10 TikTok Beauty Trends That Are Worth Trying

TikTok debuted in September 2016, and the social media platform really took off in 2017 when it was launched around the world. Since then, millions of people have signed in every day to either create videos or watch them. Topics range from just about anything and everything: there's parenting TikTok, relationship TikTok, basketball TikTok, and, of course, makeup tutorial TikTok.

The platform has become a major hub for trends, with tech website How-To Geek explaining that the biggest reason the app is so popular is its For You Page. As the site puts it, "TikTok is powered by a unique algorithm that uses AI and machine learning to populate the FYP with the most optimal content to show a particular user." In other words, TikTok is able to map out your interests and serve up content that is hyper-specific to you, which keeps us all coming back for more.

If there is one area where TikTok has really taken off, it's serving and showcasing beauty trends. There's no shortage of content creators trying out new looks so the rest of us don't have to. Here are 10 beauty trends from TikTok that you should try out now (before TikTok moves on to something else).

Much like they are for humans, the teen years of the 2000s were a time of collective experimentation and "maybe this will look cool after all." If there was one print that dominated the early-to-mid 2010s, it was galaxy print: it was everywhere. When we say everywhere, we mean it. You could see galaxy print patterns on everything from cell phone cases to leggings to nail art. 

TikTok has made all things early-to-mid 2010s fun and relevant again, which means galaxy nails are back on the list of designs that are being requested. New York nail artist Mei Kawajiri shared her opinions on the trend with Allure, explaining that galaxy nail art has a lot of potential to be as surprising or enchanting as the wearer wants, predominantly because most people on the planet have never seen a galaxy or space up close. As she put it, "Because I have never seen a galaxy in person, I can only imagine that it looks like my dreams." There are plenty of examples and tutorials for creating your own galaxy nails on TikTok, like this straightforward how-to from Lizzys Nail Art.

TikTok has the ability to elevate makeup trends from around the world, and once a few users found out about Korea's gradient lip trend, they haven't looked back. As Daily Vanity notes, the look first began to circulate in South Korea several years ago, and Western outlets, publications, and, of course, TikTokers, are finally catching on in 2022.

Achieving the look isn't too incredibly difficult, as long as you're patient and willing to experiment. As the site notes, you'll need just a few tools and supplies: concealer, lip color, lip gloss, and maybe a cotton pad if you don't want to use your fingers to pull the look off. If you're more of a visual person, @sarahkchey walks you through how to pull off the look on your own. Daily Vanity shares that the look is typically moist and dewy in Korea, but you can also make the style matte if that's more of your style.

There was a time period when the Spice Girls were everywhere and boy bands reigned and we were all wearing body glitter anywhere and everywhere we went: to the grocery store, to the mall, to school. Body glitter has made a cultural resurgence that the elders among us might not have predicted, but the look is all over the place and it's easier than ever to pull off.

As Glamour notes, instead of simply covering their bodies with glitter at 7 a.m. and heading out for the day, TikTokers are using body glitter to highlight certain parts of their outfits and taking a decidedly calmer approach toward the experience, leaning into using less glitter to achieve a more put-together look. The outlet also notes that body glitter itself has evolved, and these days you can even purchase biodegradable body glitter (that you can also put in your hair). Curious about how the kids are making body glitter work these days? @Fayelouisebrennan explains it all.

Glitter isn't only for your hair and body these days: glitter and chrome eye makeup is also all the rage. As Allure wrote in early 2022, makeup queen Danessa Myricks has been ahead of the game when it comes to adorning our eyes with metallic hues. Her Infinite Chrome Flakes sold out within 24 hours when it launched in 2021, creating a trend on TikTok that is showing no signs of slowing down.

Myricks told Allure that her goal was to bring even more whimsy and magic to this style of makeup, explaining that she drew inspiration from a popular TV show. As she put it, "I mean, don't we all secretly want to attend 'Euphoria' High? And I was really determined that that magic should happen in one step."

TikTok content creators definitely agree. There is no shortage of videos on the platform that feature users trying out Myrick's Chrome Flakes, with Victoria Lyn showcasing the entire line on her channel.

Another trend that's sweeping TikTok is one that we've seen elsewhere: the idea of "clean" makeup is an offshoot of clean eating and clean living. As InStyle explains, the look is an "elevated" version of the "no makeup makeup" look we have all seen for years. The clean makeup look is ideal for someone who wants to look done up but in a way that almost looks like they are wearing no makeup at all. 

