'This $30 Korean pore-blurring powder is so good, it's officially replaced my cult $74 one.'

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I didn't think I'd ever find a powder that could rival my Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish. It's been my holy grail for years to achieve that blurred-filter look.

But then I made the switch to Korean makeup a few years ago and discovered a (better) dupe. 

WATCH: Kelly McCarren raises the question of whether teens are driving today's higher beauty prices. Post continues below.

Enter the Banila Co Prime Primer Finish Pact, $30.15 (usually $33.50).

This $30 K-beauty gem doesn't just hold its own; it outperforms my $74 Charlotte Tilbury favourite in all the ways that actually matter to me: it blurs pores better, keeps shine at bay longer, feels completely weightless on the skin, and comes in a thoughtfully-designed compact.

Here's everything you need to know about it.

What is the Banila Co Prime Primer Finish Pact?

If you've ever wanted your skin to look filtered IRL, this is it. The finish is soft-focus and velvety without being flat or chalky, and it controls oil all day without clinging to dry patches.

Fast facts:

• A pressed powder that delivers a soft-focus, pore-blurring finish

• The ultra-fine powder particles smooth out texture and make pores less visible

• Excellent oil control while still feeling light on the skin — ideal for humid days, mask-wear, and long hours

• Practical, travel-friendly compact (no messy loose powder) you can throw in your bag for midday touch-ups

• Comes with a powder puff, unlike the Charlotte Tilbury one

• The price point is a game-changer. For about $30, you're getting 10/10 blurring power without the $74 splurge

This is the product in all its glory (please excuse the state of my used powder puff)…

It comes with a powder puff! Image: Supplied/Juna Xu.

How to use the Banila Co Prime Primer Finish Pact.

I use it as the last step in my makeup routine, focusing on the T-zone, chin, and anywhere my pores tend to peek through.

If you want a sheer, all-over blur, use a fluffy brush and sweep it lightly across the face. For extra smoothing, especially around the nose, use the included puff and press gently — it gives that airbrushed, pore-free finish without any heavy build-up.

A little goes a long way, so when using the puff, go in with an extra light hand to avoid excess product.

Hot tip: It's perfect for midday touch-ups (if needed), because it absorbs shine without lifting or patching your foundation underneath.

My Banila Co Prime Primer Finish Pact review. 

I've been loyal to my Charlotte Tilbury powder for years. It's luxurious, silky and makes your skin look flawless under any light. But after a few hours (especially on humid days), I'd notice my foundation separating and that mid-afternoon shine creeping back in.

With Banila Co's Prime Primer Finish Pact, none of that happens. My makeup stays put all day (I'm talking 12-hour work days), my pores are less visible, and my skin still looks like actual skin. It gives the same soft-focus finish but feels so much lighter.

Here's the proof — on the left is my skin at 6am right before applying the powder, and on the right is after a full 10-hour work day (yep, still holding up).

I'm obssesed. Image: Supplied/Juna Xu.

Personally, one of the best parts about the product is that it comes with a powder puff, which is stored separately on top of a plastic cover, so it doesn't sit directly on the powder.

This was my biggest gripe with the Charlotte Tilbury one because I always had to carry a separate puff for touch-ups.

And at $30, this compact is a true winner. My once-favourite $74 luxury powder will always have a place in my memory, but no longer in my makeup bag.

For more tried and tested beauty recommendations, listen to the You Beauty podcast below or watch You Beauty on YouTube.

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Feature image: Supplied.