L’Oréal Paris | True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation

This past September 9th, I was flown in to Toronto to attend a VIP cocktail party which kicked off the 40th year of TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), hosted by L’Oréal Paris Canada. Held at one of the über-luxurious penthouse suites of the Trump Hotel, the evening held many surprises, starting with an appearance by none other than Victoria’s Secret Angel/Supermodel/T-Swift’s BFF & L’Oréal Paris spokesperson, Karlie Kloss (I’ll be detailing my trip in another post, coming soon). The assembled media present was then treated to a preview of several upcoming product launches, with the new Lumi Cushion foundation (CAN $29.99/8 shades, available January 2016) immediately grabbing my attention.

Hailing from Korea (aka: the hotbed of all the latest skincare/beauty innovations), this latest addition to the L’Oréal Paris True Match family marries a liquid foundation-saturated sponge in a portable compact, in a formula that promises to provide a natural yet luminous finish, all with light-as-air coverage. Having already fallen hard for this format (see my review on the Lancôme Miracle Cushion), I had high expectations for Lumi Cushion, and I’m so happy to report that it lives up to all of its claims.

BREAKDOWN: a round compact case whose top flips up to reveal an inner lid that holds the accompanying flat velvety pad/applicator. Underneath is the actual product: a patented micro-aerated cushion that is drenched with water enrobed pigments. This unscented foundation can be applied a number of ways; you can pick up the product with a flat paddle brush, an angled dense foundation brush, or even with a Beauty Blender sponge, but my preferred method of using cushion foundations is with the flat pad it comes with. After pressing the pad onto the surface of the sponge, I then apply that to my face using circular motions to create an even, flawless finish. The smooth velvety texture of the pad actually works to deliver an almost air-brushed look, although I sometimes go in after with a densely-headed brush (such as the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush) to buff any edges in, or to get to trickier areas, such as around the nose.

I was given shade W3 Nude Beige, and at first the pinkish tinge threw me, but it’s almost a colour illusion, as I’ve learned that what you see with this type of foundation is not necessarily what it turns out to be once applied. There is an initial cooling sensation felt upon application but which quickly dissipates, and the product is somewhat buildable; I would say you can go anywhere from a mid-sheer type of coverage, all the way to medium+, but don’t expect it to be full-on opaque. The finish is very featherlight and comfortable to wear throughout the duration, without any oxidation – so no fear of the colour turning on you mid-wear. The finish falls somewhere between satin and matte, and while I don’t exactly get ‘luminous’, it’s not a flat look either – more of a natural looking radiance. Wear time is excellent as well (easily 8-10 hours), although on my combination skin I do get some shine in the T-zone area at about the 6-hour mark (but nothing excessive).

L’Oréal Paris | True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation

L’Oréal Paris | True Match Lumi Cushion swatches: applied heavy & blended out

You better put the Lumi Cushion foundation on your list of products to look out for in 2016, especially if you’re in the market for a light-to-medium foundation that provides flawless coverage, won’t break the bank (being a mass-market product, I’m sure you’ll even be able to score it on sale), and is totally portable. The downside is that unlike its more expensive Lancôme Miracle Cushion sister foundation, this one is not refillable. For those who love the finish of a liquid foundation but always wanted it to be easier to tote around for any on the go touch-ups (think: after-work last minute party invite), this version is about to become your jam.

The L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Cushion Buildable Luminous Foundation will be available at mass-market retailers across Canada in January 2016. For more information on the brand, visit www.lorealparis.ca