Cushion compacts became popular around 2014, but they’ve actually been around for longer than that with IOPE releasing their first cushion in 2008. I remember seeing an IOPE commercial where the model is doing her make-up in a zero-gravity chamber, suggesting that cushions are handy, don’t spill, are easy to use, and perfect for people on-the-go. They definitely do make some things easier; you don’t have to fuss with a squeeze tube, and you don’t have to use your fingers, which can be messy, or bring a sponge or brush to apply it.
The actual product in the cushion isn’t actually much different from the BB creams or CC creams you get out of a tube, its main charm and selling point is it’s being compact and easy for touch-ups. The sponge inside the compact that holds the product is made from specially designed utherane foam that makes the product lighter and is placed inside a case with an airtight cover. The ruby cell puff that comes with most Korean cushions is anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, to keep things as hygienic as possible.
Finishes
There are three different finishes for base products; dewy, satin or matte.
Dewy or watery finish is a trend in Korea because they believe it makes you look younger. Dewey cushions usually contain more skin care properties, specifically for moisture and sun protection. This kind of compact is better suited for dry skin.
A matte finish has no shine and can often make your face look flat, but is more suited to oily skin. Matte formula cushions last longer and do still contain skincare properties of course, as most Korean cosmetics do.
A satin finish is a nice in-between dewy and matte, which is what I, personally, prefer.
Coverage
If you’re looking for a product that will magically make your face flawless and hide all your imperfections, this is not it.
The main job of a base product is to even out your complexion, not to hide pimple marks or freckles. That’s what concealer is for. Especially for cushions which usually have BB creams or CC creams in them. BB creams and CC creams are really just amped up tinted moisturizer and they rarely go above medium coverage. But because of the light coverage and formula, after applying this cushion, your skin will still look like skin.
Application
The right way to apply cushion makeup is really up to preference, but most would say to pat it on, and not swipe. Some say to swipe it on to spread the product and then pat it in.
The puff that comes with the cushion will usually be a ruby cell air puff, it’s anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, as I mentioned, but those aren’t it’s only benefits. They’re denser than a regular make-up sponge and are specially designed to absorb less product for a thinner and skin-like application. Not all cushions come with ruby cell air puffs, but most brands under AmorePacific (IOPE, Laneige, Hera, Innisfree, etc.) does have it.
One of the issues with the puff is getting into the crevices and contours of your face, such as the eye and nose area. You can fold the sponge and then use the corner to reach those places.
Choosing Your Cushion
The first thing you need to do is choose the qualities that you want in your cushion; what kind of finish, coverage, and benefits (such as the skincare in the cushion formula) do you want? You should also consider your skin type. As I mentioned, some finishes and formulas are better suited for certain skin types.
SPF should also be considered. Most cushions do have sun protection, but it can give you a white cast, especially with flash photography. But if you’re not going to have your picture taken with flash or under bright lights, this shouldn’t be a problem.
When you think you know what kind of cushion you want, scour the internet for recommendations, and check their reviews. Don’t only look at one review! Look up at least 3, and make sure they aren’t sponsored.
When you’ve narrowed down your choices, you can go to the shops of the brand you like if there are any near you and test them out, but if you don’t, you’re gonna have to order online. Choosing the right shade, especially if you’re going for a Korean-brand cushion is going to be a headache if you’re not light skinned. Most Korean brands only carry 2 or 3 shades, the darkest of which is usually medium or medium-light. There are brands with more shade options, such as The Faceshop (they have 6, I think. They’ve expanded pretty well internationally, so it makes sense that they’d have more shades.) and Laneige.
Tips
Cushions do tend to dry out quicker, and usually only come with half an ounce of product. Some brands do sell their cushions with a refill (I know Laneige cushions come with a refill), but most don’t. There are promos a couple times a year for free refills for some brands, if you can wait, I suggest waiting for those promos.
When your cushion seems to have dried out, just flip over the sponge, there should still be some product on the other side. You may also want to stock up on ruby cell air puffs because they do get worn down eventually.
To start you off on your cushion compact journey, try watching this video from Edward Avila (he has SO MANY cushions, omg.) where he goes through his cushion collection.
Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of cushion compacts!
END NOTES: A Brief History of BB, CC, and DD creams
First, there were BB creams, marketed as make-up that doubles as skincare. BB stands for Beauty Balm and it was said that BB creams were used by people who had just gotten facial operations because aside from it’s skincare properties, it also offered some coverage. Basically: it’s a tinted moisturizer. Sometimes with SPF.
Then, there were CC creams, what came after the eventual dying down of the BB cream fad. They’re Color Correcting balms, and they pretty much are the same thing as BB creams except maybe with more coverage.
And of course, there were DD creams, but that didn’t really take off. Dynamic Do-all creams stem from the same concept as BB and CC creams, with a bit of improvement in formula, supposedly.
SOURCES:
herworldplus.com, marieclaire.com, glamour.com, beautypackaging.com