TikTokers certainly have the skills to pay the bills.
But when it comes to what's underneath that flawless finish, is there a natural beauty
— or a shockingly different person?
Keep watching to see if these stars come in hot or not.
Charli D'Amelio first gained a following on TikTok with dance routines that were simple
enough for her fans to mimic.
She became the app's most-followed creator in 2020, but she didn't let fame influence
her look.
Charli's style is usually pretty understated, and she often appears to be wearing just a
touch of makeup — or even none at all.
This strategy highlights her freckles, which some fans apparently think aren't even real.
Charli tweeted in April 2020,
"Y'all really believe my freckles are fake."
Months later, Charli revealed that she was just beginning to get interested in makeup
when she became a TikTok star.
As she explained on Today,
"I feel like throughout this journey of being on TikTok, I've also been learning how to
do makeup properly and what looks good on my face and how to apply certain products."
One trick she learned from beauty vlogger James Charles was to use a moist Beauty Blender
sponge.
And she's since improved her beauty game so much that she and her older sister, Dixie,
are now the faces of the Morphe 2 makeup line.
Charli became a fan of the brand back when she was getting glammed up for dance competitions.
As she told Glamour,
"No one wants to be doing a five-year-old's makeup at six in the morning, so I learned
how to do my own makeup very quickly."
Addison Rae's TikTok talents include dancing, lip syncing, and looking fabulous while doing
both.
And when she's not creating content, the star is busy building a beauty empire that could
have Kylie Jenner shaking in her thigh-high boots.
Creating her own cosmetics line was a natural fit for Rae, whose mom is actually a makeup
artist.
As she told Allure,
"I loved her love for makeup and it, it really just fueled my love for makeup."
"OK, I'll do 'sparkle.'
Thank you for your suggestion."
Creating her own look was a necessity for Rae when she was dancing competitively.
Describing her flashy stage-beauty routine as, quote, "super fun," Rae began her 2020
Vogue demo with a bare face and made sure to note her imperfections.
But when it comes to her skin care regimen, Rae credits pal Kourtney Kardashian for introducing
her to the importance of sunscreen, adding,
"She […] said it was just really good for your skin to have sunscreen on it at all times."
As the Chief Innovation Officer for ITEM Beauty, Rae ensures that her product line also helps
keep skin healthy.
She explained to E!,
"I want to be able to put something on my face that I can feel good about — clean
products with ingredients that are good for my skin and enhance, not mask, my features."
U.S. Navy vet, Bella Poarch did little more than bob her head to become one of TikTok's
most-followed creators.
She launched her account in April 2020, and five months later, she had the most-liked
video on the app: a lip-sync to Millie B's "M to the B." That success turned her into
an instant internet celebrity and a sought-after partner for brands like Eos.
"I feel like it's a dream.
And I'm so grateful."
Poarch achieved beauty influencer status by creating a look that mimics the "rosy" red
cheeks of anime characters.
But during a 2021 Vogue interview, she noted that her signature dusting of blush under
her eyes can also make her look sunburned if she's not careful.
The singer also revealed that she "wasn't allowed to wear makeup in school," growing
up.
Later, she became so obsessed with it that she couldn't live without it.
She confessed,
"I went through this really weird phase where I would be uncomfortable taking pictures with
fans when I didn't have my makeup ready and I would later see those pictures online."
Poarch credits TikTok for helping her change this view, adding,
"Take the filters away and I'm still happy being me."
Much like her younger sister, Dixie D'Amelio didn't join TikTok to share beauty advice
with the masses.
According to The Guardian, she only created an account because she made a pact with her
sister — that if Charli reached one million followers, Dixie would sign up too.
Dixie used the platform to launch a singing career, and her entire family eventually scored
their own Hulu reality series, "The D'Amelio Show."
But throughout her journey, Dixie hasn't lost sight of her authentic, girl-next-door look.
And she claims that even she turns to TikTok when she needs beauty advice.
She explained to Glossy,
"I used to not really care about doing my makeup, but now I love trying out the trending
products that I see on TikTok to see what works and what doesn't for me."
