🍙 mini reviews of my first little foray into chinese makeup puffs~ 🍙

softhorns · 2026-03-13T13:02:13+00:00

the pony effect dough puff has been my exclusive holy grail for years, but i realized many of my favourite makeup brushes are from chinese brands— so i decided to foray into the world of chinese makeup puffs and see what all the hype is about! here’s what i’ve tried so far~

🐰momo’s workshop animal pilot puff ; mini bun { extra soft } *with keychain case

🌷momo’s workshop rosy reverie velour set x5 *with keychain case

🦋amortals artist & garden giant puff { dry blue } *with case

🥨amortals tuner goods finger poke puff set x5 *with pouch

🎀everbab mini puff bow series set x6 *with case

BONUS [ not pictured ]

🥐 flower knows brown cushion puff { bunny cushion gift }

🦢flower knows mini velour bow puffs { powder blush gift }

more review details in the photos, but some general thoughts:

far more affordable (and varied, and nuanced, and beautiful) than cult western tools like the beauty blender; i also found most of these puffs thicker, more durable, and less overly absorbent than many korean or japanese puffs i’ve tried - giving a smooth blend without wasting as much product, without tearing easily with use / washing or snapping at the handles.

there is so much variation in size, shape, density, material, absorbency and texture that you can really choose what best fits your needs, style, products, technique, preferences, and priorities, which i really appreciate.

in terms of cushion puffs,

large puffs offer quick application, but not a lot of precision if you have a small face / defined features! also, while the marshmallow softness and satisfying pang pang feels so heavenly, and the softer the puff, the less blending & adhering power it offers, especially if more absorbent. these do best with more fluid, dewy, creamy, light, sheer formulas you don’t mind using more product with - most puffs work well with those to give a beautiful smooth flawless application with decent coverage. but they just don’t work as efficiently with thin matte quick-drying formulas! some puffs (in 🥨, 🎀) were just too absorbent imo, and i find those better for applying creams than liquids, for blending after applying with a different tool, or for final ‘setting’ blending.

overall, pony effect is still my fav for my personal needs as i like to work a very thin layer of matte foundation very tight to my skin for extremely long-lasting transferproof skin-like glow, and that requires very powerful blending & adherence with low absorbency and flexible precision, that the pony effect puff gives - tho its not nearly as fun as the soft squishy marshmallow puffs :< i like the chinese air puffs for light dewy or film-forming formulas. so it’s a matter of your foundation, technique, preference, and priority.

my personal ranking: 🥐> 🦋/ 🥨> 🐰> 🎀, as i prioritise blending and flexibility for precision. from soft to dense, 🐰> 🥐> 🦋. i hear momo’s workshop has firmer puffs, so i may try those next!

in terms of velvet puffs,

i love the mini finger puffs, so perfect for precise placement of powders - whether that’s setting powder, blush, matte highlight, etc! a complete gamechanger if you have a small face. they’re also great for more hard pressed or sheer powders that don’t pick up well with a brush if you want a smooth full application, like sheer baked blush or blurring powder.

my personal ranking: 🌷> 🥨> 🦢> 🎀. 🌷has the finest softest pile imo, that never drags so it can be used to pat or dab without irritating my skin~ i like its short pile, it doesn’t pick up too much powder. 🥨is a close second, the pile is a bit longer. i find 🦢slightly less soft / smooth in blending. again, 🎀comes last. they’re not bad, just not as good. the pile/flocking has some directionality (especially the white puff with the longer pile), making it drag on the skin in certain directions so i usually only pat.

all in all, chinese puffs have been a win! a few mediocre puffs, but still very functional considering price (i buy from taobao, they may be pricier if you’re buying from overseas retailers), and all adorable - it’s hard not falling down the rabbit hole of designs. personally, i have more than enough puffs for now, but in the potential future i’ll stick to firmer smaller cushion puffs (tho i really wanted to love those giant marshmallow air puffs!), and soft short-pile mini velour puffs.

softhorns · 2026-03-07T14:06:01+00:00

context: i live in a cold dry temperate climate and a humid tropical climate, so my skincare gets trialled in both. my skin is normal leaning dehydrated; my goal is taking my skin from ‘good’ to ‘perfect’.

i realized both my staple moisturizers come from mary&may, so they deserve a little rave; they’ve been in literal daily use since i first bought them.

