In the days before TikTok and Instagram, people slapped make-up on any which way.
Routines were learned from magazines and well-meaning friends, but it often ended up with Tango-orange foundation or wonky false lashes.
Nowadays there's a tutorial for just about everything when it comes to beauty and skincare, from slugging to mouth taping.
Acne sufferers are raving about this new TikTok 'sticky method' that has gone viral, but what is it?
What is the sticky method on TikTok?
The sticky method is the brainchild of TikTok creator Mikayla Nogueira, who is famed for her videos teaching people how to do their make-up.
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She has clocked up more than 13.5 million followers on the app, posting reviews of new products as well as tips and tricks and 'get ready with me' videos.
The sticky method is the latest to go viral, and fans of it say it is a gamechanger for those with acne and uneven skin to make their foundation as flawless as possible.
Mikayla first shared the method in a video title that promised it would cover acne perfectly.
In it, she says "Our face is about to get really sticky", and swears by the texture of the make-up for giving a polished and perfect look.
It's the definition of trusting the process, as there are some stages where you could feel like a gloopy, shiny mess, but the end result is undeniably impressive.
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First she applies a serum followed by a primer.
She says using a sticky primer over the top of a serum will help "matte concealer to stick like glue" - this stuff is going nowhere!
On to the next layer, as Mikayla adds concealer where it is needed and urges viewers not to blend even though it feels like they should, using a fan to help it to dry first.
Once dried, she applies a foundation over the top to complete the finished base look.
Fans are impressed with the method, and since posting her original video in August it now has 5.4 million views, and more than 800k likes.
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Fellow creators have been inspired to try it themselves, and have been posting videos praising the method.
However, one dermatologist, Nazanin Saedi advises against the method if you have acne: "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 continues: "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."
Jen Thomas