You watch a YouTube tutorial on contouring and it looks simple on the content creator. But when you pick up your brush, you just can’t seem to get the product on the right position. Sound familiar?
We understand this frustration – but guess what – we may also have found a better way to help. We’ve been seeing a number of filters on social media platform TikTok, that uses augmented reality (AR) to mark out your actual face so that you can follow makeup instructions more easily.
Credits: @/shaymitchell/ TikTok
Of course, we’re not taking it at just face value – no pun intended. In true Daily Vanity style, we’re putting TikTok filters to the test to see if they help improve our makeup techniques!
TikTok Makeup Filters You Need to Try
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. It analyses facial shapes (e.g. heart-shaped, oval, round) and apply customised concealer and contour specifically designed to flatter the user.
The feature is easy to use and Daily Vanity managed to follow the instructions quickly.
However, there are limitations: the outcome is 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. On Asian facial structures, we feel that the contouring effect is less noticeable.
@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 technique 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 choosing hairstyles that flatter your features, finding the right sunglasses, and even choosing complementary jewellery.
Tips to use this 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 digital diagnostic tool, overlaying various Kosas concealer shades directly onto the user’s face for a real-time comparison. This side-by-side analysis allows for a more precise identification of the perfect shade, essentially providing users with a personalised foundation cheat sheet readily available on their handphones.
@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, Daily Vanity found that the undertone shade would change depending on the colour of the surrounding lighting. When using the filter in natural lighting, we found that our teammate’s undertone appeared cool, which was surprising as we previously considered it 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.
In her case, a cool undertone with a warm overtone resulted in a slightly olive tone. This emphasised 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.
Tips to use this 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 RM155 here!
Makeup Placement for a Natural Lifted Look
Credits: @/aimeechengbradshaw/ Instagram
Finally, we explore the intriguing concept of utilising filters to achieve a lifted appearance.
Filters like the “Facelift Contour” by @juliadudok go beyond mere fun, 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. While the prospect of replicating a facelift with makeup might seem farfetched, these filters offer a valuable opportunity for experimentation, potentially empowering users to feel more comfortable in their own skin.
@dailyvanity Get a facelift in no time with this filter!💫 Do you see the difference?🫣 #beautyfliter #beauty #contour #highlight #facelift #tiktokmakeuptips #faceliftmakeup
Daily Vanity put this put this filter to the test by following the makeup recommendations. We are impressed with the subtle lifting effect that was apparent in the final 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.
Tips to use this filter
- Apply contour along the dark brown lines, concealer on the biege areas and blush on the dotted pink lines
- Lightly mist your beauty blender or makeup brush with setting spray before blending for a more seamless application
Our Verdict
So, do TikTok makeup filters hold the key to unlocking makeup mastery? We’re not convinced.
While they offer a glimpse into a future where technology personalises our beauty routines, it’s important to view them as stepping stones towards honing the individual skillset needed to actually master makeup.
