I Finally Tried the Viral TirTir Cushion Foundation – and I Wasn’t Expecting These Results
Few foundations have been quite as relentlessly hyped as the TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion (£21 from Boots UK /$25 from Ulta US).
After becoming a sensation in Japan, the little red compact took over TikTok too, with seemingly endless videos praising its impressive coverage, skin-blurring finish and – unusually for a K-beauty cushion – extensive shade range.
And that shade range is actually a big part of the TirTir story. When the cushion first launched, it came in just three shades. Then, in 2023, beauty creator Miss Darcei went viral after trying the darkest available shade and finding it was still far too light for her. TirTir took notice, working with Darcei to develop deeper shades and eventually expanding the range to an impressive 40. Cue viral videos of Darcei trying the new shades and… bingo. The Mask Fit Red Cushion became an even bigger hit.
So, with all that hype behind it, I was curious to see what the little red compact would actually do for my skin. Usually, I’ll opt for a medium to full coverage liquid foundation. I have a touch of adult acne and scarring but my main problem is oiliness, so I have to be careful when it comes to choosing foundation formulas.
AT A GLANCE
TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion
- Coverage: Full, but surprisingly lightweight – it never felt heavy or cakey
- Finish: Seriously smoothing and blurring, although we’d have liked a little more glow
- Best for: Oily skin – we didn’t have to worry about shine all day
- Watch out for: Oxidation. Give your shade time to develop before deciding if it’s a match
- Staying power: Excellent – ours lasted for hours without separating, creasing or needing touch-ups
I don’t like anything powdery as I feel it ages me but at the same time, if anything is too oily for my skin, my face can end up looking as shiny as a mirror. I had heard that the TirTir cushion foundation typically doesn’t make skin greasy or oily and that it helps it feel comfortable and look blurred, to which I say, yes please! Let’s see how I got on…
The product details
If you’re new to cushion foundations, the concept is pretty simple. It’s a loose cream formula that usually comes in a compact like this one. You use a makeup sponge to press down on the cream cushion formula which dispenses product onto the applicator and then you apply it directly onto your skin.
K-beauty cushion foundations have historically offered fairly limited shade ranges when it comes to shade range but, as discussed, this one now comes in 40 shades. The coverage aims to be full yet lightweight and promises to be long-lasting. It comes in a standard compact size, as well as a mini which is a great option to go for first when testing out shades.
There are three other versions of the Red Cushion with different finishes – Pink Cushion (matte), Silver Cushion (dewy) and AI Cushion (semi-matte). Red Cushion – the most popular – is satin but, confusingly it says that the finish is ‘semi-matte’ in the description on TirTir’s website. Go figure.
How I tested it
I tested this foundation on newly cleansed skin, just after using my day cream. I then applied my normal face of makeup (including blusher, concealer, and bronzer) over it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
First impressions
The packaging is quite chic – the compact looks like a chunky red pebble and when you open it up you discover that there is first a separate compartment for your makeup sponge, followed by another compartment underneath which holds the formula itself.
I was wary at first of not pushing down too hard on the cushion with the puff, as I didn’t want to overdo it, so I dabbed it a little with half the puff and applied it to my skin by dragging it around my face. I wasn’t very impressed – the amount I’d used didn’t give much coverage and the finish looked very flat and matte. This, for an oily skinned girl is great and everything but I don’t want a completely one-dimensional face. You can still glow whilst not looking greasy.
The foundation immediately after swatching (L), and 30 minutes later (R). Images – Courtesy of writer
I soon realised though that you are meant to dab or press it onto your skin, not drag the puff around which, honestly? I didn’t love the thought of. I mean, who has the patience to dab on their foundation? I had also heard that the foundation oxidises quite significantly and that pressing it on makes this problem worse, so now I was torn on which way to go.
My advice in the meantime would be to swatch your shade on your jawline first and see how it develops over thirty minutes or so. A lot of reviews say it goes a shade darker after 10 minutes, which is frustrating. Luckily for me, the shade I had ordered was already slightly too light for my skin, so the oxidation wasn’t a huge problem. But just be aware of this when you receive yours because it might look like an entirely different shade half an hour after applying it.