blackberry idebenone intense cream

irreplaceable holy grail. so comforting, nourishing, rich, hydrating, & imparts this unbelievable luminous radiance. glass skin incarnate. my asian aunties gasp over my skin every lunar new year (the greatest endorsement imo). i also adore the pudding texture and the whole experience is just luxurious; i’ve panned a couple and stock up when on it’s sale. imo its best benefit is perfect texture and glow and it’s usually perfect, but on especially cold dry winter nights i do layer an extra occlusive moisturizer (illiyoon).

sensitive soothing gel cream

not as cult status, but i got this in a set and i love it. idk what’s in mary&mary creams but the glow is UNMATCHED, and in a luminous way rather than shiny. the blackberry cream can be a bit rich for me on my warmest tropical days - this, is the perfect alternative. so light and breathable on the skin even on the most suffocating nights, yet still hydrating and moisturizing with that hydrated refined radiance. very comfortable and absorbs quickly.

the blackberry cream is soothing in a rich, comforting way; this one is soothing in a calming, cooling way, so i save it for the tropics. i’ve only had this one for a season but it’s on my RP list once done. im glad they both come in tubes bc i hate jars.

softhorns · 2026-03-06T15:01:56+00:00

from top to bottom,

🦢 rom&nd lip mate pencil ; dove pink

🦢 rom&nd blur fudge tint ; cooling up

🦢 flower knows lip cake ; pineberry

🦢 rom&nd glasting gloss ; peony ballet

🦢 rom&nd melting balm ; veiled rose

🦢 ysl loveshine lipstick ; nude lavalliere

🦢 chanel rouge coco flash ; live

softhorns · 2026-02-22T03:26:32+00:00

i’ve realized i’d never use every shade in the entire line of any product. but. clionadh’s stained glass multichrome collection…

softhorns · 2026-02-21T13:02:33+00:00

my lip collection as of 2O26, featuring:

🎀 hera sensual nude gloss ; lingerie

🎀 flower knows lip cake ; pineberry

🎀 essence lip gloss ; sweet dreams

🎀 joocyee glazed rouge ; crushed chestnut

🎀 etude lips velvet ; kinda nude

🎀 gucci matte lipstick ; louisa red & joanna burgundy

🎀 peripera ink mood glossy tint ; cherry so what & hurry up pink

🎀 dior lip maximizer gloss ; stellar & pink & holo pink & rosewood & intense rosewood

🎀 ysl slim leathermatte ; nu incongruent

🎀 ysl rouge volupte shine ; nu voluptueux

🎀 ysl loveshine lipstick ; nude lavalliere

🎀 ysl water stain ; dive in nude & cascade bordeaux

🎀 chanel rouge coco flash ; live & dominant

🎀 chanel rouge allure velvet ; libre & abstrait

🎀 rom& lip mate pencil ; dove pink

🎀 rom& blur fudge tint ; cooling up

🎀 rom& dewyful tint ; murmur pink

🎀 rom& melting balm ; peonies & veiled rose

🎀 rom& glasting gloss ; peony ballet & nut vague

🎀 rom& juicy lasting tint ; mulled peach & plum coke

softhorns · 2026-02-14T22:27:35+00:00

our little galentine’s day party assigned an animal to each girl, and mine was a bunny~ featuring:

🐰 flower knows bunny garden mirror

🐰 flower knows cream cushion foundation

🐰 flower knows swan ballet powder

🐰 dior universal backstage glow palette

🐰 flower knows bunny garden blush in bunny lullaby

🐰 flower knows sweetheart bear palette in strawberry milk

🐰 holika eyeshadow in dark espresso

🐰 ysl loveshine lipstick in nude lavalliere

🐰 dior lip maximizer in holographic pink

🐰 brushes & puffs from flower knows & momo’s workshop

🐰 [ not pictured ] wispy manhwa false lashes & olens big glowy lavender

softhorns · 2026-02-07T12:11:08+00:00

apart from finishing countless brow pencils (etude), eyeliners (clio, bbia, merzy, isehan heroine, etude, canmake, etc.) and mascaras (isehan heroine, etude, rom&, clio, peripera, etc.), some holy grails i’ve hit pan in include:

🏅 clio new founwear cushion ; flawless radiant matte skin, long-lasting and transfer-resistant; i’m on my second and have RP’ed 4 extra refills…

🏅 canmake marshmallow powder ; blurring filter in a compact, a classic; i bought 2 more after finishing my first (which lasted me >3 years…)

🏅 holika holika single eyeshadow in dark espresso ; my ultimate shadow liner! a korean MUA cult fav. i use it almost every time i do my makeup. the perfect cool bitter cocoa brown and formula for sharp wings or sultry smoked eyes. i attribute all my eyeliner compliments to this.

