How to choose a Korean cushion shade

Buying a Korean cushion foundation online is hard, because shade names rarely match Western foundation ranges. This is how the numbering usually works and how to narrow it down.

The numbers

Most Korean brands number shades by depth. Lower numbers are lighter.

• 13 and below: very fair.
• 17: fair.
• 21: light. Historically the most common shade in Korea.
• 23: light-medium.
• 25 and up: medium and deeper.

Shade ranges have widened in recent years, but many lines still stop around 25 to 30. If you are medium-deep or deep, check the deepest shade in the range first, before anything else.

The letters

Many brands add a letter for undertone:

• C is cool, with a pink base.
• N is neutral.
• W is warm, with a yellow base.

Your undertone matters more than your season here. Cool types (Summer and Winter) usually land on C or N, and warm types (Spring and Autumn) on N or W. Use the checks in How to tell if your undertone is warm or cool if you are not sure.

Finish

Finish matters more than color type for a cushion. Pick by skin type:

• Oily skin: semi-matte or velvet.
• Dry skin: glow or dewy.
• Combination: satin.

When you are between two shades

Choose the lighter one if you plan to use bronzer or warm blush, and the deeper one if your neck is noticeably darker than your face. Cushions oxidize less than many liquid foundations, but most still deepen slightly through the day.

Browse the cushions in our catalog.