Category Entertainment News

Tirtir’s foundation has been a viral sensation that promises smooth, glowing skin – but could it live up to the hype? I put it to the test to see if it really was as good as TikTok says

If you’ve stepped foot on the internet in the last few years, you’ll have noticed that Korean beauty products have rapidly become one of the most talked about things online. From complete makeup novices to seasoned skincare pros, everyone has been raving about various K-beauty products, with the latest being Tirtir’s Cushion Foundation.

Dubbed “the red egg” on TikTok thanks to its glossy oval-shaped compact design, the liquid-powder hybrid is said to create smooth, poreless and glowing skin with just a few swipes. Despite its viral popularity, us UK dwellers haven’t been able to see if it really is worth the hype – until now, because it’s finally landed in Boots and you better believe I rushed out to get my hands on it.

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The Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation is £21 and comes in an impressive 40 different shades – considerably better than the three it originally launched with in 2016 – with a reasonably good diversity across skin tones to help you find the best colour match. You get a super soft sponge applicator included in your compact, which helps to apply the foundation directly from the cushion-y pan, and it has a liquid-like formula.

Whilst I’ve heard plenty of great things about it from TikTok and fellow beauty writers, I always have two questions when a product suddenly goes viral; is it really worth the hype? And is it actually usable in day to day life, and not just behind a ring light online?

My review of the Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation

Pros

• Good shade range
• Perfect balance between dewy and matte
• Lightweight feel
• No transfer or patchiness
• Great for travel and on the go
• Covered redness, dry patches and pigmentation
• Need minimal product

Cons

• Shade matching can be tricky
• Sponge is a little fiddly to use

I’ve tried all kinds of foundation formulas in my time as a beauty writer, from powders and liquids to creams and sticks, but had yet to try out a true cushion foundation. I prepped my skin just like I always would, then got to work applying it.

My first thought was that the sponge is a little fiddly to use. As a die hard foundation brush user, it took a few passes to get the hang of applying it evenly with the sponge, but once I had that nailed it applied like a dream.

Its formula is the perfect balance of blendable liquid without being runny, and you really do need a very minimal amount of product. Two gentle taps into the cushion was enough to do my whole face and neck with an even coverage, and the point of the sponge was handy for areas like around my nose and eyes.

I have typically dry, sensitive skin with some redness, and the foundation covered it all seamlessly without looking too mask-like. It smoothed over pores and fine lines, and helped cover some texture without being too thick or cakey, leaving my skin looking glowy, smooth and airbrushed.

If you do prefer a lighter coverage, the Pixi Glow Tint Cushion, £18, is a great alternative. It has a sheer formula that gives a more natural result, and helps with brightening and colour correcting as well as leaving a subtle glow. The Armani Red Cushion R21 Foundation, £49, is also a good option, giving a more traditional foundation coverage with refillable options once you run out.

The best part is it really felt like I was wearing nothing at all. There was no drying or cakey feeling as it wore down throughout the day, and it didn’t settle into any dry patches, creases or lines. It also didn’t smudge onto my clothes, and even survived a sweaty workout and long day at work without budging, which definitely gets it a gold star in my opinion.

My only real struggle with the Tirtir Mask Fit Red Cushion Foundation was matching my shade to begin with; it took a few trials and errors to get the right shade for my skin tone. I also deduced that the best way to apply it is to tap some onto each area of your face before blending – don’t just start applying it to one place as you’ll end up with way too much product in one area leaving it looking uneven.

However, I can happily say that the Tirtir Red Cushion Foundation has earned a spot in my regular beauty rotation, and it’s the perfect foundation for both daytime and evening, with just enough coverage for both (and it’s buildable if you want a little more). It withstood actual real daily life, not just a quick TikTok video or Instagram post, and my skin felt like the best version of itself – which, let’s face it, is exactly what a good foundation should do.

Isabel Hodgins is used to the pressure of public speaking after starring on Emmerdale for 20 years – but her new husband Adam Whitehead admits the wedding-day nerves got to him

It wouldn’t be a wedding without the odd hiccup – and that was certainly the case at the stunning wedding of Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins and PE teacher Adam Whitehead. The couple, who got engaged in November 2023, said their “I Do’s” at Manchester’s cool Castlefield Rooms last month in front of 63 of their friends and family, including many of Isabel’s co-stars.

At 5ft 2in, Isabel opted for a classic dress to avoid “the dress wearing me, not me wearing the dress” and it made such an impact on groom Adam that he made something of a faux pas during their vow exchange. “I forgot my name during the vows,” he told OK! in an exclusive catch up after the ceremony.

