by Jude Chao

June Korean Makeup Faves

Among the AB community, there’s a pretty commonly held belief that Western makeup is better than Asian. Asian skincare offers far more variety and customization than Western, which is why many of us find that it works better to solve our skin problems, but Western makeup brands tend to offer more color choices, allowing for a greater diversity of looks. Asian brands’ foundation choices are typically limited to a narrow range of pale-to-medium shades, and only a few brands offer point makeup in shades that venture farther than the conventional.

I like Asian makeup better anyway. My preferred makeup looks are classic (I’m conventional. Sue me), and since I actually am Asian, I’ve had much better luck finding matches to my skin tone from Asian brands. I’ve had way too many color matching fiascos in my years of making do with Western cosmetics. Here are some of my current favorites! Consider this a preview of my upcoming makeup reviews.

Favorite Korean cosmetics for June 2015
A.True cushions and Peripera products were not made for hiding away in a grubby makeup bag.

BB/CC cushions

CUSHIONNNNNNNNS. Oh my God, I regret every day that I spent not using cushion makeup. Cushions have transformed my life. To be honest, I pretty much only wrote this post so I could rave a bit about cushions.

These amazing Korean inventions pack a thin liquid foundation into a dense sponge right inside the compact, kind of like an inkpad for a stamp, only with makeup for your face. To apply, you stamp the applicator puff onto the sponge to pick up a bit of product, then dab it onto your face with motions that I couldn’t quite figure out until I watched this Pony video. (Side note: I love Pony. Western makeup techniques and tutorials never quite worked for me the way I thought they would, because I don’t have Western features. It wasn’t until I discovered Pony’s Beauty Diary that I actually learned effective makeup techniques for my face.)

The finish of a good cushion foundation is spectacular: sheer, even, dewy, perfectly natural and skin-like, but with just enough coverage to even out skin tone and perfect your look. I have two cushions at the moment and am having a great time trying to figure out which one I like better: the Hera UV Mist Cushion gifted to me from Peach and Lily, or the A.True Real Black Tea True Active CC Cushion sent to me by promising new US-based K-beauty retailer Cupidrop. I’ll be reviewing these cushions side-by-side in the coming weeks. I’ve also purchased a Skinfood Royal Honey Cover Bounce Cushion, which is on its way to me this very minute, and I’m thinking of acquiring IOPE and Innisfree cushions as well. For review purposes, of course. For science.

Peripera

Peripera is SO HOT RIGHT NOW. In my opinion, the brand is right up there with Too Cool for School in terms of both quality and sheer cool factor. I’ve had the peach and lavender cushion blushers for a while now, and Club Clio USA recently sent me two sets of Peri’s Tint Water and Water Balm. The cherry set is my jam. Layering the thin, saturated tint water under the brilliantly pigmented moisturizing balm creates an effect that manages to be both fresh and intense. Love it. Stress tests ongoing, but I’m predicting that my final review of these will be very positive.

Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer

I picked up the Skinfood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer on a whim during one of my Amazon restocks, and what the hell! How did I wear makeup for two decades without realizing how important undereye concealer can be for a lively, pulled-together look? Blended out from the inner corners of my eyes, this richly emollient but clingy and long-lasting undereye concealer brightens my entire face up somehow, no matter how little rest I’ve gotten the night before.

What are your favorite makeup items right now?

18 thoughts on “June Korean Makeup Faves”

  1. Those sound like great picks and I am looking forward to the rest of reviews!

    I have been wanting to try a cushion foundation for some time now. However, the only one that I can actually check out in person is the Lancome one and the shade selection is quite disapointing! The problem with this brand is that the lightest shade is also pink toned so it would clash with my yellow toned skin D:

    I am very reticent to buy foundation online without being able to check the shades first, so I hope that the trend keeps coming!

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    1. From what I’ve heard, the Lancome cushion is a bit lacking :/ As far as color matching goes, one thing I really appreciate about the Korean cushions is that they’re so sheer you can get away with a shade that’s not 100% perfect.

      Do you know your MAC shade? I’m about NC15, your picture looks lighter, NC10?

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      1. That might have been the light as I am actually more like NC20 and a bit lighter in winter (as an aside note, the muas always try to sell me darker shades!)

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      4. Hmm, can’t think of any for shades, but here’s a couple for the finish. When you’re testing then, make sure to try to build up a few layers on part of your face even if you don’t need extra coverage right then. Some are more buildable than others, and checking how they layer will help you avoid one that gets cakey. Also, if possible, try to get outside and walk around a bit before making a decision so that you can see how they hold up to weather, activity, etc. Finally, make sure to take lots of pictures of your travels for your blog 🙂

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      5. I heard that too! The Lancôme cushion is supposed to be a huge fail compared to the cheaper Korean versions. Even compared to the cheaper Innisfree cushions it’s supposed to be a huge disappointment.

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  2. I finally got Heroine Make Volume & Curl but in the Super Waterproof version. It’s OK layered with Long & Curl, not as much volume as I would like but it works. What I’ve really been liking though is Long & Curl Super Film brushed onto the tips. Oh my, the extra length…well who wouldn’t want some extra length? And I’m enjoying wearing my IOPE cushion and Laneige Water Drop Tints a lot.

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  3. I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT PONY!!! I’ve never managed to follow along with Western makeup tutorials (even those done by a particular Asian girl) and end up with a look that I felt comfortable leaving the house in. Pony opened up a whole new world of fun-with-makeup for me!

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  4. I’ve had the same experience! I’m not asian, but I have very distinctly yellow, but pale, skin and most western foundations are either too cool or too orange for me. Shu Uemura was my gateway drug for asian cosmetics, but now I do the cheaper stuff as well! ❤

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    1. I think Shu Uemura was the first Asian cosmetics brand I tried as well, way back in the day–I got their famous cleansing oil. Sadly, it broke me out (I probably wasn’t using it correctly). This time around has been much more fruitful!

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  5. I’ve been loving my Laneige BB Cushion, the Mizon Snail Repair BB Balm, and the Peripera Choco-Choco Brow Mascara and Brow Pencil! They’ve been my daily staples 🙂

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  6. Woah I’m going to have to try that Skinfood concealer!! Also I have been wanting to try a Skinfood cushion – can’t wait to hear about it on your blog 😀 😀

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  7. The IOPE cushion is really good. Both the natural and coverage are great – and I use both depending on what I’m feeling that day. Have you tried the IOPE cushion blush? That is on my short list to purchase.

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  8. Quick question: I’ve noticed that concealer is settling into fine lines around the eyes (it never used too! Argh! Aging!) and I’m wondering if BB cream would be a better option? What are your recommendations, if so?

    Also, even though I am NW20 in MAC, I received a sample of the Missha 21 Perfect Cover BB Cream and I just tried it today – and I think it looks better on my skin than the NW20! Am I crazy?

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  9. I’ve noticed that concealer is now settling into fine lines around my eyes (ack! aging!) like it didn’t used to…I’m wondering if BB creams would be a better option for the undereye area? What are your thoughts and recommendations?

    Also, even though I am NW20 in MAC, I received a sample of Missha’s Perfect Cover BB cream in 21 yesterday and so I tried it today – and I think that the color looks better on my skin than the NW20! Am I crazy?

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  10. I have noticed that my MAC concealer is starting to settle into fine lines around my eyes (ack! aging!) so I’m wondering if a lighter formula like a BB cream would be better to use around the eye area? What are your thoughts/recommendations?

    I just tried a sample Missha Perfect Cover BB cream today in 21 and the color is even better on my skin than my usual NW20 MAC concealer color. Am I crazy?

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