Get glow + coverage: The Face Shop Phytogenic Infinite EX Foundation

It seems like Korean brands have been upping their foundation game. As a K-beauty addict, I used to feel frustrated about not being able to find a decent foundation from Korean brands but now there are so many to choose from! Most recently, I got to try The Face Shop Phytogenic Infinite EX Foundation SPF 20 PA++ (~P1,200). 

According to The Face Shop's website,  the Phytogenic Infinite EX Foundation "is a matte-finished [sic] liquid foundation that hides skin imperfection in light-weight formula featuring Shine Control Effect and Skin Smoothing Effect. Light-reflecting pigments reflects incident light in oblique angles, hiding appearance of wrinkles and pores." It comes in a sleek, emerald green pump bottle which feels sturdy and dispenses the same amount of foundation per pump. It also has a light powdery floral scent that I find a little bit overpowering, but it goes away after a minute or two.

Upon swatching, I was really surprised by its high coverage since the texture of the foundation is similar to a BB cream. The formula feels very lightweight, with more of a liquid than cream kind of texture. But even with the heavy coverage, the finish looks very natural and dewy! The shade I'm using is the darkest of the three available ones.

Topped with a bit of setting powder, it lasts for a entire day and even survived sweaty MRT and LRT1 rides. Surprisingly, I didn’t have to retouch or blot when I used this, even though my skin type is combination-oily. 

While it seems easy to fall in love with this foundation, it also has its drawbacks. The shade selection is limited to just three. I have the one in NB25, which is a light-medium yellow toned shade but is already the darkest one available. The P1200+ price tag is also a bit steep for students on a budget like me, especially since it only has 35mL of product. 

I would recommend this for fair skinned gals who have some skin imperfections and want to achieve that glowy Korean look without piling on too much makeup. You're lucky if you have a shade! Otherwise this may be too light on many Pinay skin tones. 

Let me know your thoughts of this foundie! ^_^