Decoding the TirTir Hype: A Deep Dive into 13 Viral K-Beauty Products

I crowned this the best cleansing balm of 2024 in my Best K-Beauty of 2024 roundup, and for good reason. Anyone with dry skin knows the magic of a good cleansing balm, and trust me, I've tried them all. This one is luxuriously silky smooth and melts away makeup, dirt, and sebum without stripping your skin, leaving it feeling plump and hydrated. The magic lies in its potent blend of five probiotics for a stronger skin barrier, patented enzymes to unclog pores, brightening niacinamide, and rice bran oil for oil control and pore tightening. If you're a cleansing balm enthusiast, this is an absolute must-try.

This powder wash is a game-changer, especially for sensitive skin. As I discussed in my double cleansing video, powder washes are the gentlest cleansing option. This one transforms into a creamy foam in your wet hands, effectively removing impurities without irritation. The formula boasts five probiotics (just like the balm), patented enzymes for deep cleansing, redness-calming allantoin, gentle PHA exfoliation, and mung bean powder to detoxify and fight breakouts. It does have a faint powdery, almost medicinal scent, but it's subtle and doesn't linger. The incredible texture more than makes up for it.

This milky toner was one of TirTir's bestsellers and went viral this year. Does it live up to the hype? It's good, definitely more than okay, which is why it's in the "greats" category. It strikes a nice balance between lightweight and milky, delivering hydration and soothing benefits thanks to ingredients like brightening rice bran extracts and niacinamide, calming centella asiatica extract, adenosine, and witch hazel, and hydrating ceramide and sodium hyaluronate. While it's effective, I've personally tried more intensely nourishing milky toners (check out my best Korean milky toners video for my top picks!).

This serum is my go-to for a quick hydration boost. It's lightweight yet slightly viscous, absorbing quickly into the skin. The star ingredient is polyglutamic acid, known for its long-lasting moisturizing properties. It also contains glycerin, butyrin, and panthenol for added hydration. But the benefits don't stop there! The SOS Serum also boasts anti-aging properties thanks to four types of peptides, including the "Botox in a jar" – acetal hexapeptide-8. Soothing allantoin, chamomile flower extract, and centella asiatica extract round out this multi-benefit serum, leaving skin smooth, plump, and deeply hydrated.

I'm wearing this toner-primer hybrid right now, and it's fantastic under makeup! I use the beige shade for natural coverage, but it also comes in mint for redness correction and lavender for dullness. A little goes a long way, as it contains titanium dioxide, which can leave a white cast if you apply too much. It's enriched with niacinamide and peach flower extract to brighten and even out skin tone, creating a smooth, flawless canvas for foundation.

This cushion foundation is a true standout, offering a remarkable 40 shades! That's practically unheard of in K-beauty. I love cushion foundations that provide natural coverage and a porcelain glass skin finish, and this one delivers on both fronts. It offers good coverage, absorbs quickly, and leaves a long-lasting dewy glow. The formula includes roselle, propolis extract, niacinamide, and adenosine for brightening and a flawless finish. It doesn't peel or smudge, even when I wear glasses. Some might find it a bit heavy, but it didn't feel that way on my skin.

This lip oil was a pleasant surprise. Initially, I found it a bit sticky, but it quickly settles into a comfortable matte texture with a glossy finish. It's incredibly hydrating and leaves my lips feeling soft and moisturized. It has a soft red tint and a subtle rosy scent. The formula is packed with nourishing ingredients like damask rose, camellia seed oil, jojoba oil, aloe flower extract, turmeric, and marigold flower extract.

This ampoule, featuring Hyun Bin (swoon!), promises “ceramic skin.” It's not actually milky in appearance, but it's infused with a 37% vegan milk complex that creates a milky texture when shaken. It also contains niacinamide, rice oil, soybean ferment extract, ceramides, and peptides for brightening and hydration. While it does provide a nice dewy glow, it wasn't hydrating enough for my dry skin. I had to layer the SOS serum on top almost immediately. This might be a better fit for combination or oily skin types.

This cream, another product from the ceramic line, is just… okay. It has a rich, creamy texture with moisturizing and soothing ingredients like polyglutamic acid, macadamia seed oil, shea butter, and centella asiatica extract. It might be decent for normal to dry skin, but it wasn't enough for my very dry skin. It might even be too heavy for combination or oily skin. I'd say this is best suited for normal skin types.

With 24% pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid), this serum is definitely for experienced vitamin C users. (If you're new to vitamin C, check out my Korean vitamin C serums video.) It has a runny, slightly oily texture, which is typical for high-concentration vitamin C products. It also contains soothing centella asiatica extract, hydrolyzed collagen, and madecassoside. This isn't for everyone, especially those with sensitive skin. It could be too strong. However, if your skin tolerates vitamin C well and you're looking for potent results, this could be a good option.

This eye cream has been raved about by many influencers, so you might be surprised to see it in this category. It has a luxurious texture and a unique metal ball tip applicator. The formula includes 10,000 ppm of plant-based collagen complex, 5-peptides, niacinamide, and adenosine to improve elasticity, brighten, and reduce wrinkles. While the metal tip is great for de-puffing, it dispenses too much product and can be tricky to maneuver around the delicate eye area. I prefer using my fingers. I also wish the formula was a bit thicker.

I had such high hopes for this cleanser! It's packed with centella asiatica and snail secretion filtrate, both ingredients that usually work well for my skin type. It lathers well and effectively removes dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities. The problem? It removes too much oil. It left my skin feeling dry and tight, and even my oily-skinned husband found it too drying. If you have very oily skin, you might appreciate this cleanser, but it was too stripping for both of us.

This is a spray mist essence formulated with small molecular sized collagen. It contains 78.4% collagen water, niacinamide, 8 types of hyaluronic acid, mineral water, and 12 vitamins and amino acids. It’s supposed to hydrate and add glow, but it stung my skin. And the ingredient list? A whopping 63 ingredients! That’s way too much for my sensitive skin, and honestly, probably too much for most skin types. It felt overwhelming. If you don’t have sensitive skin and want to try a collagen mist, this might work for you, but proceed with caution.

So there you have it – my honest review of 13 TirTir products! I hope this helps you navigate the hype and find the perfect products for your skin. Let me know in the comments which TirTir products you've tried, which ones you'd like to try, and which are your holy grails! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in my next K-beauty adventure! Annyeong!