IOPE Air Cushion XP vs. The Face Shop Aura Color Control Cream

Hello there! I am so excited to finally do this comparison review for you guys. I have been using these two products on a regular basis and I can finally give my honest opinion as to which one I prefer.


So, first let me just say that the IOPE Air Cushion XP is a bb cream of great popularity from Korea. I believe this was the BB cream that started out the "cushion" craze. In any case, this was my first ever cushion foundation/bb cream. I have to say I am slightly confused as to which one this is. Is it a foundation? Is it a BB cream? Is it both? I will tell you more about how I liked it later on.

Now let's introduce the other base makeup in this post. The Face Shop Aura Color Control Cream has been out for a while now. I actually picked mine up back in December! I know, its been a while and I'm sorry it took me so long to talk about it. >_< But hey, now you know I am not just forming this opinion over a measly few days.

Here are a few more photos. Please excuse the stains on the puffs. As you can see these are well loved and used.

As you can see, the IOPE comes in a white compact with a big mirror under the cover. It looks and feels more luxurious than the other CC cream and I think I prefer its looks from the other. It also is slightly thinner and smaller than The Face Shop cushion compact and fits nicely in the palm of my hand. 

Here you can see both of them without the puffs. On the left hand side, the IOPE compact has a plastic cover that protects the cushion inside. On the right, you can see The Face Shop Aura Color Control Cream compact has a translucent button that you press to dispense the cc cream out. This means that at no point are you ever dipping into the cc cream itself which makes it very sanitary to use. Now let me show you what the IOPE Air Cushion looks like after you lift the plastic cover.

So what you are looking at above is a sponge that is soaked with the BB cream. Taking the puff, you press the puff sponge into this other sponge and voila. Yes I know it seems like a lot of sponge action but trust me when I say this gives you the most natural dispersion after you apply it to your skin. 

Here's a close up of the Aura Color Control Cream. 

As you will notice in the above photo, there is a tiny hole in the middle of the compact where the CC cream comes out. By pressing the translucent button, you can control how much the compact dispenses. On a regular summer day, I will use two pumps for my whole face. 


More photos from the back of the compact.

Notice how the IOPE has an SPF of 50 PA+++, while the Face Shop one had SPF 30 PA++ listed on the back. Both are perfectly fine as SPF and does not cause me to break out.

From the side, the IOPE white and silver compact looks more luxurious and expensive versus the plastic baby pink case of the other. They are both made sturdy though, so I guess its a matter of preference if you care about the looks of these things.

I tried to take a good shot of the difference in shade of the two. I actually use the darkest available shade for both (C23 for IOPE Air Cusion and  No. 03 for Aura Control). But even still you can see how the IOPE is much lighter in color and coverage. In terms of coverage, the CC cream from The Face Shop is phenomenal. Usually CC creams are not well known for coverage as this is not its main purpose. Having said that, I do have the Cover version of the IOPE one as well (C23 stands for Cover 23). Its also worth pointing out that the IOPE is heavy on the fresh floral fragrance. You will smell it on your face for a good long while. I don't have that same issue with the Aura CC cream. Refills for both are also available so you don't have to buy a completely new compact when it runs out.

So what's my verdict?

I have to say, I have learned to live with the fragrance that comes with the IOPE Air Cushion XP. I don't even mind that it is slightly lighter than my skin color. I make it work. I don't mind that its also less sanitary than the Aura CC Cream. Its just unreal how natural this looks on your skin once its applied properly (only patting with the puff, no smearing motion). Its so good! People compliment you on how healthy you look. They don't even notice how tired I am, after a long sleep deprived week and I put this one on. They say I look well rested!!! For that reason I will always pick this one over the other.

Don't get me wrong, the Aura Color Control Cream is a perfectly solid CC cream. It has impressed me with how well it covers and the fact that it comes in a darker shade (for a Korean face makeup this is the darkest I have seen). If fragrances bother you, or you are simply allergic to anything with fragrance, this is a great alternative. I would also choose this one if you are rather on the oily side of the spectrum. The phenomenal finish of the IOPE Air Cushion XP is wasted underneath a layer of powder for the more oily gals....It's just the way the cookie crumbles, I guess. However, for anybody else who can get away with one of the (limited selection) shades for IOPE, you will not regret it! 

xoxo