We never thought we'd say this, but TikTok has had quite a hold over us in the past year — and it's not just because of the many viral dances. Believe it or not, the platform can be incredibly useful when it comes to seeking out skin-care advice [1] (that's been vetted by dermatologists [2], of course), getting sucked into the rabbit hole of extraction videos [3], and even finding hair [4], makeup [5], and skin-care product recommendations [6].
That latter part is so easy to come by that even we have found ourselves influenced at one point another to add something to our beauty collections solely because of how many times we've scrolled past a video about it on TikTok. (Why do you think the "TikTok Made Me Buy It" trend exists?) Read ahead as our editors sound off on the beauty products that TikTok actually made us buy.
Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer
"I bought the Revlon Salon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer [7] ($46) because of TikTok, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it changed my life. I was the girl who spent way too much money at DryBar (pre-pandemic, I'd go once a week). For years, I tried to teach myself how to blow out my own hair, but I could never master the whole round-brush-in-one-hand and hairdryer-in-the-other situation without making my naturally frizzy hair 10 times frizzier and giving up halfway through out of frustration. Enter: this foolproof tool.
Just like in all the viral videos, it's so damn easy to use. For the past eight months, I've been using this Revlon brush once a week, and I'm still amazed when my hair comes out silky and straight, after 25 to 30 minutes." — Jessica Chassin, senior social media coordinator
NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud High Shine Lip Colour
"As someone who's loved NYX lip products since middle school, it only took seeing the new NYX Professional Makeup Shine Loud High Shine Lip Colour [8] ($12) on my TikTok "For You" feed approximately three times before I decided I needed to try it. It did not disappoint. The lipstick-gloss hybrid comes in 24 shades and doesn't budge under a face mask, which makes it an automatic winner in 2021." — Jessica Harrington, associate beauty editor
Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
"I was searching TikTok for natural hair product recommendations one day when I noticed that so many users are huge fans of this Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner [9] ($13) — and for good reason. The product does a great job of moisturising my coily hair without leaving it feeling greasy or weighed down, and as a bonus, it smells amazing!" — Danielle Jackson, assistant beauty editor
Krave Beauty The Beet Shield
"I recently purchased Krave Beauty's The Beet Shield [10] ($20) and am already a huge fan. I struggle with finding a good daytime skin protectant that I actually want to use on a daily basis, but this one feels like a moisturiser/serum hybrid, so it's easy to pack a lot on without it feeling heavy. I also love that it doesn't leave a white cast or irritate my dry skin." — Nora Smith, senior social media and partnerships coordinator
Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
"I'm a lipstick-lover through and through, and the only thing I love more than a quality matte formula is one that'll cost me less than $10. That's where the Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick [11] ($8) comes in. I got this after seeing it in a ton of other TikTok videos, and I have to say that the hype is definitely worth it. It applies easily, dries quickly, and will stay in place all day long — I only wish it came in more colours." — DJ