Cushions have moved beyond the couch and into beauty routines, thanks to the advent of cushion compact foundations.
Although still relatively new to Aussie shelves, cushion compact foundation has been a K-Beauty staple for years with the innovative product now accounting for 40 per cent of the Korean foundation market.
So, what sets them apart from other foundation options?
Makeup artist Melanie Burnicle explains cushion compact foundations offer a combination of a convenient, no-spillage product delivery system and multi-functional formula.
In years gone by, liquid foundations were contained in bottles or tubes, while pressed powders and dense creams came in compacts.
A cushion compact foundation takes the best of both worlds.
Makeup artist Dale Dorning explains the “whipped” liquid formulation is compressed into a sponge-like cushion, and then packaged in a convenient compact case.
“Their biggest advantage is they’re handbag friendly, easy and quick to use and fairly foolproof,” Dale says.
Most cushion compact foundations come with an applicator sponge, which you would press on to the cushion to release the formula.
“There’s no chance of spillage because it only releases the foundation when you press on it,” Melanie says.
One of the advantages liquid foundation has traditionally had over compact foundations is its ability to incorporate other skin benefiting ingredients into the formulation – but cushion compact foundations can do it too.
“Think of a cushion compact like your favourite liquid foundation, in a sponge,” Melanie says.
“Most cushion compact formulations include the added benefits of high-level hydration, collagen, SPF and other active ingredients – just like you would expect in a liquid foundation.”
Melanie says the finish of a cushion compact is far closer to a liquid formula than a pressed compact, leaving the skin looking super hydrated.
The delivery system of cushion compact foundations means it requires a slightly different application approach to most foundations.
Before you apply, Dale recommends prepping the skin with primer for “an even application”.
“Cushion compact foundations have a tendency to wear uneven or look patchy when the skin is not prepped correctly,” Dale says.
He also cautions not to “overload your applicator sponge”, which can be tempting because of the press-pump style of delivery.
“One or two pumps should suffice and only pick up more product as required.”
From there, Melanie recommends taking your sponge and adopting a “gliding” motion over the skin.
“These are easy to blend, so just glide the sponge along the forehead and centre of the face and then out to the hairline and edges,” Melanie says.
“Aim to achieve a nice even all-over coat and build up only onto areas where a little extra coverage is needed.”
And the best part? This is the ultimate foundation for touch-ups on the run.
“Compacts have always been great in terms for being transportable – and this one won’t spill in your bag either,” Melanie says.
Written by Sharon Hunt.
Cushion foundations, an ingenious invention from Korea, have been all the rage for years now. If you do a quick search on Google or some light stalking on your favourite celebrity’s socials, you’ll see that almost anyone and everyone has used a cushion foundation at least once.
And as the beauty world reconstructs itself to welcome more dewy and “no makeup” makeup looks, beauty enthusiasts like yourself realise the indisputable power of cushion foundations.
With a light to medium-full coverage, these handy little compacts are usually also extremely beneficial to your skin. They hydrate, promote supple, luminous skin, cover any redness and blemishes, and give you a more natural-looking finish.
Not to mention, cushion foundations save us so much time and are really easy to touch up with. However, there are good techniques and tricks to achieving that “dewy coverage” you’re promised.
Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we get it wrong. Read on for some life-changing cushion foundation hacks that’ll have passersby complimenting your skin and asking if you’re wearing any makeup!
Just like any foundation, you’ll want to make sure that your skin is prepped for an even application.
Cushion foundations have a tendency of wearing unevenly or looking patchy when your skin isn’t prepped correctly. To prevent this, use a primer or lightweight moisturiser!
For those with oily skin, take a look at our top picks of primers here. And for those with dry skin, click here to see the 18 best primers for a flaky-free complexion.
If you’re not a newbie to cushion foundations, you’ll know that one light press onto the foundation sponge will give you more than enough product for half of your face.
We dare say that there’s an art and technique to knowing just how much product you should pick up from the cushion. You don’t want to end up with a cakey base so remember that a little goes a long way!
When using a new puff, make sure to let the product soak into the puff evenly. After pressing your puff onto the cushion, fold the puff into half and press around gently to let the product distribute well.
Next, to avoid using way too much product, dab your puff onto the compact’s cover to adjust the amount.
You’ll realise that this is also a technique most use when applying face powders — lightly hitting their makeup brushes on the back of their hands to refrain from applying too much onto their faces.
If your puff isn’t new, you can dab your puff onto the back of your hands to get the extra product off first before applying it to your face.
This will help make your foundation last longer and also result in a more natural effect.
Unlike how you would apply your base with a sponge, your fingers, or foundation brush, the rule when it comes to cushion foundation is to never use a swiping or dragging motion.
Instead, you’ll want to apply with a dabbing or rolling motion all over your face which will help achieve a long-lasting effect too.
If you realise that you’re doing everything right but your blemishes or skin’s red areas are still not getting the right coverage, it could be due to the application method.
To reduce the appearance of your pores, after getting the product onto your puff, gently press these areas with the edge of your puff and rub it in with soft, small, and circular motions.
After you’re done applying the foundation onto your face, finish it off by using the entire surface of the puff to “pat it down” gently. This will “set” your makeup and make sure that any uneven parts are smoothened out.
If you use single-use sponges, even for cushion foundations, you’re safe from the pitfalls of a dirty, unhygienic puff.
If not, you may want to consider adopting the habit of cleaning the compact’s puff with a water and oil cleanser after every use. This will prevent the formation of bacteria on the puff which could eventually cause acne or other skin irritations on your face.
It’ll also be easier for you to gauge how much product you’re using during application when your sponge is as good as new! Plus, your base will be a lot more even if you don’t have ‘old’ remaining product transferred from the puff to your face.
To go the extra step, clean your compact container too with tissue paper or alcohol wipes so that any remaining foundation won’t build up.
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Featured image credit: @saeroniee/TikTok, @littlefr34k/TikTok