CHOSUNGAH 22 Bounce Up Pact Powder Foundation Review

CHOSUNGAH 22
Bounce Up Pact Powder Foundation 

SGD55 at SASA / USD36 from Sephora

For reference, i have combination skin and i'm NC 20-25 in Mac terms. I'm testing it in a hot and humid climate.

In Singapore and most asian countries, Korean makeup tends to only carry just 2 very fair shades, the darker which matches me or sometimes be slightly too fair.  I purchased shade 2, the darker shade and it matched me pretty well.  Sephora in USA carries 4 shades in total. Some other Korean makeup now make darker shades to cater to the western market.  It has a very light fragrance that quite nice.

The texture of the foundation is pretty unique, i fell in love the minute i swatched it in Sasa.  The reason i didn't purchase it immediately was because i'm not sure if it would work on dry skin. I have combination skin, oily T-zone and dry cheeks. It also contains very fine shimmers thats not noticeable on the face unless you look very closely and in some lighting it may be more noticeable.

The texture feels in between a solid cream foundation in compact and a powder. It doesn't 'bounce' as much as Maybelline's dream bouncy blush. When swatched, the finish is not dry like a powder foundation, but has a satin finish. Its beautiful on my hand. 

Its a light to medium coverage and I have been using it for the past two weeks. I switched between using the puff it came and Missha cushion puff. The original puff feels weird and plastic-y. It doesn't seem to absorb the foundation and feels alittle sticky and disgusting.

When swatched on the back of my hand, the finish is beautiful! Satin finish, doesn't look dry nor too dewy. I went home excited to try it. 

However, this did not work for my combination skin.  It clings to the dry areas of the skin and look a little patchy up close. When i try to get more coverage, even the oily areas looked patchy. Some days it went into my pores and no other foundation has done that! I used it for 2 weeks because i wanted to like it so badly. Some days the finish is more even, some days its patchy. I just can't make it work... I thought my SPF may be the issue and tried one day without sunscreen on one side of my face. Same thing happened... When i try applying a second layer for more coverage, it gets patchy and disgusting. Its also not long-lasting. When i've perspired alittle, it wipes off so easily i'm shocked!  This is the worst foundation i have ever used and its not cheap either!!!

Extract from Sephora website:

What it is: 

A long-lasting, unique powder foundation with a bouncy formula that leaves a velvety finish. 

What it does: 

Once it's applied, this foundation’s bouncy, high-coverage formula softly melts on skin and doesn’t smudge. Non-sticky and long-lasting, it smoothly delivers coverage and imparts a delicate, velvety radiance. Infused with moisturizing camellia oil, evening primrose oil, bladderwrack, African walnut oil, and sea buckthorn fruit extract, it hydrates and evens the skintone. Formulated with peptides and anemarrhena asphodeloides extract, this foundation hydrates and supports the skin's elasticity while creating a silky, flawless finish. Just apply a second layer to areas where you want fuller coverage.

SUMMARY|  THIS PRODUCT IS SO HYPED BUT FOR ME, ITS A DISASTER. I'M SURE IT WORKED FOR OTHER PEOPLE, THIS REVIEW IS ONLY HOW IT PERFORMED ON MY SKIN.  I WOULD RECOMMEND FOUNDATION FROM BOURJOIS, THEY ARE INEXPENSIVE AND AMAZING!

Paula's Choice Resist C15 Super Booster Review

Price: S$68 / US$48 (From Paula's Choice website)
20ml (Good for 3 months after opening)
My skin: Combination with hyper-pigmentation




I have been using this product for 2.5 months and I have seen visible results!  It took that long but its worth it! I have hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks and on the bridge of my nose. After 2.5 months of using this, the hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks has visibly diminished by more than 50%, and my overall complexion seem clearer. Sadly the hyper-pigmentation on my nose does not seem to have changed.

This product contains 15% Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Ferulic acid, and Peptides that repairs visible signs of aging and stimulates collagen production. 15% Vitamin C is very potent considering most other products may not even contain half that. Most products also do not state the amount of Vitamin C they contains which makes choosing the right product harder.  Use 15% - 20% Vitamin C for stubborn hyper-pigmentations.

