Shiseido Week: White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation

If it's your first time to try Shiseido - gosh I hope not though because you're missing out! - anyway, if it's your first time at a counter you must consider getting three things first. That would be a lipstick, a foundation, and a skincare product. I've tested many of the brand's products extensively and these are the things that just stand out. You're not really experiencing Shiseido if you haven't gotten one or all of those three!

Anyway, here is my latest foundation find from the brand: the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation (P1,998 for the refill and P1,500 for the case). It's an ultra-silky, mid-coverage foundation with a matte finish and sun protection. I like it because, as with all the Shiseido foundies I've tried, it gives my skin a radiant, creamy finish even though I'm not wearing a liquid base underneath. You'll see a pic later!

What does it do? This foundation is supposed to whiten skin and help erase blemishes faster (hence the "spot-control" in the name), but perhaps I just haven't used it long enough to see results. Besides, I already use Shiseido Ibuki and have little blemishing left over.

Finish and shade match. Like I said above, it has a matte finish but it's radiant, somehow. It makes my face look creamy, I think! This isn't as thick as the Sheer Matifying foundation. I feel that it's easier to build up without looking cakey.

I found a perfect shade match in O60. This is what O20 looks on me - too light. O80 looks too dark naman. I'm an NC35, mid-yellow for your reference.

I look a bit tan here since I took this photo after a day of swimming. Anyway, this is just my face with a bit of concealer and then the powder foundation. No other base or finishing powder. Is this great or what?

And here's the foundation on top of a luminizing base. I think it looks even better with a liquid something underneath!

Texture and SPF. The powder has a super soft and silky texture that isn't chalky at all. It's very well-milled and securely-pressed. I love that it has SPF25 too, so I know it gives my skin an extra layer of protection under the sun.

Staying power. And herein lies the catch. This is not a long-wearing foundation; it's formulated for normal to dry skin. I oil up with this in three or four hours, so I always need to have it around for retouching. Well, it's not that much of a hassle because the compact is slim and easy to take around, but yeah - this isn't for very oily girls in humid climes.

I recommend using a base or primer under the WLBSC foundation to make it stay on longer (if you must insist), or get the Sheer Matifying instead since that one's really formulated to stick no matter what.

Packaging. I love the simple yet sleek white compact but man, it's quite pricey at P1,500. As I suggested before, you can house Shiseido powders in Majolica Majorca or ZA Cosmetics cases. These come down to about P400-500 a pop if I'm not mistaken. Then, when you ready, you can get your own Shiseido compact. For posterity.

Recommendations. If you love matte, creamy finishes, and have normal to dry skin, this foundation is for you! Or even if you just don't mind retouching. If you're oily and acne-prone, you'll need something with better oil control and coverage like Sheer Matifying.

Verdict. You know what, I love the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Spot-Control Foundation even though it could stay on longer. Do I like this more than Sheer Matifying? Gah. They're both great foundations. They both have pros and cons. White Lucent is less cakey and the finish is more skin-like, while Sheer Matifying is long-wearing and provides amazing coverage.

I don't know. Ask me again in a few months.