Thanks to its highly buildable formulation and application methods, cushion foundation leaves the skin looking perfectly flawless. The cushion formula is often packed with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, which helps create smooth, dewy coverage that doesn’t settle into fine lines. Cushion foundations use higher water percentages than regular liquid foundations, and studies show that one cushion contains 20% more hydration than a liquid foundation. And this extra moisture makes skin look plumper, making imperfections less noticeable.
The cushion itself, a sponge (or porous sponge) soaked in foundation, applies evenly with little effort. Specially designed with a built-in puff for airbrushed finish, its ergonomic design allows for your quickest application ever. Some cushion foundations even have buildable coverage from light to full with just one pat, which makes it so easy for people to get. In a 2020 survey, cushion foundations emerged as the most favored to deliver medium-to-full coverage without the heaviness or cakey feel of traditional foundations that many beauty enthusiasts find off-putting, with 74% of respondents choosing them as their foundation of choice.
Cushion foundations are especially loved for their ability to offer cold coverage for different skin concerns. For example, the BB Cushion from Laneige, a category leader, provides coverage that helps to smooth over blemishes, redness, and dark spots for a dewy, skin-like finish. Users get up to 12 hours of coverage with little to no touch-ups, or so the brand says. Additionally, sunscreen (SPF) is included in many cushion foundations, making them highly appealing by providing both a UV barrier and near-perfect coverage for the skin.
Unlike liquids or creme formulas, cushion foundation is buildable without patchiness. According to a study by Cosmetics Journal, the majority of participants (82%) found that cushion foundations gave a more even finish than traditional foundation formulas. Many cushion foundations also contain light-reflecting particles, which help diffuse imperfections like pores and fine lines and give the skin a smooth, perfected finish. As the makeup artist Lisa Eldridge has said, “Flawless skin is about the right combination of coverage and light.”
Cushion foundation remains a perfect option for those looking for easy, long-wearing coverage with the added bonus of skin-care benefits. The new cushion foundation category offers a wide variety of promise, whether sheer hydration or full coverage with none of the mess.