Welcome friends, to Cushion Foundation Week on My Women Stuff!
This has been the new wave of foundations to hit our counters, popularised by Korean brands and formulations, so I wanted to keep it all in one place. What I’ll be doing over the next 4 days, starting today, will be to tell you what I think of the cushion foundation from a particular brand, and suspending all other regular programmes.
I will also tell you that the cushion foundations of the next few days will be from the Western brands, because that’s what I have on hand and that’s the interesting part for me. All these western brands jumping on the cushion foundation bandwagon! I do not have all, naturally, but I will feature some of the more prominent brands. At the end of the 5 days, I’ll do a quick round up with some general thoughts, and also tell you what I think about cushion foundations in general so look out for it then.
But I wanted to kick off Cushion Foundation Week, with a Korean brand cushion which, as it happens, is my favourite. So, every other product will be measured next to this one – I can’t help it.
I was incited to pick up the Iope Air Cushion XP cushion foundation by my friend LeGeeque, who told me that she had experimented with it, and that she really liked it, and that I might too. Actually, I think she said that I would love it as much as she does hers! LOL! She knows me well 😀
Iope (I’m reliably told is pronounced ‘eye-oh-pay’ and not ‘ee-op’ as I was calling it before) is a Korean brand of skincare that sits on the slightly more premium price level. I haven’t tried anything else from the brand, but I am very keen to because I’m told that the products from the brand are well formulated. But I digress. Today, we want to focus on the cushion foundation and what I think of it.
Cushion Foundation: Iope Air Cushion XP
I believe that Iope has a few different lines of cushion foundations. The one I bought is the Air Cushion XP, which is apparently their most popular cushion or quite possibly, THE MOST POPULAR cushion foundation in Korea, if the stats are to be believed. One sold every 6 seconds? Well, I certainly contributed to that number! 😛
Sunscreen protection : SPF50+ PA+++
Cushion foundations are sometimes marketed as skincare or tinted sunscreen, because of the high sunscreen protection it offers. The very lightweight and sheer formula of this Iope Air Cushion XP certainly adds to that, in that it makes it so easy to touch up both makeup and sunscreen throughout the day. I like how it has SPF50+ and PA+++ sun protection that is very high, and perfect for where I live. For some, this might take the place of your daily sunscreen. For me, this is makeup and therefore, goes on top of my regular sunscreen.
The Packaging & Refills
The Iope Air Cushion XP comes in a largish box containing a case with a cushion capsule included, and a sealed cushion refill.
The cover of the cushion, which is what helps keep it from drying out, is attached to the capsule so every refill comes with its own cover and own sponge for hygiene reasons. The cushion also comes sealed. I’m unable to ascertain at this time if the refills are sold separately (but they usually are). If you know, please share in the comments.
The Cushion
What makes a cushion foundation, a erm.. cushion foundation is the erm… cushion! (how many cushions did you count?!) The cushion/sponge that holds the Iope Air Cushion XP foundation is firm, and well saturated with product from the get-go. Interestingly, I’ve been using mine for quite a few months, and it still hasn’t dried out. Cushion foundations do have a reputation of drying out quickly (It happened to my Laneige one years ago) but this one seems to be doing well. I also find that while it is saturated, it isn’t OVER saturated, so product is easily picked up by the sponge-puff, but it doesn’t have a spillover when you depress the sponge into the cushion.
I read that if it’s starting to feel dry, grab a pair of tweezers and flip the sponge over. There’s more product at the bottom!
The Sponge Puff
The other thing that makes a cushion foundation what it is, is the applicator – the sponge puff included with every refill. Many people don’t like it and I admit I took some time to get used to it. However, I have found that it is this sponge that actually helps the cushion function the way it does. Not fingers (sorry LeGeeque!) and not a brush. This sponge is what makes this product unique.
To use, slip your fingers through the band on the sponge, press it lightly on the surface of the cushion and then, PAT the product on your skin. The sponge of the Iope cushion has a slightly rubbery texture, which holds the product without allowing it to absorb, and the patting motion deposits the foundation on your skin, and makes it adhere better. This is important, because of the texture and coverage. You can use a brush if you like as well (I’ve tried using a flat top brush like this one to dab on the surface of the cushion and applying to skin). I do prefer the sponge. Plus, because of how the sponge is made, you don’t use very much product at all!
If you’re a bit of a clean freak, you can wash the sponge out with your regular brush/sponge cleaner. I’ll be honest and say I don’t. When I finish, I’ll just toss it and move on to the refill and new sponge.