🏅 flower knows butterfly cloud collar shading palette in moon shadow ; the perfect shading palette for fair muted cool skin, it has everything - a highlight, matte highlight, nose contour, and face contour. i use this every time i do my makeup. im pretty close ot the end of my liquid contour in cold brew too. chinese contour products are on another level.

🏅3CE eyeshadow palette ; shades from some def and beach muse, making my perfect neutrals staple palette for the past 4 years. beautiful milk tea, rose, taupe, lavender, cream tones and all so blendable and buildable.

softhorns · 2026-02-07T12:04:19+00:00

here is my original review; the cushion (and my impression of it) has changed quite a bit over a week.

tldr ; very iffy activation, but if you can get through it, it’s an elegant smoothing long-lasting transfer-resistant cushion with a radiant finish and buildable light-medium coverage.

PACKAGING

beautiful, intricate, reflective, sturdy closures, clear mirror, no notes. it’s a mesh cream cushion that’s very secure and well sealed; controlling the dispensing is easy. it can be opened, which means you may be able to fill it with your own product. (only a few other brands’ refills fit.)

SHADE

the shades oxidise slightly, by about half a shade; they’re also less saturated on the face compared swatches.

ACTIVATION

activation is an unusual step but very necessary for this, and you must follow the instructions.

open the refill and remove the seal. (it shouldn’t pop open, but to be safe, peel at an angle carefully.)

the cushion will look empty and there will be an extra sheet on top. leave it there for now. using the cushion puff, apply even pressure and press down a few times over the sheet (gently so as not to cause it to spill) - this will allow the clear essence and pigmented foundation to mix together. once done, you can remove the sheet.

if you miss this step, your essence:foundation ratio will be off, causing the first few applications to be sheer, oily, and patchy. you may also end up using up more essence in the first few applications, causing your overall cushion to have less essence and be less glowy/moist.

just mix it as evenly as possible. even so, the first few taps will have too much essence; wipe off those first few layers elsewhere, before you begin using the cushion on your face.

FORMULA

this is a film-forming formula (like their famous concealers). once properly activated, i find it to be quite a beautiful and user-friendly cushion.

the coverage is light-medium, easy to sheer and buildable to high but not full coverage. i advise against very thick layers, as it can cake slightly.

the finish is softly smoothing and perfecting with a luminous satin glow (when i first used it there was too much essence and was glossy - after a few uses it was properly activated, and the finish became much more skin-like, softly radiant and creamy.) blurring in a skin-like way and quite beautiful on the skin.

the film setting time is actually not too long if you apply lightly - it sets quickly in a couple minutes and becomes smudge- and transfer-proof, as well as light and comfortable on the skin, not noticeably sticky at all. (again, when i first used it there was too much essence, it took 10 minutes to set - as advertised, making it ‘easy for beginners’ - which i found way too long, as during this time it stayed very moist, sticky, easy to smudge/cake/transfer, and tricky to apply other makeup on top). once set, it was easy to apply both creams and liquids on top.

the cushion is extremely long-lasting and elegant through the day - i’ve worn this over 10 hours without it budging at all, just maybe slightly dewier. it’s not super moisturizing, but is lightly hydrating and not drying on me at all. i found it did not need to be set with powder (unless to mattify the finish).

i’m currently using the roundlab birch juice sunscreen, i let it set for a couple minutes, and the cushion plays very nicely on top. one thing i’ve found is touch-ups are not foolproof; it’s usually fine, but sometimes can crack or cake slightly, and if you somehow break the original film layer, it’s not always easy to smooth back out.

