9 luxe cushion foundations you can't help but to show off
These cushion foundations shouldn't remain in your bag at all times.
We all love a good luxe cushion foundation that not only looks great but delivers as well. Brands across the board have really upped the ante when it comes to perfecting the formula, with longer wear without the need for multiple touch-ups. On top of that, some of these cushion foundations are made with stunning packages that even scream 'luxurious!' with a capital L.
What is a cushion foundation?
In general, cushion foundations can provide light to medium to full coverage and often leave your skin with a dewy, glowy feel. As the formula is light, you can use the attached sponge to apply the foundation to your face, without the need of a brush or your fingers. The formula is packaged in a compact, making it easier to transport and to reapply again for that airbrushed look.
Do you need a primer before using foundation?
The simple answer is a resounding, yes. After washing your face, apply a light moisturiser or a primer before the foundation. Use a dabbing motion instead so that the foundation blends in with your product to give you a long-lasting effect.
How do I choose a cushion foundation colour?
If you can find natural light, that would be your best friend. Swatch the foundation colour on your jawline or wrist to see if it matches your natural skin tone
If the veins under your wrist are green, then you have warm undertones
If you have a slight blur or purple colour then you have cool undertones
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Shop these luxe cushion foundations now:
1. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Mesh Cushion Foundation
This is the first cushion foundation with mesh technology from YSL’s famous foundation family to get you that healthy glow. Delivering high coverage with all-day comfort, this foundation delivers instantly lit-up and even-toned skin, offering 24-hour hydration, and in six glowing shades chosen uniquely to suit Asian skin-tones. Glow-pact is the ultimate couture glow on the go. Luminous skin. Radiant cheeks. A complexion that’s lit-up.
Why you might like it:
The packaging mirrors Saint Laurent's latest Cassandre bag, thanks to its similar quilted design. Pop the pretty soft pink compact in your shoulder bag and use it when you need. It's the look you really need. Fans really love its pretty design and hydrating coverage.
Why you might not like it:
The product may not just be for everyone, and it's best to perform a 24-hour test just to see how it fares on your skin. One customer shared, "While the foundation performs well in moderate weather conditions, it may not be the best choice for humid weather." Another used setting powder on top of the foundation to set the look.
2. Guerlain Parure Gold Cushion Rejuvenating Radiance Foundation
If it ain't gold packaging, we don't want it! This foundation is ten times more concentrated in 24-karat gold than Parure Gold fluid foundation. Parure Gold Cushion’s formula bathes the complexion in pure radiance on each application. A luminous matte finish that subtly enhances your skin’s beauty.
Why you might like it:
This is one heck of a classy and sophisticated compact to carry around! We absolutely love the gold packaging and embossed detail of Guerlain's iconic logo on the top. Fans of the product have shared that they loved it for the "hydrating" properties and "not cakey" feel.
Why you might not like it:
The price tag. It's quite an expensive cushion foundation product and if you use it daily, you're bound to finish the first cushion in a jiffy. That's like S$1,440 spent in a year if you use the cushion every month for a year!
3. Givenchy Teint Couture Cushion Foundation
This portable, fluid foundation, with Teint Couture Cushion, gives a velvety, completely unified finish. The perfect partner for urban skin, it incorporates considerable technology to give the right amount of texture with an anti-blue light, transfer-free formula. The sophisticated compact cushion is refillable with a tension filter net for a more hygienic application and no waste of product.
Why you might like it:
If you're looking for a natural-finish with none of that shiny look, then this foundation is for you. Unlike most conventional cushion product, Givenchy's cushion foundation is of mousse texture, so you'll feel like you're making the best of your bucks with the amount of product used to fill the compact.
Why you might not like it:
While the heart-shaped puff may look cute to you, it takes a while to get used to positioning and dabbing the foundation on your face due to its angles.
4. Tom Ford Beauty Shade And Illuminate Soft Radiance Foundation SPF 45/PA +++ Cushion Compact
The ultimate luxury in the palm of your hand! This Tom Ford foundation merges three-dimensional radiance with three-dimensional skincare. The medium to full coverage foundation features a blend of advanced elastomers and light-diffusing powders to create the perfect radiant surface to reflect soft light. Packaged in a luxe gold compact, the complexion-perfecting formula softly highlights to enhance natural features and brighten skin for a natural, soft-focus look.
Why you might like it:
It contains light-diffusing elastomers so you'll always look picture-ready when the spotlight is on you. Plus, the texture is pretty heavy and you don't need to dab too much of the product to get a full coverage.
