Day 2 of Cushion Foundation Week 2 on My Women Stuff! For the uninitiated, you can view the brands featured in the first round-up of this nature here, where all cushion foundations are housed. This round however, by popular demand, Cushion Foundation Week will focus only on Korean brand BB cushions.
Naturally, I will not have ALL the brands in the market – Korean brands aren’t all that generous at providing samples, unlike the Western brands I worked with before this – but I have enough to take you through 7 (yes, count that) SEVEN days of Cushion Foundations. This time, we will have a whole WEEK of cushions and then on Day 8 (if I have not yet collapsed from exhaustion), I’ll give you a round up, and on Day 9 (Yes, I’ve thought this through) I’ll do you a quick comparison of Korean vs Western brand cushions. Whew! There’s a lot to get through so, fasten your seatbelts, here we go!
Day 2 of the Cushion Foundation Week 2 (the K-Beauty edition) is a more affordable one from Innisfree. It is the Innisfree Water Glow Cushion that I bought in store a little earlier this year. However, I cannot find it on the website, which frustrates me, as there is now one on there called the Water Fit Cushion which I assume is the same thing i.e. more moisturising, but likely the “improved version”. I have no information as I as yet do not work with the brand locally, so suffice to say, this is a review of the Water Glow Cushion that might be discontinued, so it pisses me off because I got it with the intention to talk about it on CFW2. Grr… Now, onwards!
Cushion Foundation: Innisfree Water Glow Cushion SPF50+ PA+++
I wandered into the Innisfree store one day, to check out their cushion foundations, because Innisfree is affordable, and I wanted to try something affordable. Also, there was a promotion to get a LINE character case. So, Brown made me do it 😛
Of the 2 types available (Longwear cushion is the other) I chose the Water Glow (now called Water Fit) Cushion because I have normal-dry skin and I wanted something more moisturising. Longwearing anything from experience, is usually more drying.
Sunscreen protection : SPF50+ PA+++
I’m not sure why I kept this section in, because all Korean Cushion foundations come with high SPF rating. That said, if you’re using a cushion foundation in place of sunscreen, come, let me smack you 😛 It is worth repeating.
What is good about cushion foundations, is their portability and lightweight texture, like this one, so you can use it as a touch up for your sunscreen through the day, or to touch up your makeup in the afternoons after it’s faded off a little. The lightweight texture feels comfortable, although I do feel this to be a little more dewy than I like, so I do recommend setting with a powder or it will sit on your skin feeling tacky for a long time.
What I like and have noticed is that many of these Korean BB Cushions use zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in their ingredient lists. These are physical UV blockers that I have personally found more effective for me than chemical ones and so I quite like this.
The Packaging & Refills
This is where I was surprised to note that Innisfree cushion foundations DO NOT come with a refill. It was my impression that all Korean cushion foundations did. Clearly, I was mistaken. Instead, you can buy the refills separately, but then it doesn’t work out to be as affordable as I thought it was!
I also find that the case has a solid base, so the cushion refill sits inside a sealed case, instead of in a ring, as with other brands like Laneige or Sulwhasoo. It is worth noting that these are all Amore Pacific brands, so it surprised me how they were different.
The cover of the cushion, which is what helps keep it from drying out, is attached to the capsule so every refill comes with its own cover and own sponge for hygiene reasons. Innisfree does sell spare sponges, I believe. What Innisfree has done further, is to come up with covers of different designs. So, as in my case, I ended up with a free cover from an Innisfree x LINE promotion. It’s cute, but not me as many people noted when I first shared this on Instagram LOL! 😀 You people know me too well! I actually prefer plain covers, so fashion covers like these do not attract me. But if you like them, then Innisfree has a ton for you to choose from in store.
The other thing I have to note is the rather flimsy construction of the compact that the cushion comes in. I found the original compact didn’t shut properly, so it would always pop open. If I were the sort to carry it around, the sponge could pop out and get dirty. As I don’t, it didn’t bother me, but I did note that the yellow free case shut better. I guess you get what you pay for.
The Cushion
The cushion is a traditional sponge-based cushion that is soaked with the product. I do find the sponge a little soft. Definitely softer than the Laneige BB Cushion I showed you yesterday.
I do find it easy to pick up product from the surface of the sponge without having to press down too hard. The sponge is a little soft, so there is a lot of give, which means that if you press down, you might pick up too much product. It will naturally dry out as time goes by, but I can’t tell as yet how quickly that will be.
The Sponge Puff
Again, this was a category I kept in from the previous Cushion Foundation Week series, and I’m not sure why, because the Koreans know their sponge puff applicators! This Innisfree one is no exception. I will tell you right here right now, that for best effect, ALWAYS USE THE SPONGE PUFF!
Reminiscent of the Laneige BB Cushion sponge, the Innisfree sponge has a blue base as well. The size of the sponge is similar as well, fitting just 3 fingers into the band, and it is rather small. While visually similar, I do find that the sponge is a little softer and a little less dense than the one from Laneige. I believe Innisfree sells the spare sponges, or they often give them free with purchase during promotional periods, for those who feel they need an extra.
