She's a popular freelance hair and makeup artist who can turn anyone into an idol. Her creations are known for being girly, exquisite. In the industry, she has a huge following who can't get enough of "Mutsuki Magic," which brings out the innate beauty of actresses and models, leaving them doll-like yet natural.
She used to work in fashion as a retail clerk (also the time when she started her blog). After she got married, she quit her job in in the fashion industry. Now, as a housewife, she's still very active, Instagramming daily about fashion, cosmetics, and hair. She's got over 100,000 followers.
She's a freelance hair and makeup artist and an expert in aromatherapy certified by the Aroma Environment Association of Japan. She also pens beauty columns. She studied under Mr. Hiroki Murooka from the hair and makeup studio ThreePEACE for four years before going independent.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Cushions originated in Korea, but everyone loved the idea of being able to apply liquid foundation with just a few tools and without getting it all over your hands. It spread like wildfire over to Japan, where there are now tons of brands. Cushion foundation’s appeal lies in its ability to shorten any makeup routine.
When choosing a cushion foundation, you want something that can go on thin and make it look like you aren’t wearing any makeup.
Generally speaking, cushions don’t offer much in the way of coverage when compared to other types of foundation, though this does differ by brand. However, this means that cushion foundations are perfect for lending glow and a natural finish to your look.
Choose a cushion foundation that blends well into your skin. That means you should find something that’s so light, you can’t even tell it’s on your face.
On the other hand, if you get a cushion that’s too thick, you’ll start rubbing at your skin when buffing it out, which can dehydrate your skin. With cushion foundation, less is more.
That’s why its essential you find a cushion that’s long-lasting—and this holds doubly true in summer.
Ultimately, when thinking of what type of cushion foundation to buy, it's best to look at reviews. You can also take a look at trusted brands, such as the well-known Korean brand, Missha.
Missha makes its products with continued use in mind, with customers seeing more improvement in skin the longer they use their skincare and beauty products. And despite the great quality, it's very affordable.
As for Japanese products, there are plenty of long-selling drugstore brands and top-brand items that are still affordable and popular, such as Shiseido's Integrate brand. Generally, with a trusted brand, you can't go wrong.
We gathered 4 popular Japanese Japanese and Korean cushion foundations from Amazon, Rakuten, and @cosme and tested them for their finish, ease of application, and longevity.
We had our three experts apply the cushions onto their hands and give us their impressions—whether it left skin looking translucent or was rather cakey.
Our experts especially love the cushions that managed to even out skin tone and leave you looking put together, even without primer.
They told us basic things like how easily each compact opened; they also looked for things like how thick the foundation was and whether it blended easily into the skin (rather than just sitting on top of it).
We also thought there were cases that were so cute, they were tacky, as well as cases that were just difficult to open. Note that the products from Time Secret and Sweets-Sweets were thick when applied.
We applied the cushions onto our arms. We then combined horse oil and water in a bottle and sprayed the swatches three times. Finally, we wiped at our arms with a tissue to see how much foundation came off.
{Above: IOPE Air Cushion Cover; Below: Time Secret Mineral Liquid Cushion}
The thicker, wetter foundations started trickling from our arms. We had products that started fading as soon as we sprayed them with liquid and others that came off completely when we swiped at them with a tissue.
On the other hand, the cushions that applied like silk did well in repelling our mixture. And when we wiped the swatches with a tissue, they didn’t come off in a way that was immediately noticeable.
If you top everything off with a face powder, you’ll also save yourself a few touchups. Just remember that, to keep a dewy finish, you should be applying just a thin layer of powder.
In order to keep your puffs clean, you should wash them once a week and only use them after they’re completely dry. You can also keep a few spares as backup.
Have you suddenly sprouted a pimple and need a little extra coverage? We also tested top-selling Japanese and Korean concealers and plenty of other J-beauty products that can help cover your red spots. Check it out below.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
Apps
Business apps, Cooking apps, Dating appsHome goods
Bath supplies, Ceremonial occasion supplies, Cleaning suppliesHome electronics
Air conditioners and coolers, AV accessories, Blenders and food processorsPC
Computer supplies, Desktop computers, TabletsCamera
Camera bags and backpacks, Camera supplies, Digital single lens camerasBeauty
Blushes, Bronzers, CleansersHealth
Body care products, Health accessories, Health foods and supplementsFood and drinks
Alcohol, Breads and jams, Cocktails and ready-to-drink alcoholic beveragesKitchen
Coffee and tea products, Cooking utensils, CupsFashion
Footwear products, Men's shoes, SandalsShoes
Accessories
Wristwatches, Accessories and jewelry, Umbrellas and parasolsKids and baby
Baby carriers, Baby food, Baby formulaInterior
Beds, Beds and bedding, ChairsHobbies
Aromatherapy products, Art supplies, Arts and collectiblesOutdoor
Barbecue grills and fire pits, Camping beds and cots, Camping gearHome, garden, and tools
Agricultural materials and gardening supplies, Exterior and garden furniture, Materials and repairing agentsSports and fitness
Sports shoes, Surfing supplies, Badminton suppliesPets
Bird and small animal supplies, Cat supplies, Dog suppliesMedia
Books and magazines, CD, Children's books, picture books and illustrated encyclopediasGames
Gaming accessories, Nintendo Switch games, PC gamesAutomotive
Car accessories, Car navigation systemsGifts
Christmas gifts, Father's Day gifts, Gifts for childrenMobile devices
Mobile phone and smartphone accessories, Wearable devices and smart watches