Want cushiony soft complexion?
While “Glass skin” is very much coveted in Korea, these delightfully dewy complexion can be problematic to pull off in Singapore’s searing weather.
READ MORE:
10 BB Cushion Hacks You Never Knew About
11 BB Cushions That Aren’t From Korean Beauty Brands
BB Cushions Just Got Better!
You see, a full face of shine can be incredibly challenging to execute in real life. There’s an exceedingly thin line to tread between glowy and greasy, and we’re wont to cross that line in the perpetually sweaty steam sauna we call home.
The solution? You’re in for a nude awakening with this this carefully curated treasure trove of what I’ve taken to calling “moist matte” cushion compacts, all of which are true “weightless wonders” – welcome watchwords indeed, given the constantly clammy clime of sweltering Singapore. For your perusing and purchasing consideration, please.
Text: Eugene Quek, Her World / Additional reporting: Arissa Ha
This full-coverage cushion gives skin a semi-matte finish, but feels next to nothing on skin. The stretchable formula allows pigments to adhere onto skin, without settling into lines.
The Synchro Skin series is known for its adaptive powers and this new cushion iteration is no different. It is sweat- and water-proof, which isn’t new to many cushions but it also boasts a “motion-proof” formula which means the cushion doesn’t settle into expression lines.
Boasting amazing brightening and UV protection the Pony Effect Coverstay Cushion Foundation also has great-staying power. Formulated with sebum control powder, this cushion wicks away shine and prevents the foundation from sliding, helping it look fresh all day.
Featuring two cushions in one compact – a concealer and a foundation – the LANEIGE Layering Cover Cushion & Concealing Base lets you vary the coverage you need, and keeps skin looking matte all day.
Containing volcanic powder from the pristine island of Jeju, the innisfree Long Wear Cover Cushion controls excess sebum to prevent shine.
The fine pigments within the HERA Black Cushion lets you enjoy seamless coverage without feeling heavy or cakey on skin. Matte finish gel allows the foundation to spread easily, leaving a powdery finish that doesn’t budge.
READ MORE:
The Best New BB Cushions You Need To Try
The Best BB Cushions That Are Suitable For Use In Singapore’s Hot and Humid Weather
The Best Long-Lasting BB Cushions To Get Now
Fans of the shu uemura Petal Skin Foundation would be stoked to know that they are coming up with a cushion version of their beloved foundation. Formulated with the idea of creating fresh, luminous skin with a petal finish. The petal skin cushion technology has a liquid-to-powder texture that leaves skin poreless and velvety.
Unlike most cushion foundations which feature an exposed sponge, MAKE UP FOR EVER’s airtight tray dispenses the right amount of product without risking contamination. Plus, the lightweight formula imparts a velvety finish unlike the dewy shine we’re used to with most cushion compacts. There is also SPF 50 protection against UV damage so you’re always protected from sun damage.
Ah, lovely, lovely Lancome. The fab French beauty behemoth has muscled its way into the lucrative K-Beauty BB cushion market – and into my heart.
To wit, this new Parisian product is a bona fide Korean-style BB cushion, convenient compact and all – amped up a notch or two the way only the French can. I’ll like to single out the squishy surface of the “sponge” in particular, which is sheathed in a netted sieve that allows just the right amount of fluid foundation to be dispensed and deposited only when the pad is pressed onto your face – waste not, want not.
Formula-wise, this makes good on its high-coverage promise too, with the carefully calibrated symphony of stay-true pigments providing a perfectly polished finish that doesn’t read as shiny in my selfies. No creases and crinkles after a night of gallivanting, too, so it’s budge-proof to boot.
A quick aside on application: Be sure to sweep the puff away from the centre of your face, using soft strokes to skim towards the jaw and hairline. Sheering out the product this way lends a seamless finish, and “wastes” less liquid, too. This gentle graduation also softens any discernible demarcation between your face and decolletage, which is always a good thing.
Bottomline: Like the slinkiest of lingerie, this tried-and-tested tincture boasts the perfect fit and finish, and should, with any luck, leave your skin feeling fresh, flawless and fabulous, all day, err’day. Portable perfection in a purse, if you ask me.
OMG, I’m officially obsessed with YSL’s latest and biggest blockbuster of a bauble. The exquisite embossed exterior is pretty much perfection in my beauty books, so it’s maximum marks possible for packaging alone. The gorgeous gold-ribbed canister is as close to cosmetics couture as it gets: Whip this baby out in the boudoir and watch the girls turn green-eyed with envy!
Ensconced within the incredibly Instagram-friendly compact is a fluid formula based off the equally elegant Encre De Peau Fusion Ink Foundation. Expect the same superbly silky and sheer finish, with a delightfully satiny drydown that’s just dewy enough to read as “real” skin.
