I Tried a Full Face of TikTok-Famous Makeup Products to See if They’re Legit...
Amy Clark is Adore Beauty's former Senior Editor and co-host of Skincare School the podcast (and self-appointed beauty road-tester!). Amy's worked as a journalist, beauty editor and podcaster for several years, previously writing and talking about all things beauty at Mamamia and You Beauty. When she's not writing honest, no BS product reviews and taking selfies 'for work', you'll find Amy eating halloumi in a hair towel turban and... taking more selfies.
Ever see people raving about a product on TikTok and wonder.... is it really all that?
Same. Literally every day.
So when my colleague Nikkita asked me to road-test a full face of only viral makeup products for Adore Beauty's TikTok, I happily obliged.
No ring light. No fancy editing. Just me doing my makeup in the car.
I honestly thought it'd be a hot mess.
But turns out, this TikTok makeup routine was pleasantly surprising.
Watch my TikTok makeup first impressions below, or keep scrolling for all the details on each step in this routine.
1. Innisfree Jelly Cream.
innisfree Cherry Blossom Jelly Cream 50ml is a gel cream with a lightweight, refreshing texture.
It delivers intense moisture and instant glow via Jeju Cherry Blossom extract, niacinamide (vitamin B3) and vitamin E.
Oh, and it sold out world-wide when makeup artist @mikaylanogueira road-tested a skin routine from another creator @glamzilla.
My Innisfree Jelly Cream review:
Straight off the bat, I was worried the jelly texture would feel sticky or pill when layered with other products.
But there were no issues when I applied it on top of my sunscreen.
I definitely saw the promised instant radiance, but it's nowhere near hydrating enough for my dry skin, for every day.
That said, AB's Content Producer Sadaf has combination skin, and reckons oily skin types would love this.
You can read her full Innisfree Jelly Cream review in this TikTok glowy skin routine Beauty IQ article here.
2. elf Putty Primer.
elf Poreless Putty Primer is a skin-perfecting primer with a blurring finish that's just the right amount of matte.
Some people reckon this affordable brand's primers are dupes for other exxy products (*cough* Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer *cough*).
My elf Putty Primer review:
So, you can't actually ever get rid of pores for good.
They're normal and our skin needs them to function. But this pore primer does a stellar job of physically filling pores in.
elf Putty Primer has a silky smooth velvet texture that blurs the appearance of pores and smooths over fine lines for a seamless base.
My dry skin was concerned it would be too matte, drying or silicone-y.
But I was surprised to see skin still looks like healthy skin underneath, rather than a sheet of paper.
Hot tip: Only apply a pore primer where you need it. For me, a bit around my nose and chin is plenty.
3. L'Oreal Tinted Serum.
L'Oreal Paris True Match Nude Plumping Tinted Serum is exactly what it says it is.
The affordable skin tint is infused with 1% hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin for a plumping effect.
As per the product description, this serum foundation "smooths and plumps while creating a luminous glow."
My L'Oreal Tinted Serum review:
This right here is my kind of foundation.
I used the shade 0.5-2 Very Light, but it comes in a number of shades catering to different complexions.
Side note, you can see what Sadaf thought of the L'Oreal tinted serum in her skin tint roundup Beauty IQ article here.
Even though the texture is super light and fluid-like, I still like to apply it using a dense flat stippling brush over fingers.
Overall, I was very pleased with this TikTok foundation.
Light coverage? Tick. Doesn't feel like anything on the skin? Tick.
It evens everything out and adds some hydration and glow, too.
4. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze is a unique clear brow gel/wax/jelly hybrid that'll keep your eyebrows brushed up and looking fluffy for hours.
Brow Freeze went predictably viral when it launched for its ability to deliver the brow lamination look without you... having to get your brows laminated.
My Brow Freeze review:
I wrote an entire Beauty IQ article on Brow Freeze and how much I love it.
The tiniest bit gives you fluffy laminated brows that stay up ALL DAY, without making them look too glossy or crunchy.
Here's a before and after. Pretty good, eh?
Just don't dunk your brush (or finger) into the pot unless you want your eyebrows to look like they've been electrocuted.
Trust me, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Applicator is a game-changer for Brow Freeze fans.
Scoop out the product and apply to brows using the spatula end, before brushing through and upwards with the spoolie.
I've honestly never tried anything like it! 10/10 worth the hype.
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer.