Eventually, I decided to try dabbing it on too, as instructed, since I wasn’t experiencing a huge problem with the oxidation after swatching on the back of my hand. Despite taking longer, this gave much better results – my skin was given slightly more of a glow (but only slightly – could do better) and much fuller coverage.
My results
There are quite a few hurdles to jump over when first using this foundation – figuring out how hard to push down into the compact to get your ideal amount of product; to dab or not to dab onto your skin; and learning to get used to the makeup sponge which is quite awkward to use (it’s tiny). However, once you have worked out a system and you’re used to using the makeup sponge, you can hopefully start to recognise the benefits.
The main thing I noticed was that my skin looked massively smoother, particularly underneath my eyes. It, without question, blurs out imperfections and pores and I couldn’t believe how much more youthful my skin looked. It doesn’t look heavy or cakey either because it is very lightweight.
And as for oiliness, there is zero greasiness an hour, two hours, or three+ hours later. I don’t need to worry about looking shiny when wearing it.
Image – Courtesy of writer
If anything, I could do with a bit more of a glow which sounds like a contradiction but, as discussed, having oily skin doesn’t mean you want your skin to look completely flat. There is a fine line between looking greasy and looking glowy. I would rather it this way around though as I can just add finishing products like highlighter and a radiance blush to create my own glow in all the right places, rather than looking shiny and greasy all over.
The coverage seems to last for hours – I didn’t need to do any touch ups throughout the day and it settles into my skin beautifully so I never notice any separation or creases. I have quite a lot of redness around my nose which needs an extra helping of concealer but apart from that, the cushion foundation covers my skin well. I suppose my shade slightly warmed up overtime, compared to when I first applied it, but only very slightly and it wasn’t a huge problem for me as I had already regretted not ordering a slightly darker shade in the first place.
What other users are saying
The reviews online are really divisive. So many people agree with me on longevity. “It is 100% transferproof and budgeproof . And I loved how it held up well in hot 109F weather and sweat,” writes one user on Reddit. While SweetCookies_xX is impressed with the coverage, “I applied a very thin layer yet it covered everything with one pat!”
There’s no denying that the oxidation is a problem though. Some, like me, aren’t too worried about it; “35 N in red cushion is my perfect match but it oxidised a little to a tone dark, but I don’t mind too much,” writes WorryAsleep3293. Whilst others find it really frustrating. “Initially shade looked light on my but within 10 mins it oxidised to unnatural peachy pink shade and looked closer to Korean foundations 21 shade but with a peachy/orange hue,” writes one user.
Lots of people recommend using far less that you think you need. “Tap the excess product in the inner side of the lid. This step is necessary if you don’t want crazy oxidation,” says WorryAsleep3293. And another tip to avoid oxidation is, “apply thin and even layer and then build it up again with thin even layer.”
There are really mixed opinions on dry skin too. “One thing I can say, if you have dehydrated skin, don’t buy it,” writes anon. Whilst rilayoko says, “It did sink into my smile lines, but not any more than my other cushions.”
Some users, like RoundPerformer1293 also really dislike the fragrance. “The smell is overpowering to me! I typically cannot tolerate fragrance in makeup,” she writes. I have to admit, I haven’t even noticed the fragrance but I usually quite like formulas to have a scent so this one is either inoffensive to me or just not strong enough.
Overall value for money
At £21/$25, I actually think this foundation is really well priced. With the amount of hype surrounding it, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see it sitting closer to the £30/$34 mark. And despite a few niggles with the application, I’d happily pay £21 for it again based on the results.
Image – Courtesy of writer
The takeaway
Overall, I really like the results of this foundation. It’s a bit of a pain to get your head around at first, particularly if you are used to applying a liquid foundation with a foundation brush like me, plus those who don’t have the patience to dab on their foundation should stay clear! I got over this in the end but if you’re a makeup-in-a-hurry kind of girl, don’t go there. I can also see how the oxidation issue is just that – a real issue.
But – and it’s a big but – I am really impressed by its longevity, the way it smooths my skin and blurs out lines and pores and the fact that I don’t have to be on oil-watch all day long. It’s lightweight and comfortable to wear, it’s portable and it doesn’t cost the earth which is a real bonus. With so many boxes ticked, I’d be silly not to continue using it.
