Dear Asian Beauty Brands Who Sell Makeup...Your time is up ⏰ #wherearethedarkcushions ...?
It’s 2019. Y’all been a sensation here in the States for at least 2 years now. So I have one question:
Where 👏🏾 are 👏🏾 the 👏🏾 darker 👏🏾 cushion 👏🏾 shades 👏🏾…? 🤔
I’ve been a fan of K-Beauty for almost 4 years now. I’ve been really patient, understanding the need for y’all to get situated here before you would even CONSIDER making complexion makeup I can use. But now…? I’m just mad 😡 Hell,…
Back in August, I discovered this lovely Korean brand called Makeup Helper, which specializes in BB cushions and powders. What sets them apart is their customizable compact designs, as their shades are pretty limited. For their BB Cushions, they have several shades: Light Pink, Natural Beige, Pink Beige, Nude Beige, Natural Beige and they have created both pink and warm toned shades. …
As my makeup addiction keeps growing and my bank account keeps crying for help, here I am writing a new entry about Holika Holika’s Gudetama line. For this specific blog, I partnered with a dear friend that loves K Beauty as much as I do. My friend Jennifer and I both bought different Gudetama products and thought it will be nice to put both our opinions in this blog.
Gudetama (giphy.com)
For those of you that don’t know Gudetama is an egg character that is a member of the Sanrio line, same company as Hello Kitty, My Melody, Keroppi and much more. Because of the popularity that Gudetama has received, Korean makeup brand Holika Holika has made a special line of makeup products from cushions to facial mask the list is long. Because of the hype and our love for this character Jennifer bought the Holika Holika’s Gudetama Face 2 Change Photo Ready Cushion BB and I bought the Holika Holika Gudetama LAZY & EASY All Kill Sheet.
1.Holika Holika’s Gudetama Face 2 Change Photo Ready Cushion BB
Hello, everyone! I’m Jenn and this is my first time writing here. Dio thought it’d be a good idea to review a Korean beauty product as we are both into Korean beauty, so why not?
So as I already mentioned above I will be giving a small review on Holika Holika’s Gudetama Face 2 Change Photo Ready Cushion BB. Long name, I know. I Anyway, just like Dio, I LOVE Korean products and bb cushions are definitely not the exception. It’s one of the things I like most in the Korean beauty world.
Why? Well, for starters you can just put it in your bag and take it wherever you go for touch-ups. What’s even better is that there will be no spills in your bag because after all, it is a bb cushion, so it is completely mess free! This special edition bb cushion is extremely cute. I usually love the packaging Korean brands use for their products. I’m a sucker for them. To be honest, that’s initially why this cushion got my attention. The design outside has Gudetama wearing a bow. Adorable, right? Even the puff and the sticker that seals the cushion when you open it for the first time has a cute Gudetama design! Also, inside of the box comes the cushion case along with a cushion already inside it and one extra refill with one extra puff.
Now on to the review on the actual product. This cushion has SPF 50+ PA+++ which is not bad at all. Something I enjoy about this bb cushion is how it brightens my face and my face doesn’t look as dull. It is also sort of dewy but not too much. Sadly, my face tends to get oily throughout the day, so because this bb cushion is not entirely matte, it tends to start wearing off around 2-3 hours of putting it on so I have to touch up. As for the coverage? It is decent. I think it is about low to medium coverage. It does not cover as much as I’d like considering I have some acne scars I really don’t want to be visible but it’s nothing I can’t fix with a little concealer though. Another thing is the color. The shade I picked is No.21 as I am white, pale but not super pale. I thought this shade would match me based on the other swatches and reviews I looked at before making the purchase. Sadly, that was not the case. The shade has a sort of pinkish tone to it and I am not pinkish toned at all so that sucked. I still tried wearing it around though by setting it with a powder that was more my color but that was not of much help. I still use it once in a while if I’m doing errands and no one I know will see me that day haha. Thankfully I’m on the second and last refill so I’m almost done with it. Would I repurchase this? No. It is definitely not the kind of product my skin needs. I prefer something with more coverage and that will not leave me as shiny. Would I recommend this cushion? Sure, but only to those with dry skin. I believe this won’t work if you have oily skin, as it will make you look sort of shiny or greasy.
2 out of 5 stars.
BUY IT HERE
2. Holika Holika Gudetama LAZY & EASY All Kill Sheet.
I am a crazy avid fan of mask sheets, not only do they leave your face feelings like a new born it always helps me relax. Because I love these mask sheets so much and also love Gudetama and went online and bought the 2 step kit. The first step of the kit is a cleansing wipe, it is said to remove makeup, dirt, and oil from the skin. Even though I had removed most of my make up the cleansing wipe did remove the bit of product that I had on my face and left it feelings soft.
