If you have an interest in Korean make-up, you have probably noticed that cushion cosmetics are the hottest up-to date make-up trend from Korea. Western markets started slowly to discover all these cushion goodies, first the cushion compact foundations, and then increasingly under different forms such as blush or cushion lipstick. Skincare and cosmetics multinationals were quick to adopt the trend and today even brands like Lancôme have their own cushion compact.

So, what exactly are cushion compacts, and why the buzz around them? Cushion compacts, are a sort of spin-off of BB and CC creams. In a nutshell, the formulas itself are similar between these types of products: they also contain SPF, and some moisturizing properties or wrinkle-care effects.

Specifically, cushion compacts contain a lightweight watery formula enclosed in a compact that is applied with a cushion. The secret lies in its incredible versatile and buildable formula. When applied with a cushion, the compact delivers just the perfect amount needed that you gently tap into your skin. This process helps to gain control over how much product is on our face, as compared to a foundation applied with a brush as it is more difficult to judge how much you really put on your face before you totally spread the formula.

This type of product is especially interesting if you do not require a lot of coverage, or if you would like coverage in only specific areas on your face. Cushion compacts remind me of the “brush” function on Photoshop – which miraculously erases imperfections in precised areas. Finally, cushion cosmetics have relatively less pigment than western foundation, and give you this amazing ‘Glow’ that is so dear to Korean celebrities. The glow effect is not to be confused with a shiny finish, as some cushion compacts can have a more matte finish, because it creates the illusion of light coming from within your skin (yes, I am follower of the “Glow” trend).

In this post, I will review a couple of my favorite cushion cosmetics, and also some that were a bit of a ‘fail’ for me. In this post you will find reviews of:

AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact – Broad spectrum SPF 50 #104 Tan Blush

The Face shop, Cushion Screen Cell #02 Natural Beige

Peripera Cushion Blusher #02 Happy Coral

Banila Co Cushion Gel Eyeliner

Peripera – Peri’s Cushion Lips

AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact – Broad spectrum SPF 50 #104 Tan Blush

I will start will my favourite product, the AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact – Broad spectrum SPF 50+ in color 104 Tan Blush. Sephora carries 5 different colours of this cushion compact, ranging from the lightest 102 Light Pink to the darkest 208 Medium Yellow. I am so in love with this cushion compact, that it triggered my adventure into other cushion cosmetics options. This AmorePacific gives you this perfectly flawless, dewy look! It makes my skin look luminous, healthy, hydrated while still very natural. While it does have a bit of a “wet” finish, which may not suit everyone, I am totally in love with the glowing look this cushion compact gives me. I usually re-apply some coverage during the day, and if I want to go for a slightly more matte or “dry” finish, I remove excess product with a blotting paper (I love these Bosica Green Tea Blotting Linens from Sephora).

In terms of ingredients, I like that the 1st ingredient on the list is the Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, also known as Japanese timber bamboo. This cushion compact also contains Camelia Japonica and a high SPF 50+.

Ingredient: Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Alcohol, Arbutin, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Isostearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Acrylates/Stearyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Ethylhexyglycerin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Water, Silica, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Camillia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Fragrance, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides (Ci 77492, Ci 77491, Ci77499).

The Amore Pacific cushion compact seems a bit expensive (around $ 60) but it comes with a refill so it is a bit like buying two compacts in one, so it is actually not a bad deal! In terms of packaging, I find the design of this compact very classy and chic. It has a classic, cushion compact style, little sponge on the inside that is soaked with the foundation. When it started to dry a bit, before replacing the refill, I actually turned this little sponge on the upside down, which prolonged the life span of the product. I also love the smell of this product, it is the “signature” AmorePacific smell that is common to many products from this brand. If luxury and elegance had a smell – it would be this one!

Where to get it: You can try it, love it and buy it in Sephora.

