Cyber Colors Black Label UV Essence Liquid Foundation

Now that winter is finally and *hopefully* coming to an end, it's time to reflect on one of the foundations I've loved using during the winter months. While there are plenty of new foundations I want to try (and many I have still yet to review), the Cyber Colors Black Label Foundation seemed like a good choice for my skin after re-discovering it at the back of my make-up shelf. I had previously used this foundation during the summer, and I did not like it until my re-discovery and now I'm ready to share with you my thoughts.

Backstory: I was looking for a light-weight foundation with good coverage for the summer months, because, who wants to wear heavy make-up in the summer? So I went on a hunt to find my "summer foundation". I remembered that Bubzbeauty had mentioned a foundation in one of her chit-chat videos a few years ago, matching my specific checklist, so I did some re-watching of her videos and found out the name, which is how I became interested in this foundation.

Thoughts & Discoveries: The Black Label Essence UV Liquid Foundation has a low viscosity and a very light-weight and thin formula. It is a non-fragrance foundation, which I like because I am sensitive to smells. The foundation blended in and sat well on my skin; creating a very natural look. On the days that I wore it, most people couldn't tell I was wearing foundation (even the lady at the SHISEIDO counter complimented on how great my skin looked, when I told her it was the foundation, she didn't even think I was wearing any). However, my experience with the foundation during previous summer months was quite the opposite. I found it melted off my skin, and it started creasing because of the oils on my skin mixing in with it; it did not stay on my skin at all. Ironically, my hunt for my "summer foundation" actually became my "winter foundation." Looking back in retrospect, it makes sense since this foundation only contains an SPF of 18 PA + +, which isn't nearly enough sun protection for the summertime, thus, would have been a better choice in winter anyway.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Cyclopentasiloxane, CI77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Alcohol, Talc, Ethylhexyl Methoxcinnamate, Mineral Oil, Methyl Trimethicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Tri-polyhydroxysterate, CI77492 (Iron Oxides), Sorbitan Isosterate, Diisosteryl Malate, CI77120 (Barium Sulfate), PEG/PPG-20/20 Dimethicone, CI77002 (Aluminum Hydroxide), Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, CI7749 (Iron Oxides), Dimethicone, Hydrated Silica, CI77499 (Iron Oxides), Trifluoropropyldimethyl / Trimethlysiloxysilicate, Hydrogenated Lecitin, Trimethlysiloxysilcate, CI77947 (Zinc Oxide), Magnesium Sulfate, Lauroyl Lysine, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Leaf Extract, Cordyceps Sinensis Extract, PEG/PPG-19/10 Dimethicone, Panax, Ginseng Root Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract

Foundation Claims:
1) Contains pore invisible powder (Pore Gradation Powder), and has durable anti-sweat and oil control properties, and covers pores and fine lines.
2) Contains nutrition and moisturizing ingredients to keep the skin moist and watery.
3) Effectively improves the quality of skin roughness

RE: Claim #1 - I'm not sure what the Pore Gradation Powder does, or if this was a fancy way to say it covers pores and fine lines? But I didn't see any gradation effect or anything special. However, it did cover my pores and is an excellent semi-matte foundation. For me, it was durable and it did a decent job at controlling the oils on my skin during the winter time. But as noted above, it did not hold up to the oil control claims during the summer time for me.

RE: Claim #2 -  I wouldn't say it kept my skin feeling moist and watery when I wore the foundation alone. However, it sat a lot better on my skin once I had used toner and a moisturizer as a base (as indicated in the instructions).

RE: Claim #3 - I didn't notice any difference as I normally exfoliate and hydrate my skin, and not sure how a foundation would improve the quality of skin roughness.

Would I re-purchase: Yes. I had previously bought this off Sasa.com, and although the price point was on the higher end of the spectrum. I do quite enjoy how this made my skin look and how well it worked on my skin during the winter months.

Swatches Below: It comes in 3 shades (01 Ivory, 02 Natural, and 03 Beige). I got mine in 02 Natural