"I don't do a lot.
I do a little, and just so I look alive."
Of course, Dixie proudly sports the Morphe 2 collab by herself and Charli.
And one of her favorite products makes it look like she's barely wearing any makeup
at all: the Hint Hint Skin Tint.
She told Today,
"It's a foundation, but it doesn't cover my freckles, so I really love it."
As fans can probably already tell, Dixie and Charli prefer a more natural look.
As Dixie told Allure,
"We don't hide anything on TikTok and this line feels very aligned with what we stand
for.
We want to show that blemishes and acne are okay."
Loren Gray's love of makeup is very clear.
But fans who have watched the "Glow Up" host grow up on the app, might find it hard to
believe that she's never been a makeup pro.
She admitted in a 2018 YouTube video,
"I'm not a beauty guru.
I don't claim to be."
But that hasn't stopped fans from turning to the singer for beauty advice.
She shared her step-by-step routine in a 2019 video — showcasing the dramatic difference
between what she looks like barefaced and all dolled up.
"School was kinda rough for me.
People weren't always the nicest with what I was doing."
Gray developed her love of makeup amid challenging times.
When she was bullied at school and forced to switch to a homeschooling set-up, the TikToker
used the transition to hone her chops.
She told PopSugar in 2021,
"I would finish my work early, and then I would practice makeup.
I was just a really sad kid, but watching makeup tutorials and building my confidence
through makeup made me feel good."
Before long, she was blazing her way through her own makeup tutorials, regularly sharing
her confidently fresh face.
Baby Ariel burst onto the social media scene back in 2015 when TikTok was called Musical.ly.
For her first video, she rapped along to Nicki Minaj — who she would later collaborate
with for a video.
Ariel capitalized on her large following by pursuing a career as a singer and actor — and
she found success as both.
The video for her debut single, "Aww," has been viewed over 55 million times.
And her acting credits include a role in the Disney Channel original movie, "ZOMBIES 2."
Ariel is also crushing it over on YouTube, where she's dipped a toe in the makeup tutorial
realm.
She clearly enjoys trying new products, telling Us Weekly that her beauty must-haves are lash
extensions and lipstick.
But, like many entertainers, she has a complicated relationship with products due to her fans'
opinions on her various looks.
As she tweeted in 2018,
"I will never understand haters on Instagram.
Makeup on: 'Ugh! you wear too much makeup!'
No makeup: 'Ugh! take care of yourself! put some makeup on!'"
"Is this right?
Ew, you suck.
I really shouldn't be mean to myself because I'm about to have a bunch of comments that
are mean."
But by 2021, Ariel was proudly ignoring the haters, and living her best life, telling
Vanity Teen,
"Now, I'm focused on just being myself and pursuing my own dreams."
Original Hype House member Avani Gregg first gained fame for rocking clown makeup on TikTok.
Also revealing that "scary makeup" was her thing at the time, she told Hollywire in 2020,
"I was known as 'clown girl.'
Not really a good thing to be known for, but it's fine.
I understand."
"If this doesn't look cool, then I'm just gonna probably like be sad for a couple of
weeks, but…I think I can make this work."
Before her social media career took off, Gregg worked a stint as a lifeguard.
She had to quit when too many people started recognizing her.
These days, the star has her own makeup collab with Morphe — a collection that's loaded
with vibrant colors.
She explained to Glossy,
"[My mood board features] spray-painted art, neon lights, bright colors and retro-themed
pictures."
In a video for Vogue, Gregg revealed that her mom taught her how to do makeup.
She also credits her for helping improve her skincare routine.
She said,
"When I started doing makeup, she really wanted me to make sure that I was taking care of
my skin.
Because if I was being posted on social media and stuff like that, it would be nice to have
clear skin."
These days, Gregg is comfortable enough to share snaps even when her skin isn't blemish-free.
And that just makes fans adore her even more.
At the age of 12, Cuban-born singer Malu Trevejo moved to Miami, debuting on the Billboard
charts just two years later, in 2017.
Before "Luna Llena" became her first hit, she found fame on Musical.ly.