The Face shop, Cushion Screen Cell #02 Natural Beige

This Face shop cushion compact was actually this first I tried. It costs around $ 25 so it is cheaper than the AmorePacific, but it doesn’t come with a refill (which, in the long run, actually makes it only slightly less expensive than the AmorePacific!). The quality is clearly worse, although it also contains an SPF 50+ and some skincare properties. According to the producer it contains a Triple-Function Cosmetic property (wrinkle reduction, whitening, UV protection). The packaging of this compact is plain white plastic, and it does’t have any particular smell. The ‘original’ aspect of the compact, is that inside the foundation is separated by a stretchy fabric, which supposedly makes this cushion compact more hygienic as dirt can’t get into direct contact with the foundation. I didn’t really like this extra layer of fabric and I removed it when the compact started to dry, just leaving the sponge soaked in foundation.

This Face Shop cushion compact comes in only two colours – 01 Radiant Beige and 02 Natural Beige. I guess the main reason I didn’t like this product was that the colour was too light for me, making me look kind of pale. I also find the coverage a bit too intense (Fun-fact: the Face Shop employee wanted at first to persuade me to take the lightest version of this compact! I guess looking fair skinned is really a “thing” in Korea). I have to admit, this compact also gives you the “glow” look, and similary to the AmorePacific cushion compact, it has a rather moist finish. But if you are looking for more coverage, I guess this product is decent. Similar to the AmorePacific cushion compact, it has a rather moist finish.

Ingredients: Lilium Tigrinum Extract, Cyclopentasiloxane, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, butelene glycol dicarpylate/dicaprate, phenyl trimethicone, ethylhexyl methoxycinnimate, peg-10 dimethicone, phenylbenzimidazole, sulfonic acid, cyclophezasiloxane, dipropylene glycol, tromethamine, niacinamide, curcuma longa (tumeric) root extract, cetyl peg/ppg-10/1 dimethicoe, mica, hexyl laurate, magnesium sulfate, sorbitan sesquioleate, zinc stearate, phenoxyethanol, methicone, alumina, glycoshingolipids, lactobacillus ferment, dimethicone/peg-10/15 crosspolymer, aluminum hydrozide, phospholipids, dimethiconol, 1 2- Hexanediol, palmitoyl proline, disteardimonium hectorite, distearyldimonium chloride, butylene glycol, ceramide 3, adenosine, magnesium palmitoyl glutamate, sodium palmitoyl sarcosinate, dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone, crosspolymer, palmitic acid, triethoxycaprylylsilane, triethoxysilylethyl polydimethysiloxyethyl hexyl dimethicone, cholesterol, silica, synthetic fluorphlogopite, calcium aluminum borosilicate, tin oxide, hydrogenated lecithin, tocopherul acetate, triethylhexanoin, hydrogenated polydecene, cetearyl alcohol, potassium c11-15 alkyl phospate, ceramide 2, phytosphingosine, pentylene glycol, capryl glycol, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, limonene, hexyl cinnamal, linalool, hydroxycitronellal, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclophexene, parfum/fragrance, iron oxides (ci 77492), iron oxides (ci 77491), iron oxides (ci 77499).

This ingredients list is sooooo long! It took me ages to manually type them all! I think they exhausted all the possible silicones in this product, some ingredients made me laugh (seriously, there is “cholesterol” inside…) – The only ingredient from this list I actually find interesting is curcuma longa (tumeric) root extract.

Where to get it: I bought mine directly in a The Face Shop (in Annandale) but you can also get it from Amazon.

Peripera Cushion Blusher #02 Happy Coral

I read somewhere that the secret of a long lasting beautiful make-up is to overlay cosmetics of the same nature. It is preferable to apply liquid blush over foundation and powder blush over loose powder. So, when I started to use a cushion compact I was on the hunt for a good cushion blush. The cushion blusher that immediately came to mind was the Peripera ‘Ah much real my blusher’. The Peripera Cushion Blusher comes in 5 different colors which English names depend on the translations. I bought mine in #02 Happy Coral, but I am also fairly tempted by ‘Sweet pink’.

The Peripera Blusher contains Daisy Extract, Canola Extract and Vitamin E. It is very lightly pigmented, but it is fairly buildable. It’s perfect to create natural soft looks and it blends well with cushion compacts. Combined with my AmorePacific compact, it helps create a dewy, luminous make-up style. This blusher is quite easy (and mess free!) to apply – I tap it directly from the tube, which has a cushion ending, on my face.

