I Tried the "Too Much Foundation" Routine That Went Viral on TikTok

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If there's one beauty product I worry about using too much of, it's foundation. Since I'm working from home, I like to use as little foundation as possible (if any at all). A dime-size amount of tinted moisturizer seems to do the trick covering any hyperpigmentation and promoting evenness when I'm not going anywhere. So you can imagine my reaction when I saw TikTok user @meredithduxbury's maximalist foundation routine.

Duxbury's makeup process goes a little something like this: She applies primer, puts an excessive amount of a liquid foundation on the back of her hand, smears it onto her face with a makeup brush, and rubs it in with — ready for this? — her hands. 

Don't get me wrong — I'm all about your hands being your best blending tool, but with this much foundation all I could think about is how slippery it must feel. 

Once that first layer is all smooth, the TikToker goes in with a serum foundation and buffs it out with a blending sponge. Then she finishes her routine with powder, blush, filling in her brows, adding eye makeup, and applying lip color. As you can see in the video, the makeup artist looks absolutely stunning at the end of her short clip. I had to know if this technique actually works, so I decided to get dirty and try it myself.

I pulled out all of my go-to products and got started. I always use Benefit's The POREfessional Pore Minimizing Primer, so I began with that. For my first layer of foundation, I used Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Foundation and squeezed a way-more-than-generous amount onto my hand and, just like in the video, smeared it all over my face. I used my hands to blend it in and, folks, this was really something I almost have no words for. It was a slimy mess. And the worst part was that it got under my acrylic nails (yuck!), but I was committed to the process. 

Once the product was evenly spread, I applied Dermablend Flawless Creator Liquid Foundation Drops to my forehead and undereye area and blended it all in with my Beautyblender. I'm not going to lie: I looked scary and barely recognizable. My lips and microbladed eyebrows were covered in foundation and my face looked so flat — it needed dimension. 

For that, I applied the rest of my base makeup, which includes MAC Cosmetics Glow Play Blush and Marc Jacobs Beauty O!Mega Bronzer Coconut Perfect Tan. (I skipped concealer because, with all this foundation, there wasn't a dark circle in sight.) For my brows and eyes, I kept it simple because there was no way was I putting on false lashes to sit home, so I filled in my brows with Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer, and swiped on a coat of Maybelline New York Lash Sensational Sky High Mascara.

I have to admit, I was impressed with the results: My skin looked like a porcelain doll's. It was smooth and all of my pores and blemishes vanished temporarily. So Meredith Duxbury may very well be on to something. But I wouldn't do this routine every day. You use a lot of product and I personally believe that this layering effect is just a waste of foundation. However, if you are genuinely curious, give it a go. But don't get angry when you quickly run out of foundation.

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