Estee Lauder will launch this Double Wear Cushion BB Liquid Compact on 11 March in Japan. Pic by Abe Sawako.
This is a different product from the Double Wear Makeup To Go Liquid Compact which was just launched in November 2015 (below).
The new Crescent White brightening skincare and makeup collection launches on 26 February. It includes:
1. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening BB Balm SPF 30/PA ++ (5940yen, 10g)
2. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening BB Creme SPF 50/PA++++ and Brightening Balm (5940yen, 30g BB cream and 1.5g balm)
3. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening UV Protector SPF 50/PA++++ (5616yen, 30g)
4. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Night Finishing Treatment (9180yen)
5. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Rich Moisture Creme (10800yen, 49g)
6. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Moisture Creme (10800yen, 49g)
7. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Milky Emulsion (10800yen, 100ml)
8. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Spot Correcting Essence (12420yen, 30ml)
9. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Moisture Treatment Lotion (7560yen, 200ml)
10. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Intensive Hydrating Essence Mask (9720yen, 6 sheets)
11. Crescent White Full Cycle Brightening Cleanser (4860yen, 118g)
L'Oreal is the next brand to hop on the cushion foundation bandwagon with its Lucent Magique Cushion Lumiere SPF29 PA+++ (2200yen for the refill, 1000yen for the case) debuting on 21 August in Japan. This will be available in only two shades, N2 Ivory Miracle and N3 Nude Miracle. L'Oreal is also launching Lucent Maqique BB Essence SPF19 PA++ (2 shades, 2000yen) with a texture that is supposed to be lighter than water, and Lucent Magique BB Cream SPF21 PA+++ (2 shades, 1800yen) on the same date.
The popular Pore Putty brand is releasing this Hello Kitty BB Cream, BB Cream Enriched, Mineral Powder and Mineral Powder Enriched on 23 June in Japan. The two BB Creams are SPF50+ PA++++, and will retail at 1296yen for 30g. The BB Mineral Powder has SPF35 PA+++ while the BB Mineral Powder Enriched has SPF40 PA+++. The two powders will retail at 1404yen. Both are formulated with 11 types of minerals, with the Enriched version also contains four types of collagen. The Mineral Powder has a more natural finish while the Enriched version provides higher coverage. Similarly, the BB Cream Enriched provides more coverage than the regular version and contains additional skin nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, shea butter and ceramide.
On 4 August comes the new Pore Putty Pore Tight Lift SPF50+ PA++++ (1296yen, 30g) with 11 types of mineral, retinyl palmitate and aqua mineral coated-powders (with onsen water).
Esprique is bringing back a revamped version of its Cool BB Spray Foundation (2100yen, 60g) this summer as a limited edition release. Originally launched last May, the new version boasts increased sun protection levels of SPF50+ and PA++++ (the maximum level in Japan), and is available in two shades whereas the original version was only available in one shade.
Described as a spray-type essence foundation, it comes with a sponge for spraying the foundation onto before applying to the face. It is fragrance-free, meant for all seasons and contains hyaluronic acid, collagen, mint extract, amino acids and silicones such as dimethicone. The BB aspect is based on its five functions as a beauty essence, sunblock, primer, foundation and face powder. Aside from promising to vanquish the appearance of pores, it also cools the skin by 5°C upon application. Due out on 16 May in Japan, there will also be a limited edition set that includes the BB Spray, Loose Face Powder in Lucent Beige 1.5g and a loose powder puff. Check out the TV commercial featuring actress Ueto Aya here.
This will also be available in Taiwan. I seem to recall reading somewhere that it will be available in Singapore too. Kose counters in Singapore are now selling the new Pore Cover Perfect Base CC in these limited edition base makeup kits for just S$39. Their other promotions for May can be found here.
Video tutorials on how to use the Pore Cover Perfect CC under a powder foundation, applied with a sponge or brush.
Lately, I've become obsessed with Korean BB cushion foundations. Despite knowing the usual criticisms (e.g. the hygiene aspect of repeatedly touching the sponge surface with the applicator puff, the miniscule amount of product compared to traditional liquid foundations etc), I was intrigued to explore this latest makeup fad out of Korea, which seems to be blazing the way in terms of makeup trends for the world, with western brands such as Lancome and Kiko all jumping on the cushion bandwagon.
