If you have TikTok downloaded to your phone (let's face it, who doesn't at this point) then I'm quietly confident you have spent many an hour procrastinating on the app and know exactly how addictive viewing random 15-second video clips can be.
But have ever found yourself on #BeautyTok?
If you have, then you will know exactly how dangerous it can be for both your bank balance and time. I will hold my hand up and admit I've been influenced even by creators I've only just discovered and I'm kind of not mad about it.
For the most part, I've been pretty pleased with my TikTok influenced purchases thus far and it helps that the platform seems pretty savvy when it comes to creators often recommending accessible drugstore products along with Tiktok beauty dupes that don't break the bank... as long as you don't buy everything per late-night scrolling session that is.
With beauty creators and even the average person now able to make makeup and skincare items go viral on Tiktok to the point they sell out for months, I thought it was about time I spoke about the beauty products I've been influenced to buy. From regrets to beloved makeup staples here are my 'As Seen on Tiktok' purchases (so far!).
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Dr Jart Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment (£15/15ml)
One of the first-ever Tiktok influenced purchases I made was the now-cult fave' Dr Jart Tiger Color Correcting Treatment. This was sold to me on the promise it would banish all redness and even out skin tone and generally work as an all-round skin-toning base that wouldn't leave me looking like Princess Fiona from Shrek.
Over the past year, I've tried using Dr Jart's Tiger Grass Treatment in several ways to see which application works the best, because I'll be honest, it can be drying on the skin.
From applying it after skincare as my only base product, over a super hydrated base, with foundation on top, mixed into foundation - you name it!
And I've finally concluded that it gives the best even-skin results when a little is applied alone to ultra-hydrated skin along with a touch of concealer in areas of darkness - strictly no foundation or it simply looks too heavy on the skin. However, I'm still tempted to recommend dry-skinned gals stay clear as the corrector is on the chalky side.
That said, when this green-tinted corrector is applied to well-hydrated skin, magic happens. The corrector subtly changes to a neutral beige tone that brings down patches of redness and hyperpigmentation and as long as you apply a small amount (I'm literally talking a few dots of it where needed) it looks pretty undetectable on the skin.
The Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment is available in 15ml (£15) and 50ml (£37) sizes but I'll be honest I'm a little baffled by this, as a little truly goes a long way with this green-to-beige cream. So for me, the 15ml (which will last years) is the only sensible option here.
Would I buy this again, even though the 15ml pot will last me for the next 5 years? Yes!
While I did have some teething issues in the beginning, this is a product that works and totally removes any redness I may have especially around my nose and chin. It's a thumbs up from me!
Peter Thomas Roth Instant FIRMx Temporary Eye Tightener (£32.00)
With such a vast amount of low-priced drugstore skincare now available it takes a lot for me to spend over £30 on a single product with little to no thought. But when I came across the below viral video from @trinidad1967 showing the results of the now sell-out Peter Thomas Roth Instant Eye Tightener that currently has over 34 million views I couldn't part with my money fast enough.
While I knew my own results wouldn't be anywhere near as dramatic I had to give it a go to see if it would banish my own tear trough issue that have appeared with age. But before this, I have to get my hands on the stuff! It took for the viral video to die down for me to snap it up on Beauty Bay months later (it's currently on sale, FYI) and even now can be tricky to get hold of.
But before I get into my own experience with the eye-tightening product I wanted to explain how it works so incredibly. The active ingredient is silicate which when exposed to the air creates a web or a kind of network that tightens, thus dramatically reducing the appearance of lines and loose skin on the thin skin of the eye.
Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx Eye Tightener to my knowledge seems to be the most effective tightening product that contains Silicate and while this is amazing, this specific ingredient is quite drying on the skin which is something I haven't seen mentioned in many reviews online.
As for how I got on with the eye-tightening gel I feel like I could write an entire blog post about it because while yes, it does tighten up the eye area a dream to a pretty amazing effect, you can't actually apply any kind of makeup product under or over it... which is a huge problem especially if you have hyperpigmentation around the eye or any darkness... and who doesn't?
For me, this is a huge drawback. Unless you are going completely makeup-free, a non-concealed under eye with foundation applied to the rest of the face simply looks odd and almost quite ageing - the opposite of the effects this product is intending to give!
Also as mentioned above, the formulation of the gel is beyond drying which I suspect is only visible to the naked eye and not on the video clips shown online.
I've personally tried to combat this almost snakeskin-type look to my under eye when it's fully dried by using gel under-eye patches prior to application, along with a ton of different eye creams but to no avail. I personally feel like I'm swapping one problem (tear troughs) for another (super dry under eyes) and I don't think my own results with the product warrent for letting the drying formulation slide.
That said, if you are hugely self-conscious of eye tear troughs or under-eye bags or even loose skin that often comes with ageing then this truly could be the product that rewinds the clock for you!
@trinidad1967 ♬ original sound - user3761092853451
Ariana Grande Cloud Eau De Parfum (£28/30ml)
Touted as an inexpensive Baccarat Rouge 540 (£215) dupe, Ariana Grande Cloud Perfume was all over my FYP for months last summer and as a fragrance lover, I eventually caved and bought it.
