
OK, I know what you’re thinking – Skin79 BB Pumping Cushion sounds like it has the potential to be kind of rude doesn’t it? I promise it’s not a sex toy or some sort of ~ erm ~ device.
What it is is one of these:
So it’s a cushion-style foundation, but not like a regular cushion, which is where the pumping part comes in:
Thanks to some Korean innovation, what you get here is a reservoir of BB cream under a plastic shelf. This is instead of the usual sponge cushion that makes these products so, well, cushiony. The idea here is that the plastic shelf is more hygienic than a sponge cushion.
Press down on the shelf to dispense a circle of drops of the product, then apply it to the skin with the same sort of polyurethane puff that you get in most regular cushion compacts. The cream itself blends in really well, and lightens up to match the skin. It’s a good thing it does, since it starts out the colour of a Rich Tea biscuit:
This colour is #23 – Natural Vanilla. It also comes in #21 – Bright Vanilla – for anyone who is super pale.
The big difference between this Skin79 product and other Korean BB creams is that it gives a more matte finish. This is down to the fact that it contains sebum-controlling powder to stop skin looking oily. Often Korean BB creams are mad for glow and luminosity, which can look great on a kpop star, but be too much for mere mortals. So I like that the Skin79 BB cream is a bit more matte, and this is why I wear the original, non cushion version of this (the one in the pink tube) pretty much every day.
This product is great for anyone who’s looking for a light coverage base. What you get is a Your Skin But Better kind of finish – it won’t cover up any major blemishes, so you may have to go back in with a concealer to protect the guilty. For me as a fortysomething, this is exactly the sort of light, barely-there coverage I want, though it may not be for you if you prefer something a bit more full on.
It’s great for portability, as the compact packaging is easy to sling in your handbag without worrying about product spilling everywhere. Skin79 make some of the world’s most popular BB creams, so they know what they’re doing here. That said, I have heard people complain of this brand breaking them out, so if your skin is very sensitive then I would tread cautiously and maybe try out a tester first.
On the down side, this was a rare packaging fail for me. The cushion lid arrived separated from the main body, as the plastic hinge was broken, even though it was boxed and wrapped in bubble wrap. I’ve ordered from BeautyNetKorea many times and never had a problem so I think this is just one of those things, and the risk you run when shopping online.
Skin79 BB Pumping Cushion product details
I bought this from BeautyNetKorea for $15.88 (approx £12.50) – it’s currently on sale for $9.48 (£7.50) so poopers to me for missing out on that bargain.