TirTir's K-beauty cushion foundation gave my skin and instant glow perfect for spring
If there's one beauty trend that's taken on a life of its own in the last few years, it's Korean beauty. You only need to scroll TikTok or take a flick through a magazine to see just how popular K-beauty products are for everyone from skincare novices to seasoned makeup artists.
And one K-beauty makeup product that's been a viral hit is Tirtir’s Cushion Foundation. Dubbed “the red egg” on TikTok thanks to its glossy oval-shaped compact design, the liquid-powder hybrid is said to create smooth, poreless and glowing skin with just a few swipes. Despite its viral popularity, it only landed in Boots within the last year, and I decided to put it to the test to see if it lived up to the hype.
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The Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation is £21 and comes in an impressive 40 different shades – considerably better than the three it originally launched with in 2016 – with a reasonably good diversity across skin tones to help you find the best colour match. You get a super soft sponge applicator included in your compact, which helps to apply the foundation directly from the cushion-y pan, and it has a liquid-like formula.
Whilst I've heard plenty of great things about it from TikTok and fellow beauty writers, I always have two questions when a product suddenly goes viral; is it
Pros
Good shade range
Perfect balance between dewy and matte
Lightweight feel
No transfer or patchiness
Great for travel and on the go
Covered redness, dry patches and pigmentation
Need minimal product
Cons
Shade matching can be tricky
Sponge is a little fiddly to use
I’ve tried all kinds of foundation formulas in my time as a beauty writer, from powders and liquids to creams and sticks, but had yet to try out a true cushion foundation. I prepped my skin just like I always would, then got to work applying it.
My first thought was that the sponge is a little fiddly to use. As a die hard foundation brush user, it took a few passes to get the hang of applying it evenly with the sponge, but once I had that nailed it applied like a dream.
Its formula is the perfect balance of blendable liquid without being runny, and you really do need a very minimal amount of product. Two gentle taps into the cushion was enough to do my whole face and neck with an even coverage, and the point of the sponge was handy for areas like around my nose and eyes.
I have typically dry, sensitive skin with some redness, and the foundation covered it all seamlessly without looking too mask-like. It smoothed over pores and fine lines, and helped cover some texture without being too thick or cakey, leaving my skin looking glowy, smooth and airbrushed.
If you do prefer a lighter coverage, the Pixi Glow Tint Cushion, £18, is a great alternative. It has a sheer formula that gives a more natural result, and helps with brightening and colour correcting as well as leaving a subtle glow. The Armani Red Cushion R21 Foundation, £49, is also a good option, giving a more traditional foundation coverage with refillable options once you run out.
The best part is it really felt like I was wearing nothing at all. There was no drying or cakey feeling as it wore down throughout the day, and it didn’t settle into any dry patches, creases or lines. It also didn’t smudge onto my clothes, and even survived a sweaty workout and long day at work without budging, which definitely gets it a gold star in my opinion.
My only real struggle with the Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation was matching my shade to begin with; it took a few trials and errors to get the right shade for my skin tone. I also deduced that the best way to apply it is to tap some onto each area of your face before blending – don’t just start applying it to one place as you’ll end up with way too much product in one area leaving it looking uneven.
However, I can happily say that the Tirtir Red Cushion Foundation has earned a spot in my regular beauty rotation, and it’s the perfect foundation for both daytime and evening, with just enough coverage for both (and it's buildable if you want a little more). It withstood actual real daily life, not just a quick TikTok video or Instagram post, and my skin felt like the best version of itself – which, let’s face it, is exactly what a good foundation should do.