However, what a softer sponge eventually translates into, is that the sponge does absorb product a little more readily, and as the Water Glow Cushion is a little light in texture, I do find myself having to pick up more product, more often.
TO USE: Like all BB Cushions, Slip your fingers through the loop (it only accommodates 3 fingers for me so I find it a little small), dab the sponge on the surface of the cushion (you can see this is just 1 dab) and then dab it on your skin, in a press and roll motion. Press on skin, and roll it off. It helps the foundation adhere better to your skin.
Texture, Coverage & Finish
Being a “water glow” cushion, it was to be expected that the texture would be a little more moisturising and dewy (shiny) on skin. This lived up to expectations. I did find that the cushion would not set on my skin, and feels tacky to the touch even after a few minutes. For this reason, I always have to set it with some powder to make it feel more comfortable.
Coverage is on the low side, offering some evening out of skintone and redness, but otherwise not offering very much coverage. This would therefore be more suitable for those who have good skin, or those who prefer a barely there base, although if you use this trick, you can get more out of the product.
I wear this in Shade #21 Beige in the pictures below, which are my usual unretouched before after photos.
While the tint evens my skintone and offers some brightening, the coverage is barely there. You can see it in the shadow of the pigmentation on my cheeks and blemish marks. Layering it on doesn’t do very much for me, so I usually just use a concealer and powder to create a more opaque effect using this trick.
Longevity is average as well for me, and I have normal bordering on dry skin. So I did expect this cushion to offer me a little more. Unfortunately, I have to say that this is one of the least impressive ones I own. I use it on off-days like weekends or when I want a quick cover-up. But it isn’t one I’d write home to anyone about. Just not impressive enough, but not crap enough to pan LOL! 😀
Shade selection
There are 5 shades available – C13 (C usually means Cover but it only comes in the lightest shade that I couldn’t wear – and I always take the lightest shade in base makeup!) The others are N shades, which are Natural i.e. sheer. The shades are N21, 23, 27 and 31.
I wear this in #21, which is the shade I wear in all Korean base shades. I’m intrigued that there are a few deeper shades available, which I hope will mean that more people will be able to try and wear these cushion foundations. If you have a medium skintone (I don’t think it goes very deep) you could stop by and take a look!
Scent
Yes, there is a slight scent so if you’re sensitive to fragrance in skin products then be wary. It is fairly light so it isn’t too bothersome.
Do I like this?
Mmm… not really. As I have it, I will use it up eventually (or dry in the process) but it’s not something I’d repurchase because I didn’t like how tacky it stayed on my skin. I do prefer a little more coverage, and as you will see, there are other brands (under the same mothership) who do beautiful textures and offer nice, transparent coverage.
What Innisfree has going for it is affordability. It has a fairly low entry point, and the gimmicky choice of cases will draw many in. Do note that the cases do not fit refills from other brands, so really, they aren’t much use unless you only ever use Innisfree cushion foundations!
IN A NUTSHELL
The Innisfree Water Glow Cushion seems to have been renamed Water Fit Cushion (after I bought it). The cushion does not come with a refill, although Innisfree often offers decorative compact covers that I know entices many people. The entry price is low, but I think it adds up to the same in the end once you factor in having to buy refills. In mine, the original compact was quite flimsy and would pop open easily. The cushion itself was a typical cushion, in that it was sheer, offering just the evening of skintone, which might be what some people will want. If so, this is one to look for. Otherwise, I personally feel there are other better ones out there. Less pretty to look at, but performs better.
PROS: Lightweight texture, Evens out skintone very naturally, Low coverage, Easy to use, Has a dewy glow finish on skin, Not drying nor oily, High sunscreen protection, Portable packaging, Comes in many decorative covers, Refills are sold separately, Slightly deeper shade available
CONS: Scented, Some people may not like the sponge for application or hygiene purposes, I don’t mind, Sponge feels a little small, Cover felt flimsy, Low coverage, Feels tacky on skin
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes a sheer cushion foundation, Anyone who likes collecting decorative covers, Anyone who has a small budget and wants to try a cushion foundation,
PRICE: I think I bought the whole set (cover + refill) from the Innisfree store for RM95 or thereabouts. Refills are sold separately. Prices will vary depending on where you buy from as it is available on many different websites
WHERE TO BUY: Innisfree stores and many K-beauty websites (none of which I’ve shopped at before and so have no suggestions)
If you’re interested in what’s in there, here’s the ingredient list:
The green Tea Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Phenyl Trimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Acrylate/Ethylhexyl acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Mineral Salt, Rice Powder, Glycerin, Tangerine Peel Extract, Prickly Pear Extract, Orchid Extract, Camellia Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Extract, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Orange Extract, Tangerine Extract, Yellow Iron Oxides, Red Iron Oxides, Black Iron Oxides, Fragrance
Have you tried any Innisfree cushion foundation?
Innisfree makes a few different types (as they all do) so perhaps I picked the wrong one? I don’t know. This didn’t endear me to the brand, but if you have a better suggestion, I’m all ears! 😀
Paris B
More cushion foundations can be found in this category.
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