Laneige BB Cushion [Whitening] REVIEW!

Laneige is a Korean cosmetic/skincare brand that is under the parent company of Amorepacific Corporation. They are much more known for their solid skincare lines addressing each skin type, but they do have typical standard makeup products including lip colors, cheeks, and foundations plus BB Creams. From my observation from looking at their ads, price range, and their focus on the type of skin problems,  Laneige seems to be a higher end brand designed for young women from age 20 to 40. They are not as high quality or expensive as products from Amorepacific or their sister company Sulwhasoo, but it is certainly not considered to be a drugstore level product such as Etude House or The Face Shop.

The product that I am going to review today is the infamous Laneige BB Cushion [Whitening]. This product along with other types of cushion foundation has been booming all over the beauty blogging world because of its raving popularity in the Asian countries. It has also been talked about for some time in the Western beauty world, mainly because of Michelle Phan who included a sample in one of her Ipsy bag collections.

The interesting part about this product is that it is not a traditional squeeze-y or pumping liquid foundation or BB cream. The product is distributed from tapping into the saturated sponge like as if you would apply a powder foundation, but instead you are putting on a product that has a liquid foundation-like consistency. From this package design, it gives the consumer much more easier application when it comes to applying the makeup, as well as an compact portability when we are on the go.

The product it-self comes in four different colors: "#13 True Beige," which is for skin tones that are fair with a warm undertone; "#14 Pink Beige," for pale

skin with pink undertones; "#21 Natural Beige," for medium skin tones, which I am currently using; "#23 Sand Beige," which is the darkest shade they have so far. Because this is geared towards Korean consumers, the shade range for this product is not at all versatile for women of all different kinds of skin tones.

You can find more information on the LANEIGE website. (The English explanation is not perfect, but Song Hye Gyo, the model, looks lovely!)

It is priced at 34 dollars at Target which comes with a refill. In Korea it is priced around 35,000 won, which is about the same when compared to the Target price.

There are definitely pros and cons to this product. This could get long, so I am going to just say first that I will definitely repurchase this for the future.

The one thing I like about this kind of "cushion" product is the easiness of application. All the cushion products come with a specially designed sponge that distributes the product on to the skin like a dream with minimal effort. It also blends the product seamlessly on to the skin, creating a natural effect.

Before the application without any makeup.

With one layer.

Finished look.

That leads to the finish of the product: Laneige BB cushion gives off a natural to dewy finish, which I personally love and prefer compared to a matte finish foundation (It makes me look really healthier and it also hides my rough textured skin). The coverage is surprisingly thick from its build-able quality. If I wish to have a very light coverage for a natural look (with just little bit of bronzer, light mascara, and brow powder), I can achieve this look by applying just one layer to the skin. If I want a heavier coverage, I can dab a little bit more into the product and apply the product onto my darker hyperpigmentation spots without looking cakey or heavy on the skin. Overall the product is very light weight no matter how much you put on.

As a result, the finish of this BB/foundation gives a fresh and healthy complexion which I absolutely love.

Another bonus is that this BB/foundation has skincare benefits which it promises over using the product for an extended time period. This one in particular claims to have a whitening agent that blurs the imperfection from within. I have been using this foundation for the past five months or so, and I do not see any "whitening" effects. It also includes a healthy dose of SPF 50, which I really appreciate. Then it claims to have a "cooling effect," which I do not really feel while wearing this product.

At the end of the day

Although there are so many great things about this product, there are couple of cons that really can be a deal breaker for some users.

1) It oxidizes quite a bit. As you can see from the pictures, the fresh and glow-y look disappears  after couple of hours.

2) The longevity is very short. The makeup itself is nearly gone at the end of the day, which means that the coverage is gone as well.

3) When the weather is dry and cold, skin tightens up, giving a dry, tight and rather uncomfortable feeling to the skin.

4) You are given a very small amount of product. I finished one packaging after using it consistently for 3 months. So the price is little high considering how little of a product you get from one packaging.

In conclusion, I like it because of the color match, the natural dewy look that it gives, and the easiness of the application. However, those cons still continues to linger while I am using this product. So if your priorities are the four things that I have listed above, I do not think this product is for you. If you have a very yellow skin undertone with normal to combination skin, and are always on the go, I highly recommend this if you are looking for a light weight foundation during the warmer months!

Best,

SK