Why you might not like it:
Honestly, the hefty price tag is a deterrent - it's like the Roll-Royce of cushion foundations in the market. The shades run slightly lighter than the other Tom Ford foundations, so you'll want to do another swatch to make sure you get the right shade.
5. Gucci Beauty Cushion De Beauté Compact Cushion Foundation
Gucci Beauty's Cushion De Beauté, the new luminous and moisturising cushion foundation your skin will love. An ideal on-the-go beauty tool, Cushion De Beauté is formulated with SPF 22, anti-pollution and anti-blue light properties, while delivering up to 24-hour hydration and moisturising actives. Super lightweight, the foundation blends seamlessly into the skin and provides buildable coverage. Marvel at the unique lion design as you complete morning routines, or while touching up throughout the day.
Why you might like it:
The product comes with a light rosy scent which isn't too overpowering, plus the texture glides on your skin smoothly, without that cakey feeling. Win-win!
Why you might not like it:
There is a limited range of shades available and some may find them too pale or too dark for their complexion.
6. Burberry Beauty Matte Glow Cushion Foundation
With buildable medium to full coverage, this sweat-resistant and transfer-resistant formula delivers a fresh and flawless natural matte finish all day long. The lightweight formula is enriched with two powerful active ingredients: bamboo powder and silk-cotton tree flower extract. Together, they act to instantly mattify the complexion for up to 10 hours, rebalancing and improving skin over time by increasing its hydration levels by 25% after 6 hours of application.
Matte Glow Cushion foundation is infused with Burberry’s unique blend of natural-origin ingredients to protect the skin, including: Rosa Damascena and Darjeeling tea-leaf extract, two iconic British ingredients renowned for their antioxidant and anti-pollution properties, and Vitamin F from safflower oil, renowned for its moisture-locking power. Presented in a gold cushion case detailed with Burberry’s iconic check pattern, this luxurious compact is ideal for on-the-go touch-ups.
Why you might like it:
It's got a lightweight texture that beauty fans seem to love. Plus one user had tried the product on for over six hours in Singapore's humid weather and it lasted well with a nice natural look.
Why you might not like it:
Some users claimed that the coverage is not buildable, too light, and not enough hydrating components for those with dry skin. As the product differs from user to user, you'll want to try a 24-hour swatch test before deciding it suits your skin or not.
7. La Mer The Luminous Lifting Cushion Foundation SPF 20
La Mer's cushion foundation provides a quick-touch, buildable coverage with a naturally radiant finish. In essence, the cushion foundation, with healing hydration from Miracle Broth and colour capsule technology, gives skin a lift of luminosity—for a fresh, flawless look and a plumper, tightened feel.
Why you might like it:
Fans raved about its light and hydrating texture, thanks to the Miracle Broth ingredient.
Why you might not like it:
The hefty price tag. However, it does come with one refill and additional sponge applicator so your girl math might tell you it's worth the purchase. However, the casing does have the trouble of leaving behind unsightly fingerprints.
8. Dior Forever Cushion Powder
Housed in a couture case, this loose powder with a fresh and silky texture works in harmony with the colour of the skin for an even, mattified and naturally vibrant complexion. Used on its own, it sets make-up. Applied with foundation, it perfects the finish and improves staying power for makeup that lasts all day long. It is also ideal for touch-ups to freshen up the complexion. Infused with water and wild pansy extract, the loose powder respects the skin's nature and improves the quality of the complexion. Dior Forever Cushion Powder loose powder comes in a travel-friendly case, for make-up that is both practical and couture.
Why you might like it:
It's got the cutest, plushiest packaging ever, which is reminiscent of their iconic Dior bags. The product leaves you with a natural, matte coverage you'll love without all that cakey feeling.
Why you might not like it:
It is a hit or miss when it comes to the shade. Some fans have tried, and realised the shade was too dark for them. Also, some took issue with the packaging for the powder which were not contained well, and experienced spillage.
9. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation
Chanel's Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Touch Foundation protects and hydrates the skin, ensuring the complexion looks naturally radiant in any lighting. Its incredibly fresh, weightless formula is a breeze to apply, even without a mirror, thanks to the new precision applicator. It offers sheer to fuller buildable coverage, for a subtly luminous healthy glow all day long. Its iconic rounded square case is now more generously sized and refillable.
Why you might like it:
A classic, recognisable packaging for the everyday Chanel girl. It provides you with a natural finish without that oily, greasy look. It does cover some blemishes well too.
Why you might not like it:
Some may not get used to the gel/cream texture and you may even accidentally pick up too much with your sponge.
