The Ultimate Ranking: 12 Viral TikTok Beauty Products We Tested (And The 4 We're Adding To Our Permanent Routines)
TikTok has changed beauty discovery forever. But viral does not equal good. We tested 12 of the most viral beauty products of the past year. Here's our honest ranking — and which 4 are joining our permanent routines.
Mei Park
K-Beauty Specialist · January 8, 2026
Viral beauty products are a mixed bag. Some are genuinely game-changing innovations. Others are clever marketing wrapped around mediocre product. We tested 12 of the most viral beauty products of 2024-2025.
Ranked from Worst to Best:
12. The TikTok-Viral "Pink Sauce" Lip Plumper — Skip
30 minutes of mild stinging followed by lips that looked exactly the same. Hard pass.
11. Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62 Body Mist — Skip Unless You Love It
Genuinely good fragrance, but the cult status drove the price up. The same scent profile is available from Bath & Body Works for $10.
7. Vaseline Glazed & Glisten Shimmering Gel Oil — Surprise Hit
Vaseline went viral in 2025. The body glow is genuinely beautiful for $5. A legitimate win.
5. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Sunscreen — Cult For A Reason
A Korean SPF that went viral because it's genuinely the best daily sunscreen for face use. Lightweight, no white cast, reef-safe.
4. e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter — Adding To Permanent Routine
A $14 liquid highlighter that mixes seamlessly into foundation for an all-over glow. Comparable to Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter ($46).
3. Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops — Adding To Permanent Routine
The instant-glow finish is genuinely beautiful. Worth the $35 if you want a daily luminizer.
2. Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Spray — Adding To Permanent Routine
One of the most genuinely useful skincare products of recent years.
1. Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush — Adding To Permanent Routine
The crown of viral beauty success. Earned every bit of its hype.
About the reviewer
Mei Park
K-Beauty Specialist
Mei Park is our resident K-beauty expert. She grew up watching her grandmother layer essences before "10-step routines" had a name in the West. Mei has visited over 30 Korean beauty labs in Seoul and ...
