An honest review of the Tirtir Cushion Foundation: Is the TikTok viral ‘red egg’ worth the hype?

If you’ve spent any time online recently, you’ve probably noticed the buzz around Korean beauty products — and one name in particular keeps popping up: Tirtir’s Cushion Foundation.

Nicknamed “the red egg” on TikTok for its sleek, oval-shaped compact, this liquid-powder hybrid promises a smooth, glowing, pore-blurring finish with just a few swipes. Until recently, it wasn’t available in the UK — but now that it’s finally landed at Boots, I wasted no time picking one up to see if it really lives up to the hype.

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The Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation is priced at £21 and comes in a surprisingly generous 40 shades — a big leap from the mere three it launched with back in 2016. It also includes a soft sponge applicator, designed to help tap the product out from its cushion base. The formula itself is liquid in texture, but applies like a silky blend between matte and dewy.

Now, even with all the viral praise and glowing reviews, I had two main questions: Is it actually worth the hype? And more importantly, can it hold up in real life, not just under perfect lighting and filters?

Quick review of the Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation

My skin before and after using the Tirtir foundation
(Image: Faith Richardson)

Pros

Wide shade range Balanced finish – dewy but not shiny Lightweight and comfortable No transfer or patchiness Travel-friendly Covers redness, dry patches, and pigmentation A little goes a long way Cons

Shade matching can be tricky Sponge takes some getting used to I’ve tried just about every foundation formula out there — powders, liquids, creams, sticks — but this was my first proper go at a cushion foundation. I prepped my skin as usual and got to work.

You only need a small amount of product
(Image: Faith Richardson)

My first impression was that the sponge applicator was a bit awkward at first. As someone who typically uses a foundation brush, it took a few attempts to apply it evenly. But once I got the hang of it, the application was smooth and effortless.

The texture hits the sweet spot between blendable and liquid-like without being runny, and I only needed two light presses into the cushion to cover my entire face and neck. The sponge’s pointed tip was also great for getting into tricky spots like around the nose and eyes.

My skin — which is dry, sensitive, and prone to redness — took to the formula beautifully. It blurred pores and fine lines, toned down redness, and softened rough texture, all without looking heavy or cakey. The finish was glowy, smooth, and felt almost airbrushed.

If you’re after a lighter option, Pixi Glow Tint Cushion (£18) offers sheer coverage with a brightening, skin-evening effect. For more traditional full coverage, the Armani Red Cushion R21 Foundation (£49) is a luxe alternative, and it’s refillable too.

The foundation is the perfect blend of dewy and matte
(Image: Faith Richardson)

Best of all, this foundation felt weightless. No dryness, no cakey buildup, no settling into lines — and it didn’t transfer onto clothes either. It even held up through a long workday and a sweaty workout without slipping or becoming patchy, which is no small feat.

The only real hiccup I had was finding my perfect shade — it took a few tries. It can also be easy to over-apply the product; you just need to dab a little product onto different areas of your face before blending, rather than focusing on one spot at a time, to avoid uneven application.

All in all, the Tirtir Red Cushion Foundation has officially earned a place in my daily makeup routine. It’s versatile enough for day or night, buildable when you need more coverage, and — most importantly — it performs just as well in real life as it does on social media. Exactly what a great foundation should do, reports the Mirror.

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