I know this style of cushion makeup has been quite popular for a while now, especially in South Korea & its slowly gaining a following in the UK as more brands get on board with this beauty trend. I have never tried any cushion makeup products before & was very intrigued as to how it all worked.

I have read that cushion foundations started out in South Korea as a skincare / makeup fusion much like a BB Cream but with better coverage – this sounds perfect to me. Lancome were the first Western brand to release their version, the Miracle Cushion Foundation which hit the market last year and after its huge popularity they have followed it up with the Teint Idole Ultra Cushion. This new release promises more coverage and includes SPF 50, Lancome have also extended on this cushion concept and they have a range of Cushion Blushers too. Get Excited!

Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Cushion Compact*

This foundation comes beautifully packaged in a luxurious gold & black compact with a large mirror in the lid, a small puff sponge and the actual product comes sealed in a pack so you open it and clip it in. This ensures the foundation is fresh and also means there is minimal waste as you repurchase a refill once it runs out and you always reuse the gold compact, very clever. This is available in 9 shades in the UK which is disappointing because there are 18 shades available in the US.

I did use a foundation brush to apply, I tapped my brush lightly on the middle of the cushion to release just enough product, then I buffed it into my skin. This was very easy to blend and after initially thinking I had the wrong shade it turned out Beige Rose was a perfect match. This applied evenly and very seamlessly, it felt hydrating on my skin and didn’t extenuate any fine lines or pores.

This is a full coverage foundation but it feels light on the skin, I think its because it has quite a fluid consistency and you need so little product. It has a natural soft focus finish, Lancome say it gives the skin a semi matte finish, which might make you worried that it will look flat or dull on the skin but this is not the case. It looks very radiant and not at all flat I think it left my skin with more of a natural, even glowing finish.

I love that is has SPF 50 so your skin is protected from the harmful effects of sun damage and the fact this is in a handy compact means you can easily re apply it / or touch up throughout the day. I am sold on this & now wait to try all the cushion makeup. I am interested to see how long the product lasts, you get 13g and from using it a couple of times it seems you don’t need to use a lot of product to achieve a good level of coverage so we will see.

Lancome Cushion Blush Subtil in Sorbet Grenadine*

Lancome are again the first Western brand to release a cushion style blush, they have released 6 wearable shades, I have the shade Sorbet Grenadine which is a pretty coral pink and it gives a lovely healthy radiance to my cheeks. The blush feels like a cross between a jelly and a sponge which has been drenched in product, its very odd but it actually works well. The formula is quite wet to the touch but is very creamy and the shade I have is very pigmented, you could really build this up to quite intense.

You need to blend these in well so you’re not left with a stripe of colour on your cheek. The colour I have has a gorgeous dewy finish and it gives your skin a healthy, radiant natural flush of colour. Oh and it makes a cute lip colour too if you like your products to be multi functional.

It has surprised me just how much I like this, I’m not always keen on cream blushers but this Cushion Blush applies so smoothly, the texture is beautifully fluid and extremely easy to work with. If your worried that because it has quite a fluid texture that it will end up just disappearing off your face, don’t be. The colour has very good staying power and stay in place for hours. I am impressed.

The packaging is a compact which is smaller but similar to the Cushion Foundation, the compact is black with a pink Lancome Rose on the top. There is a nice mirror in the lid and a little sponge applicator and in the bottom is the blush which is in an air lock compartment just like the foundation so it stays fresh and no moisture is lost.

I have enjoyed both products and would recommend them, everything from the packaging to the finish feels luxurious and well thought out. If you have a Lancome counter near you pop down and have a swatch and I promise that you won’t be disappointed.

I am pleased to say that Lancome have won me back, after I felt let down by their recent Grandiôse Liner launch.

•PR Sample