Staff Picks: The best cushion compacts we've tried
Whether you're a fan or not, the rise of K-beauty has created very important changes to the rest of the beauty world. Thanks to their intense research and product development, we've seen innovations like BB creams, two-tone color bars, and stick cleansers. They're also responsible for every always-on-the-go girl's ultimate beauty must-have: cushion makeup!
Cushions are perfect for packing into purses and traveling kikay kits. They come in portable cases, often have their own mirrors, store their own applicators (which apply seamlessly!), and save you from the worry of liquids spilling and powders shattering. There is a catch, though: while some Western brands have adopted the technology, most cushion foundations are still produced by Korea.
This has made finding a perfect shade match a challenge for the yellow-toned, darker-skinned Pinay so we've looked into the option of just DIY-ing our own! It's a cool solution if you already happen to have products to work with but if you prefer the stability and ease of a ready-made cushion, the PV team is more than willing to dish on our faves!
Liz: I love the Estee Lauder Double Wear Makeup To Go Liquid Compact since it's long wearing and offers an excellent shade match. It's also quite hygienic for a cushion since the liquid is dispensed TO the sponge, not soaking it in the compact. I also enjoyed the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Cushion Compact SPF50 PA+++ due to its natural, skin-like finish that covers what needs to be covered without looking like makeup!
I've tried quite a few Korean cushions and I love their formulations, but the shades are all off. The closest I can work with is the Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF50 PA+++ in 23C Cool Sand. I know there are darker shades available, and I would get an appropriate shade next time, but 23C is not *too bad*. Love the skin smoothing effect of this cushion, and how well it stays in our tropical weather.
Marielle: Etude House Precious Mineral Any Cushion is the first ever cushion makeup I've tried, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I like how well it fits my base makeup requirements, from the light-to-medium coverage to the not-too-tacky feel on the skin. It also goes under my liquid foundation beautifully, because I like to use it as an all-around base/primer/SPF.
Angela: I really like Chico y Chica Mat Fix Matt Cushion. It's not oily at all and gives a pretty good medium to full coverage. It can be lighter than my skin tone so I just top it with a face powder. The puff isn't so great so I use a beauty sponge instead but formula-wise, it's great!
Stacie: The first cushion I've tried is still the best so far. The Face Shop's CC Intense Cover Cushion lives up to its name, offering mid-high chok-chok coverage. It's easy to apply and stays put the whole day for me when topped with setting powder. It also doesn't crease or fade easily. I'm currently using another cushion but once I finish it, I will definitely be going back to The Face Shop!
Charlie: I've only tried a few cushions but I really liked The Face Shop Oil Control Water Cushion Foundation. It has a semi-matte finish, which I find to work better for me. It also has gives a nice medium coverage so I can easily ditch concealers when I use this. Although it doesn't have the best oil control (I get shiny after 3-4 hours without setting powder), I like that it doesn't easily fade or melt off throughout the day.
Tellie: I am absolutely in love with Make Up Fore Ever UHD Invisible Cover Foundation. I've heard unconfirmed whisperings that the UV Bright Cushion is just the UHD in cushion format, but I'm not too sure about that. Regardless, the UV Bright on it's own is pretty amazing! I love how fluffy the foundation is even after dispensing, and how I can build up coverage when I need it. I've met too many thin cushions that tend to pool around my dry flakes, so this currently stands out to me.
Do you use cushion foundations? What brands have you tried and which of them do you count among your favorites?