Ever since the BB cushion debuted in Korea, the unique compact has been making waves around the world. Essentially, BB cushion compacts feature a cushion sponge that is soaked in a nourishing foundation or BB cream, and a special non-absorbent application puff. Instead of sucking up the product, the puff evenly distributes it on your face for a dewy, luminous glow that is highly adored in Korea.
I’ve tried many BB cushions from various brands, and while some are great, there were those that really didn’t perform up to my expectations, taking into consideration the hype surrounding those products. Recently, I’ve added one more compact to my BB cushion collection, and it is The Face Shop’s Oil Control Water Cushion with SPF 50+ PA+++. Check out my review below to find out if it worked well for me!
On the official website for The Face Shop, the Oil Control Water Cushion is described as a sebum controlling, matte cushion foundation that provides long lasting freshness for oily skin. Formulated with blooming rose powder and citrus unshiu peel extract, the non-sticky and sweat proof foundation supposedly controls sebum very well.
Application – I have very fair and pale skin, so the shade V203 was a little dark for me. I made it work anyway by gently patting the product onto my skin with the puff provided, making sure to cover the neck as well. Thankfully, the foundation doesn’t smell unpleasant, and once applied, it was comfortable, lightweight and didn’t feel sticky whatsoever. One thing I have to point out though is that applying the product around the contours of the nose area with the puff isn’t very feasible.
Coverage – Compared to many other BB cushion-type products I’ve tried, the coverage from the Oil Control Water Cushion is way better. It has a medium to full coverage, and the foundation covers my imperfections very well. With just one layer, my skin looked flawless and natural. Even though The Face Shop claims that the foundation is matte, it does leave a little dewiness to the skin. Also, the foundation didn’t do a good job in smoothening out my pores or blurring them.
Sebum Control – I set the foundation with a light dusting of loose powder in the morning and wore it for the rest of the day to see how well it would perform. By midday, I noticed that my skin was a little shiny around the forehead and the nose area. I sorted that out by blotting my face with a piece of tissue. It left my skin slightly dewy, but overall, it looked good. I also went to the gym with this foundation on and it held up pretty well.
Longevity – I’d say that the Oil Control Water Cushion foundation is very, very long lasting on my skin. With some other BB cushions, the product would have faded off almost completely on my skin. This foundation doesn’t fade a whole lot, and at the end of the day, I could still see the bronzer, blush and highlighter on my skin. After hours on end, the foundation still looked pretty good on.
I’d say that the Oil Free Water Cushion foundation from The Face Shop is one of the better BB cushion-type products I have ever tried. I love the coverage it gives, and the longevity of the product on my skin is wonderful. Having said that, its ability to control sebum is mediocre and could definitely be improved. Additionally, it doesn’t blur out pores, so when someone looks at your skin up close, they’d definitely notice your enlarged pores. Finally, there are only TWO shades available and I’m pretty sure many Malaysians wouldn’t be able to use this foundation. If you have fair skin like myself, do give it a go!
The Face Shop’s Oil Free Water Cushion Foundation retails for RM83.90. You can purchase the product online or visit The Face Shop outlets near you.
