Beauty guru Sydney Purl took her two million TikTok followers by surprise when she revealed a makeup hack inspired by prisoners.
Using nothing but baby powder, coffee, and lotion, she whipped up a DIY foundation that had viewers doing double takes.
The results? Flawless coverage that had people saying she looked incredible — despite the unconventional ingredients.
Mixing everyday items, Sydney recreated a process some inmates use to achieve flawless skin behind bars.
Without access to fancy makeup, she combined baby powder, coffee, and lotion, adjusting the shade as best she could. The end result was surprisingly smooth and gave her a sun-kissed glow.
“As you can see, this is a little bit too dark, but I thought, I’m just going to go with it,” Sydney shared.
In her video, Sydney marveled at the unexpected quality of her DIY creation.
“I was really impressed. This is so clever,” she admitted, blending the concoction into her skin. “It feels like bronzing drops!”
Her followers were equally impressed, with one commenting, “Some of you girls are so inventive! Really impressive. Looks great.”
Viewers were quick to offer feedback — and suggestions.
One user recommended ditching the baby powder altogether, saying, “Stop using baby powder and try cake mix or flour, so it doesn’t dry and crack.” Others shared tips, but most were just blown away by Sydney’s creativity, with another fan chiming in, “Wow, I am impressed.”
However, not everyone was eager to try this unconventional hack.
A few skeptics voiced concerns. One commenter wrote, “Something I wouldn’t be doing,” while another warned, “The way I’d break out.”
Despite these concerns, Sydney’s fans were overwhelmingly supportive of her DIY experiment, calling it a clever and cost-effective trick.
Sydney’s hack even sparked a conversation about other prison beauty tips.
Recovering addict Tina Tsakonas, who’s been documenting her post-prison life on social media, shared another DIY hack: a face mask made from coffee, sugar, peanuts, and lotion. “I knew about coffee being a good scrub, but peanuts? That’s new,” one commenter remarked.
Tina also revealed how inmates create a homemade lip stain with just a few pantry items.
“You’re gonna need Vaseline, a little bit of water and Coolaid” she said in one of her popular videos. With over two million followers, Tina’s beauty tips have captivated her audience, and some followers have even suggested she start her own skincare line.
The ingenuity of these DIY beauty solutions struck a chord with many viewers.
Both Sydney and Tina have found creative ways to work with what’s available, inspiring their followers to think outside the box. One fan summed it up perfectly: “You could seriously sell beauty and skincare products SO WELL with these hacks.”
While these hacks might not be for everyone, they are undoubtedly clever.
From coffee scrubs to foundation made with baby powder, these beauty gurus have redefined DIY makeup. One thing’s for sure — these tips have sparked plenty of curiosity, and we’re betting there’s more to come from these inventive creators.
It turns out, when you’re in a pinch (or behind bars), resourcefulness goes a long way.
Sydney and Tina have shown us that beauty doesn’t always come in a bottle — it can come from your pantry! Would you give these hacks a try, or are you sticking with Sephora?