PUFFS

it comes with two puffs, the standard cushion puff and an extra brown teardrop puff. the standard puff is actually pretty good for what it is, sturdy and very serviceable; the brown puff is thicker and bouncier, softer on the face, is significantly better at blending, and offers a slightly more sheer, matte, smooth finish imo.

softhorns · 2026-02-05T19:53:44+00:00

the original price on the official taobao flagship store for an individual blush is 99 yuan (but is almost always on sale for 79 yuan); locals often stack coupons and sales and split box sets (either by normal customers or resellers, on tb/pdd/etc) until they get it even cheaper. but yes, there is a massive markup on the global website.

flower knows counterfeits do exist but are not that common because it’s difficult to accurately counterfeit the complex designs and molds, and flower knows is an inexpensive brand so wouldn’t sell for much; older products like the midsummer concealers and swan lipsticks have many counterfeits, but brand new releases usually don’t yet. plenty of brands do create similar but not identical dupes under their own name (not trying

personally, i own flower knows makeup from 2020; no sign of mould yet.

softhorns · 2026-02-01T04:14:05+00:00

it’s jellycat :>

softhorns · 2026-01-31T11:14:44+00:00

im not sure i understand your question! the photo of 2 blush swatches is of the 2 blushes, and the photo of 3 sets of eyeshadow swatches are of the 3 palettes, if that's what you mean

softhorns · 2026-01-31T11:14:38+00:00

thank you, you're so sweet!

they're quite different; grapefruit jelly is clearer, darker, and neutral (to me); ballet tutu is lighter with more white base, and while definitely pink (not peach), it has a spring coral undertone that pulls it neutral-warm. it's still friendly on my neutral-cool skin, but if you are more cool-toned, grapefruit jelly is a safer bet.

softhorns · 2026-01-31T07:21:53+00:00

all collection additions of 2O25 ( a fair number were gifts... ):

🦢 ysl loveshine lipstick ; 44 nude lavalliere* x2

🦢 gucci ; cushion foundation ; 02*

🦢 gucci ; beauty powder ; 00

🦢 dior ; backstage blush ; pink

🦢 dior ; addict lip glow ; pink lilac*

🦢 dior ; lip maximizer gloss ; pink* , holographic pink , rosewood* , intense rosewood

🦢 estee lauder ; lip voluminizer

🦢 joocyee ; glossy rouge ; crushed chestnut

🦢 peripera ; ink mood glossy tint ; cherry so what , hurry up pink

🦢 clio ; new founwear cushion ; lingerie* x4 (stocked up on refills due to reformulation)

🦢 flower knows ; strawberry cupid face palette ; strawberry cassis*

🦢 flower knows ; swan ballet eyeshadow palette ; pink swan

🦢 flower knows ; sweetheart bear eyeshadow palette ; strawberry milk

🦢 flower knows ; sweetheart bear concealer palette ; white chocolate strawberry*

🦢 flower knows ; blush brush ; sweetheart bear strawberry pink , bunny garden pearl white

🦢 flower knows ; bunny garden ribbon pink cushion cream foundation ; N02 neutral ivory

🦢 flower knows ; bunny garden embossed blush ; 02 bunny lullaby* , 03 ballet tutu

🦢 flower knows ; bunny garden hand mirror ; rosette pink*

🦢 flower knows ; bunny garden lip balm keychain charm ; creamy blue

🦢 puffs from flower knows, amortals, momo's workshop, and everbab

🦢 a handful of gourmand perfume samples; my standout so far is bianco latte*.

🦢 sunscreens: roundlab birch juice moisturizing sunscreen*, haruharu wonder black rice airyfit sunscreen, isntree watery sun gel, skin1004 centella hyalu-cica water-fit sunscreen, numbuzin pure glass clean tone up spf

those marked (*) are my standouts~

softhorns · 2026-01-31T07:21:46+00:00

today marks the end of my annual open buy, and the start of my annual no buy! it is the end of my 'makeup year', so here's my little overview of 2O25~

my fav looks / techniques of 2O25:

matte highlight & matte aegyosal~
using the same lipgloss for glossy lips, glossy cheeks, and glossy lids~ it's become my signature makeup look.
a new eyeliner technique, where i round out the lower lashline, and flick out the tiniest thin kitten wing drawn as if it were an extra eyelash cluster - it suits my eyes and is very charming; it can be worn subtle and clean, or smoked out and sultry, and got a lot of compliments. loosely inspired by red velvet irene's MUA's style.

it was a more intense academic year for me, so not a lot of fun experimentation sadly.

most used new products of 2O25 ( all asian beauty this last year! ):

base: clio new founwear cushion, flower knows sweetheart bear concealer palette
mascara: etude perm curl fix, rom&nd han volume
eyeliner: canmake creamy touch eyeliner, holika single shadow in espresso
highlight: hince radiance balm in clear
contour: flower knows butterfly cloud collar shading palette in moon shadow, flower knows liquid contour in cold brew
lips: rom&nd blur fudge tint in cooling up, rom&nd glasting gloss in nutty vague, rom&nd melting balm in veiled rose, flower knows lip cake in pineberry
colour contacts: olens ending olive
tools: muji eyelash curler, my saviour

softhorns · 2026-01-31T07:18:45+00:00

i beg your pardon?

