. She's 47, has combination skin, and swears it looks the same on her now as it did a decade ago. That kind of loyalty made me curious.
After digging through hundreds of reviews and the official ingredient list, the picture is clear: Clinique Super Powder double face makeup works beautifully for some skin types and fails badly for others.
Here's the honest breakdown, including the packaging complaint that shows up again and again.
What This Product Actually Is?
Clinique sells this as a 2-in-1 product. It's a powder foundation and a setting powder in one compact. You can wear it alone for moderate coverage, or dust it over liquid foundation to lock things in and add extra coverage.
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The formula is matte. It's fragrance-free, paraben-free, and dermatologist-tested. Clinique lists it as suitable for combination and dry-to-very-dry skin types. That skin type guidance matters. It's the single most important thing to know before buying.
One compact costs $40 and contains 0.35 oz of product . The sponge applicator comes included and is washable.
The Skin Type Rule You Can't Ignore
Here's the pattern that jumps out from user reviews. People with dry or combination skin tend to love this. People with oily skin tend to hate it.
A 47-year-old reviewer with combination skin wrote that she's used it for 15 years and it "does not settle into wrinkles". Another user with acne-prone skin said it "genuinely covers it up without leaving a cake or dusty finish".
Then you hit the oily skin reviews. One user said it "made my face more oily looking". Another wrote: "My oil was also out of control with this powder". A third called it a "oily skin throw away" and said it "does not work in fighting shine at all".
The pattern is consistent. This powder doesn't absorb oil well. If your skin produces excess sebum, the matte finish won't last. It might even make things worse.
The Packaging Problem (This Comes Up A Lot)
Clinique changed the compact design at some point. The old version had a green marble effect. The new one is a circular plastic case. Users are not happy about it.
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One review titled "Poor quality compact for nice product" said the new case "cracks/breaks/falls apart within a few weeks. Another user wrote that the compact "breaks leaving wasted powder everywhere" and that it happened "on 3 occasions. A third said opening it "takes forever" without breaking a nail.
I've seen complaints about makeup packaging before. This level of repetition is unusual. If you buy this, treat the compact gently. Or plan to depot it into something sturdier.
How It Performs as a Setting Powder?
This is where the product earns its keep for many users.
A frequent flyer wrote that after an 18-20 hour travel day, her makeup "will last the entire 18-20 hours" with barely a touch-up. Another user said it provides "an extra level of coverage that is second to none" when layered over liquid foundation.
The "extra-cling formula" Clinique advertises seems to deliver. Users consistently mention longevity. One reviewer said it "stays on all day in my humid climate".
But there's a trade-off. Build it up too much and it gets cakey. A mid-40s reviewer with large pores said she "had to use a lot of this powder to build up to medium coverage, and as a consequence, it became very cakey" and "emphasized my large pores excessively.
The lesson: use a light hand. This powder rewards restraint.
Shade Range Complaints (Especially for Fair Skin)
Clinique's shade descriptions don't match what users see in person.
One fair-skinned reviewer wrote that the "Ivory" shade "could be a bronzer for me" and called it "not neutral at all, it's a warm tone. Another said the online color was "four or five shades lighter than the on-line picture".
A user who described herself as having "fair/medium" skin said the neutral shade was "maybe a tad bit too light".
If you're very pale or very warm-toned, buying this online is a gamble. Swatch it in a store if you can. The shade names don't tell the whole story.
The Final Thoughts
Buy it if you have dry or combination skin. You want a matte finish that lasts through a long day. You plan to use it as a setting powder over liquid foundation for extra coverage. You don't mind the plasticky compact.
Skip it if you have oily skin. The matte finish won't control shine. You want full coverage from a powder alone. You're very fair and need a true neutral or cool-toned shade.
One more thing. The sponge applicator that comes with it is functional but flimsy. Several users swap it for their own brush or sponge. A soft powder brush gives a more natural finish than the included pad.
Clinique Super Powder isn't a miracle product. It's a reliable workhorse for the right skin type. My friend's 15-year loyalty makes sense now. She has the skin type this product was built for. If yours matches, it might earn a permanent spot in your bag too. If not, save your $40.