READ MORE: Inside Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins’ wedding with co-star guests and baby bombshell

“That was the worst part, the vows,” he continued. “I was so nervous. I’m not a big fan of public speaking. I’m a teacher and do it front of kids, but when it’s in front of people your age, it’s different. I was sweating.”

Isabel, who says she’d “never seen him like that before”, is understandably pro when it comes to public speaking under pressure, after playing Victoria Sugden on Emmerdale for a year shy of two decades. That said, being a bride is very different from playing a part, she reveals.

“I know I’m an actor but I don’t like being the centre of attention. A wedding’s quite stressful, so even before it I was over it,” she laughs. “Then the day came and I was like, ‘we’ll just go with the flow’. It was perfect. I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed it, how full my heart was. It was just brilliant.”

The actress also delivered one of the wedding speeches, much to the respect of her new husband. “I was proud she wanted to do her own speech,” he says. “Power to the women.”

Their big day was a star-studded affair, with Emmerdale co-star Eden Taylor Draper as one of her three bridesmaids, and Danny Miller, Mark Jordon, Laura Norton, Jeff Hordley and Zoë Henry there to enjoy the celebration.

“I’ve known them for so long, Laura’s like a sister to me. Eden was my bridesmaid,” Isabel says. “They’re just all such special, beautiful people. I said in my speech that me and Adam hadn’t been going out for very long and I was telling Zoë about him and she was like, ‘I’ve got a feeling you’re going to marry this man.’ She just knew.”

The couple, who both huge fans of the gym, enjoyed a two-night minimoon to Saltmoore wellness retreat, near Whitby, courtesy of Isabel’s castmates – and there’s a longer trip planned to California this summer.

After that, Isabel says, they might start thinking about some next big steps – becoming parents.

“If that happens, amazing. If it doesn’t, I’ll say ‘that’s fine too’, but I won’t really mean it,” laughs Isabel. “My sister had two toddlers during lockdown. I moved in with them. I just loved it. I think I’m ready to have that myself now.”

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Police told the mum of Mark Blanco, 30, who died after falling from the balcony of a flat where Libertines star Pete Doherty was partying, that his death ‘will not be actively investigated further’

Police have closed the case of a man who died after a row with musician Pete Doherty despite claims of new evidence that he was murdered, the Mirror can reveal.

Nobody has ever been charged over the death of actor Mark Blanco, 30, who fell from the balcony of an East London flat in 2006 where the Libertines star was partying. A 2023 documentary claimed to have uncovered expert evidence that Mark was killed. Mark’s mother Sheila, who has hired a lawyer who helped wronged subpostmasters win justice, filed a 30-page complaint to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, claiming cops have shown little interest in the case and barely spoken to her in the last three years.

A senior officer has now told Sheila her son’s death “will not be actively investigated further”. Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Cochlin wrote: “I am sorry to inform you that the police investigation team has not identified any new lines of enquiry which would assist in providing conclusive answers to what happened to your son at the time of his death.

“Taking into account the substantial information gathered since 2006, there is insufficient evidence to prove that a homicide has occurred. Consequently, the death of Mr Blanco will not be actively investigated further.”

Sheila told the Mirror: “This letter from DCS Neil Cochlin does nothing to restore confidence or trust in the MPS dealings of Mark’s murder. Operation Deckertown, as it was named, has been ongoing for almost 19 years. I consider the tone of this letter to be distasteful, dismissive, inaccurate and in part, insulting.”

The letter reveals that officers reinterviewed the tenant of the flat, Paul Roundhill, but he provided “no new evidence or insight”. Doherty’s minder Johnny ‘Headlock’ Jeannevol told police he had pushed Mark off the balcony but later retracted this, stating he was high on cocaine at the time.

CCTV analyst and FBI instructor Grant Frederick claimed in 2023, based on fresh analysis of footage of the fall, that “there couldn’t be just one person on the balcony”. He told the Mirror: “What I would see is that Mark has come out and somebody has taken Mark and is putting him over the balcony.

“If the measurements and the distance are correct, then Mark was thrown over the balcony, Mark was murdered.” But the Met made contact with Mr Frederick and concluded “this material does not take the investigation further forward”.

DCS Cochin’s letter adds: “There was no change to the scientific or medical evidence and there was nothing to demonstrate conclusively whether Mr Blanco fell, was pushed or jumped. It was also assessed that it would be difficult to establish that Mr Jeannevol’s admissions were reliable … In summary, no further lines of enquiry have been identified against Mr Jeannevol during the police investigation or by the CPS.”