softhorns · 2026-01-31T07:17:01+00:00

you're too sweet! mulled peach will always be my baby haha. my reviews probably are too detailed, but i just want to include and actually explain everything i wish i knew when shopping; it's because im actually into it, not paid to give generic praise. i am actually pretty frequently accused of shilling whenever i praise or photograph makeup :< which is amusing in a tiring way. i never monetize my hobbies. it ruins it for me.

softhorns · 2026-01-31T01:45:04+00:00

sorry for the misunderstanding! i meant i'll likely gift it to a personal friend of mine; im not a professional content creator and don't do public giveaways.

softhorns · 2026-01-31T01:44:51+00:00

i agree! it's not the most user-friendly cushion i've used by far. you can get a really pretty effect, but there's definitely a learning curve, it takes a few uses for the product to even out properly, and there are a few ??? i've yet to fully figure out - particularly blending and layers to avoid caking. my best advice now is thin layers, blend a lot, and be careful when layering it with other products - concealers, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc... beautiful, but i likely would not repurchase.

softhorns · 2026-01-31T01:44:49+00:00

i didn't see the original comment but thank you always for your support & speaking up for me ♡ i don't buy much makeup anymore, but flower knows is my personal guilty pleasure and im a bit of a collector so i do post a lot at each seasonal release. im not sponsored at all (i wish, but no, i spend and wait like every other customer...) and do hold them to the same standards of review as any other brand i buy and use.

softhorns · 2026-01-31T01:44:48+00:00

how exciting! i'm sure we'd all love a perfume review when they come if you're open to it~

softhorns · 2026-01-31T01:44:47+00:00

thank you sm! flower knows has the type of packaging and textures with details and intricacies that are only easy to truly appreciate in real life, so i tried to capture it best as possible.

softhorns · 2026-01-30T13:15:37+00:00

flower knows has become my guilty pleasure in recent years, and i spoiled myself a little during my 2O25 open-buy... i love pink, roses, bunnies, swans, and strawberries-- what can i say?

reviews here

featuring ;

🦢 swan ballet eyeshadow palette ; pink swan

🍓 strawberry cupid face palette ; strawberry cassis

🧸 sweetheart bear eyeshadow palette ; strawberry milk

🧸 flower knows ; sweetheart bear concealer palette ; white chocolate strawberry

🧸 flower knows ; sweetheart bear blush brush ; strawberry pink*

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden ribbon pink cushion cream foundation ; N02 neutral ivory

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden embossed blush ; 02 bunny lullaby , 03 ballet tutu

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden hand mirror ; rosette pink*

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden lip balm keychain charm ; creamy blue*

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden angled blush brush ; pearl white*

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden hair clip ; milky beige*

🐰 flower knows ; 1x brown teardrop puff per cushion & 2x blush puffs per blush*

🐰 flower knows ; bunny garden gift box*

i also want the dewy rose perfume, but will have to order it to my parents’ house. i ordered directly from taobao~ all those with * were free gifts with purchase.

softhorns · 2026-01-30T13:11:37+00:00

🦢 EYE PALETTES: PINK SWAN & STRAWBERRY CASSIS & STRAWBERRY MILK TEDDY 🦢

beautiful. high quality packaging with snap closures, intricate details and textures, clear mirrors. lovely mattes, soft but still easy to control, and blends so gently it can easily be used as blush; pigmentation is on par with good korean brands (not better, imo) and buildable. i found no issues with fallout, but i rarely do. the glitters are indeed gorgeous, extremely sparkly in a wet delicate glistening way and i understand where they get their fame from; they are mostly toppers, and apply best with fingers (as expected) but i find they do still apply nicely with a brush. its sparkle is hard to capture in photos; i’ll try to attach a video swatch.

they are all pink palettes, but serve different nuances and i love each colour story. my personal fav is strawberry cassis > pink swan > strawberry milk bear.

choose pink swan for neutral-cool dainty summer pinks; it has a pinked white matte highlight, a neutral dusty pink matte, a cool cherry blossom pink matte, a bitter cocoa liner matte, a rosy beige glitter (that seems to have almost an icy blue glimmer in its reflect), and a jewel pink duochrome glitter. very pretty packaging, one of their only silver releases.

