TikTok is a my preferred social media platform for several reasons. In addition to its relatable content (thanks to its unique and personalized algorithm), the video-sharing app is a treasure trove of never-ending beauty tips and tricks that are super easy to mimic, extremely effective, and have also streamlined my morning makeup routine in the process.
In fact, I swear by TikTok’s beauty hacks so much so that my friends have made it a point to send me each viral makeup technique that appears on their For You Page. But not everything you see on TikTok is user-friendly— last year, an Australian TV star was left temporarily blind in one eye after an at-home acupuncture attempt she followed on TikTok went wrong.
Rest assured though, the below makeup hacks have all been tried, tested, and true by yours truly. Read on for some of my favorite game-changing beauty hacks I learned from TikTok that you too can adopt into your daily grooming ritual.
Brow-grazing lashes
@andreeapletea Mascara hack or normal mascara? #mascarahacks #makeuphacks ♬ sonido original – djdarzu
Those who wish to have a set of thick, eyebrow-grazing lashes without taking the (oft-times damaging) eyelash extensions route or reserving a good chunk of their daily makeup routine to meticulously applying strip lashes can opt for this technique. All you need for this three-step beauty hack is concealer, loose powder, and your go-to mascara. Coat your lashes with concealer and a dusting of translucent powder before applying your mascara. The result is dramatically long, doll-like lashes in a matter of seconds.
Faux freckles
@bexcxmpbell #fauxfreckles #makeup ♬ Link in bio for full version of this – Alex Chapman
There are plenty of techniques when it comes to creating sun-kissed trompe l’oeil freckles, but this beauty hack that consists of dotting your fingertips with speckles of fake tanner or a darker foundation and gently dabbing your cheeks is perhaps the most simple and believable.
Transfer-proof lip liner
@sacheuur welcome♬ Calming and healing Lofi Hiphop(899982) – Oren
Eyebrow tint is apparently the best lip liner, according to TikTok. Beauty gurus have traded in the traditional lip liner in lieu of a long-lasting brow tint for a longer-lasting effect that won’t rub off when you drink or eat. The smudge-free results last for two to three days, so you can literally #wakeuplikethis.
30 Second cat-eye
@gjuanita Reply to @wxvy.nf extreme cat eye trick! @gigibeebeauty ♬ original sound – giorginajuanita
Not all of us are genetically blessed with smoldering, elongated peepers, but creating an amplified cat-eye look has never been easier. The trick is to take a set of false eyelashes, cut them in half, and apply them to the outer corner of the eyes for a subtle, yet super snatched, effect.
Razor sharp cheekbones
@meganlavallie sometimes a straight line from your ear can look a little intense #contourhacks #contour #makeup ♬ Elevator Music – Bohoman
This viral beauty hack may be super simple, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t extremely effective. Unlike most contouring techniques, you don’t have to be a makeup expert to nail this ultra-easy contour hack. Just apply a dime-sized spot in a few shades darker than your skin right at the hollow of your cheek. “There is this one spot on your cheek that if you poked a hole through, it would touch your cheek,” TikTok user Megan Lavallie explains of the placement. After the makeup is in the right place on the face, use a fluffy blending brush to gently blend the spot out, and voila, Kate Moss-worthy cheekbones in two simple steps.