Review: Battle of the K-Beauty Cushions (feat Amuse, Moonshot and Tir Tir)

A clean, healthy base is essential to a great make up look, and thats why I think that a lot of people love foundation cushions. They’re convenient, easy-to-use and there are so many absolutely incredible formulas out there. I’ve used a lot of different products in the past but was recently tasked with trialing, reviewing and comparing a big range of cushions from some of the most popular k-beauty brands of the moment: Amuse, Moonshot and Tir Tir.

The formulas here change from sheer and dewy, to fuller coverage mattes though, naturally, some will better suit my preferences and style. So, I’ll be discussing how these all worked for my specific skin type and concerns:

• Skin type: Combination, dehydrated skin
• Skin concerns: Texture and enlarged pores
• Shade: Shade 21, MAC N4.5 or Fenty 150

The cushions that I will be reviewing include:

• Skin Tune Vegan Cover Cushion (Amuse)
• Meta Fixing Vegan Cushion (Amuse)
• Dew Jelly Vegan Cushion (Amuse)
• Micro CorrectFit Cushion (Moonshot)
• Micro CalmingFit Cushion (Moonshot)
• My Glow Cream Cushion (Tir Tir)
• Mask Fit Cushion (Tir Tir)

All of these are available at StyleKorean and also fully linked within this review.

NOTE: The rating system of this post is different to my usual review and I am also only taking into consideration the shade match, formula and wearability. Please take this into consideration and carefully review ratings.

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Amuse

Amuse is a relatively new k-beauty brand that I was introduced to recently (in fact, you can read my post on some of their other products here). They focus on clean, vegan formulas, with a brand that is also sustainable, unique and joyful. They’ve also been very popular amongst k-pop fans as their model is Red Velvet’s Seulgi, an idol known for her unique looks.

I’ve used their lip tints in the past, which I have been totally obsessed with, and originally got my hands on these cushions months ago… it took a while but I’m finally putting my thoughts down! These had quite diverse formulas and mostly worked well for my skin type.

Skin Tune Vegan Cover Cushion

Product Description

Claiming to give “transparent, satin skin,” this cushion claims to give a smooth satin-like appearance and comes in three shades. Key features include:

• EWG Green, PEG-free and skin friendly clean ingredients
• Extra-fine adhesion that is smudge-proof
• Two film formers for long-lasting dual-coverage
• Contains 70% essence for a clear, satin appearance
• Contains rice ferment filtrate to balance skin tone

Packaging

The packaging for the Skin Tune Vegan Cover Cushion (or actually all of the Amuse cushions) is really pretty but quite bulky. They have a signature clear plastic case, with an opaque cushion insert that is colour coded to each variant. This particular one has a light pink colour.

Aside from being a bit bulky, I do like the design of the case and I find that it’s quite sturdy too. I like how ‘flat’ the edges are. The overall shape and aesthetic is very unique to Amuse.

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I am wearing the shade Fair Tune (01 or equivalent of Shade 21). I found that this ran a bit lighter than usual and also doesn’t oxidise much. I blended it using my contour but would probably need Neutral Tune (1.5) if I wanted a perfect match – (2/5)

FORMULA: This has a sticky texture and it really adheres well to skin. It gives a slight dewy finish, which I balanced out with translucent powder. I like that it didn’t emphasise texture and also gave me a smooth finish. That said, this has pretty light coverage and it’s slightly buildable, but wouldn’t cover spots – (3/5)

WEARABILITY: This cushion applies pretty weightless and it doesn’t feel heavy on skin. The longevity of it was average and needed some reapplication during the day. However, the overall look was still very nice and it’s something I would use casually – (3/5)

RATING: I loved how this applied but I definitely needed to spot conceal on top of it. It was a nice cushion but quite average in my opinion – (8/15)

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Meta Fixing Vegan Cushion

Product Description

With a name like the ‘Meta’ cushion, I had high expectations here! This cushion uses Amuse’s new Metagram Technology and claims to give a thin, powerful fixing cover effect. It has a matte, poreless finish and comes in three shades.

Key features include:

• Metagram technology for powerful fixing and coverage
• 24 hour lasting wear
• Soft finish and smooth coverage
• Vegan and low irritation, clean formula
• Contains vegan collagen for skincare benefits
• Contains 69% essence for a light, refreshing texture

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I am wearing the shade Bosong (01 or equivalent of Shade 21). It was a bit light on my skin but worked well once the rest of my make up was applied – (4/5)

FORMULA: They weren’t kidding about this formula! It has a very natural matte finish with a light to medium coverage (it’s buildable and can cover spots). The formula was also super lightweight and I couldn’t feel it on my skin at all – (5/5)

