From The Straits Times    |

The best new BB cushion for an instant brightening effect! B1.pngImage: Showbit

Beauty buddies, say annyeonghaseyo to the Perfecting Cushion Brightening, Sulwhasoo’s equivalent of a hugely hyped iPhone 6S launch for the year.

An extension of the excellent Perfecting Cushion line, I’ve had a couple of weeks to test-drive this buzz-worthy new baby from the K-Beauty behemoth, and guess what? I’m happy to report that it’s well worth sussing out.

CUSHION: For starters, this is a bona fide Korean-style BB cushion, convenient compact and all.

I’ll like to single out the squishy surface of the sponge in particular, which boasts a chiffon cake consistency (courtesy of about 800,000 holes on the sponge’s surface) that allows just the right amount of fluid foundation to be dispensed and deposited when the pad is pressed onto your face.

PUFF: The puff proper is also a marvel of makeup ingenuity; I’m told it’s made of a “wet” form of urethane, an incredibly insulating next-gen polymer that cools upon skin contact.

What this means in practice: Slapping it on results in a really refreshing tingle that should soothe sensitive skin, especially useful if, like me, you suffer from heat-induced blotchiness.

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COLOUR & CONSISTENCY: The satiny serum-like finish is Goldilocks-good: Not too matte, not too dewy.And seeing as this is Sulwhasoo we’re talking about, the new compact also comes chock-full with the Korean brand’s signature botanical superstars, chief of which is of course white ginseng extract, said to block the production of specific melanin cells which cause sickly skin sallowness.

Cushion connoisseurs will also dig the buildable coverage, which drapes over the contours of your face to blur out blemishes without masking them entirely. Indeed, the effect of “real” skin peeking through is very fetching indeed.

The best new BB cushion for an instant brightening effect! SMEAR.png

No complaints on the all-important colour front as well. Thanks to scrupulous sun avoidance and genes gifted by Mum, I can get away with pretty much any porcelain-to-pale shade. (FWIW, I’m wearing No. 13 Light Pink.)

Finely milled pearlescent particles contribute to the “instant” brightening promise inherent in the product’s name – and no, there’s nary a sign of the garish glittery effect you may encounter in lesser formulations. If in doubt, ask your friendly Sulwhasoo cabin staff for advice on the five Asian-friendly hues carried in Singapore.

Top marks for a standard transfer test, too: Virtually no transfer of product when I used tissue to blot my T-zone. I experienced no creasing, crinkling or pooling into pores, either, although a midday touch-up is probably par for the course. Final detail that sealed the deal for me: This cushion’s more-than-respectable SPF 50/PA+++ rating means that cubicle-dwelling folks should be able to skip sunscreen if they like. (Just remember to top up before venturing out into our searing streets.)

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HOW TO APPLY: The palm-sized puff is incredibly intuitive to use; simply use soft strokes to skim away from the centre of your face, towards the jaw and hairline. Sheering out the product this way lends a seamless finish. This gentle graduation also softens any discernible demarcation between your face and decolletage; always a good thing!

For fuller coverage that doesn’t look too “forced”, press your puff deeper into the cushion to pick up more product, pat a thin layer all over your face, then go back in and focus on areas of concern, such as under the eyes and around the nose and mouth. This targeted second coat essentially doublles up as a concealer of sorts, quick’n’dirty style.

In short, Sulwhasoo’s Perfecting  makes for a startlingly strong contender in the saturated BB cushion market. Kampai to that!

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Brightening, $80 each in 5 shades, is available at all Sulwhasoo counters and at the standalone boutique at Capitol Building.

Want more Korean beauty goodness? Check to see if your complexion’s dullness and dryness is your body’s way of telling you you’re “heaty” and that your “energy” equilibrium is out of whack.

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