Wee word of caution: You may want to lube up with a pre-makeup moisturiser if you’re prone to peeling, as the mattifying powders can magnify patchiness in your complexion. Caveat aside, special sweat- and sebum-sopping polymers in this product means your face stays matte, not flat, plus the “stain” is virtually invincible, too: I slapped this on before a sweaty sundown soiree and saw no need for mid-party touch-ups. Whoo-hoo!
No complaints on the all-important colour front as well. Thanks to scrupulous sun avoidance and genes gifted by my Mum, I can get away with pretty much any porcelain-to-pale shade. (FWIW, I’m a No.10 for this cushion.) If in doubt, feel free to ask your friendly YSL cabin staff for advice on the six Asian-friendly hues carried in Singapore.
All told, this posh Parisian perfector is a startlingly strong contender in the saturated sphere of BB compacts. Who knew the French folks over at YSL Beaute could take on a K-Beauty essential and transform it into something so extraordinary? I’m a F-Beauty cushion convert!
An awesome all-American contender that’s perfectly able to hold its own in a “cushion-off” against its Korean counterparts, this makeup marvel is a bravura showcase of Bobbi Brown’s technical know-how.
How so? For starters, the “cushion” comes in the form of an airtight coffee capsule-like pod that promises to preserve the purity and potency of the formula, and is paired with a palm-sized puff that’s incredibly intuitive to use, even for beauty beginners.
What’s within more than passes muster with me, too. For one, the satiny serum-like consistency is Goldilocks-good: Not too matte, not too dewy. And seeing as this is Bobbi Brown we’re talking about, the compact also comes chock-full of soothing botanical superstars, chief of which are lychee and silk tree extracts, said to work in tandem to reduce redness and curtail the pale pallor of sickly sallow skin.
Cushion connoisseurs will also dig the buildable coverage, which drapes over the contours of my face to blur out blemishes without masking them entirely; the hint of “real” skin peeking through is very sexy indeed. Then there’s the cooling sensation, which is super “shiok” in hot and humid climates such as ours. So yes, this fab find has secured a permanent spot on my monthly repurchase list. Suss it out for yourself, stat.
READ MORE:
11 BB Cushions That Aren’t From Korean Beauty Brands
14 New BB and CC Cushions You Need To Try
What Does Your BB Cushion Cover Say About You?
Even though LANEIGE came up with their first BB cushion in 2012, they showed no signs of slowing down their cushion innovations. Their main focus has always been hydration, but over the years, have formulated BB cushions for specific skin needs like anti-ageing, whitening and shine control. The LANEIGE_BB Cushion Pore Control offers the same coverage and hydration benefits as their dewy counterparts, but with an added benefit of keeping shine at bay. Perfect for our weather!
Like their brand ethos, the finish that Mamonde’s Cover Powder Cushion gives resembles that of a flower petal – soft, matte and with a radiance that exudes from within. Layer at will for a coverage that ranges from medium to full, and go about your day as usual, without worrying if it will slip and slide in our weather as it’s sweat-proof. Its lightweight finish also makes it ideal for those who need the coverage without feeling cakey or heavy.
Though this cushion doesn’t provide any coverage per se, it’s good for turning other cushions with dewy coverage into a matte one. Got combination skin? No problem here. Just tap on the Murad MattEffect Blotting Perfector on areas prone to shine and you can have the best of both worlds – oil control for the T-zone and dewy, radiant finish on the cheeks.
Formulated to help skin appear seamless and perfect, this cushion offers a satin matte finish that feels like second skin. Keeping skin hydrated with it’s moisturising formula, this cushion foundation also allows you to build up coverage without settling into lines.
Clé de Peau Beauté has long been known for its skin makeup (most notably, the amazing concealer) and even though they’re late to the cushion game, we’d like to believe that it’s well worth the wait. The Radiant Cushion Foundation feels amazing, like laying on silk organza on your skin, and with each layer, diffuses away imperfection but never feels or looks heavy. The $130 price tag may be a little hard to swallow, but try it out at the counters and let the product convince you of its worth.
If you thought the Cle de Peau Beaute cushion was expensive, you ain’t seen nothing yet. It might be hard to believe, but the La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-In-Foundation, is actually good, like really good. Dab the cushion puff on the netted cushion, and it dispenses the right amount for you to tap on skin. Cooling sensation and the fact that the formula blends easily, it leaves a velvety-matte finish that looks like airbrushed skin – basically real-life Instagram filter for your skin. Don’t take our word for it, we highly recommend heading over to the counters to try it out and get your shade matched too.
READ MORE:
11 BB Cushions That Aren’t From Korean Beauty Brands
14 New BB and CC Cushions You Need To Try
What Does Your BB Cushion Cover Say About You?