Trevejo was also popular on Instagram, where her first viral post was a dance to Rihanna's
"Work."
As she told People,
"I started getting followers and started doing more music videos and videos of me dancing."
By 2019, Trevejo had performed at Lollapalooza and released her first EP.
But she never forgot her roots in TikTok.
There, she posts a mix of lip-sync videos, viral challenges, and bite-sized belly-dancing
routines.
While she's usually sporting a full face of makeup, Trevejo has given fans a peek at a
more natural look.
She revealed what she looks like when she wakes up, and she also kept it fresh for a
dance challenge, writing, "No makeup don't judge."
But despite all of her continued success, Trevejo's relationship with social media hasn't
always been positive.
She told Ones to Watch in 2019,
"Sometimes I get depressed with comments or rude posts people make about me."
"You don't wanna be just like everybody else.
You gotta shine with your own light."
While Trevejo couldn't stop fans from critiquing her natural looks on Instagram, the verdict
has been overwhelmingly positive.
As one user wrote,
"[You're] more than beautiful without makeup."
Liza Koshy has conquered the conventional acting realm by scoring roles in various projects,
including the movie, "Work It."
But even before her acting career took off, she spent years in front of the camera, giving
her plenty of time to perfect her look.
She got her start on Vine in 2013 and later took her comedic talents to YouTube and TikTok.
In one particular no-makeup tutorial, the comedian even once demonstrated…
"How to achieve [a] light, greasy hot potato look."
"Sponsored by butter."
But Koshy is just as passionate about makeup and skincare as she is about her career.
In 2020, she partnered with the beauty brand, C'est Moi, to create her own line called One
of One.
Featuring products that were all Environmental Working Group-verified, Koshy explained to
Allure,
"My best friend just had a baby.
I sent her the line and she said, 'I could dunk my baby in this if I wanted to because
I know it's so safe.'"
Koshy revealed that she became interested in skincare when she was young, telling Cosmo,
"I had a lot of skin issues and breakouts as a kid, and it made me feel really insecure."
These days, Koshy is crushing it on TikTok, promoting her line with her signature flair.
British beauty guru Abby Roberts dazzles her millions of fans with her transformation videos,
which often begin with her rocking a bare face.
She's famous for creating looks that transform her into the spitting images of Lana del Rey,
Lady Gaga's "American Horror Story" heiress, and scores of other famous characters.
And, according to Glossy, her talent and fame quickly led to lucrative partnerships with
brands including Morphe, Maybelline, and Charlotte Tilbury.
Roberts is self-taught and credits YouTube tutorials for helping her master her craft.
And while she first began showcasing her own work on YouTube, TikTok made her a top content
creator.
She told Glamour in 2021,
"It just blew up, and in the first few months of me having the app, I gained millions of
followers.
I remember refreshing the page and I couldn't believe the numbers."
"I go on there with my spots out and everything, like, y'know, everyone sees all the behind-the-scenes
stuff, so, it's quite nice to show that side of yourself I think."
Roberts might possess a true talent for crafting flawless looks, but she doesn't try to hide
anything from her fans when it comes to the occasional breakout.
As far as her take on a beauty regimen, she says,
"Makeup doesn't make me feel any more beautiful, I'm happy to go out without it."
While some of TikTok's biggest beauty influencers use makeup to change into dead-ringers for
A-list stars, there's only one celebrity that Paige Niemann wants to mimic; Ariana Grande.
In 2019, the then-15-year-old TikToker went viral for a look that was almost identical
to Grande's.
Niemann's on-point pony and winged liner got her so much attention that her idol eventually
noticed her.
At the time, Grande tweeted,
"I am sure she is the sweetest sweet sweetheart for real!!
But it's definitely bizarre."
Niemann appears like Grande in almost all of her videos, but when she finally made her
debut without the Ari touch, fans were all about it.
One user wrote,
"You go girl, you don't need to be Ariana, you are way better naturally."
Niemann revealed to Entertainment Tonight that Grande had reached out to say she was
"flattered" by her impersonation.
But after Grande threw some shade at her legion of TikTok look-alikes in 2020, Niemann renounced
her idol.