Ingredients: water, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, silica, talc, dipropylene glycol, phenyl trimethicone, butylene glycol, peg-10 dimethicone, disteardimonium hectorite, magnesium sulfate, titanium dioxide, sorbitan sesquioleate, red 30 lake, phenoxyethanol, acrylates/dimethicone copolymer, aluminum hydroxide, ethylhexylglycerin, tocopheryl acetate, aminopropyl dimethicone, polymethylsilsesquioxane, yellow 5 lake, alumina, bellis perennis (daisy) flower extract, brassica napus seed oil, honey, rosa centifolia flower water, fragrance

Where to get it: You can find these cushion blushers at Peach & Lily and Sokoglam.

Banila Co Cushion Gel Eyeliner

I didn’t have much expectations for this cushion eyeliner and I bought it more by curiosity than need. How wrong that was! I usually prefer kohl type eyeliners over liquid pen types or gel eyeliner. The gel eyeliners I tried, dry-out very fast and the liquid pens don’t draw well on top of eyeshadows. The Banila co. Cushion Gel Eyeliner, like all cosmetics from the ‘cushion family’, has a little cushion type separation on top of the product. It is a bit like a net made of delicate fabric which you press to release the product. And this little cushion makes all the difference, because the product just doesn’t dry-out that fast (and I am a specialist of forgetting to close it). The Banila co. Cushion Gel Eyeliner exists in multiple shades: Khaki, Black, Brown, Grey, Golden Brown and Reddish Burgundy. I bought mine in Khaki, as I wanted some change from my usually deep brown and black eyeliners. The colour is very dark, making it almost look black to be honest, and it has a little bit of ‘spark’ or subtle glitter in it. The little brush, provided with the product, was not very handy (it’s very short and the brush is kind of weird), so I am using my regular eyeliner brushes that I have purchased separately. It is fairly easy to apply this product, as it glides on smoothly, and it lasts a long time. It also blends well at first, allowing to create a modern soft-smoky look.

Where to get it: I bought my Banila Cushion Gel eyeliner at Amazon (but it too a long time to arrive!)

Peripera – Peri’s Cushion Lips

I really wanted to love this cushion lipstick – I really did! After discovering other products from the cushion family, my expectation were high, probably too high. The Peripera Cushion Lips come in multiple nice colours with catchy names such as ‘Danger’, “Mini dress” or “Bye nineteen” (by the way: why 19? Isn’t like 18 or 21 a ‘thing’? well…). I got mine in colour #004 “Secret trip” which is an original reddish pink. The Peripera Cushion Lips, also have hydrating ingredients such as Shea Butter. But here is the catch – they don’t hydrate at all, quite the contrary actually, they dry out my lips! The cushion ending on top of this lipstick seems to me a useless piece of decoration, because in order to apply this product you need to squeeze the colour out of a little hole and not through the cushion (and you need to squeeze hard! So hard, that at the beginning I thought mine was broken, because nothing was coming out of it). It’s true, that once you manage to squeeze it out, it applies smoothly and leaves a nice velvety finish. It is also quite pigmented, and again I find the colours lovely. But for me, this lipstick is way too matte – to be able to use it, I need to apply tons of lip balm before and after! I am even tempted to put some transparent gloss on top because my lips start to feel very dry with this on. So unfortunately, despite the beautiful colours and the original idea, this cushion lipstick is a fail for me.

Where to get it: You can find it at Peach & Lily, and at Urban Outfitters.

Picture of my bare-face and after using all the cushion cosmetics mentioned in this post (+ Mascara). The look is quite natural. The Peripera Cushion lips is unfortunately barely noticeable, on my naturally dark lips, but I still love the colour.

Unverified fact – Based on my ‘Drama insights’, cushion cosmetics may have been barely re-invented recently while being already popular in 14th century Yuan empire and Goryeo, to support the emperor, of course.