10 totally unexpected cushion compact hacks straight from the Korean experts

Like skincare products, different cushions were created to address different lifestyle needs. If you’re cooped up all day in an office with arctic air-conditioning, Laneige’s BB Cushion_Whitening SPF50+ PA+++, $59, is packed with ionic mineral water that promises to replenish parched skin for a soft moist glow. However, if you plan to hit the beach for the weekend, Innisfree’s Long Wear Cover Cushion, ($12 for case, $19 for cushion, $3-15 for applicators), will absorb excess sebum and last through the humid afternoon, thanks to shine control ingredients like its Jeju volcanic powder. Now you have a legitimate reason to shop for more than one cushion for different days of the week!

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Consider your specific skin needs when choosing a cushion as well. If age defence is your key concern, Sulwhasoo’s Perfecting Cushion Brightening SPF 50+ / PA+++, $74, will encourage collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines. However, if you have troubled skin, the incredibly exciting new Mamonde Cover Powder Cushion (set to launch in Singapore in the first quarter of 2017) will offer better coverage for blemishes.

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Just returned from Bali only to discover that your cushion is now one shade too light for your newly tanned skin? Don’t toss it out! Simply apply the lighter coloured cushion to the centre of your face, focusing on the centre of your forehead, nose, inner cheeks and chin for a three-dimensional volumising effect, says Amorepacific’s makeup expert Vivi Ahn. This one-step “highlighting” trick is way less baffling to get down pat than conventional multi-step contouring techniques, and a lot more natural-looking as well!

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The very same cushion can achieve a matte or dewy finish depending on your application technique. For a fresh and translucent effect, gently pat the product in with your puff. Alternatively, for a more matte and high-coverage finish, press the product in with your puff and roll outwards, says Vivi Ahn.

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Another tip for a shine-free and long-lasting finish: Try applying your cushion with a foundation brush instead of a puff. If you don’t already own a foundation brush, check out Innisfree’s Cushion Brush, $15.

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For a lifting effect, apply the cushion in a U-shape from the left temple down towards your chin and then up towards your right temple again. Alternatively, for a lit-from-within effect, apply a brightening cushion in a W-shape, starting from the left temple and moving inwards to the outer left cheek, under the left eye, across your nose bridge, under your right eye, to the outer right cheek and upwards to your right temple, shares Vivi Ahn.

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Don’t forget to apply the cushion to your brows and lips as well – this will smooth out your skin and create the perfect canvas for makeup, stresses Vivi Ahn. Your brow products will last longer, and lip colours will appear more vivid and vibrant as well.

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As much as we’d love to reapply sunscreen on the go, it can sometimes be simply too messy and inconvenient. A cushion can reinforce UV protection during the day without messing up your makeup. Fun fact: The first cushion prototype – Iope’s Air Cushion Sunblock – was actually conceived in 2008 as a sunscreen-in-a-compact. Now you know!

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Since most of us don’t roll out of bed with supermodel skin, think of Etude House’s Precious Mineral Magic Any Cushion SPF 34/PA++, $29, as your beauty insurance, with this cushion doubling up as a colour corrector and primer. If you wake up with dull skin after a wild night of partying, the Magic Pink variant will restore radiance to your complexion. If you have troubled skin during your menstrual cycle, opt for Magic Mint to conceal blemishes and neutralise redness. And if you simply suffer from chronic sleep deprivation, Magic Peach will brighten and even out your skin tone.

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And finally, lazy girls everywhere will also love that unlike other compact powder brushes and puffs, you don’t have to wash your Amorepacific cushion puff (yes, really!). Thanks to cutting-edge anti-microbial technology, each puff is designed to last for as long as your cushion, even in humid weather, says cushion creator and award-winning Amorepacific’s R&D expert Kyungho Choi. With so many benefits and so little hassle, cushions appear poised to become the foundation of the future.

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