Over the years, TikTok has become a surprising haven for makeup enthusiasts. But it’s not just about content creators sharing their latest purchases.
From finding out your skin’s undertone to contouring according to your face shape, there’s a world of TikTok filters that could help you better your makeup routine.
But are they too good to be true?
To find out, we’ve tested some of the most popular beauty filters to see if they’re helpful shortcuts.
Testing TikTok Makeup Filters
1. Contouring Based on Your Face Shape
@dailyvanity Nailing that contour has never been simpler!😋 What do you think about this filter designed for different face shapes? #filter #beautyfliter #beauty #contour #tiktok #tiktokfilter
The “My Face Shape” filter made by Beauty TikToker @gracemchoi, acts as a virtual makeup artist and tackles the age-old challenge of contouring.
It analyses your facial contours and applies customised concealer and contour specifically designed to flatter your individual face shape, be it heart-shaped, oval, or round.
Daily Vanity‘s Senior Social Media Designer Swee Qi put the “My Face Shape” filter to the test, to see if it actually helped with her contour routine!
The outcome? It proved to be more subtle than anticipated.
This could be due to inherent differences in facial structure. The filter might be optimised for Western features, which often have more prominent bone structure that benefits from contouring techniques. Thus, the filter’s recommendations have a less noticeable effect on Asian facial structures.
@clara.slays Replying to @itskeene! very fun to play with these filters!
However, there is still value in using the “My Face Shape” filter, even if the suggested contouring isn’t a perfect match.
As beauty TikToker @clara.slays points out, understanding your face shape is a crucial first step in many aspects of makeup application and overall beauty routine.
This knowledge can be applied in selecting hairstyles that flatter your features, finding the right sunglasses, and even choosing complementary jewellery.
To use this specific filter,
- Tie your hair back
- Select your face shape by identifying your forehead and chin shape
- Apply contour on the dark pink lines and concealer on the lighter pink lines
- Blend the contour and concealer out with your finger or a beauty blender
Finding Your Undertone Shade
Credits: @/gracemchoi/ Tiktok
Another significant hurdle in the makeup journey is identifying the elusive undertone. The wrong shade can leave you looking ashy or oddly orange, a struggle many beauty enthusiasts can relate to.
The “Reveal Your Undertone” filter, another creation by @gracemchoi, tackles this challenge head-on.
This filter functions like a diagnostic tool, overlaying various Kosas concealer shades directly onto the face for a real-time comparison.
This side-by-side analysis allows for more precise identification of the perfect shade, essentially providing you with a personalised foundation cheat sheet.
@dailyvanity Help a girlie out! Tried the viral TikTok filter and now I’m in a pickle. Warm, cool, or neutral – what do you think my undertone is? 🤔 #filter #beautyfliter #beauty #undertone #fyp
When using this filter, Swee Qi found that the undertone would change depending on the colour of the surrounding lighting. When using the filter in natural lighting, she found that the undertone appeared cool, which was surprising as she previously assumed a warm or neutral undertone.
@lianachoi_ It’s always best to try it out (leave it on for 2-3hours) to see how the pigments blend into your skintone! In my experience, not many people can wear overly cool or warm shade, mostly neutral-cool or ivory shade blends well. But I want to thank @Kosas putting effort to create more olivetone shades 👏👏👏 #undertonefilter #foundationmatch #foundation #concealer #oliveskin #inclusivebeauty #coloranalysis #cooltonedmakeup
Colour Analyst and beauty TikToker @llianachoi offers a deeper analysis in her review as she breaks down how overtone can influence undertone perception.
- Think of undertones as the permanent base of your skin colour. This doesn’t change much.
- Overtones are like temporary tints on top. These can shift depending on things like sun, redness, or even flushing. They can be quite different between people and even change throughout the day for you.
In her case, a cool undertone with a warm overtone results in a slightly olive tone (a green tint). This emphasises the importance of identifying overtone alongside undertone for a more accurate colour match.
Plus, @llianachoi suggests that the filter can be a helpful tool for identifying eyebrow and eye colour, which can help select an eyebrow and eyeliner colour that flatters.
To use this specific filter:
- Find a place with natural daylight
- Select your skin tone from the six different options
- From there, select the undertone that blends into your skin tone most seamlessly
When you’ve matched with your perfect shade, get the Kosas Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer for S$48 here!
Makeup Placement for a Natural Lifted Look
Credits: @/aimeechengbradshaw/ Tiktok
Finally, we explore the intriguing concept of utilising filters to achieve a lifted appearance.
Filters like the “Facelift Contour” by @juliadudok go beyond mere amusement, functioning as virtual blueprints for strategic makeup application.
These filters showcase the precise placement of highlighter, contour, and blush to create a sculpted, lifted effect.
@dailyvanity Get a facelift in no time with this filter!💫 Do you see the difference?🫣 #beautyfliter #beauty #contour #highlight #facelift #tiktokmakeuptips #faceliftmakeup
Swee Qi put this filter to the test by following the makeup recommendations, and she was impressed with the subtle lifting effect that was apparent in the finished makeup look.
@arshiamoorjani Had to try this filter to give myself a face lift with makeup! Thoughts?????
Despite the good reviews, beauty TikToker @arshiamoorjani raises an interesting point regarding the filter’s contour placement.
She found the suggested contour to be a little excessive, requiring additional concealer to achieve a more balanced look. This highlights a potential drawback.
These filters might not always translate perfectly to individual preferences, especially in Asian beauty routines where heavy contouring is less common.
To use this specific filter:
- Project this filter onto your face
- Apply contour along the dark brown lines, concealer on the beige areas and blush on the dotted pink lines.
Pro tip: Lightly mist your makeup sponge or brush with setting spray before blending for a more seamless application.
So, do TikTok makeup filters hold the key to unlocking makeup mastery? Perhaps not.
These filters are more like training wheels. They can help you learn the ropes, but true makeup mastery comes from building your own skills!
