Review ★ The Face Shop Face It Aura CC Cream

Finally doing the first CC cream review out of the three that I purchased~

I have jumped the CC cream bandwagon~ For those who have yet to get into it, CC creams are kind of like a suped up BB cream. CC creams have skincare benefits such as evening out your skin tone over time (along with whitening, anti-aging, sun protection, etc. properties as advertised on some CC creams), as well as better coverage in comparison to BB creams. They are meant to look really natural, as if you aren't wearing any face make-up.

I bought it in 02 Natural Beige, which has a yellow undertone. It also comes in 01 Radiant Beige, which I assume is meant for fairer people.

Description
Colour control cream that creates a radiant and clear make-up appearance, as if the skin is being spotlighted. It creates a brighter skin tone, and lasts up to 12 hours. It has silver-vine complex which is supposed to brighten up the skin.

It comes in a unique compact with a small sponge. The packaging is different from the typical BB/CC creams since they usually come in tubes or bottles with a pump. The CC cream is dispensed through the button-like pump, and it comes out in small amounts so you don't have to worry about dispensing too much product.

I didn't take any face shots since I didn't have time to do them before going out yesterday, so I just did the hand swatches when I got back @__@

This CC cream does not look like a lotion, unlike other CC creams. I've noticed that other CC creams (Etude House, Tony Moly, Innisfree) come out white and watery, whereas this one is a little more viscous and already pigmented. The consistency is similar to a liquid foundation. It provides medium coverage that is buildable, and has a semi-matte finish. Most CC creams on the market have sheer coverage, so this one is great if you're looking for one that will go the extra mile. Some bloggers have said it had a dewy finish, but perhaps it's just my skin or something >__<. Although the cream appears much lighter than my skin in the blended swatch, it will settle in and match your skin after a few minutes or so.

It looks natural, as if you're not wearing any make-up. It covers blemishes and redness quite well, however you may still need to use a concealer for darker spots/hyperpigmentation. The product is lightly scented, but it isn't anything that will irritate your skin if you have sensitive skin. I think it's great for people with oily/combination skin. It is slightly lacking in the moisture department, so it's not the best option if you have dry skin, unless you use a good moisturizer beforehand to prevent it from drying your skin out.

There is a mini mirror in the compact so you can touch up your make-up when you're going to be out for prolonged periods of time. The packaging is convenient, albeit a little bulky, but you can just put it in your purse or make-up bag :3.

It's a great product for summer, since it has the SPF 30 to protect your face from the sun. No one wants to have to wear a ton of make-up during the summer, so the it will save you from feeling as if your make-up is going to melt off! I haven't used this too much yet, so I can't speak of the benefits of the CC cream (evening out skin tone, brightening, whitening, etc.). However, it is long lasting! My face make-up lasted for ~6 hours before there was a slight trace of oil, which I think is pretty good since it's summer and all. It would probably lasted longer if it wasn't so hot out = u=;, or if I spent most of the time indoors.

You can also purchase refills online if you really love the product, so you don't have to dispose of the container ^^. It's around $18USD, which is only a few dollars cheaper than its retail price.

Pros
+ Long-lasting
+ Medium coverage
+ Pump dispenses product in small amounts
+ Sun protection
+ You can buy a refill (less wasteful in terms of packaging)

Cons
- It's a little pricy at $22, however some online retailers sell it for even more ($30-40). It is definitely not worth $42 (+ tax) if you intend to get it at Pacific Mall

Rating: ★★★★☆

The Face Shop also has 2 other CC creams. The smart capsule CC cream SPF40 PA++ which is lotion-like, and the aqua UV CC cream SPF50 PA++, which is supposed to be waterproof, and cooling to the skin. You can purchase samples of the smart capsule CC cream on ebay, if you don't want to spend the full $20 or so.

Would I repurchase? Maybe. I don't absolutely love it, although I do like that it lasts for a long time. Overall it is a great quality product since it has practically everything one could want in a face make-up product! I still have the other CC creams to use, and more will come out before I consider whether it's worth it to repurchase ^^.

Where to buy? I purchased it from f2plus1 for $22.79USD (link). You can find it on most online stores, and if you live in Toronto, you can also find it at Pacific Mall since The Face Shop has a store there (it's $42 there so.. LOL).

Have you tried any CC creams yet? Do you think they're better than BB creams?