After this you start step two, the instructions said to leave on the mask for around 10 to 20 minutes. I left mine for twenty minutes marked by my timer and while having it on the area around my nose did feel a bit tingly. The mask texture feels like a gel which regularly with this brand and other brands that I have used feels refreshing and not that tingly sensation. Then again it was just around my nose, and I could have also wiped a bit hard in those areas which may cause the skin to feel irritated. So I would need to buy it a second time and verify if my hypothesis is correct or not.
After the twenty minutes and removing the mask I didn’t expect at all to feel my skin oily. I have oily skin especially around my T-zone and this mask left my skin so moisturized that I could shine a mile away just by how oily it looked. If you have oily skin and live in a humid area this is not the mask for you. If you have dry skin or a combination skin between dry and oily this will probably work for you. The wipe and mask both smell great, which is something I tend to like a lot about Korean beauty products. This mask has ingredients such as papaya, lemon citrus, fruit extract, and Glycerin which is good for moisture.
Will I buy this again?
For sure, even though it did leave my face oily it is a good moisturizer and I still want to check why it felt tingly around my nose.
Holika Holika’s Gudetama [Review] As my makeup addiction keeps growing and my bank account keeps crying for help, here I am writing a new entry about Holika Holika’s Gudetama line.
Cushion compacts became popular around 2014, but they’ve actually been around for longer than that with IOPE releasing their first cushion in 2008. I remember seeing an IOPE commercial where the model is doing her make-up in a zero-gravity chamber, suggesting that cushions are handy, don’t spill, are easy to use, and perfect for people on-the-go. They definitely do make some things easier; you don’t have to fuss with a squeeze tube, and you don’t have to use your fingers, which can be messy, or bring a sponge or brush to apply it.
The actual product in the cushion isn’t actually much different from the BB creams or CC creams you get out of a tube, its main charm and selling point is it’s being compact and easy for touch-ups. The sponge inside the compact that holds the product is made from specially designed utherane foam that makes the product lighter and is placed inside a case with an airtight cover. The ruby cell puff that comes with most Korean cushions is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, to keep things as hygienic as possible.
Finishes
There are three different finishes for base products; dewy, satin or matte.
Dewy or watery finish is a trend in Korea because they believe it makes you look younger. Dewey cushions usually contain more skin care properties, specifically for moisture and sun protection. This kind of compact is better suited for dry skin.
A matte finish has no shine and can often make your face look flat, but is more suited to oily skin. Matte formula cushions last longer and do still contain skincare properties of course, as most Korean cosmetics do.
A satin finish is a nice in-between dewy and matte, which is what I, personally, prefer.
Coverage
If you’re looking for a product that will magically make your face flawless and hide all your imperfections, this is not it.
The main job of a base product is to even out your complexion, not to hide pimple marks or freckles. That’s what concealer is for. Especially for cushions which usually have BB creams or CC creams in them. BB creams and CC creams are really just amped up tinted moisturizer and they rarely go above medium coverage. But because of the light coverage and formula, after applying this cushion, your skin will still look like skin.
Application
The right way to apply cushion makeup is really up to preference, but most would say to pat it on, and not swipe. Some say to swipe it on to spread the product and then pat it in.
The puff that comes with the cushion will usually be a ruby cell air puff, it’s anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, as I mentioned, but those aren’t it’s only benefits. They’re denser than a regular make-up sponge and are specially designed to absorb less product for a thinner and skin-like application. Not all cushions come with ruby cell air puffs, but most brands under AmorePacific (IOPE, Laneige, Hera, Innisfree, etc.) does have it.
One of the issues with the puff is getting into the crevices and contours of your face, such as the eye and nose area. You can fold the sponge and then use the corner to reach those places.
Choosing Your Cushion
The first thing you need to do is choose the qualities that you want in your cushion; what kind of finish, coverage, and benefits (such as the skincare in the cushion formula) do you want? You should also consider your skin type. As I mentioned, some finishes and formulas are better suited for certain skin types.
SPF should also be considered. Most cushions do have sun protection, but it can give you a white cast, especially with flash photography. But if you’re not going to have your picture taken with flash or under bright lights, this shouldn’t be a problem.
When you think you know what kind of cushion you want, scour the internet for recommendations, and check their reviews. Don’t only look at one review! Look up at least 3, and make sure they aren’t sponsored.
