The world of beauty cushions has expanded beyond the aptly named cushion compacts. Over the last few years, Korean beauty’s influence has seen cushion applicators show up on a variety of products, from eyeshadows to concealers to lip products. Lip cushions, in particular, are having a moment with brands like NYX and Clinique recently launching their own versions.
Pillowy lip cushions are like shrunken-down versions of the puffs seen in cushion compacts. Give the product’s tube a squeeze and the lip color will go through the porous cushion, leaving behind a lightweight kiss of color. The formulas will vary slightly from product to product but lip cushions are a favorite K-beauty pick for achieving a trendy blurred lip with just a few dabs. If you’re looking for something extra, continue dotting the cushion for a pigmented look with a pretty, powdery, matte finish.
Another reason we love lip cushions is they’re as easy to apply as a lip balm or gloss. Simply dab on the product — there’s no need for lip brushes, liner or complicated lip contouring.
Want to expand your makeup bag with a lip cushion? Scroll through the gallery to see some of the best picks.
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8 Lip Cushions That Deliver a Pretty Powdery Matte Finish
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NYX Professional Makeup
Powder Puff Lippie Powder Lip Cream, $8.50 at NYX Cosmetics
Use the rounded cushion applicator to dab the product on lips. It glides on like a mousse, then dries down to a soft powdery finish. It's like a matte lipstick, but feels weightless on. Did we mention that it's also comfortable to wear? We can't say that about all liquid lippies.
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Peripera
Peri's Cushion Lips, $12.60 at Soko Glam
It looks like a chubby highlighter, but it's actually a cushion lip product that delivers a fluorescent dose of color. Once it's dry, it's not going anywhere, so there's no need for touch-ups.
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Clinique
Pop Lip Shadow Cushion Matte Lip Powder, $19.50 at Clinique
It's an eyeshadow...but for lips. It may have a tiny sponge, but the lip product delivers bold, pigmented color. To unlock the lippie, gently push the antibacterial-treated sponge applicator inside the cap. Then glide it over lips.
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Catrice
Lip Cushion, $3.29 at Ulta
The lip cushion costs less than the average handcrafted beverage and has the things we'd expect in a lip product triple the price. The paraben-free formula is enriched with avocado oil for comfortable wear and delivers good color pigment. Unlike a lot of other lip cushions, this one has a shiny finish, making it a good option for lip gloss fans.
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Givenchy Beauty
Cushion Kiss, $26 at Net-a-Porter
Have all the new lip gloss formulas made you crave a liquid-look lip? Givenchy's product has a soft cushion applicator that leaves lips with a sheer, glossy finish. Build up the richly pigmented formula depending on the occasion.
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Lancôme
Juicy Shaker, $22 at Sephora
Lancôme's Juicy Shakers must be shaken like a cocktail shaker to mix the oil and pigment in the bi-phase formula together. The precise cushion applicator is designed to dispense the right amount of product for a sheer tint and subtle shine.
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Sephora Collection
Wonderful Cushion Matte Lip Cream, $5 at Sephora
No matter the look, this lippie will help create it. The cushion applicator enables users to create a just-bitten gradient effect. After more drama? Continue layering the product for an opaque matte finish. The cream formula is the best of everything as it's long-wearing like a stain, can be built up to look like a matte lipstick and is comfortable like a lip balm thanks to the shea butter-enriched formula.
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Son & Park
Two Way Lip Chalk, $20.70 at Soko Glam
Create a variety of looks with the two-in-one product. On one side is a lip liner, on the other is a coordinating lip chalk. The latter is stippled on lips using the ultra-soft cushion applicator. The color stays on for hours and won't draw moisture from lips, thanks to natural fruit extracts and shea butter.
