Cushion compacts are all the rage in the world of K-beauty, with more than a third of Korean women owning at least one brand. I finally got my hands on one of them too: the Amore Pacific Color Control Cushion Compact, with broad spectrum SPF 50. Very similar to BB creams, cushion compacts are popular because they are portable and easy to apply on the go for all the busy ladies out there! Read on for my review of the Amore Pacific CC Cushion Compact.

Description: (SHADE: 204 Tan Gold) Instead of needing to apply a liquid BB cream with a separate sponge, brush, or fingers of your own, cushion compacts have everything in one. Amore Pacific's CC cushion compact boasts SPF 50+ and an ability to fill in fine lines and create an even skin tone. Green tea extracts in the formula brighten skin complexion and prevent irritation. The formula is also unique because it contains bamboo sap - rather than a traditional water in oil base - for hydration and deep moisturization. The applicator is supposed to cool and soothe the skin. Amore Pacific calls this product "skincare in a compact."

Packaging: The packaging of Amore Pacific's CC cushion compact is nothing special. The clean and neat design features metallic edging around a gray case. Inside is a very big, clear mirror and a white holding dock for the applicator. This compartment can be pulled open to reveal the cushion with the product underneath. The compact feels high-quality and wouldn't crack easily or come unhinged if you dropped it. The applicator makes it clear how much product you have on it with it's deep blue color on one side. However, the other side is white and I easily got it dirty when product spilled over onto this side.

Application: CC cushion compacts are especially interesting inventions because the liquid make-up is kept at the bottom of the compact, with a cushion that sits on top to draw up just the right amount. You press down on the cushion with your applicator to retrieve a small amount to apply. The idea is that you never get goopy amounts of product that will leave streaks on your face due to uneven application.

However, I noticed some problems almost immediately. I thought all you needed to do was press lightly on the cushion and you would have easy to access to an appropriate amount of product - it isn't as easy as it looks. I had to keep going back for more product to cover my face. The trick (and I just learned this the other day after more than a month of using this compact) is to press down for a few moments, drawing up more liquid, and then apply to your face.

There are two ways to apply the CC cream to your face. One is pressing, or patting, the applicator against your skin. This will give you more coverage from the otherwise-minimal coverage formula. However, I usually reach for the Amore Pacific cushion compact when I'm in a rush and don't have time for BB cream and getting my hands messy. I tend to just swipe the product on my face, with a few occasional pats around my T-zone for extra coverage.

It's true that you feel an instantly-cooling sensation when you apply the CC cream. It's very refreshing and wakes me up in the morning!

Product: The product is light and gentle and easily achieves an even layer. When I wear BB cream, I can feel it on my face - not so with this product. Instead, it soothe my redness and revitalizes my skin with its cooling feature. The smell of this product is heavenly. I've never used make-up that smelled so fragrant. At first I was a bit turned off by the smell - fragrance usually isn't great for your skin - but it seemed to have no adverse affect. The smell reminds me of a perfume you would try on at a Duty Free store in an airport: clean, full, feminine, but nondescript enough that it would appeal to most noses. For those with a more sensitive sense of smell, the fragrance fades after a few moments.

This shade is perfect for my complexion; the flecks of gold give me a dewy look without washing me out and is perfect for warmer skin tones like mine. Korean BB creams often have undertones that are too cool and gray for my skin, but this was perfect.

Results: I love the dewy finish that this CC cushion compact gives! This is the glow that I want from my Korean beauty products. It gives a nice, golden sheen and makes me look bright and awake. Who wouldn't want that? However, Amore Pacific's CC cushion compact gives very minimal and very natural coverage. It's enough to even out my dark spots but I still have to add concealer over blemishes, which I don't usually have to do with BB cream. I use this cushion compact when I'm in a rush and want something to brighten up my complexion but not cover up anything. After hours of wear, it doesn't fade or get greasy - after almost a whole day of wearing, I just re-apply a little around my T-zone before going out for the evening.

Pros & Cons: I love the natural and dewy finish of the Amore Pacific's CC cushion compact, as well as the convenient portability of the packaging. Another fun feature is that the applicator is anti-microbial, meaning there's no need to clean it as it inherently repels germs.

However, this product is not for those who want anything more than minimal coverage. Though it's easy to build up the coverage with multiple applications, it's not an ideal product for those who want more coverage. This would be the perfect product for those that want something light, natural, and brightening.

Also, I still feel as though Amore Pacific's CC cushion compact is not as easy to apply as other cushion compacts I've seen. It requires a lot of pressing on the cushion for more product to fully cover my face. I've heard other brands' cushion compacts only require 2-3 returns to the cushion. Some expert K-beauty consumers have told me that Amore Pacific targets a Western audience and the formula differs from most K-beauty products. However, I cannot confirm these claims.

Price & Availability: This stuff ain't cheap. It runs for about $60. It might be worth it for the natural ingredients and the fact that it doesn't irritate my skin, but it doesn't exactly do wonders unless all you want is natural, glowing, dewy coverage. Additionally, the cushion compact comes with one refill sponge. Click here to buy the product.