How i use it | I add 1-2 drops to my serum in the morning, remember your SPF if you are using this.  At night, i added 2-3 drops to my nighttime serum. I use this everyday, twice a day for 2.5 months and the strange thing is, i seem to notice the results only recently.  It does not seem to improve gradually but suddenly! I have been checking for improvements to my hyper-pigmentation regularly and starting to wonder if this is another fail. Then viola! Check this link for more information on the benefits of Vitamin C!  Its my favorite skincare ingredient!

Even though instructions says it may be used alone, I've heard it may cause oxidation ie. the skin where it is applied turns yellow during the day.  I have not experienced it as I've never used it alone.  Do keep the bottle away from sunlight, preferably in a cool, dark place.  I store my skincare in an opaque container.

I feel its almost impossible to finish the entire bottle in 3 months if you use it only on your face and decolletage.  However, since Vitamin C is pretty unstable when exposed to air, its effectiveness will deteriorate after open the bottle for 3 months.

 
This is a new bottle of C15, its a transparent liquid, like water.

  
The color of C15 nearing the 3rd month. I asked Paula's Choice if its still good to use when the color turned yellow like in this picture. They said its alright since its not passed 3 months from openin the bottle. 


Extract from Paula's Choice website:

"Resist C15 Super Booster is a concentrated, light-as-water liquid treatment product designed to supercharge your Paula's Choice serum, or it may be used alone. A blend of 15% stabilized vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) at a pH of 3.0, antioxidant vitamin E, ferulic acid, and peptides repairs visible signs of aging and stimulates collagen production for smoother, brighter, and firmer skin.

Vitamin C also helps protect skin from environmental damage as it evens your skin tone. You'll see dramatically younger, healthier, and more radiant skin in weeks!
 
Who is this product for?
Resist C15 Super Booster is for anyone who wants to boost the results from their Paula's Choice serum or who wants to experience the benefits of vitamin C when combined with other proven anti-aging ingredients. The formula is suitable for all skin types and also appropriate for breakout-prone skin.

Product Ingredients:
Water, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C/antioxidant), Ethoxydiglycol (slip agent/penetration enhancer), PPG-26 Buteth-26 (emulsifier), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (thickener), Tocopherol (vitamin E/antioxidant), Ferulic Acid (antioxidant), Sodium Hyaluronate (skin-repairing ingredient), Acetyl Octapeptide-3 (cell-communicating ingredient), Glycerin (skin-repairing ingredient), Panthenol (skin conditioning agent), Sodium Metabisulfite (stabilizer/antioxidant), Triethanolamine (pH adjuster), Phenoxyethanol (preservative)."


CONCLUSION:

This is highly recommended for lightening hyper-pigmentation and I've seen the best result to-date.

Micellar water reviews and comparison

I love micellar water.  For those who don't already know, micellar water are literally "water" consistency, extremely gentle makeup removers, more suited for removing light makeup.  It has been used by makeup artists because it does not irritate the skin even when they had to put on and remove makeups over and over throughout photo shoots.

The main selling point for me is how refreshing it feels after using it.  Its such a novel way of removing makeup when i first learn of its existence.  No more heavy, greasy cleansing lotions and oils.  Even though micellar water require no rinsing after using it, I still make sure I splash my face with water everytime.  It really comes down to personal preference.  It can be extremely handy in situations where rinsing is not possible or at least inconvenient.

Micellar water are formulated with mild and non-irritating ingredients, they are suitable for sensitive skin. I can attest to that as at times when my skin gets hyper sensitive with no apparent reason, this does not cause any reaction.

If I'm using just micellar water to remove light makeup, I will repeat the process with a fresh cotton pad, just to make sure I removed all the makeup. 

I started using micellar water a few years ago and have tried 8 brands so far.  Can you tell I'm obsessed?  I generally wear light makeup and this fits perfectly into my routine.  For those who are first timer:

DO make sure the cotton pad is saturated with micellar water, this makes it work better and faster. It also prevents pulling your skin which may cause wrinkles.

