TikTok is known for its often innovative, sometimes downright bizarre beauty trends. After all, it’s the platform that introduced us to ‘hair cracking‘ or ‘scalp popping’ (seriously kids, do not try this at home), sock curls and blow-drying your lashes.
But the latest trend spotted on the platform has seriously divided viewers on social media. It all started when TikToker Sara (@sarathefreeelf) posted a clip in which she draws on her dark under-eye circles using a thick reddish-brown shadow stick, before smudging and blending the colour using her fingertips.
The result is, well, exactly what you’d expect: emphasised dark circles reminiscent of ’90s and ’00s grunge make-up, which often saw eyeshadows in woody reds and deep purples blended thickly across the lower lash line.
Many were quick to praise Sara for normalising a feature that is often portrayed as a so-called flaw by society, leaving many women insecure about their dark circles and desperate to cover them up.
One user wrote: “ARE WE FINALLY MAKING THIS A TREND? I’M GONNA CRY. PRAISE GOD I AM SO HAPPY. MY BAGS ARE HUGE”.
Another commented: “yes make this a trend, i’m tired of using concealer.”
Others however weren’t so keen. “Sorry but ive always been insecure about my eyebags this just pisses me off,” came one comment on Twitter, while another TikToker said: “wait ppl want dark circles now?? i was bullied for mine.”
Summarising the frustration, one user explained: “i think people are mad because like myself, i’ve been made fun of and called tired or sick for mine but now since a pretty girl did it, it’s a trend.”
As a result, Sara posted a follow-up video explaining: “I wasn’t trying to make fun of your insecurity, because I have the same insecurity. I wasn’t trying to make a trend out of it. My lipstick was right next to me and I just drew them back on. What’s the issue here?”
Underneath the video, Sara added the comment: “Normalize eyebags – they’re beautiful.”
Here at GLAMOUR, the motto we live by is ‘your beauty, your rules’, so if you fancy drawing on your under-eye dark circles like Sara, then we say GO FOR IT. Plus, if it brings us one step closer to abolishing society’s unrealistic beauty standards, then all the better.