Texture, Coverage & Finish
Like many Korean cushions, the texture of the Iope Air Cushion XP foundation is very lightweight and coverage tends to be on the sheer side. That said, I do find that this one isn’t as sheer as I expected, because it did offer SOME coverage, but not as much as a regular liquid foundation would. I found out that the one I picked, C21 offers a little more coverage than N21 which has a more natural (even sheerer) coverage. I’m glad I picked the one I did.
The texture is very light without feeling oily, although I felt that putting it immediately on my skin, it felt a little sticky. It goes away, but it felt that way to me. I did feel that this sticky texture is what holds it on the skin a little better.
Coverage is relatively low when it comes to blemishes and pigmentation, and yet I really like this, because it evens out skintone beautifully. When I use this, I usually pat a light layer all over, just to even out the colour, conceal redness and then go over the areas I need more concealing with a proper concealer. The finish is a little more dewy/glowy than I like (I have normal-dry skin and live in a hot, humid climate) so I like to lightly dust some powder over. If you like the dewy/glowy look, then you can put this on and go.
Just to give you an idea of how it looks on me, here’s how it looks in a before-after photo using this Iope Air Cushion XP foundation in C21.
Coverage is low, as I’ve pointed out, but I like how it just evens out the skin. Because it’s light, I can layer it on where I want a little more coverage without it looking heavy or cakey. The sponge again! Pat, pat pat and it’s done! You can even treat this as a base and apply a BB Cream or foundation on top for better coverage, and then use this for touch-ups, if you’re the sort to touch-up makeup.
I wear this on weekends on its own if I’m feeling it, or sometimes, even on weekdays, by adding on concealer and a little loose/pressed powder for a little more coverage. After I bought this, it quickly became my go-to lightweight, easy to wear, fuss-free, natural look base. It holds up decently well without making my skin shiny (if I apply powder over, if not it does look a bit more shiny than I like) and for me, it ticks all my boxes.
Shade selection
This being a Korean brand, the shade selection is fairly poor, leaning to the lighter end of the skintone spectrum and coming in only 2 shades – 21 and 23. I wear Shade C21, which I have compared to a few other swatches of liquid foundation I regularly use below. Up to a light-medium skintone, you can find a shade match. Anything deeper, I’m sorry, these aren’t made for you.
You may notice that the Iope C21 is a little more yellow than the other shades I commonly wear. But because it’s fairly sheer on skin, it’s fine and even has a slightly brightening effect. Texture wise, it is light (I layered on a few dabs to get the shade to show up) compared to the other products I’ve featured.
Scent
Yes, there is a scent so if you’re sensitive to fragrance in skin products then be wary. It’s not overpowering nor uncomfortable, so I don’t mind it.
Do I like this?
Oh yes I do! It’s so portable, I can touch up if I want without disturbing my makeup, and it’s so lightweight and comfortable. The shade suits me, the texture is lovely and thanks to this one, I’m so much more receptive to trying MORE cushions! 😀
IN A NUTSHELL
The Iope Air Cushion XP cushion foundation is supposed to be a very popular cushion foundation in Korea. I like that it’s very lightweight on the skin, yet adheres well, and offers a nice skin-evening tone albeit a little light in the coverage department. I have had my cushion for a few months, and have not yet experienced it drying out. The sponge cushion is easy to use and is what I think helps this foundation work. All in all, I’d say this is a winner!
PROS: Lightweight texture feels featherlight on skin, Evens out skintone very naturally, Easy to use, Gives skin a glowy effect, Not drying nor oily, High sunscreen protection, Portable packaging, Comes with a refill which makes it value for money
CONS: Low coverage, Scented, Some people may not like the sponge for application or hygiene purposes, I don’t mind, Hard to get locally but easily available online
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who likes using cushion foundations, Anyone who is new to using cushion foundations
PRICE: US$29-$45 for a box containing 1 case & 2 refills. Prices vary depending on where you buy from
AVAILABILITY: Local: Hermo.my, Althea.kr International: Strawberrynet (that’s where I bought mine), Koreadepart (This site sells at the lowest price but I’ve never shopped here before so shop at your own risk), YesStyle, Peach & Lily
If you’re interested in what’s in there, here’s the ingredient list
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Oxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/dicaprate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxy-ethyl Dimethicone, Arbutin, Butylene Glycol, Mineral Water, Lipase, Chitosan, Acrylates/ethylhexyl Acrylate/dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Aluminum Hydroxide, Hdi/trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Stearic Acid, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Isotearic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/stearyl Acrylate/dimethicone Methaacrylate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Disodium Edta, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Dimethicone/vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides, Fragrance
Have you tried this Iope Air Cushion XP cushion foundation before? What other Korean-brand cushions should I be looking at?
