VDL's updated their family of skincare and base products with one new launch and one re-design. Both make use of "metal" to help products work better.





Makeup colors: VDL Festival Mineral Eyes 901 NY. 34th Street layered on top of smudged black pencil, Expert Color Lip Cube in 102 Shell Berry dabbed lightly over lip balm, Festival Mineral Blusher in 602 on cheeks.





Item 1: VDL Beauty Metal Cushion Foundation (SGD$54)





In my last VDL Base Makeup Collection post , I showed you how to "fake" a dewy glow using tactical application of Lumilayer Primer, even if you are using a matte, medium coverage foundation like Perfecting Last Foundation.





But what if you want a real dewy finish or just have slightly drier skin?





That's when you might want to check out the Beauty Metal Cushion Foundation, which has been given a slight makeover this year.









Instead of a sponge or mesh net through which you try to pick up product with your sponge, this compact liquid foundation has an actual patented metal plate designed by LG, and you only press down to dispense as much as you need.





If you haven't tried it before you might wonder what the big deal is, but there are a few reasons I like this product a lot.





The special patented LG Metal Plate™ technology has temperature control properties to help to keep the lightweight foundation inside cool and less prone to drying out. The metal plate dispenser minimizes co ntact with dirt and bacteria in the air, you are not depositing oil and grime back into the foundation inside when you "double-dip" with a used sponge. PLUS - you can easily wipe down the surface to clean it, which is something that's impossible with other cushion compacts. Unlike typical cushion BBs and foundations, this formula is designed to actually be long-wearing on the skin even though it still gives a dewy glow. I can wear this out without worrying about it smearing off quickly or starting to look patchy after a few hours.





You use it just like you would any other cushion foundation. You dip your sponge in, then pat-pat-pat over the skin to apply and slowly blend out. If you've never tried these cushion sponges before, you should probably remember that they are not meant to be dragged over the skin. That would just remove product.









Lasting Power: High

Finish: Matte

Texture: Medium-light

Coverage: Medium buildable to medium-high

SPF: Yes, SPF30, PA++

Oxidation: No

Portability: Low; you wouldn't bring this out for touch-ups and it's hard to apply this on the go

Benefits: Lumilayer Pigments stop the foundation from oxidizing and changing color through the day

Best used for: Special occasions and days you want to look quite flawless and need more coverage.

Lasting Power: High

Finish: Dewy

Texture: Light

Coverage: Sheer buildable to medium

Oxidation: No

SPF: Yes, SPF50+, PA+++

Portability: High; the mirrored compact, accompanying sponge and hygienic metal plate means you can bring this in your bag to use when you need

Benefits: Powerful antioxidant Prune extract and moisture-retention ingredients help to maintain hydration for hours and protect your skin for hours. This formula also contains a Radiance Complex with reflective pigments to help blur imperfections and increase the luminosity of your skin in one step, without having to add additional luminizers.

Best used for: Days when you might be out and about and need a lighter, fresher feel and higher sun- and environment-protection.

Texture comparisons between Perfecting Last Foundation and Beauty Metal Cushion Foundation











Another interesting thing to note is that the Beauty Metal Cushion shades run just a touch lighter, partly because of the light-reflecting pigments. If you don't like that paler look, you might want to get a shade deeper than you normally would in the VDL range.





For me personally, the Beauty Metal Cushion Foundation is the way to go on regular days as I have dry skin and I'm always trying to fake that dewy glow anyway. But it really depends on the occasion. In the day-time when it's sunny and warm and we're out and about in tropical weather, I just prefer a lighter feel and want to "embrace the glow" instead of fighting it so hard. The important thing is a formula that can last in the humidity, and of all the cushion bases I've tried, this one does last the longest on me while still offering the finish and texture of typical cushions. The higher SPF and antioxidant ingredients are useful boosts as well.





But let's not forget skincare. Which can be tricky in the heat when all we want to do is soak up all the grease and moisture instead of adding lots of thick products on top. Especially in drier, more sensitive areas such as around the eyes, and along the nasolabial folds. It can be tempting to just skip essential skincare steps and pare down your routine to just a single thing, like sunblock.





But it's probably better to continue to treat your skin right, and just pick products with light fresh textures instead. Which brings me to:





Item 2: SKIN P+R=O Wrinkle Care Roll-on Serum (SGD$73)









Like the SKIN P+R=O Ampoule and Cream, this light serum contains concentrated Centella Asiatica, a powerful plant extract that promotes collagen synthesis to improve skin condition, reduce wrinkle formation, speed up wound healing, and protect skin elasticity while leaving skin at the eye and nasolabial area smooth and soft without any greasiness or tackiness. It also contains all the other extracts in the other SKIN P+R=O products, such as bergamot oil, sandalwood, lavender, lime, chamomile, moringa, and cloudberry to really pamper your eye area. (If you need a bit of a refresher about these ingredients, go back to my original review post here .)





It has a fresh gel-like texture that can be quickly rolled on using the round metal tip to help increase circulation through massage, increase absorption, and also drain the eye area of excess water if you are prone to puffiness.









The best thing is the product is not free-flowing. To get the serum out, you need to click a button at the bottom of the tube to dispense some product. Which is great from a hygiene and waste-reduction perspective.





At the bottom of the tube is a locking mechanism that you can twist so you don't accidentally end up clicking and dispensing product in your bag. Which makes it so travel-friendly. (I can see myself sitting in the plane rolling this around my eyes and ignoring curious people around me.)





GSS Promotion 2015

If you'd like to try some of these products yourself, VDL's got some specials going on these 2 months.

Besides the storewide 10-20% discount during the Great Singapore Sale period (now until 31 July 2015), you can also flash this post or verbally quote "CANDICEFORVDL" at the brand new ION Orchard VDL outlet (ION Orchard Link #B1-75) to receive an exclusive limited edition VDL Toiletry Bag with any $30 spent in a single receipt.





If you're already using or considering Perfecting Last Foundation and aren't sure if you should try this instead, here are some differences.