Does this skin-smoothing TikTok hack really let you skip foundation? We tested it ourselves

There are a lot of viral beauty videos on TikTok nowadays that touch upon makeup minimalism – the trend is all about enhancing your natural beauty.

We’re done with the unnatural, airbrushed look and are looking to strip back makeup like heavy foundation and thick powder. This is so we can feel comfortable in our own skin and embrace a natural complexion.

This is where this skin-smoothing TikTok hack might come in handy. Shared by TikToker and makeup artist Charlotte Hyatt-Willis, the hack supposedly makes your skin look better than it actually is without resorting to expensive facials, treatments, or makeup.

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How the hack works

The first step is to use a micellar water or cleanser on a cotton pad to gently remove any dirt or makeup residue. It also helps to exfoliate your face and get rid of any dead skin cells.

A hydrating moisturiser comes next, followed by a blurring primer on the areas where your pores are most prominent, like the nose.

Then, you can also use a glowy primer or highlighter on the areas you want to accentuate like the cheekbones and forehead.

Finally, apply some concealer under your eyes and on any blemishes you might have. After these steps, your skin should appear more even in texture and tone, all without foundation.

But does this TikTok hack really gives what it promises? We put it to the test to see if it promises the natural complexion we’ve always wanted.

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Here’s our verdict

Here’s the before-and-after comparison of how the hack looked like on me. I followed each step as best as I could, but as you can see I have quite a few blemishes, so I may have gone a bit heavy on the concealer.

Overall, I think this skin-smoothing hack works as intended. What’s great is that it feels a lot lighter than when I have full foundation on, and I can easily imagine myself wearing this look out and going about my day with ease.

The concealer hides blemishes in a more subtle manner thanks to the moisturiser, while the blurring primer is like an invisible, pore-refining foundation.

We recommend this skin-smoothing hack for more casual days or when you would prefer some coverage without having to take off layers of makeup.

We have to thank Charlotte for sharing this amazing TikTok hack with us, as we’re definitely going to return to it again and again.