TikTok is responsible for around 70 per cent of the non-essential things I buy, which I suppose goes to show just how powerful social media marketing is - or perhaps it says more about my impulsivity towards retail therapy. Either way, I’ve tried enough beauty trends, hacks and viral products over the years and discovered some absolute gems, and some duds along the way.
Scrolling through TikTok just now, my algorithm showed me two videos of cute dogs, three makeup tutorials with product recommendations, a clip on wedding planning tips and four fashion-themed videos including try-ons and a dress I’ll probably buy as soon as I’ve finished writing this review.
Now, high street retailer Boots has made it even easier to pick up the hottest beauty picks of the year, made famous on social media with their TikTok Made Me Buy It trending beauty box 2022.
READ MORE: I tried the viral TikTok mascara for under £10 and found my new favourite
The box contains £52 worth of products for just £20, and contains five viral favourites that will ‘take your beauty routine to the next level’. Together, these products have amassed a whopping six billion views on the app, making them some of the most coveted must-haves for summer at a fraction of their usual price.
The five full-size products see brands such as L’Oreal Paris, Garnier and Maybelline, and I put each of them through their paces to see if they were worth the hype. And while I’ve found one ride or die product, another was a total dud.
What’s in the box?
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Wonder Water Dream Lengths 8 Second Hair Treatment 200ml worth £9.99
Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Hydrating Lip Gloss Hyaluronic Acid in 002 Ice 48g worth £8.99
Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky-High Mascara 7.2ml worth £11.49
L’Oréal Paris 5% Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner 180ml worth £14.99
Trying out the products
I’m a big fan of micellar water and often use it to remove any residual makeup following a cleanse, so I was excited to try the Garnier Vitamin C version a go. Vitamin C is a bit of a buzz ingredient in skincare at the moment, as it can slow the appearance of ageing and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
The product promises to remove ‘up to 100 per cent makeup’ while cleansing the skin with a one-step routine. It couldn’t be easier to use, simply popping a bit on a muslin cloth, or facial pad, and swiping across the skin, with no need for rinsing either.
The main test with these products is to see if they actually remove makeup like stubborn mascara, and whether it stings my eyes. It passed both tests with flying colours, and the bottle size means it’ll last me quite a long time, so I’ll save money on skincare in the long run, too.
Sticking with skincare, I gave the L’Oréal Paris 5 per cent Glycolic Acid Peeling Toner a go, which has racked up 17 million views on TikTok. This daily-use toner is a chemical exfoliator, meaning that it helps remove dead skin cells for a smoother looking complexion and that glowing skin look everyone is desperate for this summer. The glowier, the better, trends are seeming to say.
I applied my toner with a cotton pad after cleansing, and found that the dry skin around my nose vanished before my very eyes, and instead of leaving my skin red and blotchy like some exfoliating toners, my skin was smooth and glassy, as if I’d just had a professional skin treatment.
The product I enjoyed using the least from these viral hits was the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Wonder Water Dream Lengths 8 Second Hair Treatment, despite it having a five billion strong fanbase.
L’Oreal said: “Powered by Lamellar Water Technology, the revolutionary rinse-out hair treatment by L’Oréal Paris transforms hair to reveal strands that are 10x smoother with glass-like shine and silky touch in just eight seconds.”
The treatment should be used two to three times a week after shampooing, applied to wet hair lengths and massaged in before being rinsed out. Boots said: “ It doesn’t just work- it works wonders!” But personally, I think it just doesn’t work. I didn’t see much of a difference in my hair after using it for two weeks, but perhaps others would have more luck.
One of my favourites was the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky-High Mascara, which I’ve already been using since March. As you should really change your mascara every three months, I was practically giddy at not needing to pop out and pick up another one.
The #skyhighmascara has 498M views and counting on TikTok, and delivers fuller looking lashes while still feeling lightweight. The packaging is nice in a metallic lilac colour, and the ‘flex tower’ brush is the plastic comb style, which is my preferred applicator compared to the bristly type.
It is, however, quite a wet formula, so not one that you want to sneeze straight after using. That said, you can work the formula to your advantage if you work quickly. Instead of letting it dry between coats, add two to three layers of mascara to achieve both jaw-dropping length and volume.
My lashes didn’t stick together or clump up to leave me looking like a 90s throwback, nor did I get it all over my face in the application process either, which ticks some pretty big boxes for me.
Last but not least was the Maybelline Lifter Gloss Plumping Hydrating Lip Gloss with Hyaluronic Acid in the shade 002 Ice. I’ve never been much of a lip gloss wearer, but with something of a 90s beauty and fashion resurgence, it’s worth giving it another shot.
Formulated with Hyaluronic Acid and equipped with an XL wand, the gloss adds shine which makes lips look both hydrated and fuller. The formula isn’t as sticky as others I’ve used, and I quite liked the icy shade. I probably won’t be swapping out my usual satin lipstick out for it too often though.
Of the five products worth £52.42, I would have purchased three myself, which is the micellar water, toner and mascara. These total £28.47, and so the TikTok Made Me Buy IT box still works out cheaper than buying them all individually, making it pretty great value for money.
