Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact SPF50

Here’s a very exciting launch from the brand that I just had to share it with you: Clinique are releasing a cushion foundation! I really love cushion foundations, although I think the Western ones I’ve tried have been mostly rather rubbish.  Clinique do some of the best base products available, so I had very high hopes for the new Super City Block BB Cushion Compact SPF50.

If you go back to roughly this time last year, you may remember my excitement at the arrival of the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer, an amazing, high-coverage and buildable foundation that’s a serious essential to anyone with problem skin.  The excitement of the foundation was very quickly overtaken by the disappointment of the shade range, since the palest shade in the range, Alabaster, was far too dark for me.  Thankfully, Clinique listened to the consumer complaints and quickly added some new shades to the collection, with the very palest – Breeze – being a perfect match for me….so can you guess where I’m going with this?

That’s right, the palest shade of the new Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact SPF50 is far too dark for me, which is hugely, HUGELY annoying, as this product has the potential to be quite something for anyone who isn’t too pale.  For the benefit of comparison, above you have the Fair shade of the Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact SPF50 (left) next to the Breeze shade of the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer (right).  As you’ve probably guessed, I can’t give this a full review, but I can give you the basics.

Firstly, and rather unusually for a cushion product, it’s actually a very thick foundation, meaning the coverage level is very decent and you can buff it in reasonably well.  Those who like tinted moisturiser won’t be a fan, and I think the “BB” reference is a bit misleading considering BBs are, in my opinion, the next step up from tinted moisturisers, coverage-wise at least.  This bad boy is a thicky, heavy-duty number that will give a good whack of coverage alongside the impressively high SPF50.  The packaging is a typical, tradional cushion-style with a good-sized mirror, a bouncy, firm sponge applicator that sits upon it’s own shelf, and the product beneath is well-contained within the cushion sponge.  I really, really hope that Clinique add some lighter shades to this as I think it’ll offer the sort of coverage and finish that’ll be right up my street.  The Clinique Super City Block BB Cushion Compact SPF50 will be £30 and available in 8 shades…hopefully more soon!

UPDATE: I’ve now found out that it’ll launch into Fenwicks and online at Clinique on the 15th July 2016, then August will see it launch at Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Selfridges.

*PR Sample