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Sep 30, 2023

TikTok Users Love the Viral "Sticky Method" For Covering Acne and Dark Spots — See Video

By Kara Nesvig All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our

By Kara Nesvig

All products featured on Allure are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Another day, another viral TikTok trend to dive into. The latest on the beauty slate is the "sticky method", a technique that's supposed to ensure your makeup covers acne and/or dark spots in a truly jaw-dropping way.

The trend was boosted by TikTok personality Mikayla Nogueira, who shared the technique in a video called "How to Perfectly Cover Acne Using the Sticky Method." In the video, Nogueira is first shown with completely bare skin and says she's going to make her blemishes look like they "don't exist," and it's all thanks to "sticky" products. "Our face is about to get really sticky," Nogueira says in the clip. She first primes her skin with a serum that leaves a sticky finish on the skin, like Glow Recipe's Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum. Once the serum has been applied, she lets it dry before proceeding to the next step: face primer. The trick is to use an equally grippy, sticky primer (Nogueira uses E.L.F. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer) atop the now-dried serum; according to Nogueira, this helps "adhere matte concealer like glue."

She then applies Nars Soft Matte Concealer to her blemishes with a small, precise concealer brush and makes sure to emphasize that you need to let the concealer dry before applying foundation; she even uses a handheld fan and stresses that you should not blend the concealer prior to adding foundation, even if it seems like you need to. After applying a medium-to-full-coverage foundation with a sponge, Nogueira's acne and dark spots are untraceable.

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Since Nogueira's video was posted in late August, the sticky method has caught on, with others trying their hand at the technique with similarly great results; you can check them out under #stickymethod. Nogueira's original video has over 4.8 million impressions, while one response vid racked up over 80,000.

But is there any science behind the method or a reason it works so well? We caught up with a makeup artist and dermatologist to get all the details on why the sticky method works.

"The sticky method makes total sense," says makeup artist Jamie Greenberg. "Creating the sticky canvas grips onto your concealer and can make it a little tackier and heavier. This is better for staying put over your zit or blemish, and by not blending, you're keeping the coverage more pigmented." Once you've applied foundation to even out your skin tone, the concealer is less noticeable. "It's a more reliable way to keep that heavy coverage in place rather than spreading the concealer around," says Greenberg.

Greenberg recommends Pür 4-in-1 Sculpting Concealer specifically for its heavy-duty nature. "Tapping heavier concealer onto the blemish helps it meld with your skin without dispersing the coverage. If you blend it around, the pigment spreads and sheers out more, rather than staying in the one spot," she explains of the "no blending" method. "For tough imperfections, you want that heavy coverage. If you're just trying to brighten under the eyes, for example, then it makes sense to blend the concealer out."

If you're thinking of trying the sticky method at home, Greenberg recommends a "less-is-more" approach to makeup. "You think you need a lot of concealer but you don't; you can always layer if you really want more coverage, but start light," she says. "If you put too much on it can get cakey. By using primer followed by a good quality concealer, you shouldn't need a lot to get the job done."

The sticky method may look like magic, but dermatologists have mixed feelings about the layers-upon-layers style for acne-prone skin. "With the sticky method, each layer of products makes the other layer stick better to it," explains Mamina Turegano, MD, a Lousiana-based board-certified dermatologist. A hyaluronic acid serum can be sticky or tacky with a thick enough layer before it dries. This makes it easier for a primer to 'stick' to the skin. The silicone or dimethicone in the primer also the concealer to then stick even better."

You'll want to also address the root cause of acne, not just cover it up. 'I'm a believer that the less primer and makeup you have on your skin when dealing with acne, the better it is for the acne," Dr. Turegano says. "There are definitely primers and foundations out that there are less likely to clog pores. But if you have acne, I would rely less on this method and work more on treating the acne."

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Pennsylvania-based board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, agrees. "For people who have acne, I tend not to recommend layering products upon products, especially as part of your daily skincare and makeup routine," she says. "I often recommend thin makeup products that are all oil-free. Layers of thicker, 'sticky' products will clog your pores, worsening your breakout and increasing the risk of developing more acne."

Dr. Saedi recommends sticking (sorry) to the sticky method for big events, not every day. "The sticky method is a great way to look your best for a special occasion, just don't make it part of your daily routine."

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