Table of Contents
TIRTIR (티르티르) is a Seoul brand founded in 2019 whose Mask Fit Red Cushion became the first Korean cushion foundation to top Amazon's foundation category in 2024, after it expanded to 40 shades worldwide (45 in Korea) in response to a creator's video. The Red Cushion is full-coverage and semi-matte; Aura and Crystal Mesh are glowier, All Cover and AI Filter are higher coverage, and the Mini sizes are the way to test a shade. Start with the Red Cushion Mini.
Cushion foundation is a Korean format, and TIRTIR's red compact is the one that made it a global product rather than a K-beauty curiosity. The brand now has half a dozen Mask Fit cushions, which is confusing from the outside. This guide explains the shade story, lines the cushions up by finish and coverage, and tells you which to start with. If you are new to the format itself, read How to Choose a Korean Cushion Foundation first.
At Daebak, a Seoul-based Korean culture and product company, product descriptions come from TIRTIR's product pages and the brand facts from The Korea Herald, listed at the end. TIRTIR products in our shop are shipped by the brand.
The shade story
The Korea Herald tells it in a January 2026 profile. In 2023 the Canadian beauty creator Miss Darcei reviewed the Mask Fit Red Cushion on YouTube and found that even the darkest shade was too light for her skin. TIRTIR's answer was to develop more than 20 deeper shades; her follow-up video, in which she found her match, drew more than 50 million views across platforms. The cushion now comes in 40 shades globally and 45 in Korea, and in 2024 it became, in the Herald's words, "the first Korean cushion foundation to top Amazon's foundation category." The brand turned the episode into its "Your Shade, Our Standard" slogan and named BTS member V as a global ambassador. The Herald quotes TIRTIR's chief marketing officer Lee Sun-young, formerly of Amorepacific's Sulwhasoo, on the lesson: listening sincerely and quickly builds more trust than any planned campaign.
For a Korean cushion, 40 shades is unusually wide; many lines offer only a handful of light tones. It is the reason TIRTIR is the cushion to recommend to people outside Korea, whatever their skin tone, and it fits the bigger picture: the Korea JoongAng Daily reported in May 2026 that the United States had become the largest market for Korean cosmetics, within record exports of $11.4 billion in 2025.
TIRTIR Mask Fit Red Cushion, 18 g. See details.
The cushions side by side
| Cushion | Finish, per the brand | Coverage | SPF | Shades in our shop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mask Fit Red Cushion (18 g) / Mini | Natural semi-matte to satin-glow | Full, buildable | SPF40 PA++ (Mini listing) | 45 (Mini) |
| Mask Fit Aura Cushion Mini | Semi-glow | Buildable | SPF30 PA++ | 20 |
| Mask Fit Crystal Mesh Cushion Mini | Radiant, luminous; mesh dispenses an even amount | Buildable | SPF50+ PA++++ | 15 |
| Mask Fit Ruby Mesh Cushion (15 g) | Radiant, glass-like | Buildable | SPF30 PA++ | 10 |
| Mask Fit All Cover Cushion (18 g) | Natural-looking | High | SPF50+ PA+++ | 15 |
| Mask Fit AI Filter Cushion (18 g) | Smooth, refined matte; blurs pores | High, buildable | SPF50+ PA++++ | 15 |
Finish and coverage descriptions are the brand's. The SPF and shade counts are as listed on each product page in our shop; the Korea Herald's 40 and 45 figures are the brand's global and Korean totals for the Red Cushion. The PA grade next to the SPF is the UVA rating that originated as a Japanese industry standard, with PA++++ as the top grade since 2013, according to the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan.
Which cushion for which face
- You want the famous one, or you have oily or combination skin: the Red Cushion. Semi-matte, full coverage, the widest shade range. Buy the Mini first to confirm your shade, then the 18 g.
- You want glow, or your skin is dry: Aura for a semi-glow, Crystal Mesh for the most luminous finish with the highest sun protection of the range.
- You want maximum coverage: All Cover if you want it to still look like skin, AI Filter if you want pores blurred and a matte surface.
- You like the mesh format: Ruby Mesh; the mesh top meters out a thin, even layer, which is the easiest way to avoid cakiness.
TIRTIR Mask Fit Crystal Mesh Cushion Mini. See details.
How to apply a TIRTIR cushion
- Skincare and sunscreen first. A cushion's SPF is a bonus, not your sun protection; see the Korean sunscreen guide.
- Press the puff lightly into the cushion. Do not drag; the sponge is already loaded.
- Pat from the center of the face outward in thin layers, as the brand directs, building only where you need coverage.
- Set if you need to. The Mask Fit Make Up Fixer is the brand's fine-mist setting spray, marketed for resisting moisture, sweat and friction.
- Touch up with the Mini. The 4.5 g compacts are made for handbags; press, pat, done.
Finding your shade
The brand's own shade finder is the most reliable guide, and the Mini is the practical way to confirm a match before buying the full size. Test on the jawline in daylight, not on the hand. If you fall between two shades, remember that the Red Cushion is full coverage, so a mismatch shows more than it would with the sheerer, glowier cushions; take the extra step of trying the Mini.
Brand products in our shop are shipped by the brands. If you would rather try Korean makeup chosen for you each season, the Daebak K-Beauty Box is a separate, curated option.
FAQ
What is the difference between TIRTIR Red, Aura and Crystal Mesh cushions?
Red is full coverage with a semi-matte to satin finish and the widest shade range. Aura is a semi-glow with buildable coverage. Crystal Mesh is the most radiant, with SPF50+ PA++++ and a mesh top that dispenses an even layer.
How many shades does the TIRTIR Red Cushion come in?
40 shades globally and 45 in Korea, according to The Korea Herald; the Mini listing in our shop carries 45.
Why did TIRTIR go viral?
After a 2023 YouTube review by creator Miss Darcei found the darkest shade too light, the brand developed more than 20 deeper shades; her follow-up video drew over 50 million views, and in 2024 the Red Cushion topped Amazon's foundation category, per The Korea Herald.
Is TIRTIR cushion good for oily skin?
The Red Cushion and AI Filter Cushion are the semi-matte and matte options, which oily skin usually prefers; the brand markets AI Filter for blurring pores.
Does the TIRTIR cushion have SPF?
Yes, varying by cushion: SPF30 PA++ (Aura, Ruby Mesh) up to SPF50+ PA++++ (Crystal Mesh, AI Filter). Treat it as a top-up over sunscreen, not a replacement.
Sources
- [K-Trendsetters] Beyond the pale: How shade diversity put TirTir on the global map (The Korea Herald, January 2026)
- Korea surpasses U.S. in cosmetics exports with record $11.4 billion (Korea JoongAng Daily, May 2026)
- Current Conditions of Sun Protection Test Methods for Sunscreen Products (Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists of Japan, 2013)
