A cushions (10B) for respiratory face masks have a frame-connecting portion, a face-contacting portion, and a gusset portion disposed between and joining the frame-connecting and face-contacting portions. The gusset portion includes a nasal bridge perimetrical region (16B-1), a mouth perimetrical region (16B-2), and a transition perimetrical region (16B-3). The nasal bridge perimetrical region comprises a w-shaped or concertina-type fold having little or no projected area relative to the corresponding face-contacting portion of the cushion. The mouth perimetrical region extends laterally outwardly to form an increased projected area relative to the corresponding face-contacting portion of the cushion. The transition perimetrical region extends laterally outwardly an amount intermediate of the nasal bridge perimetrical region and the mouth perimetrical region.