The Sunday Mirror spoke to Mr Jeannevol, 46, outside his East London home in March. When asked what happened to Mark, he said: “Go and ask Pete.” He later told us: “If I had done it I would be in prison, someone would be in prison if they had done it. We just saw that he [Mark] had fallen and Pete ran and I followed him because that was my job, to look after Pete.”

In October 2023, a month after the Channel Four documentary aired, Doherty said that he needed to get in touch with Sheila because “she believes that I killed her son” and the story is “just not going to go away”. He admitted there was “a bit of friction between us”, adding: “We all had an altercation with Marco Blanco. There was pushing and shoving. The next thing he’s on the floor and his skull’s cracked open.”

The documentary included CCTV footage showing Doherty stepping over Mark and fleeing the scene. But he insisted he didn’t see what happened and that he fled because he didn’t want the “inconvenience” of being caught with class A drugs.

Sheila says Doherty hasn’t been in touch, adding: “I have not been approached by Pete Doherty. Nor was I, or my lawyers, consulted ahead of the publication of his book in 2022. I would prefer if he spoke to the police and the police spoke to him, especially in the light of the new and important evidence from the C4 documentary.”

Retired college lecturer Sheila has enlisted the help of expert lawyer Mike Schwarz, who represents some subpostmasters wrongly accused of stealing in the Horizon IT scandal. In her letter of complaint to the IOPC, she said that the “police have failed to investigate this offence promptly or seemingly at all” and haven’t treated it as “potential homicide”. Sheila wanted a “a fresh investigatory team, tasked with a full reinvestigation (so not a simple review) of Mark’s death”, the letter explained. The IOPC has passed this letter to Scotland Yard for its response.

Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Cochlin told the Mirror: “There have been numerous police investigations into Mark’s death since 2006. Last month we wrote to update Ms Blanco on the case and informed her we have concluded there is no evidence to suggest his death was suspicious.

CBBC’s Horrible Science features a guest appearance from the social media sensation

TikTok sensation Big Manny is showcasing his talents in the BBC’s new series, a creation from the team behind Horrible Histories.

Horrible Science made its debut on CBBC on May 9, with the entire series now available for streaming on iPlayer. Much like its predecessor, Horrible Histories, this new comedy show makes education fun for kids through quick-fire sketches centred around scientific themes.

Five out of the fifteen episodes even cover topics found in primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity.

The show features a recurring cast along with guest appearances from First Dates’ Fred Sirieix and social media scientist, Big Manny.

While audiences may be familiar with Fred, this could be their first encounter with Manny on television. Let’s take a closer look at the life of this viral star off-screen, reports the Daily Record.

Why is Big Manny famous?

Big Manny, whose real name is Emanuel Wallace, uses his nickname across his social media platforms. The BBC star began sharing educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, during the COVID-19 lockdown when children were forced into home schooling.

Fresh from graduating with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of East London, Manny started working as a science technician in a secondary school. It was this experience that inspired him to start posting videos online.

“I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown,” the London native revealed to Chemistry World in 2023.

After four years since his debut post, the TikToker has now amassed a whopping two million followers on TikTok and another 1.6 million on Instagram. But that’s not all – Manny recently scooped up the Education Creator of the Year accolade at the first-ever TikTok Awards in December 2024.

Manny resonates with younger audiences by breaking down intricate scientific concepts using everyday London vernacular.

His ultimate mission? is to show young folks from all walks of life that they too have a place in the science world.

In a heart-to-heart with The Voice in 2024, he shared: “So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you.

“So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can’t as well.”

Prince William link

Meanwhile, back in January, Manny caused quite the stir among his fans with an unexpected Royal cameo. While visiting Nature Metrics, an environmental DNA research group, none other than Prince William dropped in to collaborate with the scientist on an experiment.

Proclaiming himself as “Manny’s beautiful assistant,” for a tutorial on strawberry DNA extraction, the Duke’s cameo stunned viewers. The brief 48-second TikTok video racked up over six million views, and fans flooded the comments.

One astonished viewer couldn’t help but express their shock, exclaiming: “PAUSE? ? IS THAT PRINCE WILLIAM? ?” Meanwhile, another was equally taken aback, jokingly remarking: ” I LITERALLY BLINKED TWICE TO CONFIRM WHAT I WAS SEEING.”

It’s been years since Topshop led British fashion culture – but now, they’re back with a bang. The Mirror got exclusive access to their event, previewing their bold new collection and finding out what’s next

Topshop isn’t just back – it’s here to lead culture again.