DO use it on dry skin, I always start from my eyes.  I hold the saturated cotton pad on my eyes for a few seconds, then gently wipe the concealer and liner off. It should work quickly if your cotton pad is very wet. Then I pour more micellar water on the same cotton pad and wipe all over my face and neck. Everything should come off quickly.

DO repeat with a fresh cotton pad just to make sure your face is clean. Alternatively, do a second cleanse with a facial cleanser. Clean skin one of the most important step to clear, beautiful skin.

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Nuxe Rose Micellar Cleansing Water  | 200ml  SGD40

This is the first micellar water I tried and I remember loving it. Even though I don't use it anymore, Nuxe is still a very good option.  It is very effective at removing makeup and smells faintly of roses which is quite nice.

They have since updated the packaging, and the formula seems slightly different, more refreshing. I would really like to try it again if its not so pricey.

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Bioderma Sensibo H2O Make-up Removing Micelle Solution | 500ml SGD40.90

This is the cult brand that everyone was raving about a few years back and its my favorite. Its a french brand and back then its hard to come by outside France. Now its more widely available. 

Here are the pros:

Effective, feels refreshing, fragrance free, relatively economically priced depending on where you buy it from. The packaging is great too, no leakage.

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Vichy Purete Thermal 3 in 1 Micellar Solution  |   200ml  SGD19.90

This is as good as Bioderma, if not slightly better. All the pros above applies here. I noted a price drop recently, a bottle of 200ml used to cost SGD29.90, its now SGD19.90. The lady says the quality is exactly the same. How great is that! I'd be buying one to compare, lets hope the quality is the same!

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Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water | 200ml  SGD32

Caudalie's micellar water contains a light floral fragrance, its very nice and I believe most people will like it. It also feels gentler, by that i mean, it doesn't remove makeup quite as quickly as Bioderma & Vichy. But it still does the job, just alittle slower.  I used up a 400ml bottle and i love it.

Caudalie has since updated their packaging to a pump. I guess its nice but it will cost more. I liked the original packaging (the picture here is the old packaging) so I don't appreciate having to pay more for the same thing.

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L'oreal  3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution | 200ml  SGD17.90

I feel this work pretty much the same as Bioderma, maybe its slightly more effective ie. cleanses better and quicker.  Its also fragrance free.  However, the cap leaks and the same thing happened to my friend!  My second bottle is fine though, (Bought 2 bottles because of a promotion, gets me everytime) it doesn't leak. Hopefully  L'oreal would have improved the packaging at some point in time.  (Update: My third bottle didn't leak too)

As much as i love this product, its per ml price is higher than Bioderma in Singapore! But that's in regards to Singapore only, prices of products differ in different countries and stores so do check your local prices.  

I also prefer the packaging of Bioderma. Something about L'oreal's flat bottle shape annoys me as tends to topple over easily.

The product itself is amazing, my problem is with the price and packaging.

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Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water  | 400ml

This is the most inexpensive micellar water amongst those i've tried. I feel its a slightly thinner version of Bioderma, not a very effective makeup remover.  Overall its similar to Bioderma so if price is a big factor to you, you can consider this.

However, I've just finished a bottle of this and halfway through, I'm getting really annoyed and I can't wait to finish it.  It takes longer to remove makeup and the lower price is just not worth it (for me).  I'll rather pay more for Bioderma and L'oreal.

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La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution  | 400ml  SGD32.90

This is didn't work for me and I will not repurchase unless they improve the formula. Yes its gentle and fragrance free, but it doesn't even remove light makeup. I'm not sure what I did with the rest of the bottle, maybe i used it in the morning in place of facial cleanser.

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Bourjois Micellar Cleansing Water | 250ml SGD14.90

This is my least favorite, and i also will not repurchase this because its irritates my skin. The cap is really small with a weird little ball on it, making it hard to open and close. It cleanses fairly well, not the best but not bad for the price. I would recommend Bioderma since the per ml price is very close.

TO SUMMARIZE:  (In the order of best to worse)

In terms of how well and quickly they remove makeup:

L'oreal, Vichy, Bioderma, Nuxe, Caudalie, Bourjois, Garnier, La Roche-Posay

Will i repurchase:

Bioderma, Vichy, L'oreal, Nuxe, Caudelie

Thanks for viewing and hope it helps!