The publication also notes that the clean makeup look swept New York Fashion Week in 2022, adding that designers such as Carolina Herrera, PatBO, and Dion Lee all worked the look into their shows. The look typically includes an overall aesthetic that features shorter nails, glowing skin, and rosy cheeks. 

While it might be tempting to assume that anything called "clean" makeup can translate to being minimalist, TikToker Darcey Angel shows that the reality is anything but: the clean look still requires quite a few steps, making it something that should only be attempted when you're fully prepared.

Celebrity hairstyle Chris Appleton works with some of the entertainment industry's biggest names, including pop singer Ariana Grande. The singer has become known for the high, full ponytail that she often sports, and that has led many to speculate is made up of both Grande's natural hair and synthetic hair. However, Appleton has revealed his trick for achieving the look, and it seems like it's something that many people can do entirely on their own.

Appleton explained to PopSugar that ponytails can really give their own sense of vitality and creativity to the person who is wearing them. As he put it, "With ponytails, it's all about the placement. The higher you go, the fiercer it looks. The lower you go, the more professional or serious it looks. It can change the whole shape of your face."

Plenty of people on TikTok have tried out Appleton's high ponytail hack, which he demonstrated in a video he posted on the platform in January 2022.

While high, full ponytails are definitely one trend that is fun to try, a low ponytail can be the perfect look for a date or a party. The Editorialist noted in February 2022 that the look is definitely popular with celebrities, including both Kim Kardashian and Meghan Markle, who have both been photographed with elegant low ponytails. 

Celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan confirmed to the outlet that the 2022 low ponytail is an updated version of a look that always works, explaining, "It's a classic style that will never go out of fashion. It's sleek, chic, sophisticated, and can easily be dressed up or down." The Editorialist also notes that long, low ponytails were seen frequently throughout Paris Fashion Week in 2022.

As @beautytrend shows on TikTok, pulling off the look for an event isn't too complicated of a feat. 

TikTok beauty trends don't focus just on makeup and hair: there are countless videos on skincare, especially on how to handle wrinkles and other signs of aging. While some of us are happy to welcome every part of aging without care, others would like to keep the process moving as slowly as possible (and there are thousands of people who are in between). 

The solution for some might just be facial tape — and, more specifically, anti-wrinkle facial tape. Dermatologist Dendy Engelman, M.D., tells AEDIT that while the trend might just be taking off on TikTok, it's been a well-known secret for a long time. As Engelman puts it, "Face taping is not a new technique and has been used for years as a potential solution for some people looking to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, specifically to provide an immediate lifting effect." Engelman goes on to add that for a long time, facial tape was used when actors and actresses had to don wigs, though it's clear this use is changing now.

While AEDIT notes that some experts aren't sure that facial tape really does much, people on TikTok are definitely convinced. Look no further than Natural Face Bible, who shared that she's been using the tape for years.

When it comes to blush, there are no shortage of tips and hacks out there that explain how to use this particular makeup tool. One look that is trending on TikTok and worth trying out is the "Douyin blush" trick. Refinery29 notes that the look first took off in Korea before spreading to Japan and the United Kingdom and eventually finding a home on TikTok in a big way.

The trend is being touted as a way to achieve natural-looking cheek makeup for a fresh look that will have you looking like you just stepped out of a fun day in the sun. Makeup artist Saffron Hughes told Refinery29 that there's a reason why the look is so popular. As Hughes said, "So many people are enjoying a more natural, sun-kissed makeup look lately, and this offers a soft, flushed finish. Blush brings the color back into the face and the placement on the cheeks and eyes ties the makeup together, lending more dimension."

There are plenty of videos on TikTok that show off the look and how to achieve it on your own. TikToker Beauty with Cait tried out the look on her own, sharing her take with viewers. While she perhaps wasn't 100% convinced, she did recommend that her followers try it for themselves.

If you're not interested in a clean makeup look and your aesthetic is anything but sweet and soft, then there is another TikTok trend that might be for you: matching your eyebrows and eye makeup, and especially doing so with bright, neon colors. This look gained popularity on Instagram in 2020 and has really taken off on TikTok since, with users such as @BeautyBay trying out the look on their entire face: matching eyebrows, eye makeup, lip liner, and lipstick.

Several makeup artists popularized and shared the look on Instagram in 2020, with Allure showcasing some of the top looks the publication could find. The site credits both a makeup artist and Jennifer Lopez with sparking the trend in the first place, noting that the latter stepped out with matching purple eye makeup and nail polish and the internet just hasn't looked back since.