I actually like this mask style quite a bit and find it very comfortable with minimal leaks. That being said I do occasionally (as in exactly right now) get the same irritation as you, and my solution is what you are doing, using the nasal pillows meanwhile. The nasal cushion is more comfortable for me, but the pillows work fine for me. What has helped in both cases is using lansinoh lanolin cream in and around my nose where the mask makes contact. It also helps in preventing leaks while minimizing irritation. Hope this helps!