Beauty / 16 July 2024

The TikTok beauty products your teens WANT!

We've rounded up the best TikTok viral makeup brands and skincare ranges your tween or teen will have on their (colour-coordinated) mood board wish list!

By Bonita Turner

Parent of a teen or tween? Then you'll have probably been asked for a list of beauty and skincare products that you could never even have conceived of when you were in high school.

Thanks to TikTok, teens, an astonishing number of tweens know just about everything there is to know about sticks, serums and SPF. The endless scroll of product reviews, makeup tutorials, beauty hacks and designer dupes has led to a huge boom in the young beauty market.

While we may have lusted after Rimmel’s Hide the Blemish, The Body Shops’ Dewberry Oil and some Boots Cucumber Cleanser, today’s beauty addicts are a whole lot more product savvy and now want shopping trips to Glossier, Sephora and Space NK. Those first makeup buys for younger teens can be a daunting and expensive experience for kids and parents – and of course, come with some major trial and error.

BUT, what these highly accessible social videos, reels and stories enable over glossy magazine spreads or TV adverts, is a real deep-dive into which products work and for this younger audience to see first-hand how and what to use. Yes, ok most of this content is designed to generate hits in the hope of going viral, but with millions of users commenting and sharing their experiences, it is fairly easy to see what products are worth investing in.

Keeping an eye on which products are age-appropriate is something that parents do need to keep on top of but there are a lot of brands on this platform that are inexpensive and best of all, clean, vegan and chemical free. While a lot of these buys are attractive because of their packaging and cult status, they are also a great way to introduce your offspring to the positive side of beauty and the importance of self-care. There are hundreds of products aimed at the teen market that make this shopping area feel very overwhelming so to help you find the perfect treat for your tweens and teens, we’ve rounded up the products we think will get the seal of approval from both them and most importantly, YOU.

In fact, we defy you not to swoop into their make-up bags when they are at school!

It’s easy to see the teen appeal here as no, your eyes are not deceiving you, the Sundae Body shower foams come housed in a whipped cream style can. Infused with Kadaku Plum, one of the richest sources of vitamin C and Finger Lime, a natural source of AHAs to gently exfoliate and reveal smooth, glowing skin, this Australian made brand has whipped up the shower aisle and reached cult status already with its fun, cheery packaging and delicious flavours like Juicy Pear, Orange Crush and the limited edition Strawberries & Cream.

Parent Savvy: It’s fun, smells good and is suitable for sensitive skin, as well as being alcohol, sulfate and paraben Free. We think they’d make great gifts for school friends too – along with the Whirl Whip body lotions.

The Monday haircare collection is touted on TikTok as the secret behind many an influencer’s sleek and shiny mane. The Smooth shampoo version in particular went viral thanks to its ability to reduce frizz and coarse texture. The SLS- and paraben-free range includes conditioners and dry shampoos and has won multiple magazine and industry awards.

Parent Savvy: The Monday range of products is highly accessible and is often on offer when bought in sets and at the end of the day we’re just glad they are washing their hair more regularly! Who doesn’t remember coveting the cool haircare brands on your weekly Saturday shopping trip?

In a sea of celebrity perfumes, the TikTok front-runner is Cloud by Ariana Grande (the American singer, songwriter, actress and influential pop icon with 380+ million followers). With notes of whipped cream, coconut and warm musks, this sweet yet modern EDP comes in a delightful Cloud shaped bottle that will look great on that all white, vine/LED light trimmed vanity.

Parent Savvy: We all know the pure pleasure of discovering your ‘first’ scent so, do let them experiment. The selection by Ariana Grande is the perfect perfume entry point (we also like Sweet Like Candy, from £23, Superdrug) and don’t dismiss the classics like Dior, Chanel and Prada – all all have some great, sweet or fresh scents ideal for a teen nose.

Your teen will likely be primer obsessed. And we mean OBSESSED. Once you’ve (secretly) watched a few TikTok testimonials you will see what all the fuss is about. Sticky, clear-gel formulas that prep to skin and lock makeup into place, give a smooth, selfie-ready, perfect base. And, the one they want? The OG and now viral, Power Grip Primer by e.l.f.

Parent Savvy: We see no harm with a little primer under some very subtle, tinted foundation or powder for young skin. We have to say the e.l.f range is vast and a really good starting price point for experimenting, as well being 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

CLEANSER: Youth To The People Superfood Cleanser, from £15, Cult Beauty

Appealing to the eco-aware Gen-Z with its clean credentials, this superfood cleanser is ideal for teens in need of a glow up – like now. Full of antioxidant-rich leafy greens (think: spinach and kale) it’s like a green-juice detox for skin, helping to decongest pores and remove make-up, leaving a fresh, clean after-feeling.

