The Face Shop Face It Oil Cut Pore Balm

The Face Shop Face It Oil Cut Pore Balm

I think I have finally found the perfect thing to keep my oiliness at bay! After buying a few mattifying primers and seeing no results (Black Radiance Complexion Perfection Shine Control Primer, Korres Pomegranate Mattifying Treatment, and Becca Cosmetics Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector) I was on the search yet again for another mattifying product. I saw Youngblood's Anti-Shine Mattifier, but the price ($36) was too much for me and the samples from the April Birchbox weren't being sold on ebay yet. I realized that The Face Shop had a similar item as well and immediately went to the store which is only 10 minutes away. (Kind of off the topic, but whenever I want to try or get something I feel like I have to get it now like I have to get in my car and get it and I can't wait for it to be mailed lol). 

I found out that one of my classmates works there which was awkward for a minute because we were looking at each other like "wait....they look like someone I know but I don't want to be wrong", but afterwards it was great! She gave me 10% off and a ton of samples! I'm so glad she gave me a discount because the pore balm goes for $18. I cringed at the price when I saw it (on ebay it goes for $11-13), but thought "Heck, I'm already here and I don't have to wait for it to arrive". 

Description on box:

Oil Control Balm perfectly filling visible pores and fine lines for porcelain-like skin.

This magic balm prevents sheen caused by excessive sebum and keeps the skin soft all day long. It improves adherence to the skin of products used in subsequent stages for a velvet-like smooth finish. Oil-Cut Complex: A patented phyto-complex containing mung bean extract, birch extract and curly dock extract to prevent skin problems by controlling sebum production.

Directions: After completing skin care and before beginning make-up, use a puff included in the package to apply lightly to areas that have troubled pores or appear excessively shiny.

Ingredients: Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Silica, Aluminum Starch, Octenylsuccinate, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Lauroyl Lysine, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polyethylene, Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Tribehenin, Hydroxyapatite, Betula Platyphylla Japonica Bark Extract, BHT, Butylene Glycol, Phaseolus Radiatus Extract, Rumex Crispus Root Extract, Water, Beta-Carotene, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Citral, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool

The product is housed in a cute circle tin and contains 17 g/ 0.6 oz.  I can't describe the smell, but I love it! I'm betting it comes from the last few ingredients. It's not super strong, but you do notice it when applying the product. I don't notice the smell after a few minutes. I like the plastic part that houses the puff because it keeps it separate from the product. The puff gets pretty dirty with use so cleaning is a must especially when the product starts to cake on it. 

This product immediately mattes and blurs pores. It does a way better job of not emphasizing dry flaky skin compared to powders, but when it does show with this product it is usually because I haven't exfoliated in a while. 

My oiliness starts to show after 5 hours compared to 3 to 4 hours with other powders. It doesn't last all day, but I don't mind reapplying this because I love the scent and it mattifies nicely. It also looks more natural compared to a powder. One con is that fibers and baby hairs get stuck in the product if you can see in the following picture:

I would definitely purchase this again!!!

Mini Face Shop Haul!

Left to right: Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam sample, Lovely ME:EX Angel Skin Makeup Base, & Oil Specialist Brightening Cleansing oil sample

I was looking for a green makeup base to cover the redness on my face. At first I wanted to try the ones Skinfood offers, but the stores in the U.S. don't carry them. I decided to go to The Face Shop since it's nearby. I tried the Radiance Makeup Base on my hand and it was really thick. The sales associate showed me the Lovely ME:EX Angel Skin Makeup Base and it was much more liquid. I got if for $14 and the sales associate gave me two samples. The cleansing foam is the same size as the makeup base!

Lovely ME:EX Angel Skin Makeup Base swatch

Unfortunately the makeup base doesn't cover the redness on my face completely. The redness still shows through even after applying a few layers. I do like how it brightens my cheek area under my eyes (that's where my skin is red). This makeup base turns white, but it's not thick so you can blend it in. I wouldn't purchase this again, but I'll continue to use it.

Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam sample

I've been using this with the cleansing oil sample recently. It's not as thick as the cleansing foam I've been using (Etude House's Happy Tea Time) so it lathers up quickly. It does its job, but I don't like the bar soap smell it has.

Oil Specialist Brightening Cleansing Oil sample

I haven't really used cleansing oils before this except for the Laneige sample I got, but I only tried it once. I tried this out recently when I was traveling. When I first used it, it made my skin feel so soft! I like the floral scent it has. I love how it takes everything off, even my mascara and liquid eyeliner. Even though it's a whole other step, I prefer it to using a cotton pad and makeup remover to remove my eye makeup.

Sadly, I think my skin is reacting badly to it because I got pimples on my forehead and small bumps on my nose within the days of using it. I don't know if it's the mineral oil my skin is reacting to. It makes me sad because I really like this cleansing oil and most other cleansing oils have mineral oil them. I think I'll try this out another time to see if this really breaks me out.