Sometime during the weekend, I dropped the entire sponge from my BB cushion compact onto the floor (I’m not referring to the puff, but the actual sponge which holds the product). This was, mind you, one of the most premium sponges I bought on a trip to South Korea, unavailable in Singapore. So you can imagine the frustration I felt from having to wipe $70 worth of product off my bathroom floor.
I wasn’t going to go through the trouble of trying to get the product shipped to Singapore, but I felt bored having to go back to the same BB cushion I used before. Looking at all the liquid foundations I’ve left lying around the house ever since I became obsessed with cushion compacts, I decided to make my own. Here’s how you can do it too:
WHAT YOU NEED
To clean your cushion sponge, you will need: A brush cleanser, an antibacterial soap and a small dish to soak your sponge in.
For the BB cream, you will need: Sunscreen, foundation and moisturiser. Try to use products with a more fluid texture so that it’s easier to blend. The product travels through the cushion sponge a lot faster and easier too. If you do choose a creamy product – for instance, if you have dry skin and want to use a thicker moisturiser – make sure that the other products have lighter textures.
Remember that a wrong mix of products can cause your skin to react negatively, so always do a patch test on your inner arm to see if the mixture matches your skin.
Let’s get started!
WHAT TO DO
STEP 1: Wash the sponge and compact
Soak your sponge in the brush cleanser. You will need to put in a little effort into this because the sponge has been filled with product for a long time. I spent a week washing my cushion sponge because I could not find the time to wash it in between soaks, but you can probably get all the product out within a day. You will also need quite a lot of brush cleanser: I used half the bottle of my Beauty So Clean Conditioning Brush Cleanser (I’m very kiasu, okay). Follow up with an antibacterial soap.
I used a cleansing tissue to wipe away any product left in the compact and sprayed some brush cleanser onto hard-to-reach areas.
Once you’re done, leave it to dry.
STEP 2: MAKE THE BB BASE
BB creams are known for having a bunch of ingredients that are good for your skin. Here, I’m mixing an equal amount of sunscreen and moisturiser into the compact. You can also add a serum to the formula for an extra bit of punch.
STEP 3: ADD THE COLOUR
Mix an equal amount of foundation into the mixture. I’m going ahead with the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation because I want a “real-skin” finish to my BB cream. The formula is relatively liquid too.
Note: If you want a more skincare-focused BB cream, mix sunscreen, foundation and moisturiser in a 1:1:1 ratio.
You can stop at this step if you only want to make a BB cream and not a cushion compact.
STEP 4: SOAK THE CUSHION
Put in the cushion sponge and voila, you have your very own cushion compact! Just wait for the product to settle into the sponge.
The time varies depending on the consistency of your BB cream. I would leave it to sit for the entire day, with the compact turned upside down. Don't worry if you do not see product at the top of your sponge when you open the compact later in the day. Just press the sponge with your cushion puff to bring the product to the top and apply accordingly.
Now you have your very own BB cushion. Remember to clean the puff every week. Enjoy!
Beauty So Clean Conditioning Brush Cleanser, $26, is available on luxola.com. For more information, visit www.beautysoclean.com, and follow the brand on Facebook.
Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, $76, is available at the Make Up For Ever Academy & Pro Loft and Sephora. For more information, visit www.makeupforever.com.sg, and follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.