I heard an international student got a real shock in the bathroom after lunch. Her Korean friends were standing in front of the mirror, tapping on a flat, round case. "Teacher, what's that moist sponge?" ## The sponge has foundation in it That case is what's called a 'cushion compact.' Foundation is soaked into the moist sponge. Pat it on gently with a puff and it goes on thin. It doesn't get on your hands and all you need is a mirror, so you can take it out of your bag and use it right away. ## Why do they touch up several times a day? Koreans love the glowing, dewy "yoon-gwang" skin. But by midday, oil comes up and makeup can break down. So they don't apply it thickly from the start. I go for applying it thinly and layering more on when I need to. Cushion foundation doesn't look as heavy even when you reapply it, so it suits this approach well. Another reason is that I often meet people and have my photo taken. So touching up my face in front of a mirror after lunch has become completely ordinary. ## What to know before you buy Many cushion products sell the outer case and the inner refill separately. At a cosmetics store like Olive Young, look for a set labeled "main product + refill." When you use it up, you can just buy the refill and swap it in. Color names and numbers differ from brand to brand. So be sure to check with a tester in the store. For sale periods or tax refund conditions, it's most accurate to check the in-store notices or the official app.