The first time I tried a cushion foundation was Laneige, a while ago. I remember I liked it. But since then, the market has exploded, with cushions coming from almost ALL brands! Watch out for some of the Western brands in the next few days 😀 I hope you enjoy the Cushion Foundation Week! It’s been a while coming! 😀
Paris B
More cushion foundations can be found in this category.
i tried etude house ones and also laneige one…i like laneige more because they have the shade that match my skin…im planning to get the Lancome ones to try it out!….
I remember I liked the Laneige cushion. I haven’t tried other Korean ones actually except Laneige and now Iope. Am expecting one in the mail though! I’m not trying the Lancome one, but I hope that works for you!
I like the result on your skin; light coverage, suitable for “lazy makeup but still want to look fresh “days LOL
The sponge as applicator sounds like how people use Beauty Blender sponge for foundation – dab dab dab, blend blend blend – but I never use both tools so this is just observation from other’s experience ?
The first cushion foundation I tried was from Biotherm. Well, tried on back of my hands at their counter, haha. I tried two ways – one with their CC cream with sun protection (tinted liquid) and another with their colourless sunblock. I much prefer using with the sunblock as the result is more natural and lighter.
Bobbi Brown (my favourite brand!) recently launched their version but it seems to be Asia market only. Clinique also has their own, too, and as I’m currently use their 3-step skincare, maybe I can try theirs, too.
To be honest, I hate the refill idea – it feels like too fragile for clumsy people like me LOL And if I don’t like the product, I’m left with the unused case. Maybe they should make one smaller size non-refill for people to try out and the normal size where they can refill until end of time ?
Yes yes! It’s the epitome of lazy day makeup LOL! Seriously look like you have nothing on. And I think it’s kind of what the beautyblender is like, although I’m not a sponge applicator girl myself so I wouldn’t know! But I think the formula lends itself to being patted on, and that makes it easier to touch up as well. I didn’t even know that Biotherm has a cushion! LOL! See, I knew every damn brand out there will get on this bandwagon! 😛
You’ve read what I think of BB, and Clinique is coming up so you’ll get an idea too 😉 As for the refill, don’t worry. It’s very sturdy and very easy to pop out and click in. If you can change your phone cover, you can change the cushion refill LOL!
I got one from Shuu Uemura. There’s definitely a learning process with it because the first time I tried with the sponge I used to much and it looks caked on in some places and patchy other places. Then I used a brush and that went better in terms of control. Then I tried with the sponge again and it went better, so I think I’m finally getting the hang of it!
hehehe wait till I get to Shu! 😉 But I’m glad that works for you 🙂
I have this too, but I bought the shade N21 instead. I always prefer my bases on the sheerer side, and this one is just right. I got to try one by The Face Shop too, and that one has more coverage. However, the texture is quite similar. Out of the 2 Western brands I got to try, I like the Bobbi Brown one most, then Dior then Clinique. I think it’s because the Clinique one is a little drier on me, and it has too much coverage. Dior gives a great finish, but a little too sheer, and too pricey. Bobbi Brown in Light is a perfect shade match, and I absolutely love the finish. I can’t choose between BB and IOPE!
Not having any idea if N21 is sheerer than C21, I think they’re both good haha! I have only tried Iope and Laniege for Korean brands and both have been pretty decent. Hopefully the Face Shop one works for you. With so many in the market now, and the Western brands getting in on the game, I think it’s a cushion party! So many choices for so many preferences! 😀
I’ve read lots of good review on Iope :). Cushion foundation for some reason doesn’t sit well on my skin so I’m not into cushion foundation hehe. But I do have one from Etude House recently and I’m itching to open it up to use 😀
Use it and let us know how it works 🙂 I have only used Laneige before this, and now Iope. They’re both pretty good but sheer – I guess it depends on what we want? That said, I think the main problem is with the colour selection and texture. Got to get your head around it! 🙂
OH cushion foundations! I am obsessed with them now haha! As you said, very portable, lightweight and comfortable to wear. Perfect for lazy people like me lol. I have tried quite a few korean cushions (Iope, Laneige, Sulwhasoo, Hera, Etude House, Missha, Innisfree, A’pieu and Skinfood) but none from the western brand, although I heard that the one from Estee Lauder and YSL is quite good.
