5 viral TikTok makeup and skincare products, tested and approved

By Monica Athnasious

Updated Jun 29, 2022 at 06:23 PM

Reading time: 4 minutes

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Image courtesy of @haileybieber and @rhode from Instagram

For most of us older gen Z, YouTube was where we used to get all our makeup advice—a place where we’d get hoodwinked into buying the next viral product. Nowadays, that place is none other than TikTok. The potential virality of an item on the platform has brands in a tizzy as they seek to make it known on the shop floor with ill-placed posters and placards that remind you this is ‘as seen on TikTok’.

Because we know just how overwhelming the amount of choice the beauty and skincare market has to offer, we’ve compiled a list of the latest viral must-haves—only the ones tested and approved by the SCREENSHOT team, of course.

The most recent item taking the platform by storm is Fenty Beauty’s newest product drop. The ‘Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain’ has dominated the makeup scene on TikTok—so much so that the brand itself even notes this on the product’s launch page, labelling it as “Gone Viral.” Retailing at £17 ($24), the Poutsicle Hydrating Lip Stain has already officially sold out on both the US and UK online Fenty stores—other outlets like Harvey Nichols, Boots and Sephora are also selling out fast, so grab some while you can!

Though you can just apply it like you would any other product, users’ excitement for the longevity and actual stain of the colour comes after actually wiping it off. Applying it with ample coating, then wiping it off, is what reveals the now-viral stain Fenty promises. You wouldn’t have to worry about always taking it off however—that’s just TikTok’s way of doing it. You can also enjoy the initial glossy layer which, as it wears away, leaves behind the soft tint.

“Makeup is all about play, and when I was developing this lip stain, I had so much fun. This product just hits different. You get that sexy, wet-look shine and your lips feel super-hydrated. But… this tint!!” Rihanna—the mogul behind the iconic brand—is quoted saying on the product’s page.

With lip stains thought to be one of the products of the summer 2022, Fenty Beauty’s rendition has garnered over 3 million views on the app—not only gaining popularity for its colour and longevity but also for its moisturising oil-in-water with squalene formula that markets hydration throughout the day. Dreamy.

EltaMD previously had a viral moment with its untinted SPF (already a cult-favourite among celebrities and consumers alike) but spiralled into even greater popularity after Hailey Bieber debuted her “everyday prep” routine on TikTok. The video, which has a whopping 25 million views, shows Bieber applying the EltaMD UV Glow Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF as part of her morning routine.

The highly popular sunscreen is an absolute sell-out on Amazon, which can be explained with the help of one user’s comment on the clip that reads “I cannot believe I use the same sunscreen as Hailey Bieber.” The model whose skin has been heralded by many as the poster child of the ‘clean look’ has capitalised on the obsession of her clear skin with her own skincare line rhode. In efforts to replicate Bieber’s flawless skin, more users than ever have flocked to the SPF product for that glowy doughnut goodness. Bon appétit!

The sunscreen itself is popular for a reason: it’s all-mineral formula curated with rich antioxidants like cult-ingredient niacinamide, as well as hydrating hyaluronic acid and coconut fruit extract, leaves skin healthy, glowing and most importantly, protected against sun damage and skin-ageing free radicals. It follows the model’s own ethos when it comes to her own brand, being paraben-, fragrance-, oil-, dye-, gluten- and alcohol-free. It’s on the steeper side price-wise though, coming in at $40 (not yet available in the UK).

Another seemingly unstoppable product on TikTok came from the recent obsession with having the perfect slicked-back hair look donned by the likes of Bieber and Kendall Jenner. How do they do it? Well, word on the street is, it’s this nifty and surprisingly affordable product you can find on Amazon. The Tancho Tique Hair Dressing is allegedly how the models get the look, and following an influencer try-on video with over 10 million views, the product officially went viral.

As soon as this particular product caught on, more of the same (what we like to call ‘dupes’) surfaced. Bed Head’s Hair Wax Stick has also made the rounds for the same effortless sleekness. Both reasonably affordable, Tancho’s is priced at £22 ($26) while the Bed Head is just £9 ($10).

Now, this is a product that even I couldn’t resist. Available in both matte and dewy finishes, the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush is most definitely one of the highest selling products brought out by Selena Gomez’s makeup brand. The insane hype around the blush comes from its effortless and intense pigmentation—you barely need a drop to get all the coverage you need which explains why it is widely beloved. In fact, it’s so popular on the app that its hashtag alone carries a total of 126.2 million views.

Despite having such high pigmentation, the formula is actually surprisingly light and doesn’t disturb those under-layers of makeup. Like what most celebrity brands have to offer these days, the blush is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, dermatologically tested and suitable for sensitive skin. No wonder people are obsessed.

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A post shared by Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez (@rarebeauty)

“There’s nothing like a soft hint of blush to add dimension and colour to your look,” Gomez wrote on the product’s page. The product retails for $20 on the US website and is available in the UK from SpaceNK at £19.

Because neither of us have all day, we’ll just call it the NYX Pore Filler Stick if that’s alright with you. This miracle product is yet another TikTok favourite that had everyone racing to sell it out, and they mostly have. The Stick is part of a range of ‘Pore Filler’ products that all aim to do the same thing, smooth out those pesky pores, duh.

“Pores, fine lines, oil and shine are blurred instantly and all day! This lightweight formula dries transparent with a soft-focus finish to blur any imperfections. The unique applicator shape allows for no-mess, targeted application and can be used under or on top of makeup! Perfect for normal to oily skin,” the product’s description reads. 

In what can be credited in playing a large part in the NYX Pore Filler Stick going viral, a makeup influencer by the name of Chim tested it in a two-part video—garnering 15 million and 10 million views respectively.

One last thing: run, don’t walk.