Bra Cups
Padded Cups
Padded cups have some padding underneath.
Some of them have lighter padding while others may have thicker padding. This depends on the style of the bra and the fabric used.
They are more comfortable than a push-up and may help you get a slight lift.
Some padded bras may feature removable padding that are often known as "cookies".
Some cups have padding only at the bottom part so as to enable a greater lift and decolletage.
Moulded Cups
Moulded cups are seamless cups that are of a lighter construction than a contour bra is.
A moulded cup bra has no seams. Instead, it has a pre-formed breast shape molded into the cups fabric.
Nylon or polyester tricot fabrics are heated at places over breast moulds to get the shape to the breasts.
Molded cups can be a single piece of fabric or fused with a thin layer of foam or fiberfill for a more rigid non-collapsing cup shape.
However, it's always difficult to get a moulded cup that fills in your breasts well as the pre-determined shape in not malleable but quite rigid.
Caring for these bras require extra effort as any mishandling may deform the shape and crush them to cause unsightly wrinkles.
Lined Cups
Cups that have some fabric linings under the cup are lined cups.
The lining may be more than two.
Even the fabrics used in different linings may be different from each other.
Linings are done to offer more opaqueness to the cups.
The added fabric provide more support to the breasts.