Review ★ Hera UV Mist Ultra Moisture Cushion in #21

Hello!!

Have you gotten into BB/CC cushion trend yet? BB cushions have been my obsession ever since I bought the Innisfree Long Wear cushion. I've tried a bunch from various brands so far so far, and I have yet to be really let down on any of them. I love that they feel light on the skin, in comparison to some foundations which I can feel on my skin. It pretty much feels like I'm not wearing face makeup~ But anyways, my most recent cushion pickup is this Hera one which has some really great reviews on Youtube!

Hera is housed by Amore Pacific, but it is on the more expensive side with other brands such as IOPE, Laneige and Sulwhasoo.

Hera has three other BB cushions available that are geared towards different needs. The original UV Mist Cushion comes in 'natural' and 'cover' like the IOPE Air Cushion- the natural one provides less coverage for those who only need a sheer wash of colour to even out their complexion, while the cover one minimizes redness and discolouration. There is also Long Stay Cushion provides strong coverage while minimizing sebum secretion. And then there is the Ultra Moisture Cushion which is an intermediary between the original UV Mist Cushion in 'cover' and the Long Stay Cushion!

This cushion comes in 3 shades: #13 Cool Ivory, #21 Cool Vanilla, #23 Cool Beige.

Please read behind the cut for my full review ^^!

D E S C R I P T I O N
(taken from ibuybeauti.com)

It claims to have 4.2x times more moisture than the Hera UV Mist Cushion which results in glowing skin. It contains a few skin protective ingredients, such as camellia oil that provides the skin with antioxidants and enhances the skin's texture, and achillea extract which is supposed to protect the skin from the external environment. It has SPF34/PA++.

A full list of ingredients for those who are concerned can be found here.

With a description like that, who could resist this for the dryer times of the year? There's nothing better than a product that covers flaws and acts as a skincare product.

The Hera cushion comes in a simple, metallic purple box that is practically the same as the IOPE Air cushion's box, from the shape to the placement of the information. The box includes a mini pamphlet of instructions and information, a refill, and the compact itself. I like that the pamphlet is inclusive of those who are unable to read and understand Korean, since the pamphlet is in English on one side and Korean on the other. As you can see above (and it may be difficult to read), the pamphlet is really informative and it contains some visual instructions!

 

The compact is absolutely gorgeous! I love the colour of the packaging and the face of the compact. It looks very sleek, and the packaging itself matches that of any foundation or cushion within that price point. It's different from the typical pact (ie. Innisfree cushions, IOPE Air Cushion, Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cushion, etc.) that are usually white or a pastel colour.

The date on the bottom is the manufacture date.

FYI: The 12M (M standing for months) indicates how long the product is good for. It is on many products, so you know the life of the product and an approximate time as to when you should dispose of it. The longevity of a product can be prolonged by hygiene and proper storage~

I haven't tried the other Hera cushions, so I can't compare how well this one works relative to the others. However, the formula applies very smoothly with the sponge, and even better with a damp beauty blender. I also find that applying with a sponge and then blending with a dense foundation brush works very well too. It looks flawless and unbelievably natural, which results in the 'my skin but better' look.

The finish really depends on the primer that you use. It has a semi-matte finish with a mattefying primer such as the Body Shop's Instablur or Benefit's Porefessional. But a moisturizing primer like Innisfree's Mineral Glow Base or Too Faced's Hangover RX will result in a dewy effect. It really comes down to your needs and preferences~

Ironically, it does not provide 'ultra moisture' like one would think the name implies or claims. Hera advertises that it is good for keeping the skin moisturized during the winter, but I suppose they mean that the product locks in the moisture so your skin doesn't dry out in the colder environment. If you've looked at the ingredients list, it does contain ingredients that are supposed to moisturize your skin as well. It accentuates flakiness like most liquid face makeup, so I would not recommend this to those with flakey-dry skin unless you moisturize well beforehand or use a moisturizing primer. However, I think there would be no problem for those with normal, combination, or oily skin.

What I love the most about it is that it lasts around 7-8 hours before my face starts getting a little oily (with a mattefying primer). But even with the slight oil, it just looks more so like my skin is dewy rather than oily. It doesn't fade throughout the duration of the day, which is a huge plus. In my experience, the IOPE Air Cushion becomes a little blotchy around the nose or areas that crease after 4 or so hours of wear. But the great thing about the Hera cushion is that is looks even throughout the day and doesn't transfer onto clothes or accessories (ie. scarves).

It has light to medium buildable coverage, and it would look cakey at full coverage. It covers up redness and minor discolouration well, but it doesn't remove the need of additional concealing. It's great for everyday makeup so you don't look too overdone. A lot of beauty gurus these days prefer to preserve the appearance of their natural skin with a light foundation while minimizing redness or blemishes, so that they have a more effortless and put-together look. It is also great for every day wear since it has SPF in it, so it will protect your skin even if the sun isn't as harsh as it is in summer. Of course, if you have an event with flash photography, you will want to opt for a product without any SPF in it to avoid that white cast.

All the available shades are meant for those who have fair to medium skin tones. While this excludes those with darker skin tones, it must also be considered that Hera is not officially sold internationally. Korean and Japanese brands do not generally account for darker skin tones because a majority of their demographic have fair/medium skin. Also it is a little more difficult to find Hera products since Hera is not widely popularly internationally, and thus not sold by many eBay sellers or online retailers.

People might think that the price is ridiculous at around $50-60 USD, but keep in mind that it also comes with a refill which makes it around $25-30. I do think it's quite fair considering that Hera is considered to be on the more high-end side. BB creams/cushions from high-end brands at Sephora and department stores are even more expensive for the same amount of product, and yet sometimes they are not as effective.

This cushion is by far one of my favourites, along with Innisfree's Long Wear Cushion! It is also my go-to face makeup currently. I haven't used an actual foundation in awhile, so they just kind of sit there for display on my organizers. I may consider repurchasing this once I finish the refill, unless something better comes along!

P R O S

+ Medium coverage

+ Applies very smoothly

+ Does not get blotchy throughout the day

+ Gorgeous packaging

+ Comes with a refill

+ Semi-matte finish
+ Long lasting (~7 hours)

C O N S 

- Accentuates flakiness
- Availability 

R A T I N G 

Effectiveness: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Price: ★★★★★

Overall quality: ★★★★★

W H E R E   T O   P U R C H A S E ?

I bought this from Makozzang ($55), however you can also find it at the following places: ibuybeauti ($45.50), twofacemall ($51.00), arafeel ($48.99) and 031tansango ($51.00).

I hope you all had a great holidays, and hopefully you found some deals (if you have Boxing Day sales). Also please stay safe and do things responsibly if you're going out on New Years Eve!