/Advertising
Question
TikTok ads vs Facebook ads for beginners - which one is better in 2025?
Posted by •11/12/2025
I'm about to start testing ads for my store and I'm trying to decide between TikTok and Facebook. I have about $500 budget to test with and I don't want to split it and waste money on both platforms.
From what I've read:
TikTok Ads:
Supposedly cheaper CPMs
Younger audience (good for trendy products?)
Harder to get approved
Need video content
Facebook Ads:
More expensive but more stable
Better targeting options
Easier to get started
Can use image ads
I'm selling beauty/skincare products (LED face masks) targeting women 25-40. Which platform would you recommend for someone just starting out?
Also, is it true that TikTok ads are way cheaper than Facebook? I keep seeing people say TikTok CPMs are like $2-3 while Facebook is $8-10, but I don't know if that's actually accurate.
Would really appreciate advice from anyone who's tested both!
From what I've read:
TikTok Ads:
Supposedly cheaper CPMs
Younger audience (good for trendy products?)
Harder to get approved
Need video content
Facebook Ads:
More expensive but more stable
Better targeting options
Easier to get started
Can use image ads
I'm selling beauty/skincare products (LED face masks) targeting women 25-40. Which platform would you recommend for someone just starting out?
Also, is it true that TikTok ads are way cheaper than Facebook? I keep seeing people say TikTok CPMs are like $2-3 while Facebook is $8-10, but I don't know if that's actually accurate.
Would really appreciate advice from anyone who's tested both!
3 Replies
•11/12/2025
Thanks for the detailed response! That makes a lot of sense. I was so focused on getting cheaper clicks that I didn't think about the quality of traffic or conversion rate.
Going to test my store with some organic traffic first and make sure it actually converts before I spend money on ads. And yeah, Facebook seems like the safer bet for my product/audience. Appreciate the help!
Going to test my store with some organic traffic first and make sure it actually converts before I spend money on ads. And yeah, Facebook seems like the safer bet for my product/audience. Appreciate the help!
•11/12/2025
just my 2 cents - i tried tiktok ads first because everyone said they were cheaper and i got my ad account banned after spending $200. never got a clear reason why.
switched to facebook and yeah its more expensive per click but at least the platform is stable and i can actually run ads consistently. for beginners id say stick with facebook unless you have experience with tiktok organic content already
switched to facebook and yeah its more expensive per click but at least the platform is stable and i can actually run ads consistently. for beginners id say stick with facebook unless you have experience with tiktok organic content already
•11/12/2025
Okay, here's the thing nobody wants to tell you: the platform doesn't matter as much as your store's ability to convert.
I've tested both extensively and here's the reality:
TikTok Ads:
Yes, cheaper CPMs ($3-6 vs $8-12 on FB)
But often LOWER quality traffic
Younger audience = less buying power
REQUIRES video content (not optional)
Ad account bans are common and frustrating
Facebook Ads:
More expensive per click
But generally higher intent traffic
Better for 25-40 age range (your target)
More mature platform, better tools
Pixel data is more reliable for retargeting
For your specific situation (LED face masks, women 25-40):
I'd actually recommend starting with Facebook for these reasons:
Your target demo is more active on Facebook/Instagram - Women 25-40 with disposable income for $80-150 beauty devices are definitely on FB/IG
Beauty products need trust - Facebook's format allows more storytelling, testimonials, before/afters. TikTok is more impulse/entertainment.
Your product price point - LED face masks aren't $20 impulse buys. They need more convincing, which FB's format supports better.
But here's the REAL talk:
With a $500 testing budget, you're going to struggle on EITHER platform if your store doesn't convert well.
Here's the math:
$500 budget ÷ $10 CPC = 50 clicks
At 1% conversion rate = 0.5 sales (basically none)
At 3% conversion rate = 1.5 sales (enough to validate)
Before you spend a single dollar on ads:
Make sure your store converts at least 2% with free/organic traffic
Test your checkout flow on mobile (where 80% of ad traffic goes)
Have clear before/after photos for the face mask
Add trust badges, reviews, money-back guarantee
Make sure the page loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
If your store converts at 0.5%, it doesn't matter if you use TikTok or Facebook - you'll lose money on both. Fix conversion first, then worry about traffic source.
Once your store is solid, test FB first for 2-3 weeks. If CPA is too high, THEN try TikTok.
I've tested both extensively and here's the reality:
TikTok Ads:
Yes, cheaper CPMs ($3-6 vs $8-12 on FB)
But often LOWER quality traffic
Younger audience = less buying power
REQUIRES video content (not optional)
Ad account bans are common and frustrating
Facebook Ads:
More expensive per click
But generally higher intent traffic
Better for 25-40 age range (your target)
More mature platform, better tools
Pixel data is more reliable for retargeting
For your specific situation (LED face masks, women 25-40):
I'd actually recommend starting with Facebook for these reasons:
Your target demo is more active on Facebook/Instagram - Women 25-40 with disposable income for $80-150 beauty devices are definitely on FB/IG
Beauty products need trust - Facebook's format allows more storytelling, testimonials, before/afters. TikTok is more impulse/entertainment.
Your product price point - LED face masks aren't $20 impulse buys. They need more convincing, which FB's format supports better.
But here's the REAL talk:
With a $500 testing budget, you're going to struggle on EITHER platform if your store doesn't convert well.
Here's the math:
$500 budget ÷ $10 CPC = 50 clicks
At 1% conversion rate = 0.5 sales (basically none)
At 3% conversion rate = 1.5 sales (enough to validate)
Before you spend a single dollar on ads:
Make sure your store converts at least 2% with free/organic traffic
Test your checkout flow on mobile (where 80% of ad traffic goes)
Have clear before/after photos for the face mask
Add trust badges, reviews, money-back guarantee
Make sure the page loads in under 3 seconds on mobile
If your store converts at 0.5%, it doesn't matter if you use TikTok or Facebook - you'll lose money on both. Fix conversion first, then worry about traffic source.
Once your store is solid, test FB first for 2-3 weeks. If CPA is too high, THEN try TikTok.