Beauty Wars: Cushion Foundations That Make the Cut

The Korean beauty industry is a gift that keeps giving. It’s an extensive list. Pimple patches, the 12-step skincare routine, sheet masks, and not forgetting the topic of today’s discussion, cushion foundations, are but a few of the many.

Instead of the stereotypical liquid foundation, cushion foundations are packaged in and applied onto the skin just as compact powders are. Far more natural-looking alternatives to foundations, cushion compacts also often come infused with added skincare goodness. We’re not all surprised, granted that these were birth in the mecca of skincare.

We love cushion foundations for its ease. A pat here, a pat there and you’re good to go. If you’re doing your makeup on the go – we’ve all had one of those mornings – you wouldn’t even have to get your fingers dirty or fuss around with your bottled foundation in one hand and a beauty blender on the other. Or if your makeup starts melting under the sweltering tropical heat, you could whip a compact right out to fix the mess. We’re convinced, as far as everyday makeup is concerned, once you go compact you’d never go back.

The trick, as with any foundation of sorts, is finding the formula that works the best for you. And the thing is, what works for the next person might not do it for you. But for starters, here’s a lineup of the best cushion compact foundations we’ve tried and tested to ease you into the wonderful world of one of favourite K-beauty inventions.

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Giorgio Armani Beauty My Armani To Go Cushion

 The My Armani To Go cushion is as our go-to everyday cushion compact. We’ve gone through multiple refills at this point and that says a lot. On the days when we’re hoping to achieve the “no makeup” makeup look, which tends to be most days of late, this compact cushion plays the main character. Offering just enough coverage to even out your skin tone and brighten your complexion, your natural skin still remains very much visible underneath the layer of cushion foundation. A thing to note is that the foundation does oxidise over time. Prior to purchase, do head to a Sephora counter to test the compact for an ideal colour match.

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NARS ​Natural Radiant Longwear Cushion Foundation ​​SPF 50 PA+++

The tricky part about finding the right compact cushion is one that ticks all our boxes. The breathable formula offers buildable medium coverage that also lends a natural glow to your skin. You’re on your way to effortless looking good skin with this one. If your skin tends to get oily throughout the day, we’d suggest setting this compact cushion with powder before you head out the door. That aside, the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Cushion foundation gets a solid five out of five from the Kulala jury.

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Hera Black Cushion SPF 34/PA++ Foundation

The product from the motherland of cushion compacts itself, you won’t go wrong with Hera’s Black Cushion. The Korean glass skin effect is quite literally at the tip of your fingertips with this cushion. Expect a semi-matte finish that you can powder down if you’d rather not shine bright like a diamond.

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Shiseido Synchro Skin Glow Cushion Compact

The new kid on the block, Shiseido’s Synchro Skin Glow Cushion Compact offers the best match for Asia skin tones of the lot. We’re also obsessed with its natural-looking finish that hydrates the skin and enhances its natural glow. We’d suggest you also get your hands on the Tone Up Primer Compact to set the base to prolong the cushion foundation’s wear. We could go a full 8 hours without touching up.

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Tom Ford Beauty Glow Tone Up Foundation SPF 40/Pa+++ Hydrating Cushion Compact

When they say glow, Tom Ford Beauty cushion compact means GLOW. If you already have a flawless canvas to work with and need nothing more than a little glo’ up, this sheer cushion compact was made for you. Rather than wearing it all over the face, we found ourselves more inclined to use this as  either a highlighter or bronzer (depending on the shade).

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