Review| Laneige BB Cushion in Light

The Laneige BB Cushion ($34) is one gimmicky goodness of a product because it's not a gimmick at all!

Besides the cute packaging that makes it a dream come true to carry liquid foundations around in your purse, Laneige the Korean brand has scurried over to America at your local Target stores for even cheaper than Korea's market value (upwards of $45) on EBay. Imagine that.

In a desperate attempt to get my hands on the re-usable compact, I picked up Light seeing that Medium was out of stock. *tears* The product comes with an extra full sized refill, so now I have two "Light" that I hope I'll be pale enough by winter to use.

Light is definitely super pale and matches NC20, at most! I kept the compact around at work to touch up on my T-zone (my excuse was that I was highlighting my face and adding sun protection...)

I also ordered #23 Sand Beige ($23 on EBay) online from a legit Amore Pacific dealer hoping it matches me at NC30, and it seems to fit NC25-30 perfectly with strong yellow tones. None of that pink/grey/greige bullshit that's so prevalent in Korean BB Creams.

Since BB creams are soooo late 2000's, the trend is to put all that liquid goodness into a spongy compact that's not only portable but cooling, brightening, oil-controlling, and full of sun protection. Did I mention it's basically a foundation, so you get coverage too??

Yeah, it's as good as it sounds. 

Not only can you push the bottom out easily to refill the compact over and over again, there's also a mirror inside for you to reapply throughout the day. And guess what? The product itself is so light, you would really have to try to make it look cakey and thick. It's a light coverage foundation that can be buildable over your worst spots to hide them completely.

I want to emphasize that this product cannot be used with fingers (unsanitary as hell) or a brush (cumbersome.) Here's a hint: use the included blue sponge that's reusable and comes with every refill. With patting motions, you'll be able to cover a lot of ground in seconds.

Pros: 

• It feels very lightweight on the skin and layers easily.
• Reasonably priced as $34 gets you two full sized product wells.You can always buy a refill online with the appropriate shade needed like I did.
• There is a relatively good shade range for you to choose from, anywhere from very light and pink to tan and yellow in undertone. Even very tan ladies have the "Dark" option in Target.
• It imparts a very dewy finish on the skin but doesn't slip around or melt off easily. 
• The BB cushion has SPF 50, meaning with continued use my facial skin has lightened to NC25-30 even in the middle of summer.

Cons:

• The compact is not very heavy, but it does take up space in your purse.
• The sponge and container gets very dirty unless you wash it regularly. 
• Did I mention that swiping produces no coverage but patting does? It's something new to get used to.
• Since coverage is light, those looking to cover up severe acne, scarring, or dark spots may be disappointed.
• The BB only lasts around 4 to 6 hours and must be touched up during the day. I don't recommend it for oily skin even if it does claim to control oil. 

I do have to agree with the hype train over there in Asia that these BB cushions are great ideas in theory and practice. You get to reapply your sunscreen (liberally!) througout the day and refer to a mirror, much like touching up your powder. I personally leave my compact in my work drawer so that I can touch up after lunch, but you can always leave it on your vanity or throw it in your purse. 

xo Be

Haul| Dior, Giorgio Armani, and Laneige Goodies

For the past two months, my life has been a steady low buy as my life priorities shift from spending to saving. Though I'm back in my hometown and surrounded by friends and family, there's still that little demon nagging me to try new products even when I don't have major wants for anything outside of my stash.

The solution? Get into nail polish. No, make that high end nail polish. 

Not pictured here is the Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer ($25 each) in Aventure 551 (a punchy coral red that leans orange)  and Wonderland 575 (a hot pink which wasn't original enough for me to keep.)  

However, I did choose to feature Tra-La-La 155 since milky pink nudes define my nail game 80% of the time. And yes, these Dior polishes are ultra chip resistant and opaque. I'll have a review up on the blog within a week or so. 

But wait, there's more! I returned Wonderland to get Sailor 700 in the Nail Polish and Couture Stickers Duo ($30) for Dior's Summer 2014 Transatlantique collection. This one is a regular ole nail varnish with no gel effect, but you get a) the world's fanciest nail file and b) fun stickers to decorate your sexy new nautically themed mani.

The second product that had been on the back of my mind for quite some time is the Laneige BB Cushion ($34 at Target) which launched some time ago for an American audience. 

I went to several Target expecting to find Medium (perhaps a good match for NC30-35) and only found Light stocked on the shelves. Of course, Light is ghastly pale and more suitable to NC15-20 and the extra refill pack does nothing to aid my cause. I went ahead and ordered the Korean version in #23 Sand Beige hoping it will be a better match. 

:Lastly, the moving and relocation stress has really brought out my dark circles. I never thought the day would come, but I now have slight darkness brought on by lack of sleep (I mean several days if not weeks in a row) and stress. 

Am I kidding? Kinda. I've been opting for more lightweight base products with less coverage in general, but my Maybelline Age Rewind hasn't been doing its job quite as well since I am much tanner now. Based on recommendation I picked up the Giorgio Armani Master Corrector in 02 ($39.) 

It's spendy, compact, and so worth it. With a single swipe and a little pat pat pat, that horrid darkness underneath my eyes went away and I didn't need second concealer on top. Somehow the pure orange counteracted with my purple undereyes without looking ashy on my olive skin. 

So far, I'm enjoying all of my new products and temperate Northern California summer. I've forgotten how sunny and breezy the weather is up here. 

xo Be