Laneige BB cushions usually retail at around S$59 in Singapore, which was too pricey for me. While shopping in Target recently, I chanced across their BB cushion made for the US market going at a US$5 discount off the usual price of US$34. Based on the product description, the US version (which has a "5-in-1 cushion form technology") seems different from the version sold in Singapore, which is touted as having six effects (brightening, UV protection, moisturizing, natural and clean coverage, soothing effect and water-resistant). The US version promises to brighten, protect against UVA and UVB, cool and refresh, help prevent shine and provide natural, longer-lasting coverage. My guess is that the Singapore version is a newer formula, as it replaced a 5-in-1 BB cushion in that market. Laneige also sells a Pore Control BB cushion in Singapore and an Anti-Aging one.
The US version is available in only 3 shades - Light, Medium and Dark - whereas five shades are available in Singapore. Light turned out to be a decent match for my MAC NC20 skintone, but not the best match for my neck which is just a tad lighter. The Laneige BB Cushion comes with an extra refill. Each refill contains 15g of product, so the total amount of product is comparable to standard liquid foundations which usually ring in at 30ml. You can see swatches of the three shades on Hello Pretty Bird.
The packaging is pretty standard for BB cushions.
Shown in the pic below (from left to right) are my Innisfree, Laneige and Etude House BB cushion cases. The Innisfree case is the slimmest while Laneige's case is slightly bulkier than the Etude House case. All three brands belong to Amore Pacific, which is like the Korean equivalent of L'Oreal, offering an extensive portfolio of brands from the very high end to the drugstore/low end segment. The Innisfree and Etude House BB cushions do not fit into the Laneige case.
Below is the ingredients list.
I found the Laneige BB Cushion to be very easy to apply, with greater ease of blending than the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion and the Paul & Joe Gel Foundation. It provides good coverage of pores and spots, without sinking into the pores or emphasising dry patches. It has a natural-looking finish that is not overly dull or flat matte. In these pics, I applied it over Korres Greek Yoghurt Nourishing Primer. The level of coverage is medium. It did not camouflage the glaring brown spot on my right cheek (the result of over-zealous picking of a clogged pore) but it did a good job of cancelling out the usual redness in my cheeks and around the nose. The oil control was pretty good, with just some slight oil breakthrough on the T-zone after three hours.
Overall, I like this well enough to recommend it, if you are able to find a suitable shade. It's curious that most Korean brands offer such a measly range of shades despite their growing popularity both in Asia and elsewhere. It's even more baffling that only three shades are available for the US market. If you have any favourite blogs that review Korean makeup, do let me know in the comments!
Due out on 4 April from Canmake is their new Be My Baby BB Cream SPF50 PA++++ (20g, 640yen). It is supposed to be resistant against sweat and sebum, and contains hyaluronic acid for boosting skin's moisture content. It has a light texture and provides natural-looking coverage of pores and skin discolorations. Pic from Maquia.
Anna Sui finally ventures into the crowded BB cream market with its new Protective BB Cream with ultra-high coverage of SPF50 PA++++. Due out on 5 April in Japan. Pic tweeted by Abe Sawako.
Bourjois had a couple of new collections for summer on display at Monoprix. Summer On The Riviera is a colorful collection of lipglosses and nailpolishes with Manicure Toppings, little beads that you can use to top off your manicure. Bourjois seems very late to the party with this trend, doesn't it? There's also a dotting tool with a cute polka dot print. Summer on the Riviera features a slew of tanning/bronzing products, like a Fabulous Bronzing Mousse for an instant tan, Maxi Delight powder bronzer, and what looks like an intriguing first - a BB Bronzing Cream with not just eight benefits but also an "addictive fragrance". Maybelline has also released a new Dream Pure BB Cream with 2% salicylic acid, which should be good for acne-prone skin types.
Here's a preview of the upcoming releases by Ettusais for summer in Japan.
16 May
1. BB Mineral Liquid SPF35 PA++ (1680yen, 30ml): Comprising 59% skincare ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, this provides coverage and transforms into a powder upon application. 6 June
1. Medicated Acne Aroma Body Wash RS (1575yen, 300ml): Rose-scented limited edition high foaming body wash that helps to prevent acne.
2. Baby Rose Aroma Scrub Cream (997yen, 100g): Limited edition rose scrub cream, contains spa water.
3. Aqua Splash OB N (1260yen, 58ml): Contains 45% more product than the original retail size. 18 July
1. Peeling Milk (Sebum Off) (1260yen, 100ml): Limited edition peeling milk containing charcoal powder for removing impurities.