Parent Savvy: Gentle enough for everyday use, this fresh wash won’t strip delicate skin and most importantly will remove all that make-up they are experimenting with, with ease.

This weightless, liquid blush is easy to blend, meaning mistake-proof application, which is ideal for makeup beginners. It is also highly pigmented so you only need the teeniest dot to create a diffused, flushed wash of colour that lasts all day, making it cost effective. The range was founded by the multi-talented actress and singer Selena Gomez (aka Taylor Swift’s BFF) and as the TikTokers say, We stan!

Parent Savvy: Rare beauty is unlike most ‘celebrity’ founded brands – it cool yes, but also clean and it has a brand ethos that parents of tween/teen girls can get behind. “Rare Beauty is breaking down unrealistic standards of perfection. ​This is makeup made to feel good in, without hiding what makes you unique—because Rare Beauty is not about being someone else, but being who you are.”

Your savvy beauty teen will know that niacinamide serums are where it’s at. Niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) is key for fading hyperpgimentation, clearing pores, and soothing redness – so ideal for changing or spot prone skin. But what makes this a TikTok beauty stand-out is the strobing, reflective glow this dewy serum gives without a single hint of glitter. We guess it’s one way to get them to take their 5 a day!

Parent Savvy: Niacinamide is typically well-tolerated by those with sensitive skin if used correctly, the recommend age for use is 12+.

Move over lip balms it’s all about the lip mask. A certified TikTok sensation with 216.6 million views and over 21,000 five-star reviews, this overnight ultra-nourishing treat, plumps the lips with intense moisture, helping to minimise roughness and cracking due to dryness. Sorry parents, a slick of Nivea or Carmex will just not cut it anymore! We have to say, the range of flavours, no nasties (silicone free), and the cute little pots are pretty tempting, especially with names like Gummy Bear, Sweet Candy and Pink Lemonade (you will be stealing this one for sure!).

Parent Savvy: Teen lips often need a little bit of extra moisture. Don’t be fooled by this little pot – it holds a huge amount of product and comes with a little spatula to ensure only a small amount is used. Although, a nighttime mask, it can be worn in the daylight and offers a light tint.

Like us, you might never have heard of this Brazilian beauty brand until your tween declared she needed it. Like now. The rise of Sol de Janeiro was fast – this 2015 founded brand has racked up over 1.2 billion views and counting. The Bum-Bum cream (which famously smells like vanilla, pistachio and salted caramel) was one of the brand’s first products, but has since been eclipsed by their signature scent, Cheirosa 62, catapulting SDJ to cult beauty status. The addictive, delightfully cozy, ‘sunshine in a bottle’ mix of pistachio, vanilla and just a hint of macadamia and florals, makes this a youthful smelling body spritz that actually lasts.

Parent Savvy: Know you 62’s from your 48’s! Sol de Janeiro have several floral, sunny and sweet scented body sprays. The most recent, about-to-sell-out fragrance is (good-luck-if-you-can-find-it!) is Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 48

Finally, a viral makeup bag must-have they (and you) can pick up from the local chemist (when it’s in stock that is! If you see it, pick it up). Maybelline Sky High delivers long, luscious and full lashes without the need for falsies. All thanks to the brand’s exclusive flex tower brush that’s designed to lift, flex and bend to coat each and every lash from the root to tip.

Parent Savvy: This mascara is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers – and according to the TikTok pros – easy to remove with water.

Beloved by TikTokers and teens for its cute packaging, clean ingredients and its youthful approach to good old fashioned skincare for teens. Aside from its rich, skin-quenching formula, Slam Dunk is a moisturiser that can be mixed with other products, meaning less layers on the skin. Those in the know, suggest mixing with tinted bronzing drops for added glow or a face oil if your skin is extra dry.

Parent Savvy: Bubble overall is an affordable, high quality and effective skincare range that is the perfect regime entry point. Its also has a great informative website that will appeal to youngsters with a skin school section featuring advice and quizzes – remember those from teen magazines?

Speaking of bronzing drops, with a million+ views it’s all about the #BronziDrops and winning the sun-kissed award is Drunk Elephant with 5 million views. It makes you wonder how they ever get their school work done! This bronze-toned serum can be mixed with moisturiser for an instant complexion boost or as a temporary face tanner (minus the harmful UV rays). What’s more, this product protects from pollution and stressors in the air with its added antioxidant benefits from vitamin D.

Parent Savvy: Drunk Elephant we hear you say! Yes, the premium cult brand is gripping our teens. You may not have any in your own cosmetics bag but we have to confess these multitasking drops are great for mixing with your serum, face oil, moisturiser and foundation, as well as your body cream, for a natural-looking, and crucially subtle, head-to-toe glow. And we’d say cost-per-use is pretty decent in the long run.

We also love this slightly more pocket-money friendly ‘dupe’ by E.L.F