6 Hyped Beauty Products That Weren’t Worth My Money

Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube… are packed with content about must-have beauty products. Every week, a new product is hyped to the point of getting sold out globally. But are all these products worth our hard-won money? Don't miss my de-influencing list on some of the Internet's most loved viral products.

OK, first things first: I am not saying these products are bad. They all have a large following worldwide and are best sellers in their categories. But, these didn't work for me or met my expectations. 

Unfortunately, as none of these products fall into the low-cost category, I wasted a lot of money. I will inevitably give away most of these to friends or take these for recycling at my local Sephora.

Without further ado, these six hyped beauty products weren't worth my money.

Supergroup!’s Unseen Sunscreen

I can’t tell how many posts and reviews I’ve read online in the past couple of years. As Supergroup!’s products weren’t available in Spain until a couple of weeks ago, this was one of my priority beauty purchases during my trip to London.

Given I have combination skin, Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen would be the ideal formula for me within Supergoop’s line. 

As I knew that these were sold at Selfridge’s, I planned not to bring sunscreen with me and purchase the Unseen Sunscreen on my first day in London. I would initially go for the travel-sized version, and if the product worked for me, I would stop by later to get the full-sized one.

Once at Selfridge’s, I was disappointed that none of the Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen had a protective lid. I managed to spot one tube that didn’t seem to be previously used and ended up purchasing it.

This 20 ml tube cost me 15 pounds, which is a lot for such a tiny product. But I wanted to try it, and this was my only chance to get it without placing an international order.

I wore it for the first time the very next morning while getting ready to leave the hotel, and that’s when I had the first red flag: my makeup wouldn’t sit on top of it, given its slippery silicone texture.

I decided to give it a few more minutes before applying my foundation. Unfortunately, for some reason, the sunscreen layer would blend (awfully) with the foundation formula. Leaving my skin looking patchy.

I’ve kept trying it during the trip, given it was my only sunscreen. But I couldn’t make it work. Plus, I had a massive breakout during my trip. Which only made things worst.

Once at home and recovered from the breakout (which took me a few weeks and some designated products), I decided to try it again. This time without makeup, to see how it worked with my bare skin and after reapplying several coats throughout the day.

The result? Not the best! Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen has proven to be a bit heavy for my acne-prone skin, especially after reapplying three or four coats of it throughout the day. So, by the end of the day, I feel uncomfortable, and I only want to remove it with a reliable cleansing balm, followed by a regular face wash.

I know this is a very unpopular opinion and that some of you might strongly disagree with me, but I gave it several tries in different scenarios. I could never see the wonders everybody talks about. Plus, I’ve got my partner to try this product during a day out, and he complained about the heavy texture and odd smell.

Knowing how odd it feels, I’ll try to finish what’s left of this product on days I work from home to prevent throwing it in Sephora’s recycling bin.

Fenty Beauty’s Invisimatte Setting + Blotting Powder

Remember the compact that Rihanna used mid her Super Bowl performance? Yeah, that was Fenty Beauty’s Invisimatte Setting + Blotting Powder! 

This product was already hyped all over the internet and was hard to find everywhere before its Super Bowl appearance. It’s known for instantly mattifying the skin and removing undesired shine.

I managed to score one on Sephora’s website a few months ago. I remember being super happy that day, as this product was super hard to find, and it would help me with one of my major skin concerns (shine).

So, why is this product on this list? Well, not because it's a bad product or doesn't work. It certainly does, but a bit too much. Confusing, right?! OK, let me explain. This product is so good when it comes to mattifying the skin that it does it in excess - if you're not too careful.

Well, don't get me wrong. I love mattified and set skin, but when it's too much… it ends up making me older than I actually am or just looking cakey, which is not ideal!

That's why I prefer other setting powders in my collection instead of this one, as those allow me to mattify my skin while keeping a natural look.

Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask

Another internet favorite that is super hyped (in my opinion). I am talking about Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask. Many people think it is a Holy Grail in their beauty routines, but I can’t make it work for me.

Its texture is a sort of whipped vaseline. Slightly lighter and creamier when you get it out of the jar with its tiny spatula. But it just sits weirdly on my lips, not moisturizing them deeply or performing miracles overnight as intended.

I get a way better payoff when using Egyptian Magic’s Multipurpose Cream or Honest Beauty’s Magic Balm - both cheaper than the one from Laneige. 

So, before you join the trend and spend more than 20 euros on a jar, try to get a travel size first. Way cheaper and with more than enough product to determine if it works for you. 

Stila’s Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow: Kitten Karma 

OK, here’s another hyped product that took me a while to get - because it was constantly sold out everywhere. I managed to get mine on LOOKFANTASTIC last year during their Black Friday Sale.

Stila’s Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow in the shade Kitten Karma is a loved product all over the internet. Why? Because of the light, it brought to the eyelids. 

Well, even though it looks spectacular on camera (the reason why I purchased it), I can’t tell the same IRL. It’s a beautiful eyeshadow, don’t get me wrong. But the liquid eyeshadow also gave me the most challenging time to work with.

The formula is drier than I am used to, and the glitter particles are chunky, which isn’t the most pleasant thing to feel over the eyelid.

Also, as the formula dries fast and the particles are very prominent, it’s hard to blend it evenly. Looking patchy or heavy in some places.

When will I use this eyeshadow? Well, never. When I have a dinner out, but even then... I need to go easy on it because of the glittery particles. Which is a shame, given the price of this product.

You probably know that e.l.f.’s Flirty Birdy liquid eyeshadow is frequently mentioned as a dupe for this one from Stila. Despite the similarities, the glitter particles on the E.l.f. one aren’t so chunky, and the formula is slightly easier to work with. However, still not the most appropriate to create an even and elegant look.

I only wish I knew these before spending almost 30 euros on a single liquid eyeshadow!

Caudalie’s Eau de Beauté

In my defense, I am still new to Caudalie's products. Besides its great reviews online, I see these being recommended not only by beauty influencers but also by pharmaceuticals and dermatologists.

So, I was watching one of those "Products You Need To Buy At a French Pharmacy" videos on YouTube when I ran into this product. Caudalie's Eau de Beauté is claimed to be this beauty elixir that smooths your skin's features, closes the pores, sets the makeup, and leaves a healthy glow.

In my case, I haven't noticed any of that, except for the glow. This one hasn't set my makeup, unlike other setting sprays I tried. Nor have I noticed any difference in my pores. Plus, it has this weird smell - at least for me that I can't stand.

The positive part? I loved the hydrating sensation it left on my skin. And that would be it!

I love that the package is made of glass and available in two formats. And I wish that this product became a new favorite, but unfortunately, it wasn't the case. Given its price and that I still have so much product left, I'll give it to one of my friends.

Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Blushes

Here comes another unpopular opinion, I know! Don’t get me wrong. I love Rare Beauty’s products. I love the brand’s philosophy, the packaging, the concept, their formulas… but unfortunately, not all the products work for me. And this can happen with any brand on the market - no matter the product’s price and quality.

It’s the case Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Blushes. I know, pretty much everybody loves these. The shades, the formula, and especially the fact that only a small dot of product is needed to cover the whole face - given how pigmented these are.

And that’s my pet peeve with this product. I like buildable blushes (powder, cream, or liquid). I have very fair skin, and in the case of Rare Beauty’s blushes, even the slightest hint of the product will make me look too blushed.

I love a product that does the job using only a tiny amount, but I also enjoy that it allows me to work the product to meet my needs. That’s the case with Glossier’s Cloud Paint liquid blushes.

Fortunately, in the case of Rare Beauty’s Soft Pinch Blushes, I managed to lay my hands on a sample before spending my hard-earned money.

What about you? Which internet favorite products ended up being a waste of money for you?