When you’ve narrowed down your choices, you can go to the shops of the brand you like if there are any near you and test them out, but if you don’t, you’re gonna have to order online. Choosing the right shade, especially if you’re going for a Korean-brand cushion is going to be a headache if you’re not light skinned. Most Korean brands only carry 2 or 3 shades, the darkest of which is usually medium or medium-light. There are brands with more shade options, such as The Faceshop (they have 6, I think. They’ve expanded pretty well internationally, so it makes sense that they’d have more shades.) and Laneige.
Tips
Cushions do tend to dry out quicker, and usually only come with half an ounce of product. Some brands do sell their cushions with a refill (I know Laneige cushions come with a refill), but most don’t. There are promos a couple times a year for free refills for some brands, if you can wait, I suggest waiting for those promos.
When your cushion seems to have dried out, just flip over the sponge, there should still be some product on the other side. You may also want to stock up on ruby cell air puffs because they do get worn down eventually.
To start you off on your cushion compact journey, try watching this video from Edward Avila (he has SO MANY cushions, omg.) where he goes through his cushion collection.
Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of cushion compacts!
END NOTES:
A Brief History of BB, CC, and DD creams
First, there were BB creams, marketed as make-up that doubles as skincare. BB stands for Beauty Balm and it was said that BB creams were used by people who had just gotten facial operations because aside from it’s skincare properties, it also offered some coverage. Basically: it’s a tinted moisturizer. Sometimes with SPF.
Then, there were CC creams, what came after the eventual dying down of the BB cream fad. They’re Color Correcting balms, and they pretty much are the same thing as BB creams except maybe with more coverage.
And of course, there were DD creams, but that didn’t really take off. Dynamic Do-all creams stem from the same concept as BB and CC creams, with a bit of improvement in formula, supposedly.
1. Compacts are bulky 2. Sponges or puffs are not reusable 3. They actually aren't sanitary. My puffs grow mold. 4. I can't find my shade match. I'm not even that dark. 5. They don't provide much coverage. 6. They don't sit on the skin well 90% of the time. I make exceptions for collectible mini cushions. They're convenient for carrying around and they're cute. The only one I have so far is the tonymoly x Pokemon collaboration but I'm hoping they'll put out more in the future.
Remember the blue Missha X Wonder Woman cushion I ordered? Here is the other option I picked up, The Missha X Wonder Woman Magic Cushion SPF 50++ PA+++. It runs about $7 on Tester Korea.
Again, I ordered this in the lighter of the two shades available. The packaging is super cute, with a bold red cover and bottom and a gold ring around the top half.
The formula here is just very slightly different. I prefer the blue (moisture) cushion formula, but otherwise they are both super easy going on, stay on my skin all day, and do a great job. So yes, now you have two possible wonder woman compacts to choose from!
Listen, all you have to do is say ‘Wonder Woman’ and you have my attention. Missha launched a whole line of Wonder Woman products a little while back and you better believe I ordered that business as fast as possible.
There are two compacts, and I’ll review them separately, and then a few other pieces. Above you can see the Missha X Wonder Woman Magic Cushion Moisture SPF 50++ PA+++. It runs for about seven dollars on Tester Korea.
I know! I was prepared to have to choose between the blue and the red but for 7$ each I wound up getting both. I ordered this in #21, the lighter of two shades available on the site and hoped for the best.
The packaging here is super cute. Obviously on top is a gorgeous image of Wonder Woman against a striking blue background. The lid of the cushion is a lovely metallic gold, and the bottom is that same striking blue. I’ve never seen a cushion this cute before!
There is a slight perfume to this, but it isn’t the standard korean perfume scent I’ve come to expect. Instead it sort of has a similar scent to aloe products, weirdly. It’s not off-putting, just surprising.
The formula here is also nice and wet. I find a lot of BB cushion formulas are too thick for my skin, but this feels very light and easy. I only needed a very little to get great coverage, and I could really smooth it onto my skin. It basically disappeared immediately but taking a bunch of the redness of my skin with it, so it didn’t look or feel like I was wearing makeup.
I... I love this way more than I even hoped I would? Like this is replacing my Innisfree cushion, okay? And of course, it’s refillable. *_* I’m so happy.
Innisfree Long Wear AD SPF50+/PA+++ BB Cushion (#23 & #31) Review
Innisfree Long Wear AD SPF50+/PA+++ BB Cushion (#23 & #31) Review
Oh… I am an outcast in the dewy look trend. I have been blessed (and cursed) with oily skin and have had a dewy (aka greasy) look my whole life. I don’t want any more dew. And I don’t care what anyone else says, when I see SHINE on someone’s face, I don’t think “ohhh, how beautifully glowing and dewy”… No, I think “get that girl some astringent and face powder, STAT!” Which brings me to BB…