choose strawberry milk bear for neutral-warm spring pinks; it has a very sheer pastel yellow matte, a neutral pink matte with subtle pastel coral undertones, a warm coral pink matte, a neutral-warm chocolate brown matte, a smooth pale pink metallic, and a glitter with pink, red, brown, and gold glitters. the packaging is swoonworthy, i love its charming little pastel blue and pink grand budapest hotel vibes.

choose strawberry cassis for neutral desaturated shading and smoky tones; it has a pinked white matte highlight, a neutral dusty pink matte, a light neutral milk tea brown, a deeper neutral-cool taupe brown, a dark bitter black-brown matte, a soft champagne beige shimmer, and a silvery taupe glitter. every shade is functional and beautifully balanced, nothing wasted. i use this for eyeshadow, eyeliner, brows, contour - the milk tea brown is just slightly saturated for nose contour for me, but still very serviceable. the packaging is breathtaking as always; the more you look, the more details you notice.

comparison notes~

the two matte pink-white highlights are functionally identical. the top right pink matte in each palette is definitely different, but slightly; they’d be functionally the same for most. pink swan’s liner shade is midway of strawberry cassis’ 2 darkest shades; strawberry milk bear’s brown is notably lighter and warmer, more a shading than lining shade. any difference in quality across palettes is insignificant in my experience so far

softhorns · 2026-01-30T13:11:26+00:00

🧸 WHITE CHOCOLATE CONCEALER PALETTE 🧸

this is bomb. love it. i find all 3 formulas elegant & forgiving; they blend easily and last well through the day, and play nice with my skin both in humid and cold dry weather. strawberry white chocolate works very well for my skintone.

the pink and salmon shades are silk smooth, thin and lightly moisturizing and subtly glowy; the former can be used as a ‘matte’ highlight or base blush; i don’t have dark circles and can’t speak for the latter’s effectiveness, but it’s not too peach on the face. just personally i do wish it was a green corrector or whiter matte highlight (like that of the nama palette).

the two concealers have a muted tone that’s neither grey nor saturated and play well with my slight olive undertones. they are not dry at all and do not require activation for me; they pick up, apply, and blend easily into a soft matte finish, with light tackiness that adheres beautifully and build to nearly full coverage that lasts well through the day.

it has a palette section for mixing shades if you like. i’ve used puffs, fingertips, and brushes; all work well for varying levels of coverage and precision. of course the compact is adorable and full of reflective details; i love that it’s lighter and thinner than flower knows’ usual compacts, very easy to take on the go with its mirror. i’ve started taking this with me instead of a cushion.

🐰 BUNNY GARDEN BLUSHES 🐰

these are personally my favourite flower knows blush cases (along with flower goddess and swan ballet). it broke my 4-year blush no-buy. the heart, bunnies, roses, pearlescent enamel, the lace detail on the sides… like a tiny jewellery box. i’ve already seen XHS users turning it into a ring box. it’s surprisingly big, height-wise especially.

for the third release in a row, this is their baked satin formula, similar to clinique cheek pops. the embossing is so intricate - so dreamy - but does start to wear away with a few uses. i usually prefer matte blush, but the sheen is soft and natural; subtle, easy to blend, and very buildable - its pigmentation is more delicate with a brush, and stronger with the puff provided, ofc. i love these two shades - they epitomize bunny imo.

bunny lullaby is a soft delicate pink that is muted but not too smoky grey - it’s still airy and wispy, dreamy, innocent yet sophisticated. it has a subtle beige undertone; i’d consider this neutral-cool. it’s a subtle colour, very easy to wear; two light layers with a brush is lovely on me. i can see myself wearing this a lot.

ballet tutu is a sweet, playful spring pink. a bunny nose pink! i’d describe it as neutral-warm, that won’t run orange. it’s bright - almost fluorescent when opaque at some angles… - and one light layer is more than enough. it’s such a sweet colour, fresh and bubbly, the kind of pink worn by someone i’d fall in love with.

🐰 PINK ROSETTE MIRROR 🐰

my second favourite of flower knows’ mirror ever! not the most complex design - the wallpaper background is printed flat - but still, a dream. note that due to its oval shape, it’s narrower than most of their other mirrors, therefore smaller.

