Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Review: Benoa Japan CC Cream and BB Powder Foundation

Hello again! Today I’ll be sharing two products I found recently at an ACB Cosmetic’s Store closing sale. I had never seen ACB Cosmetics until I spotted this sale, and I was surprised to see a LOT of products I had never seen before, including a bunch of Korean skincare goodies. Since these two products were on sale for 8-10 USD each I had to give them a try!


I  like to wear BB/CC cream because I find it stays on longer than regular sunscreen. I use two cream routines depending on what I feel like, my coloring, and what I’m up to that day. On days when I want a coverage quick and I’ve gotten a bit more sun, I’ll reach for my Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in #23. But on days when I’m a bit lighter, I have time, and I want some extra coverage, I combine these Benoa products. Only in Asia would I combine CC and BB products! :D

Product Description:
Benoa CC Cream:  今一番注目されているC.Cクリーム! 肌色を補正し、潤いを与え、UVA/UVBから肌を守ることで完璧な羽田に見せるメイクアップ保湿クリームです。 BBクリームの簡単な使用方法、スキンケア、ファンデーションのカバー力が1つになった画期的商品♪(x
Translation: Right now the number-one popular item is CC Cream! This cream is skin-toned, is moisturizing, and protects skin from UVA/UVB. Its a skin-perfecting moisturizing cream. Used in just the same way as BB Cream, it’s a groundbreaking skincare and foundation product.

Benoa BB Powder Foundation: なめらかファンデーション(パウダリー) おすすめ肌質:脂性・普通肌 スルスルとなめらかにのびて、肌の悩みをきちんとカバーしながらも、素肌そのものが美しいかのような仕上がりです (x)
Translation: A smooth foundation (powdery), this recommended smoothing and moisturizing (?) powder glides on smoothly, going over trouble areas and covering them, making them beautiful as well.

Both products are SPF 30 PA++

Packaging: Both products come in matching white cases. The CC cream comes in a squeezable tube, and the BB powder foundation comes in a compact with a mirror, puff, and disc to keep the BB powder clean. The BB powder’s compact is very sturdy and I don’t see it breaking any time soon (let’s hope that’s not a jinx!)

Benoa Japan CC Cream:

Benoa Japan BB Powder Foundation:
Application: The CC cream, like many others I’ve swatched in Japan, starts out white with small grey capsules and turns skin-toned when blended. The CC cream is easy to blend and turns skin-toned quickly, unlike the L’oreal Magic CC Cream for Redness I had been using before this. The CC cream turns colors much more quickly when using fingers or a foundation brush, but I still reach for my Beauty Blender most of the time since I’m lazy like that. It has a faint scent which almost reminds me of citrus but doesn’t last after application.
Benoa Japan CC Cream, unblended
 Benoa Japan CC Cream, blended
Please pardon my lighting! I’m still figuring it out D:
The BB Powder Foundation, which I didn’t swatch because it looks exactly like it does in the pan when worn, applies nicely and isn’t cakey. I find it stays on almost all day and does a good job setting and adding extra coverage to the CC Cream. I use it mainly on my forehead, nose, and chin. I would not recommend using it to set under-eye concealer however, as I find it settles in to fine lines. I apply it using the puff that came with it in and pressing it on, and set it using a mineralized water mist (my current one is by Evian).
Wear: The CC Cream evens out some redness, namely the hormonal redness I get on the sides of my nose. I notice no difference in the color of blemishes or scars. It has a VERY “dewy” finish, which I suppose is part of its claim to be moisturizing. At first I thought the dewy finish might be caused the sheet masks or essences I used before the cream, but even without those I get the same result. The color does last all day, and although the dewy effect lessens throughout the day it does not disappear completely.
If the dewy look isn’t for you, I recommend using the BB powder on top. The BB powder lessens but does not take the dewy look away entirely, which is nice. When I first moved to Japan I thought a lot of the women here looked oily, but I’ve come to like the glowing, dewy look. It seems much healthier and more natural than a fully matte face. The BB powder does not stay on all day but helps with the longevity of the CC Cream. Being in a compact, the BB powder would be easy for on-the-go touchups.
I tried taking pictures of myself wearing both today, but I can’t figure out how to get good lighting! What pictures I did take took away the dewy finish that you see in real life. :< Does anyone have any photography tips?
Overall: The CC cream would be perfect for someone looking for a dewy look, and the BB cream does an excellent job of covering and setting without being too matte or cakey. Both products are SPF 30 PA++, which is also an added plus. The CC cream is long-wearing especially when combined with the BB powder, but since I’m not fully committed to the dewy look I would give these two products a 4 out of 5. I could see myself repurchasing the BB powder, but perhaps I’ll foray deeper into the world of Japanese CC creams before revisiting Benoa.
Was this helpful? What would you like to see next time? Let me know!

Sunday, March 23, 2014

REVIEW: Canmake Cream Blush

My first review! 
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It took me almost a year after moving to Japan to discover the wonder that is Cosme.net. Cosme net is the Japanese equivalent of MakeUpAlley (which if you don’t use, you should!). A while back while browsing I came across the highest-ranked product I had ever seen on the site: the Canmake Cream Cheek. At only 600 yen (approx. $6 USD) and with stellar reviews, I had to try it out. And I wasn’t disappointed!
Product Description: Creates a complexion that exudes health from deep within your skin, like a fountain of happiness.Blends in with your skin as though melting into it, ensuring that your complexion stays looking dewy-fresh for hours on end. (x)
I got two varieties: regular, and “clear” which is a sheerer formula.
Packaging: The cream blushes come in small plastic jewel-shaped containers, and are very “Japanese”. The packaging has a very drugstore feel to it, which doesn’t bother me. The tops of one of mine broke off, but it was easy enough to snap back on. 
Canmake Cream Cheek in 05
Canmake Cream Cheek in CL01 (“clear”)
Application: These blushes are beautifully pigmented and easy to blend. They have a creamy-dewy finish. I usually use my index finger to dot small amounts over my cheek, blending with a flat-topped blush brush. The color blends easily and can spread quite quickly, so you have to be careful not to blend too far out with your brush. Iʻm sure you could use your fingers to blend these out easily.
05: unblended, finger blended
CL01: unblended, finger blended
Wear: The color lasts all day with some fading. I like to blend them out and keep them natural-looking. They could also be used as a blush base if you are going for a heavy cheek look. I think the regular and clear formulas are very similar.
These are so pigmented that Iʻm almost certain these are what Japanese girls use to achieve what I call the “war paint blush” look, which is literally two lines of unblended blush right under the eyes. Itʻs certainly different!
Overall: For the price, pigmentation, and blendability, I would give these products a 5 out of 5! These are absolutely going to be my HG blushes in the summer. Of the two I think CL01 is my favorite, only if its my first and only red blush. Itʻs a lovely, natural, yet noticeable color. I only wish Japanese drugstores carried more than four shades. I’m itching to try an orangey shade in the summer!
Did you like my first review? What would you like to see next? Let me know! :)