Maquillage Lighting White Powdery UV Foundation

Maquillage Lighting White Powdery UV Foundation SPF25 PA++ is a new two-way foundation that promises to enhance skin translucency and fairness, while concealing pores and uneven skin texture. It is suitable for all seasons and contains a moisturising Pure White Essence (saxifraga sarmentosa extract, zingiber aromaticus extract, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, sodium magnesium silicate).

Available in 6 shades in Singapore, it retails at S$60 for the refill, with the case sold separately. Maquillage's foundation pans fit into cases by other Shiseido brands like Majolica Majorca, so you don't necessarily have to purchase a Maquillage case. After receiving this foundation at a Shiseido event, I've been wearing it for the past couple of weeks. Overall, I found it to be rather average. Although it helped to even out my skintone and reduce the appearance of my pores, the finish was a tad powdery and the oil control wasn't fantastic, with blotting required every couple of hours. The performance just wasn't that impressive to justify the S$40 price difference with Za's True White Plus Two-Way Foundation (Shiseido's drugstore brand).

List of ingredients.

I was much happier with the Shiseido Perfect Rouge RD516 (S$43), which looks like a deep red in the tube but applies with a brighter pink tone. It has a very comfortable, non-drying texture and lasts over 4-5 hours on me (but it does stain cups easily).

For this look, I also used Dior Radiant Base, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow EX02 Fuyubara (from the holiday 2011 coffret), Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer #2 Light Medium, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow, Ettusais Bitaba Volume Mascara and Physicians Formula Happy Booster blush in Rose.

The Fuyubara quad is my first Suqqu palette. It's beautifully understated and never looks overdone. Both the matte dark brown and pearl grey shades have very good colour payoff while the shimmery pink shade adds a fairly subtle luminosity without being too bling.