Though I love my YSL cushion I am always interested in trying something new.  When I was returning home from Australia I came across an Armani Beauty pop-up at the Sydney Airport. This is where a stunning red cushion case caught my attention.  If this is going to be love, it will end in heartbreak because lo and behold it is not widely available in the U.S.

Armani Beauty My Armani
Cushion to Go Foundation Review

Armani Beauty My Armani Cushion to Go Foundation Review

INFO SHEET

Brand:  Armani Beauty
Product:  My Armani Cushion to Go Foundation
Shade:  5.5
Coverage:  Sheer to Light
Dewiness:  Semi
Scent:  Too Subtle to Pinpoint
Oxidation:  Barely
Price:  $58.00 (Does NOT come with a Refill)
Availability:  Scarce (see Where to Get It below)

When you first open the My Armani to Go Cushion Foundation box you are greeted with a gorgeous red and black cushion compact case.  This case feels sturdy and has a good weight to it.  Definitely doesn't feel cheap.  The cushion case also has a nice sized mirror inside.

The puff is slightly pointed on one side for easier application.

The sponge disperses just the right amount of product.

I love everything about the case.  The bold red color, the snap closure, the weight to it - everything.  I like how the puff is slightly tapered on one side to aid in application around the eyes and nose.  They really thought this product through.

SWATCH

Armani Beauty My Armani Cushion to Go in Shade 5.5 Swatch on MAC NC37 (forearm is slightly lighter than face).

BEFORE AND AFTER

Armani Beauty My Armani Cushion to Go Foundation Shade 5.5 on MAC NC37

The My Armani Cushion to Go puff looks and feels just like a normal k-beauty rubycell puff, but with a tapered edge.  Also like rubycell, it does not absorb a lot of product so there isn't much waste.  The mesh sponge within the case does a good job of keeping the formula secure by preventing leaks and releasing just the right amount of product.  All in all - the packaging is good!

As for performance, after a few hours I checked my oily t-zone to see if it had started pilling or sliding around my face.  I am happy to report that for the most part it stayed put throughout the day (without primer).  There was slight settlement into the fine lines underneath my eyes but this can be prevented using primer, a setting powder, or by blotting the area with tissue after application.

The My Armani Cushion shade 5.5 is similar to YSL Touche Éclat Cushion B50 but leans slightly more pink.  To compare to Korean shades:  It is lighter than Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion 33 and Innisfree LongWear Deep Beige 31, but darker Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion 25 and Laneige Anti-Aging / Pore Control 31.  I would say that it still falls within the "good match" range for NC37 skin tones, and could possibly be used by NC40's due to it's blendability.  You can check my master swatch list here to see how it compares!

The Armani cushion formula similar is to a lightweight tinted moisturizer.  What is nice about it is you don't really feel it on your skin and it has no discernible scent.  I think it might be kind of flowery but the scent wasn't strong enough to pinpoint.  The My Armani Cushion to Go foundation has somewhat buildable coverage but not enough to cover serious skin issues.  In the image above, I had a small blemish on my jawline due to a pimple that had healed.  You can see that the cushion did a decent job evening it out but I wouldn't rely on it to do much more than that.

HOW DOES THE ARMANI BEAUTY CUSHION COMPARE TO KOREAN CUSHIONS?

The Armani Beauty My Armani Cushion to Go is very similar to most Korean cushions; with a few exceptions.  The Armani cushion holds the foundation within mesh pot rather than a sponge - so you cannot flip it when the product runs low.

This cushion also does not contain as much SPF as Korean cushions since it only has SPF 23; as opposed to Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion / Laneige BB Cushions which have SPF 50.  Keepin mind though that everyone should be using a stand alone sunscreen since SPF from foundations are simply not enough to be effective.  I like to refer to this video of Wayne Goss demonstrating how much foundation is actually required in order to achieve the amount of SPF protection listed on the packaging (you should really watch it).

Korean cushions do have a serious lack of shade range.  Unfortunately if you live in the U.S. you will still have the same issue with the My Armani Cushion to Go.  The only shade available on the Armani Beauty USA website is Shade 2 Ivory (Why?).  If you want any other shade, you will have to order it from overseas from stores like Selfridges.  The shade range outside of the U.S. however is much more forgiving than it's Korean counterparts - coming in at about eight different shades to choose from.

The My Armani Cushion to Go foundation has the same amount of product as many Korean cushions with 0.53 oz (15 g) in the pot, but does not come with a refill.  This means that you are getting significantly less product for your money.  The cushion + case is $58.00 USD, and the refills are $44.50 USD each from Selfridges... You also can't purchase refills in the U.S.

Aside from those differences, if you put an Armani cushion and a Korean cushion side by side, you would find the case, puff, and performance are very similar.  If you are a fan of Korean cushions and like luxury makeup, then the My Armani to Go Cushion foundation could be an easy transition.

No - the refill does not fit into any Korean cushion compact.  Just thought I'd throw that out there!

FINAL THOUGHTS

At last - I am heartbroken!  Why?  Because I love this cushion and I can't buy my shade in the U.S.  It's expensive but I would certainly rebuy it because everything about it is great.  It definitely helps achieve a "you, but better" look.  The Armani Beauty My Armani Cushion to Go Foundation is a good choice for those with no major skin issues and are looking to simply enhance what they have.  The sheer to light coverage will not do much to cover acne and will do only a decent job covering very minor blemishes.

I would repurchase this cushion in a heartbeat if I could.  The case is beautiful, the puff is great, and the formula is fantastic.  It does a good job matching my NC37 skin tone as well and blends beautifully.  The price is on the high end, but I feel that it is well worth it.  One thing to keep in mind though is I do not wear makeup every day, so it will last me quite a bit longer than those who require daily use.

In the end, if you have a Korean cushions obsession like I do and have access to the Armani My Armani Cushion to Go; then definitely give it a try!

Rating

Master Swatch List