10 Makeup Products We Tried Last Year You Shouldn’t Waste Your Money On, No Matter What TikTok Says

Seeing a TikTok where someone's makeup looks beautiful and immediately adding the supposed holy grail to our cart, only for it to be a massive disappointment on the very first try, is a universal experience for the average makeup lover.

But despair not! We are here to save you from disappointment (and from spending your hard-earned money) on products that seem to be all talk but no action. We rounded up 10 makeup products TikTok successfully convinced us would change our lives but were, in reality, unfortunate flops for one reason or another. Continue reading to find out which makeup products you shouldn’t waste your money on and what to invest in instead.

Kosas Revealer Skin-Improving Foundation SPF 25

"I hated the foundation drops. They felt sticky. I’m sticking with the best: Armani Luminous Silk." – Brittany Martinez, Editor-In-Chief

Try Instead: Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, $69

L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara

"Now, don't get me wrong, this mascara looks great when you first apply it. It does a wonderful job of both lengthening and volumizing your lashes. But within a few hours, my undereye area would be covered in a black smudge. Not just a little, a lot. It didn't matter which concealer I used, it happened every. single. time. It was so embarrassing to think I was out and about lookin' good and then have a friend pull me aside to tell me I had mascara smudge all over! I now only use tubing mascaras. DIME's is amazing!" – Rachel Squier, Social Media Manager

Try Instead: DIME Volume Mascara, $22

BareMinerals Complexion Rescue Natural Matte Tinted Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid and Mineral SPF 30

"I really, really wanted this product to work for me! And on a rare few days, it did and looked and felt amazing! But on most days, it just flopped. The formula would dry out before I had finished spreading it on my face and would start pilling. I tried mixing it with moisturizer before application, and that was a disaster – it just separated on my skin and looked gross. Because I have oily skin, the product would rub off super easily by the afternoon. The only pro was how easy it was to wash off." – Paula Gallagher, Senior Editor.

Try Instead: Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Foundation SPF 19, $49

Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops

"They made me look super orange even when I only used a little. I don't really get the point of them if, like Alix Earle, you're supposed to blend them in with your foundation when you're putting on makeup? It was sold out everywhere for weeks (maybe even months), so I was super excited to finally try it when it came back in stock, but it just made my foundation darker and then not match my neck or body when it settled in." – Anna Hartman, Managing Editor

Try Instead: Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Natural Glow Face Drops, $15

Tarte Shape Tape Concealer

"I honestly don’t get the hype surrounding the Tarte Shape Tape Concealer. Yes, it ‘conceals’ my problem areas (mostly), but what’s the use if it doesn’t actually stay on your skin? Or smears around just because you had the absolute audacity to laugh or talk? I had to buy a whole new product just to make the original product work semi-correctly. Not worth it, IMO." – Alicia Bittle, Writer

Try Instead: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, $32

Makeup Revolution Conceal & Define Foundation

"I started using this foundation after I ran out of my usual one and wanted to try something different, and I had seen a girl use it on TikTok. It could just be my skin type (I tend to get oily), but this was one of the worst foundations I’ve tried – and I don’t think the price can be blamed (it’s $12 at Ulta) because I don’t usually buy expensive foundations anyway. It looked cakey and crusty all at once. It made me look like I had dry skin somehow. I also wasn’t crazy about the texture, which felt very plastic-y. Wouldn’t buy it again!" – Keelia Clarkson, Writer

Try Instead: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation, $10

Il Makiage Flawless Base Foundation

"This foundation is in a million targeted ads and seemed to have good reviews, so I gave it a try. They boast that it's supposed to be such a good skin match, but I found it to be dry, washed out-looking, and pretty cakey." – Alina Clough, Writer

Try Instead: Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Waterproof Foundation, $52

Essence Lash Princess Curl Mascara

"This mascara has so many good reviews, but it smeared almost instantly every time I tried it." – Carmen Schober, Writer

Try Instead: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara, $13

Benefit Cosmetics “They’re Real” Mascara

"I tried this mascara a while back, and it was terrible! I don’t know if I got a bad tube since everyone else seemed to love it, but the product distribution from the wand was uneven, and the packaging fell apart on me. I splurged on this mascara since it had such great reviews, but I honestly prefer every drugstore mascara I’ve ever tried to this one." – Hana Tilksew, Writer

Try Instead: Lancôme Lash Idôle Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara, $30

NUDESTIX Nudies Cream Blush All-Over-Face Color

"Like everyone who instantly became obsessed with Sofia Richie's wedding glam, I purchased this blush with high expectations, only to quickly find out that it's nothing special, considering the price, and that my $10 NYX Cheek Tint is a decently comparable product. To make matters worse, I noticed a cluster of whiteheads in the areas where I usually apply my blush after only using it for a few days." – Simone Sydel, Writer

Try Instead: NYX Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint Blush, $10

Closing Thoughts

In the bustling world of beauty and makeup, finding the perfect product that suits your skin type, tone, and expectations can feel like a never-ending quest. It's clear from these beauty revelations that sometimes, the most raved-about products can miss the mark for some of us. While personal experience may vary, alternatives are plentiful, and you might discover a hidden gem that not only meets but exceeds expectations.

But if this article teaches us anything, it’s that the beauty community is all about trial and error, so don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. Ultimately, beauty is highly subjective and personal, and the best product is the one that makes you feel confident and beautiful in your own skin, no matter how much someone else may love or hate it.

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