Psychology Behind TikTok’s Crying Makeup Trend

@zoekimkenealy

#greenscreen crying makeup look tutorial 😅 Can I go as a crying person for Halloween or is that not a thing #cryingmakeup #tearmakeup #cryingeyes #makeupforhalloween

♬Show me How (Album IV) – Men I Believe in

TikTok has a new trend for makeup, and it’s quite. . . Unexpected. It’s possible that you have seen more people talk about “crying make-up” or “sad girls makeup” lately. This is exactly what it sounds and means that makeup should look like you’ve just had a long, deep, satisfying cry.

Zoe Kim Kenealy, makeup artist and beauty designer, says “So this one’s for the insecure girlies” at the beginning of her viral video about the trend. She uses TikTok’s green-screen feature to share tons of inspiration photos. “You know how good we look when we cry?” Before she continues, she asks the question and explains how to make the look with makeup if youre not in the mood.

This isn’t a new topic. There are 5.9M views on #cryingmakeup, and many videos to look through that feature Lana Del Rey’s “Pretty When You Cry.” One creator said that her crying makeup really brings out her “feminine energy,” while another called the final result — red cheeks, glassy, red eyes, and swollen lips — sexy.

Maybe it’s something to do in Season 2 of “Euphoria”, with its focus on glitter tears and Cassie Howard’s “I’ve never felt happier” breakdown. Perhaps the crying make-up trend was inspired by Kim Kardashian’s famous “ugly” face in “Kourtney, Kim Take New York”. (This would be the opposite of that).

@morveskim

Random thoughts on crying [[email protected]] #fyp #fy #makeup #cryingmakeup #xyzbca #makeover #makeuptutorial

♬Original sound – morveskim

Why is this “beauty” trend gaining popularity? There are many theories. POPSUGAR’s Sanam Hafeez MD tells POPSUGAR that there is a romanticized way of crying and taking photos afterwards, with barefaced or smudged liner. “TikTokers in particular do this, and they come across as real or vulnerable.”

Bella Hadid (Nicola Peltz Beckham), Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish all contributed to the flurry in crying selfies on social networks.

This trend is occurring at a time when more people are sharing their mental health and going to therapy. Dr. Hafeez says that this look or brand is becoming more popular in the age of sharing, discussing trauma and the “glory” around it.

Another possibility is that the “clean girl” aesthetic, which was polished and fresh-faced, has lost its appeal. Tumblr makeup, or the 2022 version emo beauty app, has been in demand. Although it’s not the same thing as the original but it is very similar in concept, there’s been renewed interest. It is a way to look vulnerable, raw, and still attractive. Dr. Hafeez says that the eyes look red because they have been crying. Sometimes, they are also adorned with a pouty face or a carefully applied black liner, which is smudged with a sad, pretty, and sad-looking expression. “It allows people to be relatable and bring their followers along, but it also makes them look beautiful.”