17 Best Cushion Makeup Products for Your Glowiest Look Yet
One of our favorite Korean beauty trends that has made it stateside over the past decade or so is, undoubtedly, the cushion compact. Not only are they incredibly portable by nature, but they also contain some of the most lightweight formulas we've ever had the pleasure of putting on our faces. However, it's 2021 and the cushion isn't just limited to foundations and BB creams. Practically everything in our makeup bags, including blushes and liquid lipsticks, is getting a cushy makeover.
For the uninitiated, "a [cushion foundation] is a liquid foundation is packaged in a portable, compact form," Los Angeles-based makeup artist Mai Quynh says. "The liquid foundation is stored in a spongey cushion that is distributed when you press down on the sponge with an applicator." Therefore, it's a super convenient way to apply foundation, especially for someone on the go, she notes.
Cosmetic chemist Ginger King agrees and adds that "[cushion foundations] are more of skin-care formulas with color." Bottled foundation formulas sometimes have more polymers for longer wear or higher pigment loads for fuller coverage, she explains. Cushion foundation formulas, on the other hand, typically have lighter coverage with a luminous, satin finish.
For all of the busy and/or clumsy folks out there, Los Angeles-based makeup artist Daphne Chantell del Rosario points out that there are zero chances of accidental spills, which is why cushion products are great for on-location touch-ups and are incredibly accessible for her clients to use outside of shoots, she says. Since they're designed to be extremely buildable, all of the sponges involved deposit just the right amount of product via the applicator itself or a plush pad. From there, if needed, you can use your clean fingers or a small brush to blend everything in seamlessly.
We rounded up the best in cushion makeup innovation, so you're ready to glow on the go. Check out these 17 makeup artist- and editor-approved products, and thank us later.
Em Cosmetics Daydream Cushion
Let us tell you why Em Cosmetics' Daydream Cushion is an Allure editor-approved staple. The breathable formula is spiked with a long list of skin-boosting ingredients like niacinamide to brighten and even your skin tone and snow mushroom to deeply moisturize. It also contains SPF 50, though you should still layer a dedicated sunscreen to be safe. The teardrop-shaped sponge does the job just right, but you can definitely use your trusty Beautyblender if you'd like instead.
There are currently six shades (Warm Dusk, the deepest tone, is shown above) available, which founder Michelle Phan says spans "a beautiful gradient from light to deep" that can be stretched to fit almost all skin tones. But hopefully, there are more coming down the line.
P.S. The brand's more recent cushion launch is the Moonbeam Cushion Highlighter, which imparts an ultra-sheer, pearlescent topper that feels like silk on the skin and comes in three easily buildable shades — Halo (neutral gold), Aura (rosy champagne), and Divinity (deep bronze) — for an out-of-this-world glow.
Maybelline New York Age Rewind Concealer
What list about cushion applicators would be complete without the ever-classic Maybelline New York Age Rewind Concealer? (It's picked up one Best of Beauty and Readers' Choice Award each, to boot.) Bicoastal makeup artist Amrita Mehta says that the sponge tip makes application a total breeze and that it "blends out beautifully and gives you just the right amount of coverage." It's no wonder one of these $10 wonders sells every five seconds. Just dot and pat in to conceal undereye circles and blemishes like a charm.
Kaja Cheeky Stamp Blendable Blush
When it comes to cute applicators, Kaja's Cheeky Stamp Blendable Blush takes the cake. You apply all seven pink, coral, and toffee pigments via a heart-shaped stamp and blend out as needed (after taking a few selfies, of course). Tap once for a natural-looking glow, and twice for a bolder flush.
P.S. The K-beauty-inspired brand also offers a liquid bronzer and highlighter with equally adorable star-shaped and moon-shaped stamps.
Amorepacific Color Control Cushion Compact SPF 50+
New York City-based makeup artist Yuki Hayashima reaches for Amorepacific's Best of Beauty-winning Color Control Cushion Compact because it's a snap to apply and provides "a very natural finish with SPF 50-plus that blurs [the appearance of] pores and even outs her complexion," he says. In other words, this lightweight, green tea-infused CC cream is the perfect everyday makeup essential.
Nyx Professional Makeup Powder Puff Lippie
Nyx Professional Makeup's Powder Puff Lippie is another drugstore darling beloved by Mehta. Packaged in a squeeze-tube body with a cushion tip applicator, she describes the formula as "a colored lip cream powder that dries down into a satin-matte finish." Perfect your ombré lip or blurred lip stain — or Mehta says you can build it up for a more vibrant look. Her preferred technique is layering this Puff Lippie with other lipsticks to create a perfect, '90s-inspired look.
VDL Lumilayer Metal Cushion Primer
For the glowiest base possible, pat on a sheer layer of VDL Lumilayer Metal Cushion Primer, which is packed with nourishing ingredients like brightening niacinamide and moisture-boosting glycerin to create a radiant, blurring effect. A key feature is the compact's metal release technology which adds a refreshing, cooling touch to the process. Alternatively, you can wait until the end of your base routine and tap the primer onto the high points of your face for a highlighter effect.
