BB creams are so over! Cushion creams are the latest innovation made in Korea, and beware: you will probably see them everywhere in 2015!
Whaaat? Cream in a cushion? What is exactly this new cosmetic toy?
Where does it come from?
As usual with the latest cosmetic innovations, this concept was born in South Korea, aka the new cosmetics heaven. There, the Cushion Creams has completely overtaken the traditional BB and CC Creams for the Asian beauty-addicts. This concept, even if it’s a discovery to us Westerners, is not actually that much new in reality.
The first Cushion Cream was created by the brand Iope in 2008 (Amore Pacific Group), which has since become the market leader (they sell one of their famous Cushion Cream every 30 seconds in Asia).
In the US, it has been available at Sephora since 2013. And in France, Lancôme releases its own version of the Cushion Cream in January 2015.
What is it?
Like the BB Cream, it’s a hybrid product which combines skincare and makeup. To use a marketing term, it’s a “bridge product”.
Its promises:
– a significant coverage (like a foundation),
– a color correction of the skin tone (like a CC Cream)
– a moisturizing effect,
– a UV protection
– a mattifying, brightening, or anti-aging effect depending on the product…
(it also makes your morning coffee and walks your dog)(the dream ;))
What is new with the Cushion Cream is not really the concept of the “all-in-one” product but rather the fact that it’s very easy to carry around. The packaging of this product is a very practical box with a mirror, similar to a compact powder for example.
Inside the box is a very fluid tinted cream that is soaked up into a sponge called air cushion. The product is then revealed by simply pressing the “cushion” with a specific polyurethane puff. This polyurethane material prevents the puff from being too absorbent, in order to apply the product more easily on the skin. Obviously, the puff has to be cleaned frequently to prevent a product build up that would make a less uniform application (and also for hygienic reasons!).
When you apply the product on the skin, it feels very fresh thanks to the fluidity of the product but also thanks to the cushion and its thousands of tiny air holes.
What are the advantages of a Cushion Cream?
Overall, it’s primarily the time saving but also the convenience.
Using a Cushion Cream saves time because it means you don’t need to use a moisturizer, plus a sun protection plus a foundation. It’s like a 3 in 1 product, ideal for these very busy (and late) mornings.
It’s convenient, because you can take it anywhere with you thanks to its compact packaging and mirror. It can also be used to touch up during the day to maintain a unified, fresh and protected (with the SPF) complexion.
On top of that, Cushion Creams are also economic because they’re rechargeable (you can change both the air cushion and the puff).
Can every skin type use it?
A Cushion Cream is more intended for normal to dry skin who want a glowy effect and some brightness.
It also corrects redness and/or dark spots but it’s not the best to cover acne pimples or any bumps in the skin.
The coverage is quite light but you can apply more to the areas you want to correct. It is quite buildable.
So if you have a combination to oily skin, you will need to apply some face powder on top to improve the lasting power and to mattify your skin.
And what about my opinion on the Cushion Creams?
The Cushion Creams intrigued me, I must admit.
I have heard about it in the press and on some French blogs I follow.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to an event for a Korean brand called The Face Shop here in Dubai. Indeed, The Face Shop partnered with the Glam Box, a local beauty box for their December box.
So when I saw that the brand had got a Cushion Cream in their range, I ran to The Face Shop’s shop in Festival City with my 15% off voucher (provided in the Glam Box) to look at it more closely.
So I tried their Cushion Screen Cell, a moisturizing, brightening and with a SPF50 protection (and PA +++) Cushion Cream.
The price here is 190 AED (about $52).
Clearly, I was not the ideal target for the test.
I have an oily acne-prone skin and above all, I’m very demanding about my complexion. In general, I don’t really mind spending a little time for my skin. I’d rather apply 3 different products on my face to get a perfect result.
Anyway, I have my busy (or lazy) mornings so an all-in-one product from time to time, why not?
Well, maybe I didn’t chose the best Cushion Cream for my test because it unfortunately doesn’t work for me at all!
Although I quite like the application process with the puff that glides on the skin and feels very refreshing, the result is just horrible on me.
I had the impression I’d applied an “old school” sunscreen (white and super sticky) mixed badly with a tinted cream. I ended up with very weird patches on my skin. So much so that my husband (who doesn’t really notice anything in my face usually) said “Errr, what is it that you put on your face? It looks a bit weird!” #epicmakeupfail sad
Even with powder, the product is still very sticky. I was shiny 10 minutes after applying it, a new record. And we’re not talking shiny like a nice glow. Let’s be clear, I was greasy. (no, I didn’t take pictures, I kept it on my skin painfully a few hours for the test and then cleansed it with great relief!)
Another thing about the convenience of taking the product for touch-ups during the day.
I confess that I also have a lot of trouble with this idea. I find it a bit yucky to reapply a liquid product on a “dirty” skin. During the day, the skin produces sebum, sweat, is covered with small dust particles, pollution particles… So yes, it’s kind of gross.
I have less reluctance with a powder that will absorb the excess oil (but I always use a blotting paper before and I clean my puff weekly).
I still think that my unfortunate experience with this product is mainly due to my skin type…
I’d be curious to know if some of you were able to try any Cushion Creams. What did you think? Were you luckier than me?
Photos credits: bonnie-garner.com
Cet article est aussi disponible en français: Cushion Cream: le “next big thing”… ou pas