The road to flawless skin can be a tricky and full of side trips when you’re living in a tropical country. It’s hot and extremely humid which makes caring for your skin throughout the day a bit of a nightmare. Even my dry-as-a-desert skin is starting to show a few signs of wear and tear. Of course, that’s enough to send my personal alarm system into overdrive. Great skin is always on top of my list after all. :-S
One thing I also noticed recently was how I can now see some of the pores on my nose which were practically invisible before. Thankfully, they still haven’t reached a monstrous size as of the moment but that’s enough for me to consider trying to prevent any further damage to my skin.
I also noticed blackheads as well as whiteheads popping out on my nose and chin. This resulted to a nasty habit of picking them out using a metal tool used by dermatologists. I know, I know. I shouldn’t be doing this to myself as I might damage my skin more but my OCD kicks in when it comes to my skin. One little ‘irregularity’ and I fuss and worry like crazy.
The problem with picking out your black/whiteheads by yourself – aside from the fact that it hurts like a b*tch – is that you might end up with bigger pores that are left open, making it vulnerable to dirt and new blackheads. Eeep! You wouldn’t want to be trapped in such a vicious cycle.
Thank goodness for products that will actually help me break this bad habit by actually doing the job for me. Who doesn’t want tight, almost-invisible pores anyway?
Laneige, a Korean brand that I’ve always trusted since it was introduced to me here in KL, recently launched the new Mini Pore Range which contains products that will clean, tighten, and make sure you’re looking flawless all day!
Let’s start with the reviews, shall we? 😉
Laneige Mini Pore Waterclay Mask
This clay mask comes in a watery, gel-type consistency that promises to control sebum, tighten loose pores, and supply moisture to the dry pores on your face.
One of its ingredients is Mint Water which will leave your skin feeling refreshed while strengthening your skin’s barrier.
This mask also contains Pine Needle Extract that will prevent that dreaded pore enlargement.
The mud used for this mask comes from Shinan – an island in Korea that has a 1st grade, uncontaminated mud flat. The mud has fine particles which makes it great for sebum absorption.
I’ve used this thrice already and so far, I’ve been quite happy with the results. Application is a breeze as the mask’s consistency is quite creamy. It dries quickly and you can actually feel that it’s working! You feel a pleasant, tightening sensation as it dries up.
You leave this mask on for only 10 minutes and you scrub it off using the sponge it comes with. I really like the effect this mask has on me that I even got my husband to try it. 😉
https://instagram.com/p/4hNtgSiqXd/
After washing it off, I noticed that my T-zone area is definitely cleaner and almost black/whitehead free! I say almost as two stubborn whiteheads that I’ve had for a while took 2 applications of this mask before they came off. No complaints there as I used to pick on those two a lot with my metal tool but only got redness and pain out of all the effort. I’m just glad they finally budged this time and quite easily and pain-free at that. 😉
Laneige Mini Pore Blurring Tightener
First off, I just need to say that I love how the scent of this product! Come to think of it, I do love the scent of most of Laneige’s products. Nothing too strong. Just clean scents with a bit of relaxing and sweet tones to it.
The Mini Pore Blurring Tightener is used as the last step in my skin care routine for both day and night. I apply it on my T-Zone area plus the sides of my nose and on my chin as well (just like the Waterclay Mask). I also love using this before putting on make up to blur-out pores and keep sebum at bay for the whole day.
I love patting this on for easy absorption. It also dries quickly so even if you’re running late and in need of applying makeup right away, this extra step on your skin care routine shouldn’t be a problem. 😉
Like the Waterclay Mask, the Blurring Tightener also contains mint water and pine needles. The former can actually soothe the pores and keep them from getting larger.
BB Cushion Pore Control
Now I gotta admit. The dewy look that’s popular in Korea is something that I have yet to get used to on my skin since I’m more of a matte finish kind of girl.
However, when I tried it out over the weekend, I got a lot of compliments for it – especially from my husband who’s a fan of the no-makeup-makeup look.
While there are a lot of BB Cushions in the market today, this one in particular focuses on pore control which can help you achieve a flawless, photo-ready look without looking like you’re too made up. This effect is achieved by using a soft focus powder that diffuses light.
This product has a cooling effect to the skin (reduces skin temperature by 3 degrees C!) and SPF 50. Plus, it’s water and sweat resistant – perfect for Southeast Asian climate. I wore it from 10 in the morning until 4 and there was no need to retouch. 😉
The BB Cushion is available in 6 shades. I got the Natural Beige during the launch, thinking that it would be one shade darker than my naturally pale skin. It’s usually my rule to wear products that are a shade darker to counter my paleness. Natural Beige like exactly what I need in this guide however, when applied, the formula tends to lighten so I ended up with my exact shade in the end.
So when picking a shade, do keep in mind that this product tends to look lighter once applied. My remedy for this is bronzer and some blush or cheek tint.
Wearing the Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control with no powder over it. 🙂
I love using the BB Cushion for days where I want to look not too made up. For just doing a bit of errands or meeting up with friends. It gives a finish that’s between semi-matte and dewy it also provides decent coverage. But for stubborn pimples or dark circles, you’ll have to use some concealer.
For days when I want a bit more coverage or for a full-on matte finish, I sweep some Too Faced Cocoa Powder on it and it works as such a great base for my makeup!
When you buy a Laneige BB Cushion, it also comes with a refill so you’re technically getting two cushions that will last you for quite a while.
One thing that bothers me is packaging. BB Cushions usually come in chunky packaging and Laneige’s cushions are no exception. The compacts are normally thick and take up a lot of space in your makeup kit. However, it is understandable since a cushion takes up more space than normal powders.
And there you have it. Your new weapons against those monster pores and sebum. 😉 They come out this month so do watch out for them. Are you a fan of the dewy look? Let me know in the comments section below!
Love,
Carol