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Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour and Highlighter Wands
If streaky highlighter and contour is the bane of your beauty existence, consider these creamy, TikTok-famous formulas from Charlotte Tilbury your heroes. Both the Hollywood Contour and Highlighter Wands feature cushion tips for super-smooth buffing and blending. The Contour Wand comes in two natural shades (Light to Medium and Medium to Dark), and the Highlighter Wand is subtly shimmery (but glitter-free) excellency in five, glow-inducing shades. Spotlight, a candlelit gold, is shown on the left above. "The cushion applicator dispenses the perfect amount for easy blending on the cheekbones for a flawless, radiant finish," del Rosario says.
Iconic London Sculpt and Boost Eyebrow Cushion
Cushion makeup knows no bounds, especially as far as Iconic London is concerned. The Sculpt and Boost Eyebrow Cushion comes with an ultra-thin, angled brush to draw precise, hair-like strokes, and on the other end is a spoolie to soften any harshness and brush through hairs. All three vitamin E-infused shade duos (Fair, Medium, and Deep — the latter is pictured) are smudge-proof and sweat-resistant, making this innovative brow product a must-have for summertime (and beyond).
Dr. Gio Cosmetics Ultra 7 Brightening Foundation Cushion
Dr. Gio Cosmetics is on a mission to create cushion foundation that actually caters to and flatters darker skin tones. The brand's Ultra 7 Brightening Foundation Cushion (pictured above in DG-05 Chioma) gives skin an airbrushed-like effect that our editors love. "The liquid formula set and practically melted into my skin, leaving a gorgeous, luminous finish," said Allure editorial assistant Gabi Thorne. We have a hunch that the combined powers of hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, Centella asiatica, shea butter, and niacinamide in the formula have a lot to do with that.
Allure commerce editor Nykia Spradley noted that, despite the light consistency, the foundation smoothed out her uneven, blotchy skin — so much so, that she skipped her usual concealer and contour. Though there are currently six shades to choose from, as previously reported, founder Grace Ijeoma Okafor plans to expand to 20 shades with more options for neutral, olive, and golden undertones in the medium-to-deep range.
Cle Cosmetics Essence Moonlighter Cushion
Cle Cosmetics takes the cushion trend to the next level with their super-creamy Essence Moonlight Cushion — which, yes, is as luscious as it sounds. The formula comes in three shades, each made to mimic "moonlight glistening on water," according to the brand. Aside from looking dreamy, the calamine-infused formula calms irritation and adds moisture, so skin looks more radiant with each use.
Clarins Velvet Lip Perfector
Clarins' Velvet Lip Perfector isn't your typical liquid lipstick. It has a weightless, velvety-matte mousse texture that you'll quickly become obsessed with. It's available in four irresistible shades, including Velvet Raspberry (shown above), spiked with conditioning shea butter for moisturizing benefits. Oftentimes hydrating formulas compromise color, but that's simply not the case here. Your lips will receive intense color with a pretty, soft-blur finish, courtesy of an angled, cushion-tip applicator.
3CE Blush Cushion
Since 3CE Blush Cushions (pictured in Coral) are infused with hyaluronic acid, the finish you get from them is as dewy as they get. The six pigments themselves are quite translucent, so they're very beginner-friendly and only leave a tinge of color at first — which means there's tons of room to build them up to a richer hue.
Shiseido Syncho Skin Self-Refreshing Cushion Compact Foundation
While Shiseido offers a straightforward Syncho Skin Self-Refreshing Foundation liquid foundation (which has picked up a Best of Beauty Award), the medium-coverage cushion compact definitely has its benefits. Pop the buildable, water-resistant formula into your bag for all-day oil control, hydration, and seamless touchups whenever you need them.
Spoiler alert: You probably won't need touchups, though, since the brand's ActiveForce technology is supposed to "refresh" itself over the course of 16 hours for a perpetually fresh, just-applied look. (We will, however, note that the cushion only comes in eight shades, as opposed to the bottle formula's 30 shades.)
Touch In Sol No Poreblem Priming Eraser
Touch In Sol's No Poreblem Priming Eraser is a portable, on-the-go stick version of the brand's popular No Poreblem Primer. This calming, green tea-infused formula glides over uneven skin, whether it's caused by fine lines or large pores, to create a covetable blurring effect — and you can also fix smudged makeup in a pinch. The tiny black cushion tip then blends the product out to perfection. Buy the eraser separately for $14 or in a set with the No Poreblem Primer for $26.
Wet n Wild Mega Cushions
Make your own cushion contouring kit before they start becoming a thing. The sculpting shade, called Cafe Au Slay!, is a super-buildable chocolate shade that can be easily adapted to your skin tone with additional layers. A little of the highlighter, on the other hand, goes a long way. Tap the pearly pink pigment atop your cheekbones for natural-looking dewiness.
Avon x The Face Shop Moisture Cushion Highlighter
Avon teamed up with the K-beauty brand The Face Shop to give life to the opalescent pink Moisture Cushion Highlighter. A moisturizing team of passionflower, rosehip oil, and vitamin E contributes to your dewy glow and keeps skin hydrated. Best of all, this compact is much more portable than, say, a glass bottle of liquid highlighter.
The Crème Shop Toasty Cushion Bronzer
A warm, vacation-like glow is just a few sponge taps away, thanks to The Crème Shop's Toasty Cushion Bronzer. This airy, easy-to-blend liquid formula — which contains hydration-pumping glycerin — has buildable coverage so you can keep layering until you reach your desired level of face-framing color.
