Siren eyes, clean girl beauty, "soft girl” makeup: One thing these viral makeup looks have in common is that they were launched into the mainstream by TikTok. Since its debut, the social media platform has become a go-to place to discover new beauty trends. There are even specific TikTok makeup looks (looking at you, “cold girl” aesthetic). Trends aside, beauty TikTok is also a fantastic place to learn new makeup hacks—in other words, tricks for achieving an easier, smoother, or overall better makeup application. Whether you’re looking for new ways to rock your blush or want to learn how to apply eyeliner to hooded eyes, TikTok has beauty advice for you. Here, we’ve rounded up seven of the best TikTok beauty hacks that are making the rounds on the app right now.
1. Winged Eyeliner For Hooded Eyes
There are few makeup looks as timeless as sharp, winged-out eyeliner, but the same application methods may not work for everyone (especially those with hooded eyes). If you have hooded eyes, the so-called “bat liner” application technique popularized by TikTok makeup artists can ensure your wing stays sharp, defined, and smudge-free.
Here’s how it works: Instead of tracing your upper lash line and flicking your liner out to create the wing, you'll want to start with the wing. Keep your eyes open and look straight on into the mirror as you draw a line from the outer corner of your eye toward the tail of your brow. Then, connect this line to your upper lash line, drawing over your crease as you do so. Once you're satisfied with the shape, close your eye and color it in. When your eyes are closed, the liner will have a bat-wing shape; when open, you'll see a sharp, defined wing. We recommend using a fine, brush-tip liquid eyeliner , like our Vivid Matte Liquid Liner, for the most precise application.
2. Use Blush For a Lifted Look
Gone are the days of solely applying blush to the apples of your cheeks. Worn in the right areas, blush can visually lift your face (and give your skin a gorgeous yet natural-looking sunkissed glow). First, grab your favorite blush—for a cream, we’re fans of Wonder Stick Blush. Each double-ended blush stick boasts two complementary shades, so you can shape and add color effortlessly. Use the darker shade to draw a line just beneath your cheekbones for definition, then flip it over and apply the lighter shade to the highest part of your cheekbones. Use a makeup sponge to blend it all out so there are no sharp lines of demarcation. Finally, sweep the lighter shade across the bridge of your nose and blend well. Done right, you should be left with flushed, glowy skin and a more sculpted appearance.
3. Apply Powder After Your Setting Spray
After you spend time perfecting your base makeup, you want to make sure it stays put all day. This base makeup look from TikTok can help with that. The trick is to get creative with your makeup application order. While you might’ve heard that you shouldn’t apply any products after your setting spray, that isn’t always the case. You can actually apply powder after setting spray for a smooth makeup finish—this is the technique currently trending on TikTok.
We recommend taking it a step further and using setting spray between each layer of your face makeup. Start by applying a thin, even layer of primer to your skin. Then, dot foundation onto the areas where you want coverage—for a soft-blurred finish, we recommend our Blur Tint Foundation . Lightly mist your face with setting spray, then blend your foundation out as normal. Spritz your face with setting spray again, let it dry, then apply your powder to help set the look in place. Top it all off with a few final spritzes of setting spray for a look that’s made to last.
4. Find Your Perfect Nude Lip Color
Nude lips are stunning in any situation—and this super-simple TikTok makeup hack takes all of the guesswork out of finding your ideal nude lip color. Using your thumb and index finger on one hand, firmly squeeze the tip of your other index finger. Then, compare the color of your fingertip to different nude lipsticks (we have several in our Smooth Whip Matte Lip Cream collection). Pick the shade that most closely matches your fingertip color. Apply it to your pout for the perfect matte nude lip, or pair it with a lip gloss like Fat Oil Lip Drip for a high-shine finish.
5. Map Your Brows
Brow mapping is nothing new, but this TikTok makeup hack makes it super simple to do yourself. To find your perfect brow shape, all you need to do is use a pencil eyeliner to draw three dots: The first one at the front of your brow; the second right above your pupil; and the third at the tail of your brow, just past the outer corner of your eye. You can then connect the dots to help create your brow shape. Fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or pen (like our Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen), then set the hairs in place with a long-lasting brow gel, such as our The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler. The result: Face-flattering arches that stay put for up to 16 hours .
6. Apply Mascara To The Tips Only
If you love long, luscious-looking lashes but can’t stand clumping, this is the TikTok trick for you. Instead of brushing your mascara through the length of your lashes, try applying it just to the tips. First, curl your lashes with our eyelash curler to help visually open up your eyes. Then, using a buildable waterproof mascara (like Worth The Hype Waterproof Mascara), brush the mascara onto the ends of your lashes to give them a long, wispy appearance, sans sticking or clumping. If you want to do more than one coat, feel free to do so—just make sure the prior coat is completely dry before going in for round two (or three).
7. Angle Your Fake Lashes
Most of us have been taught that false eyelashes should be applied directly to the lash line. While there’s nothing wrong with this method, you can enhance your winged eyeliner look with this makeup hack from TikTok. First, create a wing on your upper eyelid using our Jumbo Lash! 2-in-1 Liner & Lash Adhesive. Then, stick your lash strip onto the adhesive liner, angling the outermost corner of the strip upward, so it sits on top of your wing rather than on your lash line. Once your lashes are in place, take a moment to ensure there are no bare spots of skin between your liner and the lashes. Done properly, this trick can help your eyes appear wide awake (and—bonus—it’s an easy lash application method for newbies to master).
Next: Now that you’re caught up on some of the best TikTok tips, learn more beauty hacks in our article How Make Your Eyes Look Bigger With Makeup.