In the wave of beauty trends observed in summer 2024, a seemingly silent player took the beauty world by storm. An egg-shaped solid foundation by the South Korean beauty brand Tirtir, known as the Red Cushion Foundation, positioned itself as a serious contender in the makeup industry. Known for its full-coverage formula that helps achieve a glass skin effect, this foundation quickly became a highly coveted beauty essential, especially with the supporting boost from Amazon October Prime Day’s beauty deals, making the product even more accessible under $20.
Frequent users of the popular social-media app TikTok would easily distinguish this viral beauty solution. It was praised on the platform for its “magic sauce”, boasting the concealment properties against blemishes and birthmarks that are usually associated with premium, weighty foundations. What particularly set Tirtir’s foundation apart from its competition is the balance it provided between coverage and comfort – an attribute that resonated even with oily skin types. The feather-like feel to the skin complemented by the perfect touch of gloss went a long way in promoting a healthy skin visual – a balance tricky to achieve in comparison to overly matte or dewy foundations.
The fame of Tirtir’s foundation wasn’t all smooth sailing, as critics highlighted the limited range of shades which, until 2023, only catered to three fair to medium tones. This critique led to widespread concern among the beauty industry’s creators of color. However, Tirtir didn’t just address criticism; it overcame it by broadening the shade range to an impressive 40 options throughout 2024. The company’s redemption story came full circle in the month of October, when the expanded range garnered stellar reviews from a diversity of skin tones.
Experimenting with this foundation turned out to be a worthwhile experience. The compact came with an effective applicator tool, a dense, miniature makeup sponge. These applicator tools are often discarded in favor of personal favorites, but this was a different scenario altogether. The sponge was simple to use, only requiring a press into the compact, followed by evenly patting it onto the skin.
The Tirtir Red Cushion Foundation was not just versatile but also practical. It didn’t require additional setting spray or powder to stay in place or avoid seeping into skin lines. It could be best described as a Paris filter for the skin, providing just the right coverage to hide pimples and neutralize any redness. During the test phase, a remarkable 13-hour persistence was achieved with no smearing or fading in sight.
Reviews from around 9,000 users on Amazon confirmed this assessment, with more than 90% of its users giving it a five-star rating. This rampant popularity was further propelled during Amazon’s Prime Day beauty deals, where the foundation was available for 40% less than its original price. This exceptional product, which worked across a variety of skin tones and types, definitely stood up to the hype as well as its competition.
Creator and senior editor Claire Sullivan took the time to put this foundation under a microscope for an article review. With over eight years of professional experience in national media spanning beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, her expertise combined with hands-on testing played an integral role in showcasing the merit of Tirtir’s Red Cushion Foundation in an industry swayed by new TikTok-viral beauty trends.
