I've Tried a Bunch of Eye Makeup Hacks on TikTok — Here’s What I'll Actually Do Again

By Victoria Moorhouse

Published on 10/1/2021 at 4:45 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Victoria Moorhouse
POPSUGAR Photography | Victoria Moorhouse
Every editorial product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn commission.

Real talk: TikTok is changing my eye makeup game in ways that all the other social media platforms never could. Sure, Instagram has given me plenty of inspiration, but TikTok is teaching me the skills I need to create them flawlessly for myself.

Recently I have tried a ton of TikTok eye makeup techniques, tips, tricks, and hacks focused on all aspects of eye makeup — concealer, eyeshadow, mascara, and more.

Admittedly, not everything I have tried has worked for me, and I always skip over the potentially dangerous/questionable suggestions. But, overall, my success rate with TikTok hacks has been pretty high. Ahead, check out the three hacks that'll definitely find their way into my makeup routine again.

The Viral Smoky Eye/Striped Eyeshadow Hack
POPSUGAR Photography | Victoria Moorhouse

The Viral Smoky Eye/Striped Eyeshadow Hack

If you watch beauty videos on TikTok, you've probably seen the clips where people apply stripes of eyeshadow in different colors to their eyelids for an easy smoky-eye look. The colors are typically applied at a slight angle from darkest to lights, moving from the outer corner toward the inner corner. In other words, the lightest eyeshadow color is applied closest to the inner corner.

This hack was surprisingly really successful for me when I used more neutral eyeshadow shades, like the lighter browns in the e.l.f. Cosmetics Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palette in Cream and Sugar ($3). For me, the key was to keep all the eyeshadow from extending past the outer corner and to really blend to avoid harsh lines.

Applying Mascara Back-and-Forth and Root-to-Tip
POPSUGAR Photography | Victoria Moorhouse

Applying Mascara Back-and-Forth and Root-to-Tip

For pretty much my entire life, I've applied mascara from root to tip with my wand held horizontally. I didn't really think there was another option until I discovered this TikTok hack. It involves swiping your mascara brush back and forth, from outer corner to inner corner against your eyelashes, with the brush held vertically.

This hack, which I tried a few times with the e.l.f. Cosmetics Big Mood Mascara ($7) has helped me achieve more of a lifted, fanned-out look. In my opinion, the key to getting it right is to wipe off excess pigment from the brush on a tissue before getting started.

Applying Eye Cream Before Concealer + Using Less Product
POPSUGAR Photography | Victoria Moorhouse

Applying Eye Cream Before Concealer + Using Less Product

I can be pretty lazy when it comes to applying eye cream, but I'm committed to changing my habits for the sake of my concealer.

So many TikTok users recommend applying a hydrating undereye cream before putting on concealer to help prevent creases, patchiness, and dryness, and it really is game-changing.

When I dab on a hydrating eye cream, like the e.l.f. Cosmetics Holy Hydration! Eye Cream ($8), I feel like my concealer blends so much better and doesn't clump up into my fine lines and underneath my eye bags.

Another creaseless concealer tip I've picked up from TikTok is to use way less product and only apply the concealer exactly where you need it. Instead of coating my entire undereye area with concealer, I now only dab on about three dots before blending.