I tried a popular foundation that's meant to look like a real-life Instagram filter, and I wouldn't buy it again

• I recently tried the viral Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte foundation, which costs $42.
• Though I see why influencers love the makeup, I thought it made my dry skin look worse.

In early June, I slathered layers of makeup onto my face in attempts to copy influencer Meredith Duxbury's controversial beauty routine.

Though her technique wasn't for me, I was intrigued by the two foundations she used: Kosas' Revealer Skin-Improving foundation and Huda Beauty's #FauxFilter Luminous Matte foundation.

So weeks later, I put the latter to the test— only this time, I used much less product.

Huda Beauty's #FauxFilter foundation retails for $42

The foundation is said to provide full coverage, last 24 hours, and create a "true filter effect," according to the brand. I bought mine at Sephora, though you can also find it on Huda Beauty's website.

I started by applying the foundation the way I normally do: using one pump of product and placing it across my face in small dots. Quickly, I realized that this foundation dries fast.

As I blended one section, another had already started to settle and become difficult to work with. I'd recommend using less than half a pump at a time.

When I finished blending, I was pretty impressed with my skin. It looked smooth and blurred, with hardly any texture or imperfections visible from afar.

And even better, in my opinion, was the fact that the foundation didn't feel heavy, and it didn't have a scent.

That said, I really didn't like how the foundation wore throughout the day. I started noticing the product clinging to dry patches on my face, and the foundation separated to reveal my redness.

I tried wearing the foundation again in the following days with different primers underneath, but I had the same experience with each one.

So while the makeup made my skin look good in photos even hours after application, it didn't look the same in real life.

When you search "Huda Beauty foundation" on TikTok, you'll find videos that total four billion views — many of which praise the product. And after trying it myself, I guess I can understand some of that hype.

The full-coverage finish does give you a filter effect, which I think people would especially appreciate for events like photo shoots, proms, or even filming TikTok videos.

But I wouldn't recommend wearing it every day, and especially not for 24 hours at a time.

Personally, I can't justify or recommend buying a foundation that I'd only use a couple of times a year. After all, if I wanted my skin to look smoother online, TikTok and Instagram filters are free — this foundation isn't.