Moonshot is a brand I’ve always been interested in due to its chic, sleek and often minimalist aesthetic. If I remember correctly, I first heard of the brand due to its popular Jelly Pots, which were raved about by various beauty bloggers a few years back. However, due to scarcity in local stores (I often prefer to swatch makeup products beforehand) and their products’ often mid-high price tag, I eventually just shrugged the urge off.
However, when a flagship Moonshot store opened up locally and later held a number of products on sale, I decided to give in and ended up getting myself one of their cushions as I was coincidentally running out of base makeup. So, how did the Microfit Cushion – or also known as the “GD/G-Dragon Cushion” hold up in a humid climates?
Claims:
+ [UV Protection/Whitening/Anti-wrinkle] : An ultra-light and non-oxidising cushion foundation that allows layering without caking, offering a natural look that adheres to the skin well. Perfect for mid-day touch ups.
+ Contains 28% Bamboo Sap, providing a cooling, moisturizing and calming effect. Excellent at sebum absorption, and makes skin soft and fresh-looking even without using oil control paper.
Comes in three shades:
#101 Bright Pink Beige = #21
#201 Natural Yellow Beige = #23
#301 Calm Pink Beige/Natural Beige – recommended as men’s base
Ingredients:
Bambusa Vulgaris Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Butylene Glycol Dicrapylate/Dicaprate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, PEG-8 Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Mica (Cl 77019), Iron Oxides (Cl 77492), Dimethicone, Silica, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Powder, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Caprylyl Methicone, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Water, Stearic Acid, Alumina, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Aluminium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Calcium Carbonate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Polyglutamic Acid, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide, Phospholipids, Ceramide 4, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cholesterol, Arginine, Phytosterols, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum), Iron Oxides (Cl 77491), Iron Oxides (Cl 77499).
Star Ingredients:
Bambusa Vulgaris Water: Extracted from the common bamboo plant. A source of natural antioxidants, and may have skin-soothing properties. May also contain natural anti-inflammatory properties and aid in minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.
Titanium Dioxide: An inorganic/physical sunscreen filter which reflects and blocks UVA and UVB rays, but does not fully protect against the whole range of UVA rays. Photostable and less likely to cause skin irritation.
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate: Also known as Octinoxate. An organic/chemical sunscreen filter which absorbs UVB rays. Water-insoluble. May not be the most photostable as it can degrade overtime when exposed to sunlight unless. May also pose some safety concerns as it can be absorbed by the skin.
Ethylhexyl Salicylate: Also known as Octisalate. An organic/chemical sunscreen filter which absorbs UVB rays. Oil-soluble, and has emollient and water-resistant properties. May undergo some degradation in sunlight.
Niacinamide: Also known as vitamin B3. Helps to boost collagen production and in turn strengthens the skin’s natural lipid barrier. Over time, may also assist in brightening, anti-aging and reducing the appearance of enlarged pores.
Adenosine: Beneficial in combating wrinkles, especially crow’s feet and frown lines. Also aids in smoothening out the texture of the skin.
Volume: 12g/0.42oz.
How to use:
1. Gently soak the applicator puff with an appropriate amount to pick up foundation.
2. Swipe over the skin to spread, and dab to blend evenly from inside to outside.
*Coverage can be built up by layering a small amount several times.
How to refill the product:
1. Close the inner cap, flip it over.
2. Push the bottom with both thumbs.
3. Remove the popped out inner container and replace with a refill.
My Skin Type: Sensitive (prone to redness), Combination, Acne-prone, Dehydrated
My Skin Tone: Medium, warm/yellow undertones
My Shade Matches: ~NC30 (MAC), Punjab (Nars Sheer Glow Foundation), #31 (Laneige), Golden Beige (Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation)
Moonshot Microfit Cushion SPF50+/PA+++ 301 Natural Beige Review:
The packaging for the Moonshot Microfit Cushion is truly as eye-catching as I’d expect from the YG-owned beauty company. The outer cardboard is admittedly louder than the actual cushion – what with its holographic design and use of geometric patterns – but I personally find the sleek black cushion packaging suiting my personal preference, so it’s definitely a plus in my books.
