Laneige BB Cushion [Pore Control] Review

Since cushion foundations became a trend, I have tried only a few of them to date including the super famous Hera UV Mist Cushion (which I despise). I would have tried more if not for the dewy (aka oily) finish that they tend to provide because Koreans are obsessed with dewy skin. Since I live in a warmer climate and have oily-combo skin that certainly doesn't need any more dewiness, it is hard for me to find a cushion made for my skin type. There are only a few non-dewy cushions available in the market, including the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion (review here) and the Laneige BB Cushion [Pore Control] which I will be talking about today. If you have a similar skin type as me, you'd want to keep on reading because you're about to discover the best cushion ever for normal-oily skin!

Laneige BB Cushion [Pore Control] is one of the 3 variations of Laneige BB Cushions (Whitening, Pore Control, and Anti-Aging). It claims to provide skin with 6 benefits: pore coverage, pore control, semi-matte finish, water resistant, soothing effect, and UV protection of SPF 50+ PA+++. In Korea, there are 4 shades available - the darkest shade is #23 and there is shade #14 for pink-undertone. For the rest of Asia, there are 5 shades available that are catered to yellow-undertone skin and darker skin (darkest shade is #33). The main feature of this cushion is its capability to cover pores, as well as giving skin a long lasting and supple coverage without greasiness. Although it is pricey retailing at 37,000 Won (approx. $37), it is cheaper than more popular cushions like Hera's or IOPE's. 

 Available at   Ibuybeauti ($34.20), Jolse ($39.88)

The box comes with one compact with the cushion inside and a refill. If your refill runs out, you might have to buy the whole package with the compact again since Laneige doesn't sell refill separately (while some online stores do).

As you'd expect from a mid-end product, the compact looks elegant and luxurious. It is made from sturdy and high quality materials. The difference is quite obvious compared to cheaper brands like Etude House and Innisfree. The compact has a light blue surface, white body, and a silver rim. Although it's bulky, it's not really heavy. It can be conveniently carried around if you have a big purse. 

It's not very visible in the photo but there is a "push" sign on the left of the compact. This is where you're supposed to push, using both hands, to separate the cushion from the compact when you want to replace with the refill. Make sure you close the compact before you push.

The cushion comes with a full-size mirror and an applicator puff which is tailor-made to apply the product smoothly and efficiently. There is a separator to prevent the product from drying out. Therefore, every time you finish using the cushion, never forget to close the separator.

How to clean the puff: When the puff gets dirty, you can clean it by massaging it in lukewarm water with natural detergent or puff cleanser. Then, rinse completely clean and leave it to dry in a shadowy place. With any cushions, I feel like it's too much of a hassle to clean the puff, so I always buy a new one instead (it's sold separately at an affordable price). 

A brand new cushion is sealed with a sticker to keep the product moist and fresh. 

According to Laneige, there are 800,000 BB cream-filled pores in this cushion. With an incredible amount of pores, the product spills out finely like a spray, making it stay on skin longer without caking.  

How to use: To use the cushion, press the puff onto the sponge to pick up the product. Then, apply with a tapping motion along the texture of the skin. Gently pat with your fingers afterwards to enhance adherence. You can apply another layer to areas that need more coverage. 

The BB cream has a lightweight texture and is lightly floral scented. It spreads and blends easily without much effort. I can feel the cooling, soothing effect as I tap this product onto my skin. 

Shade #21 seems a bit too light for me right after application, but it will adjust more into my skin tone after a while. It provides a medium coverage that is build-able to a certain extent. I don't recommend layering this on more than 2 layers because cushion products tend to cake easily compared to other types of foundation. The finish is semi-matte that looks pretty natural. Unlike dewy cushions, this doesn't feel like you have a product layer on your face that will come off if you touch it. Instead, it feels lightweight on skin like I'm not wearing any BB cream.

With a single layer, it erases any redness as well as evening and brightening my skin tone, although you will need a concealer for imperfections like serious acne scars or blemishes. It covers pores well but it can't completely cover some gigantic pores on my nose and cheeks. However, I feel like it does a good job overall. It also doesn't accentuate dry patches and fine lines. To get the result like the photo above, I apply one layer to my whole face and go over with another layer on my nose and cheeks where my pores are huge. 

What I'm most impressed about this cushion is its oil control. My face usually becomes oily enough for me to blot after 3-4 hours, but it is less oily with this product on. Without applying any primer or powder, shine starts to peek through on my nose after 2-3 hours (normally it would already become an oil field) and after 4 hours for other parts. But, it's not greasy enough for me to blot. My face also remain hydrated and doesn't look patchy. 

After 6 hours, the coverage is still pretty good, although my face has become oily and in need of blotting. At this point, some product melts and appears a bit blotchy at areas where my pores are large (cheeks and nose) since some product sinks into pores. However, it's not a hassle to fix. You just need to blot away excess oil and reapply the product on problematic areas. Then, your makeup will look new again. Plus, reapplication/touch-up doesn't cause the product to turn cakey.

QUICK TAKE

• Semi-matte finish
• Long lasting
• Not cakey
• Doesn't accentuate dry patches or fine lines
• Medium coverage that is build-able to certain extent
• Spreads and blends smoothly
• Cooling sensation during application
• Good oil control - wears well until 6 hours mark before needing blotting and touch-up
• OK at covering pores - some huge pores cannot be completely covered
• Cannot completely cover imperfections that are very visible
• Erases redness as well as evening and brightening skin tone
• Lightweight and doesn't feel sticky on skin
• Doesn't transfer once set
• Product can melt and appear a bit blotchy when face becomes oily but is easy to fix and touch-up
• The shade seems a bit too light but will adjust after a while
• White cast with flash photography
• No allergic reaction  

I can confidently say this is the best cushion I've ever tried. I like the Innisfree Long Wear Cushion, but I feel this one lasts longer without becoming greasy and smooths out my skin texture better. If you have normal-oily skin and are looking for a cushion to try, definitely check this one out!

PS. Happy Lunar New Year! I wish all of you a happy and healthy 2015! I've decided to extend my K-Cosmetics Giveaway till the end of this month since it's Lunar New Year. I'll be away and won't be able to check the entries so I might as well leave it open for a bit longer :) If you haven't joined already, go HERE to join now.