This post contains affiliate links. Product provided by Oshen Skin.
Summer is coming and I’m not thrilled. I’m definitely more of a rainy, cool Autumn day kind of girl. Bring on the blankets, hoodies, hot tea, and long walks on cloudy afternoons. Even if you are a sunbathing goddess or god, you probably don’t enjoy oily, glistening skin and melting makeup. My usual oil control arsenal consists of blotting paper and various powders. What else is there? Well, there’s something new this year!
Parnell Glacial Biome Water No-Sebum Cushion first came to me from my friend and owner of Oshen Skin. At the time, it was only available for purchase in South Korea. But now YesStyle (reward code KBHOBBIT) and Olive Young (discount code KBHOBBIT77) ship it worldwide.
This cushion absorbs excess sebum for a smooth, matte finish. Bentonite, marine collagen, and glacial water provide a powdery, blurring effect without drying out the skin or leaving a visible cast.
How to use
Apply using the included puff over oily areas - I focus on my t-zone
Can be used before or after makeup
Wait 5-10 seconds after application for sebum to be absorbed
I recommend putting this on when the face is dry. I use the water cushion after sunscreen, typically without makeup. One time I made a mistake of not allowing my SPF to fully dry before patting on Parnell and had some pilling (not sure which of the products pilled). But when I pat the applicator over dry skin, I have no pilling. The skin doesn’t have to bare, just dry.
If you’ve never had a cushion product before, the word “cushion” refers to the packaging style. Typically, it’s a sponge soaked in product with an applicator. Gently push the applicator into the sponge and then apply to the skin. Cushion packaging can be used for anything - foundation, sunscreen, blush, etc. Kbeauty cushions are typically foundations.
Parnell Glacial Biome cushion contains completely clear liquid that dries down almost instantly once applied to the skin. There’s no scent.
My impressions
This is definitely unique. I only had a similar product once, but it wasn’t very portable due to a very large case that didn’t easily fit into my purse. Parnell is a lot more compact.
I have combination skin with an oily t-zone and dry/normal cheeks. Most mornings, I apply translucent or very lightly tinted powder after sunscreen to make sure my face doesn’t shine during the day.
Parnell Glacial Biome Water No-Sebum Cushion does a great job at quickly mattifying the skin without leaving any visible residue or causing a feeling of build up. I love the built-in mirror and easy to carry case. I don’t notice a strong blurring effect but I also don’t have very large visible pores. If the skin is shining with oil, any texture will be more noticeable, so I can see how absorbing that oil might “blur” pores and texture.
Because the cushion is completely colorless, it should work on all skin tones. I haven’t tried applying it before makeup, only after (or without makeup at all), but it makes sense to create a barrier between the skin and subsequent layers, especially for very oily skin.
While this is an interesting and innovative idea that works well, I still find myself using loose powders more often. I have more or less perfected my morning routine to the point that I don’t have very much oil throughout the day. Of course, there are exceptions to that, which is why I usually have a pressed powder compact in my bag. And to me, a good powder blurs pores better than this cushion. For my oily friends who don’t enjoy powders or just want to try something different - Parnell is worth a try.
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Parnell Glacial Biome Water No-Sebum Cushion ingredients: Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Silica, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Water, Bentonite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Butylene Glycol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Elastin