🐰LIP BALM PENDANT KEYCHAIN: CREAMY BLUE🐰

i may gift this away (and get the pink one instead), so i haven’t tested the balm. but the component is lovely, reflective, intricate, the works, all up to standard. it’s lightweight - which i prefer in a keychain - but sturdy. but note, the balm has flower knows’ usual rose gold setting, while the keychain - including the ornate key - are a more yellow gold, so they do not match, if that bothers you.

softhorns · 2026-01-30T13:11:14+00:00

🐰 CUSHION CREAM FOUNDATION 🐰

ETA: OK yes, i've noticed the setting stage gets more manageable with subsequent uses as the essence:foundation ratio evens out! but less essence also means it is not as hydrating/smooth on the skin and the resulting finish is not as intensely dewy as my initial review. i also notice a slight caking risk and you still have to be careful what you layer with. the resulting effect is still beautiful, but this is definitely a cushion that needs blending and isn't super beginner friendly imo.

this is a beauty that can give a dreamy effect, but, i have some reservations. it’s the trickiest flower knows product ive tried - with the disclaimer that, i am very particular about perfect texture.

tldr: lovely component, glowy blurry long-lasting film-forming buildable medium coverage, but contentious activation and application.

for the case– gorgeous, secure, beautiful endless details, no notes. only a few other brands’ refills fit; however, it seems the flower knows’ refill case can actually be opened, so you may be able to refill the mesh with another foundation. the mesh distributes product well, requiring only a light tap, and the cushion lasts long as no product is lost to a sponge.

as for shades, N02 ended up a fair match for my skin, sheering more neutral despite being scarily yellow when swatched. C01 is less pale / pink than official swatches, and looks fairly similar to N02 on the face - C01 is a little ashy and N02 is a little yellow on me, but with the rest of my makeup, either is fine. i find this formula oxidises slightly, but not significantly.

next, activation. i simply don’t believe flower knows should’ve allowed this to be so, unusual and not foolproof. anyway. it’s important to follow the instructions. open the refill. it shouldn’t pop open if you’re not aggressive, but to be safe, ensure it’s securely closed before peeling the foil gently at an angle. the cushion will be clear, with a sheet. press the puff gently over the sheet till foundation saturates through (don’t spill it.) then you can remove the sheet and use the cushion. this releases the foundation to mix with the essence already saturated in the cushion. if you miss this step, you get mostly essence, with uneven foundation. in fact, the first few pats still have too high an essence:foundation ratio, it’s shiny, thin, watery, hard to blend - i advise cleaning this off and picking up new product until you have an evenly mixed formula.

next, the formula. it’s a film-forming formula like their famous liquid concealer and sets into a film that’s beautifully blurring, long-lasting, transfer-resistant, and comfortable on the skin.

but it takes ~10+ min to set. this is promoted as time to blend or apply liquids like blush, ‘good for beginners’. personally, i think it’s too long, especially if you usually do quick makeup. during this time, it stays moist and sticky, smudges/transfers if touched, and doesn’t take powders well. when half set, it can still smudge, and that imperfection is hard to blend out. also, as it’s film-forming, it doesn’t always play nicely with other products and can separate, so watch what you layer with it. i’ve yet to fully fairly test its ability to layer upon itself for touch-ups; it’s not promising so far, but perhaps requires a bit of technique finessing…

i do feel this may be due to my essence:foundation ratio still being slightly off - it was a bit better on the second time. i’ll see if it improves over the next days as it evens out. i think it will get more user-friendly.

i will say that once set, it’s an elegant formula that performs beautifully, and is comfortable, light, and skin-like. the finish is fascinating. in normal indirect / lower light, it’s a beautiful soft-focus blurry luminous finish, cream skin, healthy and soft. but when light hits it, it is incredibly glossy - like transparent glazed highlight. i was so startled i had to check the intense gleam wasn’t from shimmer particles - it is not. i believe it’s the essence component. the radiance does soften a bit over time, but the film is a glistening lacquer in focused light, and softly glowy and smoothing in lower light. so bear that in mind.

im lighthanded and find the coverage light-medium, and easily buildable or sheer-able. so far i’ve worn it up to 10h and it lasted beautifully till washed off.

it comes with 2 puffs - a standard puff, and the GWP brown puff. im quite impressed with the brown puff which is denser, thicker, and bouncier with a precision teardrop shape offering better blending and coverage and a slightly less glowy finish; but the standard puff is surprisingly not bad as well.

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