In April 2017, an unusual makeup video featuring Johnna Hines and her boyfriend, Damon Richards, became a widely covered online spectacle. Contemporary reports said Hines used Richards’s testicles to blend foundation as a joke while the couple were doing her makeup; it was not a beauty technique they presented as advice.
What happened in the video?
Allure reported on April 24, 2017, that Hines, then 18, posted a video to Twitter showing her using Richards’s testicles as a foundation blender. In Allure’s account of an interview with BuzzFeed, Hines said the idea came up while they were doing her makeup: “I made a joke about using them as a Beauty Blender and we literally just looked at each other and started laughing and made the video from there,” Hines told BuzzFeed, as reproduced by Allure. Allure’s report attributes that explanation to Hines.
Her.ie reproduced the wording of Hines’s April 23 tweet: “y’all dare me to post a video of me using Damon nuts as a beauty blender”. The tweet framed the clip as a dare, but the original post and video were not independently retrieved for this account. Her.ie’s April 25 coverage also described the stunt.
How widely was it shared?
The published figures were snapshots from different dates, not a single lifetime total. Allure reported about 24,000 retweets and nearly 35,000 favorites in its April 24 article. Her.ie reported more than 30,000 retweets and 50,000 likes in its April 25 coverage. The outlets’ counts should be kept separate: they were reported a day apart and use different engagement labels.
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- Miracle Complexion Makeup Sponge — Award-winning blending sponge for makeup delivers all-over blending for a lightweight, natural glow; 2025 Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner trusted by beginner and professional makeup artists alike
- Blends Foundation and Concealer — Bounce liquid or cream foundation, skin tint, and concealer into skin for smooth, streak-free coverage; also works with BB cream, illuminators, blush, bronzer, contour, and highlight
- 3-Point Precision Application — Makeup blender sponge's flat edge applies and covers, rounded side blends and blurs, precision tip conceals and perfects around the eyes and nose; use damp for a skin-like finish or dry for fuller, buildable coverage
- Beauty Sponge — Makeup applicator sponge seamlessly bounces and blends makeup all over the face for sheer, buildable coverage and a natural, skin-like finish; use damp for best performance
- Latex-Free Makeup Applicator — Real Techniques sponge makeup applicator absorbs minimal product and is gentle on sensitive skin; dermatologist tested, 100% vegan and cruelty-free — Real Techniques tools are never tested on animals
Why did the stunt attract attention?
The combination of a familiar beauty routine and an unexpected joke made the clip easy to discuss and share. In a May 2017 retrospective, Glamour placed it among a broader cycle of attention-grabbing beauty hacks and interpreted clicks as part of that dynamic. That was the magazine’s reading of the trend, not a measured explanation for why each person watched or shared this particular video.
Was it a recommended way to apply foundation?
No. The reports document a joke and a viral media moment; they do not establish that the method is hygienic or safe, and they do not offer a product test or medical assessment. For routine foundation application, use an ordinary makeup sponge designed for that purpose rather than treating the stunt as a tutorial. Allure’s coverage likewise points readers toward standard makeup sponges, including the Beauty Blender term, without establishing any partnership with the couple or endorsing their video. Allure’s article
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- Blends Foundation and Concealer — Bounce liquid or cream foundation, skin tint, and concealer into skin for smooth, streak-free coverage; also works with BB cream, illuminators, blush, bronzer, contour, and highlight
- 3-Point Precision Application — Makeup blender sponge's flat edge applies and covers, rounded side blends and blurs, precision tip conceals and perfects around the eyes and nose; use damp for a skin-like finish or dry for fuller, buildable coverage
- Beauty Sponge — Makeup applicator sponge seamlessly bounces and blends makeup all over the face for sheer, buildable coverage and a natural, skin-like finish; use damp for best performance
- Latex-Free Foundation Sponge — Real Techniques sponge makeup applicator absorbs minimal product and is gentle on sensitive skin; dermatologist tested, 100% vegan and cruelty-free — Real Techniques tools are never tested on animals
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- FLAWLESS, WASTE-FREE BLENDING - The sponge features a dense, squishy texture that absorbs less foundation than standard sponges, ideal for dry skin or full-coverage looks. Holds shape after 100 washes
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