It’s been part of ASOS for a while now, hidden among the 800+ brands they sell. But now? They’re stepping forward, reclaiming their spirit with a fresh new energy, kicking things off with their bold new collection in collaboration with Defected Records.

The Mirror got an exclusive first look at the pieces during a private event and spoke directly with the brand’s Managing Director, Michelle Wilson, who shared why now is the perfect time for the comeback, and how this relaunch is much more than clothes – it’s about bringing back a feeling.

READ MORE: Topshop returns to the high street for one day only – here’s everything you need to know

“People want a connection again with a creative brand that’s original,” Michelle told the Mirror. “And that’s what Topshop always stood for – not following trends, but driving them. There’s a gap in the market for that British creative energy again.”

Topshop was never just a high street shop. It was deeper than that – a core part of British culture. Accessible to everyone, yet personal to each. The same piece could be worn five different ways by five different girls, and that was the magic. It wasn’t about chasing trends – it created them.

The late ’90s through to the 2000s is when it gained serious attention, and it continued years on. Topshop wasn’t just a shop, it was a destination. It was where youth, style and identity met. And with the market yearning for that space, they’re carving out the space again – this time louder, prouder and even more connected.

The event felt like a glimpse into the past, taking place in Defected’s East London basement where DJ Olive F kept the energy flowing. But it wasn’t just a showcase – it was a moment.

There was a makeup station, people talking, all captivated by the clothes and culture around them. It instantly brought back memories of Topshop’s Oxford Circus store, where DJs spinning on the shop floor wasn’t unusual – in fact, it was the norm. The space always brought people together, and in that room, for a few hours, it felt like that spirit was alive again.

“We’ve definitely seen an overwhelming response”, said Michelle. “People want to see Topshop back again – and this kind of event is the first step in being able to show everyone, this is what we stand for. This is what the product is about letting everyone kind of touch and feel it again.”

Since Topshop’s absence, there’s a clear gap in the market – not only in fashion, but in feeling. Many brands sell clothes, but not many have captured the cultural pull – the buzz, the energy in the same way they did. There’s been a missing piece, and people are ready for it to return.

But while they will be bringing back the spirit we all remember, they’re not going backwards – but moving forward, leveraging all the great parts of Topshop and bringing that into 2025. But why now?

The brand went into administration, but was quickly snatched up by ASOS early 2021. But being tucked inside the ASOS ecosystem made it easy to miss – the standalone Topshop identity wasn’t front and centre. Now, they want to tell its story and reclaim that space, reminding people what Topshop actually is, because for this brand, it’s never been just about clothes – but beyond that, it’s always been about the feeling.

And while it never truly disappeared, “We’re building into a bigger summer launch moment where we’ll have our own site again,” Michelle said. “We’ll have topshop.com, and we can tell stories and present our product in our own way on a more constant basis than we have been.”

That’s exactly why the collaboration with Defected made sense. “They’re the perfect partner to do this with, working with creatives and across all sorts of parts of the creative industry. This collaboration feels like the perfect embodiment of that.”

“The whole kind of creative energy that’s in London, from a music and artist perspective. Its culture and fashion is the absolute bedrock of culture”, she added.

The customer event takes place today (Saturday, 10 May) in the same Defected basement, and while tickets sold out in a matter of minutes, they are accepting walk-ins between 10am and 6pm – expect shopping, DJs, giveaways and more.

But this is just the beginning, Michelle hinted at bigger plans,” I can’t say this date we’re going to have a Topshop standalone store again, but it’s absolutely top of our agenda to make that happen.”

And with an ever bigger relaunch moment coming in August – including the return of back topshop.com – we can only imagine what will come next. The original design team have stayed on, and if this drop is anything to go by, what’s next will be even better.

And if this event proved anything, it’s that Topshop isn’t just back – it’s filling a space we didn’t realise we missed this much.

READ MORE: Best-selling shoulder bag that looks like Hermes Berkin for £21k less is finally back in stock

Stylist Nicky Hambleton-Jones opens up on the emotional aftermath of being axed from her iconic role on 10 Years Younger, finally feeling like herself again – and her big return to TV

Stylist Nicky Hambleton-Jones is back to doing what she loves best – sharing her passion for all things fashion and transforming the way people look and feel about themselves. As well as returning to our TV screens on This Morning ’s Drop A Decade, she has a new book out, Bolder Not Older, designed to help people be more adventurous with their style choices regardless of their age and body shape.

