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Cushion foundations are famous for creating that flawless, ‘glass skin’ look. But add oily skin into the equation and the finish can turn from glowy to greasy real quick.
So, what’s the best way to get around this?
Unfortunately, it means we have to be super picky with our foundation choices. But that’s ok, not everything is going to work on all skin types. A lot of the time it’s a case of trial and error – we have to try something out to see if it’s right for us. And if it’s not, then we can swiftly move onto the next product.
Luckily, I’ve tried out a selection of cushion foundations and have narrowed it down to the five that I feel look best on my combination-oily skin. If you’re struggling to find the perfect foundation for your skin type and texture, take a read!
NOTE: Let me preface this by saying that the shade range for all of these cushion foundations is pretty limited, and something that each company really needs to work on. Hopefully 2021 will be the year we see more shades added to these product lines.
Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF 50+
This is a semi-matte foundation that’s designed to blur pores and control sebum production. What I love about this cushion is that, despite being targeted at oily skin, it still has a dewy finish.
While it’s great to mattify the skin a little, I hate when a foundation becomes too drying. So this kind of formula is spot on for me. I don’t want to look shiny or greasy at the end of the day, but I still want my skin to look fresh and glowy!
Since it’s a BB cushion, the foundation is quite lightweight. However, this doesn’t mean that the coverage is bad. I actually find it to be really buildable, which is great as it means I don’t have to spot conceal too much afterwards.
Price-wise, the value for money here is pretty good. The set comes with a full-size refill that you can use to give your product a new lease of life when it runs out or dries up.
YSL Fusion Ink Cushion Foundation
If you already like the Fusion Ink liquid foundation, you’re going to loooove the cushion version. It’s got fairly good coverage, I’d say medium-full, but doesn’t feel heavy or cakey at all.
When it has just been applied, (I’ll admit) it might look and feel a little powdery. Yet after a few hours I feel like this sort of blends in with your skin and it ends up looking really natural.
If you’re looking to keep the shine at bay the Fusion Ink cushion is 100% the way to go. You’ll probably notice some glowiness, due to natural oil production as the day goes on, but weirdly I actually feel that this makes the foundation sit better.
The finish is really smooth and I don’t really have any issues with it creasing or pooling in lines or pores. I always put a little bit of pressed powder over the top so this could be why it stays looking flawless.
Missha Magic Cushion Cover SPF 50+
Like the Laneige foundation, this Missha Magic Cushion is described as having a semi-matte finish. It feels a little chalky when it first goes on the skin, but it applies really nicely and does a good job of absorbing any shine.
You don’t have to dab on much to get decent coverage – a light press into the sponge should be fine. But, I will say that this foundation transfers A LOT so you’ll definitely need to set it with a powder.
It does have a tendency to settle into smile lines as well, so I would recommend keeping the compact in your bag just in case you need to touch up your makeup during the day.
This is the cheapest of the bunch and works pretty well considering the price!
Clio Kill Cover Fixer Cushion
I’ve seen so many people raving about how good this foundation is for oily skin so I had to give it a try. Again, it’s advertised as a semi-matte cushion but I would argue that it’s more on the matte side. There’s a chance it’ll highlight any dry patches you might have, so definitely pay special attention to those areas and make sure that your skin is adequately moisturised before applying this product.
The coverage is pretty high and, just as the brand claims, the formula is really long lasting. I also like that there’s no transfer, so you don’t have to worry about it rubbing off on your mask.
This foundation feels really light on the skin and looks really natural, which is surprising given how much it covers!
As with the Laneige BB Cushion, this comes with a refill so it really feels like you’re getting your money’s worth.
Giorgio Armani My Armani To Go The Cushion Foundation
The My Armani To Go cushion compact is a light-medium coverage foundation with a soft, dewy finish. It’s very natural looking on the skin and feels very lightweight, which is always a plus. Heavy foundation on oily skin is a dangerous combo!
The tapered applicator makes it really easy to get to those hard-to-reach spots i.e. around the nose and under the eyes. The mesh-like sponge is also super clever as it stops you from applying too much product.
Since it is pretty pricy, you really don’t want to overdo it with this foundation. Luckily, the formula is fairly blendable so you don’t need too much product to cover the face.
Do you wear cushion foundations? Which do you recommend for oily skin?
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