2. BB Mineral Cream (997yen, 20g): Limited edition special trial size.
3. BB Mineral White (997yen, 20g): Limited edition special trial size.
This week, I've been testing out Dr Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm SPF40. This 15ml sample tube was included in a UK Glossybox last year. It retails for £24 for 40ml at Boots, and US$39 on Sephora.com in the US. I think Watsons in Singapore also stocks it, but I'm not sure.
The Premium BB Cream is described as "a slightly glossy, low coverage cream which helps fight ageing" that is particularly suitable for those over 30. It contains a Bio-Peptide Complex infused with white gold for anti-aging properties. It is available in only one shade. The list of ingredients is available on Sephora.
The texture is a very light cream that spreads easily on the skin and is easy to blend. The shade looks slightly greyish but when applied, there is no greyish cast.
The glossy sheen is visible when under a bright spot light (pic above), but as you can see in the photo below which was taken by the window, it does not look that dewy in natural daylight.
The Premium BB does a pretty good job of evening out the skin surface without emphasising my pores. The level of coverage is sheer, and it does little to conceal very red blemishes. The slightly dewy finish makes this most suitable for ladies with dry, dull skin. I can skip moisturiser when using this as it is quite hydrating and handles dry patches well, unlike my Addiction Tinted Moisturiser which is more suited to summer.
However, the Premium Beauty Balm turns my skin greasy too quickly even in the depths of winter when my skin is more surface dehydrated. I have to blot frequently when using this. I'll probably pass this on to my mother instead of trying to finish it. As it's quite pricey for a BB cream, I would advise trying a sample before purchasing it, if you can. There are more reviews of it on MakeupAlley.
Dior will release a new DiorSnow makeup and skincare collection in February in Japan. Pics by Abe Sawako.
Whitening Spots Serum to be released 22 February.
Looks like there will be a new DiorSnow BB Creme SPF50 PA+++ and White Reveal Fresh Transparency Liquid Foundation SPF30 PA+++ made with Icelandic Glacial Water.
Pic below by Hamada Masaru.
During my Tokyo trip, I picked up the new Canmake Perfect Serum BB Cream Light, which was released in July. Made in Japan, it retails at a very affordable 840yen (about S$12.50) for 30g.
Boasting a high SPF50 with PA+++, the texture is supposed to be more lightweight with natural coverage compared to the original Perfect BB Serum Cream. In addition, Canmake has packed it with 21 beauty ingredients such as ectoin (an amino acid), hyaluronic acid, collagen, ceramides, royal jelly extract, witch-hazel extract, arbutin, Job's tears extract, saxifraga stolonifera extract, aloe vera extract, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, artichoke leaf extract, cherry leaf extract, prune resolvent, seaweed extract, soybean extract, gingko extract, peach leaf extract, hydrolyzed silk, European white birch bark extract and rosehip extract. You can find the ingredients list, which contains silicones, in English on Ratzilla Cosme.
The formula is designed to be gentle on skin as it is free of parabens, alcohol, mineral oil, fragrance and tar-based pigments. Like any good BB Cream, it offers 8 functions in one, including foundation, primer, sunscreen, a soft focus effect, beauty serum, moisturiser and face pack.
Of the two shades, I chose 01 Light, a pale beige that turned out to be a good match for my MAC NC20 skintone. It has no grey or ashy tones and did not oxidise on my skin.
The light cream texture is easy to blend to a natural finish. The coverage is sheer and does not conceal angry red blemishes or skin pigmentation completely, although it does help to even out the skintone somewhat. It did not emphasise or pool in my pores, which is important for me.
This worked quite well for me in the chilly Swiss winter, when my skin is not as oily as it usually is. There was only a bit of shine on my T-zone after four hours, whereas normally with most foundations, I would have to blot my T-zone and cheeks after two hours.
It doesn't provide a flawless finish but it does help skin look more even-toned and less ruddy, without looking like heavy makeup. It's good for those days when I'm in a rush as I can just use this in place of moisturiser/primer and foundation. I didn't even have to set this with powder.
The other products used for this look are Lancome Colour Design Palette in Golden Frenzy over NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, K-Palette 1Day Lash Perm and Lasting 2Way Eyebrow S01, RMK Super Base Liquid Concealer EX01, Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Passion and Sephora Pantone Universe Blush Duo.
The Lancome Golden Frenzy palette (from the holiday Beauty Box) is a real gem with wonderfully pigmented eyeshadows that glide on like silk.