She admitted during a livestream,
"It's kind of why I'm not a fan of her anymore, honestly."
Mikayla Nogueira shot to fame with the viral "Catfish Challenge."
TikTokers got the name from the MTV reality series, "Catfish," which tracks down people
who use fake photos to lure partners on the internet.
While the word typically has negative connotations, Nogueira and other beauty gurus used it to
celebrate their artistry.
In 2021, she admitted to Vogue that it was rare for her to show a fresh-faced look, but
stepping outside her comfort zone for a before-and-after video paid off.
At the time, Nogueira had just lost her job at Ulta, and TikTok gave her something to
do with her time.
Filming daily content for the platform was a breeze for her when there was suddenly a
demand for her content.
And, as she told The Boston Globe,
"Doing [makeup] every single day is the best part of my day."
All of that dedication paid off when she won Emerging Makeup Artist of the Year at the
2020 American Influencer Awards.
But as fans soon found out, the Boston native got into transforming herself with makeup
because of a tough situation.
As a kid, Nogueira was bullied for her looks, and as she revealed to Vogue,
"The biggest insult I have received all my life is, 'she's really a man.'
[…] I genuinely questioned my femininity for many years, and would do everything and
anything to appear more 'feminine.'
I started using makeup as early as 10 as a way to feel better about myself.
"In high school, my bus came at 6:30, so I'd get up at 4 to do my makeup."
Thankfully, Nogueira has since developed a much more positive relationship with herself
and her art.
She said,
"Makeup has become my 'healthy' obsession and my absolute world."
Brooke Monk is one of TikTok's rising stars with over 18 million fans and counting, as
of late 2021.
And like many other success stories of the platform, hers didn't begin with years of
trying to make it big.
In fact, it took her less than 24 months to become a top tier content creator.
Monk began building her following by cashing in on her authenticity.
Her wholesome, comedic videos usually revolve around things like relationships, school,
online bullying, period problems, and sibling struggles.
She also shares beauty content on occasion, but that hasn't been without some negative
response.
Monk has addressed comments about her made-up looks numerous times.
And as she once posted,
"I've gotten some comments on my videos saying that me after I put on makeup isn't actually
me and there are two different people.
But it's me.
I just like to wear a lot of makeup."
"This is cute.
Don't hate on this.
I like this."
The star also shared other mean comments about her makeup, including one that brutally described
her as, quote, "99% makeup and 1% girl."
Fortunately, Monk doesn't let a little trolling get her down — and she continues to show
off her natural beauty.
She's even poked fun at herself by joking that she can pass for a 12-year-old without
makeup, and she's made fun of guys who claim that they prefer girls who don't wear makeup.
Canadian creator, Kristen Hancher, is a bona fide egirl who is serving up that manic pixie
dream vibe by rocking colorful cosmetics and a little makeup magic to give her face elfin
angles.
She was on Musical.ly before it became TikTok, and she remained popular on the rebranded
platform.
According to Seventeen, Hancher boasted over 23 million followers in April 2020.
But the model lost them all in January 2021 when she was banned from TikTok, according
to Distractify.
She later created a new account and explained what really happened, claiming that she had
unwittingly promoted her OnlyFans page in one of her videos.
Even though Hancher only referred to it using the abbreviation "O.F.," she reportedly violated
the terms of service, and was slapped with what was supposed to be a permanent ban.
Hancher has since shared a handful of videos on her new account, including one in a response
to a fan's request to see what she looks like without makeup.
Her followers can also check out her makeup tutorials on YouTube, like her play-by-play
for achieving her signature egirl look.
In another video, she even transformed into a Kylie Jenner lookalike — using, of course,
only makeup.
"I think it's pretty dope."
But back to all of those fresh-look faces we've been seeing.
According to BuzzFeed, skipping makeup and foregoing filters on TikTok became a super
hot trend in 2021.
With so many of the platform's biggest stars joining in and daring to bare a more minimalist
look, maybe there will one day be a little less pressure to look perfect on social media.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Nicki Swift videos about your favorite TikTok stars are coming soon.
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