My favourites (I can’t settle with just one favourite haha, i alternate between these cushions depending on how my skin feels on that day) are:
1) Sulwhasoo Even Perfecting Cushion: Good coverage
2) Skinfood Royal Bounce Cushion: Love the finish but it tends to oxidize on my skin =s
3) Innisfree Long Wear Cushion
4) Hera UV Mist Ultra Moisture
5) Laneige Pore Control BB Cushion.
Haha well, your obsession is coming in at a very good time! The market is FLOODED with cushion foundations! 😀 I’ve only tried Laneige and Iope from the Korean brands. I received samples of the Western brands (else I won’t bother buying them to be honest) hence the Cushion Foundation Week haha!
Thank you so much for the recommendations! Incidentally I have been thinking of checking out the Sulwhasoo one and I believe I may have ordered the Hera one (I can’t remember oops!) So I’m looking forward to those two for now! A question about Sulwhasoo. I helped get the brightening one (I think it was that) for a friend and she found it too sheer and didn’t like it. Should I be looking at a specific one or a specific shade? e.g. I didn’t know that Iope had C21 and N21. I have a suspicion if I had gotten the N (natural = sheer) finish I might not have liked it as much. Any help welcome! 🙂
Hey PB, I have both Sulwhasoo cushions and I think you will prefer the perfecting one as it gives more coverage. The brightening one is more glowy (read: easy to get shiny).
Thanks Rinnah, I’ll take a look at Perfecting then 🙂
Oops i just realised there’s replies. Yeps, Rinnah is right, i have tried both and i do also think that the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion definitely provides more coverage than the brightening cushion.
Hi can you let us know the shades you r using for the different cushions? The different brands tend to have different namings and ita challenging to match them. I use laniege 21 which is a lil fair on me into ally but oxidize to be a match. Been wanting to try iope or sulwhasoo bt not sure what shade will work.
Appreciate your sharing!
I have never jumped on the cushion bandwagon although the craze is overwhelming. I understand that it’s convenient for touch-ups. But the fact that the cushion holds so little foundation (15g for most) and even with a refill, it still looks like it will run out FAST stopped me in my tracks ( I am a cheapo, gonna admit it). But what truly stopped me is the hygiene issue. The idea of a sponge soaking wet with the applicator touching and retouching your face just spells G-E-R-M-S and -B-A-C-T-E-R-I-A to me. As someone who breakouts a lot, I wonder if I will ever have the courage to pick up one.
I agree to this! I own a Laneige Pore Control Cushion and have yet to use the sponge! The idea of it sitting on the plastic cover, and then using it to dab on the cushion, and then to your face, over and over again, did not really appeal to me. So to date, am using a brush with it! Haha!
Never tried the IOPE (yet!) but so far cushions are okay with me 🙂
Teeheee… I totally get your concerns Claire! 😀 That said, if using a brush with it works for you, then by all means keep at it!
Actually Angie, you are right. The cushions do dry up fairly quickly and you are also right that the 15g is very little product, for what is essentially the price of a full sized bottle of 30ml liquid foundation that actually is more product in the long run! But I think it’s a phase you know. LOL! I totally get you on the sponge. It can be washed, the way most puffs can be washed. Whether people do (and I don’t oops!) remains to be seen! 😉
Hi Paris!!! ???? Yay you’ve finally reviewed the Iope Cushion foundation. I’m so glad you liked it a lot. My sister in-law is a Korean and she says Iope is suitable for our generation or age range. She also did say that in Korea Sulwhasoo is better suited for our mother’s age as these are about the age range these makeup companies tend to focus on. Not sure if there’s any truth in it though.
You can just purchase the refills only if you’re in Korea. It’s so much more easier and friendlier on the pocket too… If you can get your hands on Intense Cover (the latest from Iope and they also released a Matte) , the coverage is way better than Cover. If you like already like Cover, you will like Intense Cover. I was also told Iope and Sulwhasoo’s cushion are more towards foundation and is not in the BB cream range thus the slightly higher pricing than other Korean cushions.
I love this cushion foundation and have already finished 4 cushions and will be going into my 5th refills soon. ?? Give the Intense Cover (I) a try if you are able to get your hands on it. ?
