This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. No brand paid me or sent me anything for this post.
I’m Karen, a licensed esthetician living in Seoul. I’ll be honest from the start: the cushion I use every day is a dewy one, and it doesn’t hide my pores. It’s lovely on my skin, but it’s not the one I’d hand to a friend with oily skin.
Cushion foundation is the base makeup most Koreans actually use, and Olive Young, Korea’s biggest beauty store, has a whole wall of them. This week I went to a big store and tried the matte, pore-blurring cushions Koreans reach for when their skin gets shiny. Here’s the one I liked most, what each display says, and how to find them online wherever you live.
About my skin
Licensed esthetician. Combination skin, and pores are my biggest worry. I wear a light shade. My everyday cushion is Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder, which is dewy and natural but doesn’t fully cover my pores.
If you only read one part, read this:
- My favorite in store for oily skin: CLIO Kill Cover Mesh Blur Cushion. Thin, sits close to skin, good coverage.
- Close second: espoir Silk Skin Layer. Soft, silky finish and good coverage.
- Lightest feel: AMUSE Airy Pore Cover Cushion.
- Felt a little dry on me: hince Second Skin Mesh Matte. Better for very oily skin.
- What I use (not for oily skin): Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder, dewy and natural.
Jump to
- CLIO Kill Cover Mesh Blur (my in-store favorite)
- AMUSE Airy Pore Cover (lightest)
- hince Second Skin Mesh Matte (very oily skin)
- espoir Silk Skin Layer (silky matte)
- Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder (what I use)
- Korean words on the label · Buying from abroad · FAQ
How I tested these cushions for oily skin
I went to a large Olive Young in Seoul in mid-October 2026, opened the TRY ME testers and swatched them on my arm. Jung Saem Mool is the only cushion here I wear every day, so it’s the only long-term review. For the matte ones, I’m telling you my in-store impression and what the display says.
1. CLIO Kill Cover Mesh Blur Cushion: my favorite in store
This was the one I liked most that day. The display calls it a “clean, matte cushion” with “pore blurring,” which is exactly what my own cushion doesn’t do. On my arm it went on thin, sat close to the skin, and covered well. I’ve only tried it in store, so take this as a first impression, not a full-day review.
In Korea it’s often sold as a set of two, so you get a backup. The lavender square case is easy to spot.
Karen’s notes
| Finish | Matte, pore blurring |
|---|---|
| Shades I saw | 19C, 21C, 21N, 23N |
| Store says | “Clean, matte cushion,” pore blurring |
| My take | Thin, sits close to skin, good coverage. My favorite of the day (tried in store) |
| Best for | Oily and combination skin, visible pores |
2. AMUSE Airy Pore Cover Cushion: the lightest feel
The AMUSE display is very direct: #모공제로 #보송매트, which means “zero pores, soft matte.” On my arm it felt light and soft-matte, just like the sign says. AMUSE also makes a pore blur pact (pressed powder) that’s handy for touching up oily areas.
Karen’s notes
| Finish | Soft matte |
|---|---|
| Store says | “Zero pores, soft matte” |
| My take | Light and soft-matte. Tried in store only |
| Best for | Oily skin with visible pores |
3. hince Second Skin Mesh Matte Cushion: for very oily skin
hince had two cushions side by side, a “White” one and a “Matte Blue” one. The Matte Blue is the Second Skin Mesh Matte, the one for oily skin. On my combination skin it felt a little dry, so I’d save this one for really oily skin.
Karen’s notes
| Finish | Matte |
|---|---|
| My take | A little dry on my skin. Tried in store only |
| Best for | Very oily skin |
4. espoir Silk Skin Layer Cushion: a silky matte
espoir describes this one as 결커버 실크매트, roughly “covers skin texture, silky matte.” It sits next to espoir’s Be Glow and Be Velvet cushions, so check the name. This one surprised me: the finish felt soft and silky rather than flat, and the coverage was good.
Karen’s notes
| Finish | Silky matte |
|---|---|
| Store says | “Covers skin texture, silky matte” |
| My take | Soft, silky finish, good coverage. Tried in store only |
| Best for | Oily or combination skin that wants a softer matte |
5. Jung Saem Mool Essential Skin Nuder Cushion: what I actually use
This is my everyday cushion, in a light shade. Jung Saem Mool is a famous Korean makeup artist brand, and this cushion is a long-time favorite here. It’s dewy, it leaves a soft glow, and it looks thin and natural, like skin instead of makeup. That’s why I like it.
The honest part: it doesn’t fully cover my pores. For my combination skin that’s okay, but if you have oily skin and want a matte finish, I’d pick one of the four above instead. The display says it was No.1 at the Olive Young Awards three years in a row.
Karen’s notes
| My shade | A light shade |
|---|---|
| Finish | Dewy, soft glow |
| What I like | Moist and glowy, thin and natural |
| What I don’t | Doesn’t fully cover my pores |
| Best for | Normal to dry skin, anyone who wants a natural look |
| For oily skin? | I’d pick a matte one instead |
How to pick a Korean cushion for oily skin: words on the label
- 보송 (bo-song): matte, soft and powdery. This is the word for oily skin.
- 매트 (mae-teu): matte.
- 모공 (mo-gong): pores. 모공 블러링 = pore blurring.
- 촉촉 (chok-chok) / 윤광 (yun-gwang): moist / dewy glow. Skip these if you get shiny.
- 리필 (ri-pil): refill. Many cushions come with one.
Shades: Korean cushions run light. 17 to 19 is fair, 21 is light, 23 is light-medium. C is cool, N is neutral, W is warm. Most ranges stop around 23 to 25.
Buying Korean cushions from abroad
- Match the full name. CLIO, espoir and hince each make several cushions that look alike. “Mesh Blur” and “Mesh Glow” are not the same.
- Check for a refill. Korean cushions are often sold with a refill or as a set of two, which is better value.
- Go by the shade number. 21 or 23 tells you more than a color name.
More from my Olive Young trips
For the spots your cushion doesn’t cover, here’s the concealer I’ve used for over a year. And for the step before, the sunscreen I use every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is cushion foundation good for oily skin?
Yes, if you pick a matte one. Look for words like matte, pore blur or 보송 (bo-song, soft and dry) on the label. Dewy cushions like the one I use can look shiny on oily skin by midday.
Which Korean cushion is the most matte?
Of the ones I tried in store, hince Second Skin Mesh Matte felt the most matte, almost a little dry on my combination skin, so it’s best for very oily skin. CLIO Mesh Blur and espoir Silk Skin Layer are softer mattes.
What’s the best Korean cushion for oily skin?
Of the ones I tried at Olive Young, I liked CLIO Kill Cover Mesh Blur the most. espoir Silk Skin Layer was a close second. If your skin is very oily, AMUSE Airy Pore Cover felt the lightest.
Is Jung Saem Mool cushion good for oily skin?
I use the Essential Skin Nuder and love how natural it looks, but it’s dewy and doesn’t fully cover my pores. For oily skin, I’d choose a matte one.
What does 보송 mean on Korean makeup?
It means a soft, matte, powdery finish. It’s the word to look for if your skin gets shiny.
Can I buy Korean cushions outside Korea?
Yes. CLIO, espoir, hince and Jung Saem Mool are all sold on Amazon. Check the full name and shade number.
My long-term opinion is only about the Jung Saem Mool cushion, which I use. The others are based on in-store testing at Olive Young in Seoul and what the displays said. Availability on Amazon can change. Everyone’s skin is different.