When it comes to celebrity scents it can be hit and miss. Often scent longevity simply isn't there and a lot come with a similar synthetic sweetness that isn't for everyone. However with the comparison to the luxury gourmand fragrance that is Baccarat Rouge 540 (no, I haven't tried it!) and knowing I love warm sweet scents I thought it would be worth picking up.
Is it as good as the hype? Kinda!
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Okay, it does smell very young and sugary but it has something more to it. It dries down nicely and is pretty pleasant. But as far as the dupe claims go, I simply can't imagine a £215 fragrance that it's often compared to smelling anywhere similar and going by reviews on Fragrantica I'm not the only one thinking this.
Dupe fail aside, I personally get a light but warm mix of caramel, vanilla and coconut that while doesn't last as long as I'd like on the skin it does leave a warm powdery lingering aroma.
This is without a doubt more suited to a young demographic but I'm still glad I tried it.
Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Gloss in Amber (£8.99)
I'm a matte lipstick girl through and through so it takes some convincing for me to buy even a single lip gloss. But if there's a Tiktok creator that will influence me to buy something I don't need it's going to be Mikayla Nogueira - Is anyone else a huge fan of hers and her amazing success on Tiktok?!
So when she tried out the Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Lip Glosses (available in around 10 shades) and described them as non-sticky and smoothing I was ready to part with my money. The nude to pink shade range also got me swooning!
On the lips this lip gloss is full coverage in a single swipe and as Mikayla stated, non-sticky and actually pretty silky feeling. I have also found the lip gloss to be hydrating and juicy looking on the lips with a nice high shine. I went for the shade 'Amber' which is a glorious warm nude with subtle shimmer that thankfully doesn't feel gritty on the lips.
As a non-lipgloss lover, I'm thoroughly impressed and may add a few other shades to my makeup collection this summer.
e.l.f Poreless Putty Primer (£9.00)
Another product that kept on appearing on my FYP all of last year was the e.l.f Poreless Putty Primer and as someone with visible pores around my nose and chin, I didn't need much convincing to try it out.
This velvet smooth primer was an instant joy to use as it smooths over the skin with ease and diffuses pores. Now it doesn't work miracles but on enlarged pores, in particular, it levels and softens their appearance. Then with the addition of foundation, you have a wonderfully smoothed base.
I also discovered it works well on any textured areas of the face, again it just smoothes everything out.
But while it performs like many other silicone-based pore filler products what sets it apart is that it seems to let the skin breathe. For the first time, a pore diffusing product that doesn't break me out! This really is a game-changer if you are someone with oily skin that wants to use this kind of base daily.
Another amazing Tiktok beauty find here!
Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch 24 Patches (£5.99)
Pimple patches, skin stickers, spot dots, whatever you want to call them - are now everywhere!
After spotting these often near-to-invisible spot patches on the faces of some of my favourite Tiktok creators I initially tried out a pack of cheap spot patches on Amazon, simply thinking it was a good way to prevent me from touching any spots I had. However, as soon as I had tried them I quickly realised how beneficial they were, beyond keeping blemishes free of bacteria.
To bring it back to basics to understand their full use, these simple yet effective hydrocolloid patches are essentially mini plasters for the face... or anywhere for that matter. Yes, they are advertised as being for spots but any small wound or graze can benefit from being covered by these moisture-retaining circular dots to promote faster healing and minimise scarring.
While these little patches can be worn under makeup during the day I prefer to apply them to blemishes before bed as they get to work and keep the skin moist; something that's essential in order for the skin to heal effectively and efficiently.
Spot patches have fast become my preferred choice of tackling blemishes these days and while ultra-cheap acne patches may do the job I have found the Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patches adhere better to the skin and retain more moisture, meaning a quicker healing time.
Hallelujah for the humble yet highly effective spot patch!
L'Oreal Elvive Wonder Water 8 Second Hair Treatment (£4.99)
Last but certainly not least is a budget haircare product that was all over Tiktok when it first launched. Meet Lamellar technology; a healing liquid conditioning rinse that works in only 8 seconds.
This easy to use liquid hair treatment works by resurfacing hair fibres to add shine and hydration to the hair. All sounds amazing and possibly too good to be true, right?
Well it in fact works, and works pretty well in fact!
Granted the instant silky feeling it gives to wet hair when it is poured over it isn't entirely there when the hair is dried, however, this 8 Second Hair Treatment without a doubt adds a shine and smoothness to the hair that a lot of conditioners fail to achieve.
Do I believe it's repairing the hair in any way? No. But is it almost a pore smoothing primer for the hair? Yes!
As for drawbacks, the packaging (read: the tiny screw-on nozzle lid) is utterly impractical in the shower and you have to be careful not to pour too much of the liquid over your hair and use it all in a few uses. But for the price point, especially if you can get it on offer for under £5, this is a pretty amazing hair treatment for anyone with chemical or heat-treated hair.
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Let me know if you have ever been influenced to buy anything from a Tiktok video or if like me, are even deeper in it and have discovered the addictive world of Tiktok shops - I feel there needs to be a support group created at this point!
I'd also love to know if you have tried any of the beauty products I've mentioned in this post and your experience with them.
Fee xo.