A lightweight and buildable cream bronzer that comes in eight inclusive shades? Gimme.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Cream Bronzer has a natural matte finish, won't oxidise or change colour throughout the day, and can be used as a bronzer and contour product.
Watch this YouTube video below to see how to apply this cream bronzer.
My Anastasia Beverly Hills bronzer review:
When this product first launched, some people said they thought it might be a solid dupe for the luxurious (and very expensive) Chanel bronzing cream.
Jury is out on that one, but what I can say is this cream bronzer is an excellent product... once you get the hang of how to use it.
Unlike cream blush, I don't find cream bronzers very beginner-friendly because it's easy to use too much, or too much in the wrong spot.
If cream bronzers make you nervy, apply the product to the back of your hand, and then pick some up using a flat stippling brush before popping it onto the skin.
This way, you can always add more if you like, without worrying about having to furiously blend too much out.
While I'm a HUGE fan of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Blush (the shades Latte and Peach Caramel are divine), I'll be sticking with my trusty powder bronzer for everyday use.
After a second opinion? Read more Anastasia Beverly Hills cream bronzer reviews from different Beauty IQ writers here.
6. Maybelline Sky High Mascara.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara - Very Black basically broke the internet when it first launched in 2021.
Sky High promises to combine full volume and dramatic length, along with a flexible brush that can reach even the smallest lashes.
Maybelline Sky High Mascara review:
I wrote a full Maybelline Sky High Mascara review Beauty IQ article when this product first went viral...
While TikTok loves the mascara's flexible wand and spiked bristles, the traditionalist in me prefers an old-school mascara brush.
You might love it, but Sky High is not for me.
Different (mascara) strokes for different folks, as they say.
Maybelline Colossal Curl Bounce Washable Mascara is my current affordable mascara pick.
7. Benefit Benetint Blush.
Benefit Benetint Lip & Cheek Tint has been around for yonks, but the brand's tints started making the TikTok rounds thanks to the 'wearing blush on your nose' trend.
The multi-use liquid blush doubles as a lip stain, and gives cheeks and lips a natural-looking pink flush or rich rose hue, depending on how you use it.
My Benefit Benetint review:
A little goes along way with this liquid blush.
No more than a few dots blended upwards along the cheekbone with a stippling brush is plenty for a healthy flush.
Hot tip: You'll want to work fairly quickly as the stain really does 'stain' if you leave it too long before blending.
Is this a product I'd use every day?
No, because I have too many other cream blush children that require my love and attention. I personally also prefer a tinted lip balm to a stain.
But Benetint is definitely an oldie-but-goodie product I'd kind of forgotten about, so thanks, TikTokers, for the reminder!
Those with normal to oily skin or anyone who needs a blush that won't budge - this one's for you.
8. Clinique Black Honey Lipstick.
Clinique Almost Lipstick - Black Honey is the definition of a cult classic.
The moisturising tinted lip balm is Clinique's #1 best-selling lipstick, and gives lips a sheer wash of high-shine colour they promise suits all complexions.
Because the kids on TikTok love rediscovering things that were big back in the day (like Farrah Fawcett hair and 90s beauty trends), it's no surprise Black Honey ended up all over our social feeds.
My Clinique Black Honey review:
Can confirm, this product lives up to the TikTok hype.
You can read the AB team's Clinique Black Honey reviews in this Beauty IQ article, but spoiler, we love it.
Personally, tinted lip balm is the one product I don't leave the house without because my natural lip colour is a deathly corpse-like shade of white and blue/purple.
I LOVE how this colour looks on my lips and with my complexion. The red wine stain hue gives my lips enough colour for everyday wear, without looking lipstick-y.
I'd describe it as my ideal lip colour, like 'my lips but better'. I also like the comfortable glossy finish.
Final Verdict...
Honestly, I had fairly low expectations for this makeup look.
Although I currently use and love both Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze and Clinique Almost Lipstick - Black Honey , many of the other products were either A) not suited to my skin type or B) outside of my makeup comfort zone.
But I was surprisingly happy with the finished look, see above!
None of these TikTok-famous products are duds. At all.
They're all great for different reasons, and suited to different people.
The biggest thing I learnt from doing this full face of TikTok makeup?
Just because a product goes viral, doesn't mean you have to love it.
P.S. Watch our YouTube video below to see more real life reviews of TikTok beauty trends.
Want more viral beauty content? Check out these Beauty IQ articles below:
