by Colleen
Do you miss the convenience of the compact? I do, but not the cakeyness of the compact foundation, which is why I am currently loving these new cushion compacts from Korea. Cushions for your makeup? Really?! This new technology straight from the cosmetics obsessed Korea delivers a combination BB cream, foundation and sunscreen in one convenient compact.
So what really is a cushion? Think of it like a sponge that holds your liquid foundation, moisturizer and SPF neatly without leaking. Then all you need to do is pat the sponge/cushion to release the foundation onto the applicator. To apply just pat, pat , pat onto the areas of your face you want coverage, or blend all over for a flawless look.
These formulations tend to allow good coverage but still leave a natural and dewy finish on the skin. They are super popular in Korea as they are so convenient to carry around in a purse and can be used throughout the day if touch ups are needed. They are also multi-functional offering SPF, moisturizers and anti aging ingredients as well inside the formulations.
I find the finish very natural looking, like a BB cream, the key is to apply lightly and only where you need it. It can easily be used to build up to a flawless, full coverage foundation just by patting more of the product on. It is the perfect makeup for summer when you want to look polished maybe for work or an event but the heat has got you feeling like a wilting flower and the thought of blending on liquid foundation is just too much trouble.
Currently I am using IOPE air cushion XP in N23 with SPF 50, mineral water and Siberia Peptide 6 which claims to help rejuvenate the skin around the pores making them less noticeable. It comes with a cushion refill and lasts quite a long time.
Another one I recommend is Laniege BB cushion compact which comes in three shades and is sold at Target. Lancôme also just released a cushion compact called the Miracle Cushion and what’s great about this one is that it comes in 11 shades. Some of the Korean brands don’t address skin tones beyond those which you would find in Korea. I find that the N23 form IOPE and the Light shade from Laneige work perfectly for my skin tone. (you can see here my skin is pale with yellow undertones)
The only other recommendation I would make is to wash your compact sponge applicator periodically, even though it is kept separate from the cushion in the compact, to avoid those pesky bacteria! Just rinse it under water, lather with a drop of shampoo, rinse, squeeze and let air dry.
Here’s a little video of the compact cushion in action.