From Navratri to Durga Puja and even Diwali, the festive season is right around the corner, and that means you are bound to be dressing up more often. Once you have sorted all your new outfits, take a minute
to practise a few easy makeup tips that will help you achieve a flawless base and allow it to last long through October’s hot and humid climate.
While liquid foundation is an easy choice for beauty lovers, the introduction of the cushion foundation has changed the game. It has become a popular choice for anyone looking for an easy-to-use product to achieve their base makeup without any spills or hassles. In fact, these products offer coverage without feeling too heavy.
However, there is a learning curve for any new product, and that also applies to cushion foundations, which are almost foolproof. Applying too much product at once can leave the skin looking cakey rather than fresh and natural. The secret to using a cushion foundation and ensuring your makeup looks beautifully even and non-greasy or cakey, it turns out, lies in how you pick up the foundation, apply it and build coverage.
Beauty content creator Roger recently shared some makeup techniques he learnt during a masterclass by Jung Saem Mool, the renowned South Korean celebrity makeup artist, beauty educator and founder of the JUNGSAEMMOOL beauty brand and Art & Academy. Over a 30-year career, she has been credited with inventing the “transparent makeup” or “no-makeup makeup” (glass skin) look and was created for actress Jun Ji-hyun in the 2001 film My Sassy Girl.
So what is this lesson? Cushion foundation is best applied gradually, allowing the skin to show through instead of covering it with a thick layer of makeup.
In his Instagram reel, here are the techniques Roger recommends trying:
Pick Up Less Product On Your Cushion Puff
The first step to a natural-looking base begins before the foundation even touches your face. According to Roger, the way you press the puff into the cushion can determine how much product you pick up.
“Do not line up the puff and the cushion when you press into it. This can pick up too much product, and it also concentrates it in the center,” he explains.
Instead, he recommends lining up the puff with the bottom of the cushion and pressing lightly. This helps pick up cushion foundations like the Pixi Glow Tint Cushion or the PAC Cosmetics Glow Tint Cushion on the top half of the puff, making it easier to control the amount applied.
Spread The Foundation Across The Puff
Rather than applying the product directly to your face or simply tapping off the excess and wasting the product, Roger says Jung Saem Mool advised people to spreading it across the back of the cushion lid. “You’re gonna wanna smear this product all over the back of the lid until it’s fully diffused into the puff,” he says.
This technique helps distribute the foundation more evenly across the puff, reducing the chances of depositing too much product in one area.
Build Coverage With Gentle Tapping Motions
When applying products like the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Cushion Foundation or the LOVETC 4K Cushion Foundation Precision, start at the centre of your face and work outwards using gentle tapping motions. Roger recommends moving in small circular motions and allowing the coverage to build gradually.
“At first, it’s gonna look like you’re applying nothing. That’s the point, ’cause after just a few more taps, you’re gonna start to see that coverage build,” he says. The idea is to create an even base without applying a thick layer all at once.
Use A Dense Brush To Cover Problem Areas
Once you have achieved an even base, put the puff aside and reach for a dense makeup brush. Roger suggests picking up a little more product, like the Nykaa Cosmetics Magic Cover Full Coverage Matte Cushion Foundation, Etude Cloud Filter Cushion or the unfltrd almost ready cushion foundation from the lid and apply it only where additional coverage is needed. “For me, that’s a little bit of redness around my nose, some discolouration on my cheeks, and then also my under eyes,” he says. This targeted approach allows you to conceal specific areas without adding unnecessary layers of foundation across the entire face.
The right application technique can make a difference, but choosing a formula suited to your skin type and desired coverage matters, too. If you prefer a natural finish, look for a cushion foundation that can be applied in thin layers and built up where needed. However, Roger’s final takeaway from the masterclass with Jung Saem Mool is that foundation should enhance rather than mask your complexion.
