Pros1. The shade is truly for the fairest of fair-skinned Westerners - even those with Korean shade 13 might find it dark.
2. It's extremely matte - zero transfer and feels incredibly powdery (however, if it rubs off, it becomes a mess that's impossible to fix).
3. While it's challenging to use alone (even for someone like me who prefers matte foundations), it might work well when mixed with other products.
Cons1. The shade isn't necessarily a flaw, it just doesn't suit me. Double Wear is known for darkening, so I wanted a lighter shade. My skin is around 17-19 in Korean shades. I bought Shell, the lightest shade available here, but it still darkened and looked messy. Upon first use, I felt like I was wearing kabuki makeup and abandoned it after one try. As someone who always bought the lightest shades, this was a wake-up call about the importance of shade selection.
2. As a long-time brush user for liquid foundations, I found this one dried too quickly to control well. I'd recommend using a puff instead.
3. I used to like Double Wear years ago. After losing my go-to product (post-Laneige Neo Cushion reformulation), I tried this again, forgetting I used to mix it with other products. It's so matte that it doesn't cover pores at all, and its thin texture clings to the skin, highlighting every pore (now I remember why I stopped using it). Once it sets, any attempt to touch up just makes it look worse. If my makeup gets messy during a night out, I'd have to go home immediately as it's impossible to fix without washing it off.
As someone who loved Lancome Teint Idole and Hera Black Foundation, Double Wear just doesn't work for me. I used Laneige Neo Cushion exclusively for two years, and before that, I went through 4 bottles of Teint Idole and 2-3 of Hera Black Foundation. I'm now looking for a new liquid foundation, with Dior Forever on my radar. My priorities are longevity, transfer-resistance, brightness maintenance (no darkening), natural-looking coverage, and decent pore coverage. Products that have met these criteria for me are Laneige Neo Cushion (pre-reformulation), Teint Idole, and Hera Black Foundation.
In conclusion: Double Wear is difficult to use alone. While mixing it with other products might work, it's not practical for those trying to streamline their morning routine. With so many high-performance foundations available now, mixing isn't necessary. This product might appeal to those with specific needs who don't mind its strong characteristics, but it's not an easy everyday foundation for the average person. Even if it looks good some days, it's too finicky and dependent on skin condition to be reliable.
TipWhile I usually recommend applying all foundations with a brush, this product is challenging to use with one. The foundation dries so quickly that it can harden on the brush, causing it to scratch off the makeup and making it difficult to achieve perfect pore coverage.