Mamamia's Tried and Tested series is your review of the latest to hit our desks in beauty, health and wellbeing. You won't find any #sponsored content here, just honest, relatable and independent advice. This week, Mamamia's Beauty Editor trials the viral '242 makeup rule'.

ICYMI, myself and my sparkly You Beauty co-host Em Vernem try a lot of different products, treatments, hacks and techniques on our episode of Tried & Tested every week, so you don't have to. Unless they're really, really good.

Some of them are really not good. However, every now and then we come across something that changes our beauty routine for the better. And friends, this is one of those times.

Watch: Speaking of makeup, this flight attendant just dropped her 20-hour makeup routine. Post continues below.

Because in a recent episode, I put the viral 242 makeup rule to the test. And look, I get it! As someone who hates numbers (dw, they hate me too), the 242 method sounded 10/10 boring (and a wee bit terrifying) when I first came across the concept. I'm also quite a minimal makeup girl and don't tend to get too experimental. However, once I looked into it, I realised it was pure genius.

In short, the '242' makeup hack essentially promises to be the ultimate solution to getting ready in a hurry or on the go — in fact, it makes doing your makeup every day… actually very easy. Very easy indeed.

Listen: Want to get this epsiode in your ears? Here it is below:

And as a lazy girl who is always running late and doing my makeup on the train/bus/before walking into the video studio at work, it's right up my alley.

Here's what happened when I tried the 242 makeup rule.

What is the 242 makeup rule?

As for where this hack first came from, there are soooo many videos on this on TikTok, it's almost impossible to know who started it (if it's you and you're reading this right now lmk) — but what I love about this hack is that it is SO simple. We love to hear it!

To break it down for you, the 242 hack basically involves using two products for your eyes, four for your base and two for your lips. And… that's it.

Is it innovative? Not really. The goal of the rule is pretty straightforward — to completely streamline and simplify your makeup routine using as few products as possible. In some way, you can look at it like a recipe or formula that you can fall back on when you need a makeup look that is quick, easy, effective and no-fuss. because approximately no one wants to do an hour-long makeup routine every morning using 50 million different products. (If you do, though — go you!).

@melisekrem The 242 makeup rule 🤍 this is a great guide to keep makeup application simple and to make sure your makeup always looks flawless ✨ Products: @meritbeauty solo shadow @YSL Beauty lash clash mascara @Too Faced born this way foundation @NARS Cosmetics radiant creamy concealer @Rare Beauty warm wishes bronzer stick @Laura Mercier translucent setting powder Nars Lip liner @Charlotte Tilbury pillow talk lipstick #242makeuprule #242makeup #makeuphacks #makeuptips #makeuptutorial #makeup ♬ original sound - HUGEL

And this is just the reason why I think this hack is so beneficial. Because if you're not someone who's super confident with makeup or you find yourself in that cycle of often buying very expensive, boujee products but not actually using them, this could be a great technique for you to work out what you actually need and use in your makeup routine.

Essentially, it also helps you figure out where to splurge and where to save in your routine. For example, if you're not a mascara girlie but you love eyeliner, you can put your money towards a fancy eyeliner and save your money on mascaras and opt for chemist brands. 

It's also just such a great formula to follow for weekends away or travelling, when you want to be super minimal. It's really easy to remember the numbers when you're packing and make sure you don't forget an important step of your makeup routine (the blush! Not the blush). 

So does it work?

How did you go with it?

Obviously the exact products you choose come down to personal preference — for example, you can use a lightweight foundation, concealer, bronzer and blush for your base; a neutral eyeshadow and mascara on the eyes; lip liner and lip gloss on the lips. You can pretty much just sub in whatever you like, depending on what part of your features you like to highlight.

For me, I chose a lip liner (MECCA Max Pout Pencil, $16) and a lipgloss (Rimmel Thrill Seeker Glassy Gloss 250 Peachy Vibes, $13) for my lip combo, a medium to full coverage foundation (Polite Society More Than A Pretty Face Foundation, $70), a concealer (Bobbi Brown Skin Corrector Stick, $60), a cream blush (Goop Colorblur Glow Balm, $56) and a highlighter (Chanel Baume Glow Stick, $74) for my base. Then for eyes, I chose a brown/neutral cream shade (like Rare Beauty All Of The Above Weightless Eyeshadow Stick in Contentment, $43) and a mascara (Tower 28 MakeWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara, $33).

Now, I've been trying this over the past week or so — and I have to say… I feel like I don't even have to think anymore when it comes to doing my morning makeup routine. It just works. I'm a creature of habit — and I love 'rule' based techniques like this because it feels so formulaic, delightfully uncomplicated and my makeup looks instantly fresher and better.

I don't know if it's the fact I'm not trying to mess around with products that don't work with my face (like bronzer — it never looks good on my skin) or the fact that I've finally given my winged eyeliner a seat on the beauty (bench), but everything just looks… better. The best part? I love that it's taken the thought process out for me for day-to-day. And if I'm running late for work and have to grab the products I need, I don't have to cart around a big heavy makeup bag — I simply pick out the eight products I know I need.

The verdict.

Look, obviously this is not an all-the-time thing. Of course, you still want to be able to get creative with your makeup when you go out and use all the products you desire and not be restricted by 'rules' or certain formulas. However, I think it's just a great hack for beginners and people like me who like minimal makeup and no fuss in the morning and all the proof that less is sometimes more.

So yeah, you can catch me doing the 242 makeup routine all through 2025.

Have you tried the 242 hack before? What are your thoughts? Share with us in the comment section below.

Feature image: Supplied.