I put all the smiley emoticons and it turned in ?? ?? Sorry Paris
Hey Si Yen, don’t worry about the ??? I thought it might be emojis haha! 😀 Apparently, smilies show up but not emojis – go figure! 😛 Thanks for sharing your SIL’s thoughts on the brand! I am actually quite curious about Iope skincare now – any suggestions, if you’ve tried anything from there? I also quite like Sulwhasoo and while it’s heartening to know that I might be too young for it (HAHA!) it’s something to aspire for right? The products are pretty decent from what I’ve tried! Besides, I am pleased to know that the 2 brands I’m interested in are for my age range!
Oh and thanks for letting me know that refills are only available in Korea. I suppose the online Korean websites will sell them then. Makes more sense, although I’m not sure when I’ll need a refill. I’ll have to get through this cushion and then its refill before thinking about replenishing! Oh and thanks too for letting me know about Intense Cover. Looks like I’ll have to take a look too! It’s good to know that others like this cushion as much as I do – it’s nice to have my choices validated HAHA! 😉
Congrats on jumping into cushions bandwagon!! I used to be crazy about cushions until i find my cushions seems to dry up. but this look great on you!
Haha I think you were a cushion fan right? 😀 I remember you IG! But I do agree with you about how quickly they dry up, which doesn’t make it a very friendly way to experiment. On the other hand, it’s probably one of the makeup products we can safely say we finish! 😉 I’m not on the bandwagon per se – just covering a hot topic LOL 😉
Oh I had this! My old classmate used this and told me to get it as well! Unfortunately, it has a super dewy finish. With my oily skin it just makes me super oily looking a couple hours into the day >< I need super matte foundation.
But second, the shade didn't match =( I think I got… C23? Or maybe it was 21 and I looked ghostly. Even during the winter when my skintone is at its lightest.
This is one of the reasons why I haven't bothered to purchase foundation from Korean brands. The shades are not enough. Laneige has since expanded since coming over to North America, but they also have that dewy finish. So unfortunately for me, I will not be going back to cushion foundations anymore =(
Oh dear, sorry to hear this didn’t work for you 🙁 I think they have a matte one as well, but don’t quote me! The problem with these cushions I find, is the shade. You either are within their very limited shade range, or you aren’t! I suppose Koreans only come in 2 shades? Weird eh? LOL! Actually I find that the shade department is where the western brands will have the upper hand. They have a wider shade selection, although it might still be a little restricted. But that’s alright, cushions aren’t for everyone! They aren’t really my cuppa either 😉
Thanks for the review! This looked alot better on you than it did on me! 😀 Can’t wait to read the rest of your reviews 🙂
I usually make my own Cushion Foundation! 🙂 That way i can control how much coverage I want and what goes in it (eg. how dewy / moisturizing I want it to be) 🙂 It does however, soak up alot of product so I’ll end up using more foundation than usual (which is good because I really need to finish using the ones in my stash before they all go rancid) 😛
Sorry to hear this one didn’t work for you Jenn! But you make your own cushions how interesting! Did you cut up your own sponge or reuse from an old cushion foundation? I can imagine it will soak up a lot of product. Each cushion contains 15ml of foundation anyway, which is equivalent to half a bottle of normal foundation doesn’t it? But I’m curious – why do you make your own? Is it for the portability?
I buy one of those DIY Cushion kits – comes with a compact, two sponges, a puff and even a spatula and alcohol wipes! Lol 😛 I do my own because I can customize the coverage and how dewy i want it to be. I used to add in a pump or two of ANR and Hosanna too for an added boost… but I realised that it would be better and less wasteful to apply it directly to the skin! 😀
I didn’t even know such kits exist! *jakun*
You have just pique my interest on cushion foundations. Hahaha. Pity it has such limited shades for a medium-tanned girl like myself :-). I would certainly love these type of foundation as I am just too lazy and in a rush every morning to work to apply proper foundation on my face. Well, maybe if i can find the right shade, I will certainly jump on this bandwagon…
LOL! Well, that was the intention, Victoria! But you will have a problem with the shades, I’ll tell you up front. Most Korean brands just don’t cater to deeper skin tones. The one I featured today (Bobbi Brown) might have a shade match for you and the one tomorrow might too so shop around – if you’re really keen on trying one that is hehe… 😉
I’m using it for around 6 months already.. And I think I really love it. The texture and the finishing when it applied to my skin. True it has low coverage but I think it just good enuff for daily make up (going to work)..
I was introduced by my friend while she was staying in Korea. I have tried Laneige as well but I think Iope is much more friendly with me. Laneige cause my skin look shinier I think ??.
Price sold to me was RM125. This is my first time using Korean BB cushion.
The cons is I think they shud make sleekier size of the product so it would be easier to slip into my small pouch.. ???