WEARABILITY: I applied this in the morning and loved how it make my skin looked. I noticed that my cheeks started to break up slightly at 2pm and also discovered that the best way to reapply this isn’t on top – it’s by removing that cheek section and reapplying. The cushion blended in easily. I also didn’t need to powder during the day (only in the morning), as my oils barely peeked through. The stand out for this cushion is that my skin didn’t feel dry to dehydrated even by the end of the day – (4/5)

RATING: I’m pretty obsessed with this one! Although it wasn’t perfect, it was still really good. It’s one that I look forward to wearing again because it was such a comfortable formula – (13/15)

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Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I am wearing the shade Soonsoo (01 or equivalent of Shade 21). It was a touch light at first but become a good match once it oxidised or settled into my skin – (4/5)

FORMULA: The formula is definitely moisturising and comfortable on skin. It has a light coverage but can be slightly built up to cover redness (not major blemishes). I would describe the finish as a natural dewiness, as it doesn’t look too shiny or greasy – (4/5)

WEARABILITY: I applied with this a light powdering of my t-zone and a fixing spray, but otherwise didn’t need to touch up for seven hours. There was very minor caking on one side of my cheek but it was barely noticeable. My skin felt hydrated and this was overall a fairly nice cushion! It’s something I would wear again – (4/5)

RATING: This is another good option from Amuse that I would wear again. The formula isn’t as impressive as the Meta Cushion, but still a good classic – (12/15)

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Moonshot

From here, we’re jumping into Moonshot! This is a brand that I discovered years ago when I was in Korea. They are actually owned by YG Entertainment and I was initially drawn in by all of the G-Dragon and Lee Sungkyung ads. But regardless of that, I used to be a very big fan of their brand. They generally do trendier and relatively bolder make up.

I used to love their original cushions but it’s been a while since I last tried them – and my skin has changed a lot since. I went into this with a clean slate and open mind though and, to be honest, I think these are best suited for younger skin.

Micro CorrectFit Cushion

Product Description

Described as having a “velvet finish,” this cushion is infused with skin caring moisturisers and claims to have high coverage, as well as a glow-boosting look. It’s also said to have brightening and anti-aging benefits, as well as a lightweight formula. This comes in three shades.

Key features include:

• Lasting coverage for smooth skin and no caking
• Perfectly covers up spots and imperfections
• Lightweight, skin-fit formula that applies like second skin

Packaging

The Moonshot cushions definitely have the most eye-catching cases! The shape is more of a traditional cushion case, also a little bit bulky, but they have a unique glitter cover that really sets them apart. The Micro Correctfit Cushion has a stunning purple and pink design.

NOTE: The CorrectFit Cushion case is not interchangeable with the other Moonshot cushions.

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I am wearing the shade 101 Ivory (Equivalent of Shade 21). Although it was a bit light on applicable, it oxidised to blend into my skin – (4/5)

FORMULA: This has a satin finish with a medium coverage. I’m actually used to wearing sheer foundations now so this was a bit heavy for me. Aside from that, this didn’t emphasise texture too much but I felt that I needed a bit of powder to further smooth it out – (2/5)

WEARABILITY: The first few hours of wear was gorgeous – although it was fuller coverage than I’m used to, I liked how smooth it looks. After eight hours, there was some caking on my cheek but it was overall not too bad. However, I had to re-powder often as I found that my shine peeked through a lot. I would probably reach for this again, but try to apply with a lighter hand to sheer our the coverage – (2/5)

RATING: I think that I would have loved this cushion a few years ago. It’s just heavier than what I personally like, as I feel that the formula is very ‘visible’ on the face. It also made my skin grease up more than usual – 8/15

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Micro CalmingFit Cushion

Product Description

This cushion contains four soothing aloe-based ingredients and was formulated to be comfortable even for sensitive skin. It claims to have a weightless formula with whitening and anti-wrinkle functions. This comes in three shades.

Key features include:

• Four ingredients to soothe and calm skin (Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Polysaccharides)
• Hypoallergic and glides on with a second-skin feel
• Contains an anti-bacterial sponge

Packaging

The packaging here is very similar to the other Moonshot cushion (although it is not interchangeable), but instead has a mattified glitter case with a green and light pink colour scheme.

NOTE: The CalmingFit Cushion case is only interchangeable with the GlassyFit and SettingFit Cushion EX refills.

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I am wearing the shade 101 Ivory (Equivalent of Shade 21). Similar to the previous cushion, it was a bit light at first but oxidised quickly to blend into my skin – (4/5)

FORMULA: This cushion has a very slightly dewy finish – it looks very natural and I didn’t even feel the need to powder through the night. Unfortunately though, this formula can emphasize texture and the coverage can’t be built up much, and it’s quite sheer to begin with – (1/5)

WEARABILITY: I liked how thin the foundation is and it actually wore quite well – I didn’t notice any cakiness over a six hour outing and only ever needed a light touch up to feel fresh again. It might have faded a little but I couldn’t notice it too much since the coverage was so sheer to begin with – (3/5)

RATING: Texture is a big concern of mine and this really emphasised every minor uneven texture. The coverage was too sheer and unbuildable too. It’s a shame because I actually liked the natural dewy finish and how this wore through the night – 8/15

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Tir Tir

The last brand that I tried out for this post is Tir Tir, a brand that is totally new to me. Their name stands for ‘Trust in Radiance’ and their goal is to preserve youth and radience. They are a female-founded brand with a high reputation in South Korea and Japan, mixing simple ingredients with technology. Their overall aesthetic is very clean, minimalist and elegant, with a wide product range covering both skincare and make up.

