Review: Too Cool For School Rules of Pore Magic Pore Balm

Hi loves!

Okay, so do any of you have this enlarged pores problem? I have that. And one of the things I look for in primers (or even why I use them) is to make them look smaller. So when I was browsing the Too Cool For School Kiosk in Glorietta 3 last May, I was "sales-talked" by their SA to buy this product...

Too Cool For School Rules of Pore Magic Pore Balm

I got it for PhP 715.00.

I usually do not fall easily for sales talks but the SA just has this super good skin and she told me she used this magic pore balm and a BB cream from the brand to make her skin look so flawless. Back then I only have 1 primer in my stash so a second one wouldn't hurt... so I bought it! :P

I've been using the product for the past few months and I would like to share my experience with it, but first, here's a product info from this online store—Korea Depart:

And the list of ingredients are on the package label:

On to the review...

Closeup of the product

The product is a white balm... well, it's transparent when applied. It has a mild minty-herby scent but it's so mild you can barely smell it when you apply it on skin.

It comes with a sponge applicator... that's not so useful... well, I don't like using it... I rather use a foundation brush or my fingers.

Here's how the product looks like when swatched on my hand. See, it's transparent. It feels very silky and smooth. It doesn't feel heavy either.

I posted how it looks when applied on my cheeks (where my pores on my face are largest). Check them out below:

Bare skin

With the product

With BB Cream

With powder on top

With the rest of my makeup.

I use the product after I applied toner and moisturizer and before I apply my foundation/BB cream and color on my face. I apply on the T-Zone and the cheeks and the skin near the nose. As you can see on the photos above, it slightly helped in minimizing my pores. I was expecting more but at least there is a difference, especially on the sides of my nose. Although I think the loose powder made the appearance of my pores smaller better. :P

But I can't deny that my face do look smooth after I apply the rest of my makeup! ;)

It keeps my makeup in-place well but there are days when I experience some caking. Although I am not entirely sure if it's because of this or the BB cream + powder combo because I don't get that when I use Smashbox primer. It does help with the oil control! 

Overall, I am not so fond with the product but I don't hate it. I guess I just expected better... and I guess the SA just has super good skin. Haha!

Anyway, here's a summary of my review:

What I LIKE:
- Can help makeup stay in-place
- Locally available
- Price is okay
- Mildly scented
- Silky smooth
- Cute packaging
- Slight oil control
- Feels light on skin

What I DON'T LIKE:
- I expected that it minimize my pores more
- The sponge it comes with isn't so good
- I still experience some caking

Would I repurchase? I think not. This is not the best one I've used and I would love to try more pore minimizing primers. :)

And that is my review. What do you guys think of the Too Cool For School Rules of Pore Magic Pore Balm?


Cheers,
DAWN