When OK! catches up exclusively with Nicky, the fashion guru certainly doesn’t disappoint in a gorgeous dress, signature red lipstick and heels. “It’s impossible to have a bad day in a bright outfit,” she grins. But there was a darker period in Nicky’s life. The 54-year-old – who shares son Ben, 15, and daughter Georgina, 12, with husband Rob Green – was famously dropped from makeover show 10 Years Younger after five years of hosting it, and replaced by Myleene Klass. “I lived in a spiral of fear of being seen as a loser,” Nicky says, and it’s clear the experience hit her hard.

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The thing that propelled her forward, she tells us, is not wanting being cut from the show to be the end of her story, so she knew she had to put herself back out there. Here, the South African star tells us how it feels being back in the spotlight after 17 years and why she’s embracing this exciting new stage of her life…

Nicky, how did you get your mojo back after being dropped by 10 Years Younger?

When that happened, it was a shock. Everything evaporated overnight and I felt like such a failure. When you have a life shock that affects you personally, it’s so difficult when you’re in the public eye. I fixated on people seeing me as a loser. It took a lot of time to reprogramme that and it doesn’t happen overnight. But the way I do it is by getting up every day, putting on my lipstick and dressing for the person I want to be.

How did you feel on your first day on the This Morning set? I was terrified. I didn’t sleep the night before and I was shaking the whole way through it. 10 Years Younger was a brilliant but controversial show and the trolling off the back of that was awful. I was like, “If I go back on TV I’m opening myself up to all that negativity again.” But the other option was to do nothing, so I told myself to just do it.

A funny thing is, when I did the series in January, I bumped into Myleene Klass in the corridor and I was like, “Uh oh.” But I thought, “I’m just going to own this,” so I said hello and we had a little chat. But I love doing Drop A Decade – it’s wonderful helping people feel better about themselves. 10 Years Younger could be quite brutal, but this is uplifting and positive.

On 10 Years Younger, people had everything from facelifts to Botox. Have you had any work done? Before Covid I had some fillers around the cheek area, but I noticed they showed through my skin and looked a bit lumpy, so I Ieft that. Then a year ago I tried a bit of Botox and that was amazing, but you have to go to the right person. My big thing is, I don’t want to look “done”. I don’t want to look younger, I just want to look good for my age, so I like things that improve the quality of your skin, like radio frequency treatments.

Do you think society tries to dictate how we should dress at certain stages in life? People say you become invisible at a certain age, but I say it’s you who’ve stopped making yourself feel visible. You’ve decided you can’t wear bright colours any more or that it’s not appropriate to wear anything too clingy. It’s the fear of judgement, so you dull down your choices. But you can’t let that hold you back. Buy pieces that make your heart leap. The real secret to having great style at any age is to develop a signature look that works for you. That transcends any trends, because it’s what you feel good in and it’s true to you.

How have you embraced being in your fifties? People dread the big 5-0, then you realise the world doesn’t freeze over. You still look the same, you still feel the same. But you do realise life is short, so if there’s something you want to do you’ve just got to get on with it. My mum has advanced dementia, which gives me that sense of urgency. There’s nothing I won’t do any more. Before I’d be too scared, but now I’m like, “Let’s go river rafting, let’s go climb a mountain.” I’m having more adventures than I’ve ever had.

You’ve been married for nearly 20 years. What’s your secret? It’s impossible not to have ups and downs but when you’ve got that commitment, you know that every stressful moment is just a blip in the road and you come through it. If you can still have a laugh together, then you know you’re OK.

You have two kids. What sort of mum are you? I’m not suffocating, but I won’t tolerate rudeness, laziness or untidiness, and you have to get outside every day. It’s so hard being a parent, because you think you’re going to be amazing and then you realise they’re not interested because they just see you as Mum.

My thing is to be a role model – to exercise regularly and work hard. They’ve seen me struggle with a career implosion, then build myself up again. I think that’s a really important lesson for them. Life isn’t sugar-coated, it’s a roller-coaster. But it doesn’t matter how far you fall, it’s all about coming back.

What big ambitions are still on your list? I want to win a Bafta – that’s my big goal in life. I’ve got no idea how, but you’ve got to have a really big dream, because even if you don’t get there, just having it propels you further than you ever would have got before. I’d also love to do a bold clothing range that’s sexy, sassy and colourful, and I want to travel. For me, the perfect life is a well-rounded life.

Bolder Not Older: Dull To Dazzling In 12 Weeks by Nicky Hambleton-Jones (Synergy Publishing, £17.99) is out now. Follow @nickyhambletonjones.