Amore Pacific IOPE Air Cushion Compact–Review

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Everyone, everywhere has been predicting the rise of the cushion compact. Michelle Phan mentions it here and here, Into the Gloss raves about it here, and South Korean women have been utilizing its benefits for awhile already.  I did my own research to find out more about them.

So what is it?

Cushion compacts are filled with a BB/CC cream mixture. They have all the benefits of a BB and CC cream (anti-aging, moisturizing, SPF, etc) in a little compact. This particular formula has vitamins B5, E derivatives, and P. It’s also made with mineral water for an added natural boost! These compacts are then outfitted with a squishy sponge for application. To use, press the sponge into the compact (which is a thicker sponge soaked in beauty-goddess goodness), then pat around your face, blending at the edges. The result is fabulous. There’s no caking, so smudging, and you have light, breathable coverage that lasts all day. The bonus is that cushion compacts are designed so that you can touch up through out the day if needed, unlike traditional BB or CC creams. This, in turn, reapplies your SPF as well.

So I found one of the popular cushion compacts, Amore Pacific’s IOPE Air Cushion Compact, and put it to the test.

(Photo courtesy of SokoGlam)

First off, Amore Pacific owns… everything. Okay, not everything, but they have a lot of stock in Korean beauty. They own IOPE,  Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Etude House, and Innisfree–all big names in the beauty industry in Korea and around the globe. They also own about a dozen more. I wish you could see my gaping mouth right now because I had no idea.

Now… back to this cushion compact.

It delivers. The application is literally a dream. It’s packed with SPF 50 PA++, antioxidants, and green tea. The applicator sponge is antibacterial so you don’t have to worry (but you can always wash it with gentle soap and let it air dry) and is super fun/easy to use. It seriously takes about thirty seconds to apply. My skin felt dewy, moisturized, and fresh. The scent is very light and almost floral. The bonus is that you can buy refills that cost less when you run out of product and pop them into your now empty compact! Score!

There are only two downsides (that aren’t really downsides if you know them ahead of time). First, the application is light. It’s a BB/CC cream after all. It is buildable, but to an extent, so if you are looking for medium to full coverage, this isn’t it. If you want nice light to possibly medium coverage for everyday use, this is gold. Second, the shades are limited. It’s not fair, but Korean brands are (for now) marketed to fairer skin tones. I got the shade N21. You can read Peach and Lily’s description which I’ll include at the bottom of this post, but for the most part the N means “natural” (so it’s lighter coverage) and the 21 is the lighter shade offered. (Hint: the lower the number, the lighter it is and N means “natural”, C means “coverage”, and S means “shimmer”.)

Because I love the light coverage, the blendability (is that a word??), and fresh scent, I give Amore Pacific’s IOPE Air Cushion Compact 4.5 pomegranates. I love the ease of application, the light scent, and the feel of it once applied. It can be difficult for darker or olive skin tones to work with the shades and the coverage isn’t very thick so it makes for a better everyday/casual makeup look. It is also super moisturizing and really gives you a dewy look so if you have oily prone skin like I do, I would recommend it for the cooler, dry months in winter than in the spring. So I’ll be saving the rest of mine for when it starts to get cold. 🙂

If you want to try out this revolutionary makeup yourself, here’s Peach and Lily’s site (where you can order and get more info about shades), SokoGlam.com, or you can get it on Amazon.com.

Have you ever tried or heard of cushion compacts?

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