From The Straits Times    |
la_prairie_skin_caviar_essence-in-foundtion


Photo: La Prairie/Facebook

By now, cushion foundations have earned themselves the title of being a staple beauty product on our vanities. It’s not hard to see why – the application is fool-proof, we can easily slip it into our makeup pouches, they’re nifty enough for touch-ups, and come in a wide variety of skin-perfecting properties.

Brightening, oil-control, pore-filling, dewy skin, anti-aging… you name it, there’s a cushion for it. Drugstore and luxury brands alike have all launched their own version of the cushion foundation. And with the abundance of cushion foundations in the market right now, you may think that there’s nothing revolutionary about them anymore – well, not till you have the world’s most expensive one in your palms.

Say hi to the La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Foundation:

 

 

What is it?

Priced at $365 (that’s a dollar for each wear, should I use it every day for a year), the Swiss brand claims they have created the first cushion foundation that’s infused with caviar water – which hydrates and firms the skin. It’s a product that’s half makeup and half skincare in one – so wearers are able to nourish their skin while they have foundation on. The caviar water-infused product is said to leave the skin with a natural but refined texture by blurring out pores and filling in fine lines. The foundation has light-to-medium coverage, as well SPF 25/PA+++ for sun and UVA protection.

 

Application

I have acne craters on my skin, left behind from those puberty days. For me, the hallmark of a good foundation lies in whether it’s able to fill in and cover those scars. The Skin Caviar definitely lived up to my expectations. A little of the foundation goes a long way – I was able to cover my entire face, scars and all, with just three taps into the cushion (and that was already more than enough coverage for me). The product gave a good medium coverage; but I was still able to easily build up on areas where I felt needed layering.

 

 

In fact, the foundation was also able to cover my dark eye circles, which eliminated the concealer step from my routine. That said, it wasn’t the most lightweight of products; but for the amount of coverage that it gave my skin, I was willing to overlook it. The foundation set down to a satin finish with a radiant glow. I found out that I had to set my under-eye with loose powder should I use the product in place of a concealer, if not it’ll start creasing throughout the day.

 

Wear test

I tend to get shiny on my T-zone area due to my oily-dry combination skin. On the days that I wore the Skin Caviar though, the shine was kept under control. I didn’t have to blot much – in fact, hardly at all – despite walking under the blazing sun to lunch, and being outdoors in the afternoon for a shoot. That said, while the foundation worked beautifully on the oily areas of my face, it became a little drying on the drier parts of my skin (edges of nostrils, below bottom lip), especially in an air-conditioned office. I had to bring out the heavy-duty hydrating mists to keep those areas from cracking.

 

 

I took a good look at my skin at the end of the day and everything stayed in place, just like how I left home in the morning. No touch-ups were needed. I gave the foundation another go, but this time putting on a light layer of rosehip oil before going in with it. It wore just as well, but this time more comfortable on the drier areas of my face.

 

Verdict

The Skin Caviar does cost a pretty penny, but for its stellar price point, it does deliver stellar results as well. I’ll recommend it for folks with oily skin, because the foundation is going to last all day for you. Those with dry skin might want to put on a layer facial oil before use. It may a little be too heavy for everyday wear (a personal preference) but given how long-lasting the foundation is, it’ll work well as a beautiful base for special events.

La Prarie Skin Caviar Essence-in-Foundation, $365. Compact comes with a 15ml refill, two application puffs and a signature protective pouch. Available at La Prairie counters at Metro Paragon, Takashimaya, Tangs Orchard, Robinsons The Heeren, Robinsons Raffles City.

 

ALSO READ: HOW TO FIX ALL YOUR CUSHION FOUNDATION PROBLEMS