I went into this with zero expectations from Tir Tir, though I did think their packaging looked nice. From trying out these two cushions though, I like that they have quite different formulas to suit different skin types.

My Glow Cream Cushion

Product Description

Starting out with the Glow Cream Cushion, this is a highly moisturising cushion formulated specifically for those who want healthier, dewy skin. It claims to have both brightening and anti-wrinkle benefits, as well as giving a 24 hour glowing finish. This is available in three shades.

Key features include:

• Features a floral scent
• Blends a moisturising cream with a glow powder to optimise moisture and dewiness
• Contains ingredients such as: Sea Daffofil, Rosa Rugosa Thunb, Water Lilies, White Truffle and Acacia peptides

Packaging

The Tir Tir cushions have a very unique egg shaped design – I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before. The puff is also an egg shape, which takes a bit of getting used to. The Glow Cream variant has a white case with a very subtle pearlescent reflect, whilst the Mask Fit Cushion (to be discussed next) has the same design in black.

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I’m wearing Shade 21N, which sits in the middle of the range. I think that this was a good match for my skin tone – (4/5)

FORMULA: They weren’t kidding when they said this was a glow cushion! That has a very glowy finish with a light to medium buildable coverage. It looks very natural on skin, though people with combination skin (like myself) will need to powder over. Unfortunately though, the dewiness means that this can emphasise texture – (2/5)

WEARABILITY: This cushion didn’t last very long, which I usually expect when it comes to dewy formulas. I find that it was breaking up on my cheeks by lunch time, and also had a tendency to slip if you touch your face. It was mostly faded by the time I finished work. This product can be retouched during the day but you need to use very little to prevent caking – (1/5)

RATING: Unfortunately this didn’t work for my skin type and isn’t one that I would regularly use. However, I do bring this in my hand bag for touch ups sometimes. I find that the moisturising formula helps if my skin is feeling too dry from other foundations – 7/15

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Mask Fit Cushion

Product Description

The last cushion that I tried out was Tir Tir‘s Mask Fit Cushion. Unlike the previous formula, this is a long-wearing ‘fixer’ cushion, designed for use under masks. It also claims to have brightening and anti-wrinkle benefits, as well as a satin finish. This is available in three shades.

Key features include:

• 72 hour long-lasting wear that controls sebum and oil
• Has a high water-binding capacity, meaning that the satin finish stays even when layered for coverage
• Contains ingredients such as: Sea Daffofil, Rosa Rugosa Thunb, Water Lilies, Black Truffle and Cotton extract

Personal Experiences

SHADE MATCH: I’m again wearing Shade 21N, which was a good match for my skin tone – (4/5)

FORMULA: This cushion has a buildable light to medium coverage with a lightweight formula and semi-matte finish. It looked quite natural on my skin though can emphasise some dry areas (for me, that was mostly on my nose) – (3/5)

WEARABILITY: I felt that this wore pretty well! After 6-7 hours of wear, I didn’t notice any caking or break up of the foundation. I did a light powder after dinner to even out shine but didn’t feel like I needed much more. The coverage faded slightly, but it didn’t bother me – (4/5)

RATING: I really liked how this looked on my skin and this is one that I would reach for again, though perhaps only on days when my skin isn’t feeling dehydrated or dry – 11/15

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And those are my thoughts on all seven cushions! This post took me a long time to put together but I wanted to give a proper, in-depth look into each formula to help anyone who is looking to try these. Again, my experiences are purely personal and I’m a strong believer than products will work differently for every skin type, so please only use this as a guide.

Here’s a quick summary of the final rankings:

• Skin Tune Vegan Cover Cushion (Amuse) – 8/15
• Meta Fixing Vegan Cushion (Amuse) – 13/15
• Dew Jelly Vegan Cushion (Amuse) – 12/15
• Micro CorrectFit Cushion (Moonshot) – 8/15
• Micro CalmingFit Cushion (Moonshot) – 8/15
• My Glow Cream Cushion (Tir Tir) – 7/15
• Mask Fit Cushion (Tir Tir) – 11/15

My favourites would definitely be the Amuse Meta Fixing Vegan Cushion and Dew Jelly Vegan Cushion, as well as the Tir Tir Mask Fit Cushion. I didn’t have any adverse reactions to any of the other formulas but they just didn’t work for me.

All of these are available at StyleKorean, as well as a much wider range of foundations too!