Loving You Lately is a blog category where I discuss things I am currently obsessing over. This was originally slated as an LYL post until I created the Foundation Week tag.

A few weeks back, I attended Kanebo's launch for the autumn/winter 2017 collection, which would be their last for the year. While Japanese and Korean cosmetics don't always hit the mark with Filipinas' deeper coloring, their autumn collections are mostly GREAT for us. Better than many Western brands imho, because the autumn colors they choose suit us perfectly.

Regardless, it's not lipstick nor eyeshadow that's my favorite pick this season, but simple foundation. I've been addicted to full coverage foundation for the better part of this year (whether worn sheered out or in all its full glory) but there's just something about this luxury foundation, which has me picking it up a lot these days.

Kanebo Luster Cream Foundation w SPF 15, PHP 7200 / 30ml*, comes in 8 shades. My OC-B shade seems to sit in the middle of the 8 shade selections, which is a breath of fresh air from Koreans' default two shades: white and whiter.

Here's why I love it:

It's on trend

I've been seeing American Youtubers reviewing cle de peau The Foundation $250 (~PHP 13 000) / 27ml as the world's most expensive foundaiton. I was pleasantly surprised that despite their inclination towards cakeface, they had good things to say about that foundation. The idea is pretty similar: luxe foundation in a jar, creamy texture and skin-like finish. I'm pretty excited about Kanebo doing their own version because I'm a huge fan of the Kanebo family of brands (love Kanebo, Kate and Coffret D'Or). I don't know if hearing about 2 similar items is enough to call it a trend, but I'm calling it.

Coverage and Finish

At first, I'd blabbed all around social media about how this has full coverage. Using it on my face, I realized it has medium coverage. I thought wrong because it was actually filling the fine lines on the back of my hand, thus creating the illusion of heavier coverage without actually doing so.

Upon closer look, the foundation applies as if the pigment sits under some pearlescent blurring action. The pigment is not as strong as a cream stick foundation's, but I do find it works well and looks extremely skin-like. Skin is translucent; and makeup tends to look fake when it sits thick and matte on top of it. These details register whether we look closely or not.

I like that Kanebo Luster Cream Foundation uses both pigment AND pearl-like refraction to blur imperfections. It's using color and texture to improve the appearance of your skin, and that creates a more realistic finish than say, relying solely on pigment coverage. I am noticing how this is a thing with Kanebo's 5R Color Technology: they always give their color cosmetics pigment without looking like paint. If you're not very good at blending, or feel like you have a keen eye for these details, I'm sure you'll appreciate Luster Cream Foundation.

Trivia time: I hate correcting and concealing my dark circles when I'm using this foundation, just because I feel like my inferior corrector and concealer products contaminate the finish.

Texture

It's waterier than whipped makeup, but not exactly within liquid foundation territories. The closest approximation of this texture is something close to cold cream, e.g. Pond's. I love that it feels amazing to apply, and it almost seems like part skincare. I prefer to blend it with a dense, synthetic brush (Zoeva 103 Silk Finish); and it never seems to go streaky nor uneven this way. The texture and perhaps shine of the formula combine to make it look even without much fuss.

Beauty by Tellie Score: 5 / 5 - Treat yo' self!!!

Kanebo Luster Cream Foundation is an experience. If you appreciate all the above features I pointed out, this item deserves a spot on your vanity. The price may be shocking, but I don't think it's robbery. I find the finish truly unique, and most foundations can't replicate this sort of skin-like coverage. They will either be more pigmented but cakier, or sheerer but too slick. This foundation is giving me that chok-chok glow and the texture really does a lot to make the whole application process feel more luxe.

Skin Notes: MAC NC 20, dry, textured

Day 1 - Best BB - Make Up For Ever UV Bright Cushion in Y225

Day 2 - Crazy Luxe Foundation -  Kanebo Luster Cream Foundation* in OC-B

Day 3 - Most Disappointing Foundation

Day 4 - Most Gorgeous Foundation

Day 5 - Most Difficult Foundation

Day 6 - BONUS: Cheating Your Chok-Chok

Day 7 - BONUS: Favorite Non-Foundation Base Product

*This item was provided as a PR sample.