The touch of glam ala the holographic Moonshot logo is a nice touch, too. However, I do find that the cover does stain quite easily, so that’s pretty annoying (luckily, you can just wipe the stains off with a damp cloth/wet wipe and it’d look as good as new).
In terms of application, I find the finish quite tacky to the touch unless powdered over. It also transfers quite easily even after powdering, so just be cautious while changing or trying on clothes, I guess. Coverage is decent (average “no makeup makeup” look familiar to most BB cushions), and in my experience, the result does vary depending on the condition of your skin.
The finish is semi-matte with a noticeable subtle glow, but leans more matte/velvety to the touch when set with powder. When not set with powder, I definitely notice that due to the tacky finish, it can come off a bit shiny in places where light can reflect off of skin texture issues, making it a tad of an unappealing sight for those with raised acne/pimples.
Hence, while it fills in the appearance of large, open pores and blackheads decently, it doesn’t look too great on textured/bumpy skin or whiteheads. It may also err on the side of looking cakey if layered on too much as well (though, if you layer it lightly and with a better cushion puff, you may get better results but more on that later). Furthermore, the cushion definitely has a very noticeable floral scent, which does remain even after a few hours of wearing it. So, do take note of that!
However, true to its claim, it does do well in terms of touch-ups in the middle of the day. I was hoping that the cushion would hold up longer, but if I choose to not powder over it, I find that my base begins to break apart at around the 4-5 hour mark, and that it sinks unattractively into my pores and looks even worse on the more textured parts of my skin. So usually by then, I’d just take a tissue to blot before reapplying the cushion, and it’d look fine after that. The Microfit also layers well under other makeup such as powder blush, bronzer, etc, even if I don’t set it with powder beforehand.
I got my cushion in shade #301, which is the darkest option, and disappointingly, the shade can look a tad too light on me if layered on too thickly. Therefore, I can’t build up the coverage unless I want to end up looking too pale compared to the rest of my body. However, on my skin and in humid weather, it does oxidize (despite the claims) and will end up matching the rest of my body, so it’s not too much of an issue.
I do notice, though, that when I set the cushion with enough powder and a good even coat of setting spray, it will not oxidize that much at all; even more so when I’m in a cooler, drier environment. For example, if I’m mostly in air-conditioned settings, my base is less likely to oxidize by the end of the day, but if I’m in humid environments where I end up sweating and/or sebum seeps through, then oxidization will definitely occur.
Now, the puff that comes with it definitely caught my eye at first (it’s black and purple!) but it’s not the best in terms of application. With my limited cushion knowledge, it reminds me of the Laneige puffs – the one that comes with the latest Pore Control variant, at least. Better than the Innisfree Air Magic Puff (Fitting), but worse than Missha puffs (or at least, the special edition Missha x Line puff). Like the Laneige, the Moonshot puff is prone to absorbing more product than necessary and applying makeup a tad unevenly onto the skin. It does work better when sprayed/dampened with water beforehand, though.
However, unlike the Laneige puff which I’ve washed and used over and over again with no issues, the Moonshot puff doesn’t hold up as well. After the third wash, one day the holder strip at the back just… snapped. Which was a very surprising sight since it’s never happened to me before, no matter how many times I’ve washed my cushion puffs.
Overall, the Moonshot Microfit Cushion is a decent 3/5, and I’d probably not repurchase. Despite reading some reviews saying that it’s good for humid weather, I think it’d fare better in drier climates. For those dealing with textural issues, definitely look the other way as more often than not, this cushion would highlight those problems. It wouldn’t work out that well for those with more obvious acne too, though I think foundation would be better than a BB cushion in that regard.
However, if you’re looking for a light coverage cushion, this might work for you – even better if you have a good quality puff as I do notice that if I use my Missha x Line puff instead of the Moonshot, the coverage does look nicer and any possibility of a cakey finish lessens considerably.
The shade range could definitely be improved as well, but I can’t say I expect a lot from K-Beauty in that department just yet (though, Laneige, Innisfree and Etude House are catching up to this need, so why can’t other brands, too?).
