A peculiar beauty trend has taken Japanese schools by storm, where teenage girls use hot melted glue to create decorative “tear-like” droplets for their faces. Dubbed the “3D teardrop make-up,” the trend aims to evoke a delicate, emotional appearance, making wearers look as though they are crying.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the trend has gone viral among schoolgirls, even leading to shortages of hot glue guns in some areas.
The process involves squeezing hot glue onto a smooth surface, such as plastic, allowing it to cool and harden before attaching it to the face using fake eyelash glue. However, the trend has sparked significant backlash on social media, with many concerned about the risks posed by handling hot glue.
Social media backlash and safety concerns
The trend has drawn criticism from netizens, with some labeling it “ridiculous” and “dangerous.” Concerns have been raised about impressionable teenagers harming themselves while attempting to replicate the trend.
One social media user remarked, “Seriously? Are secondary school girls really into this kind of inappropriate trend now?” Another commenter added, “Wait, doesn’t this hot glue tear makeup look suspiciously like sperm?”
Experts have also chimed in, warning against the use of hot glue on the skin. Dermatologists recommend creating designs on stainless steel or parchment paper to avoid direct contact with the face.
Hot glue makeup: A recurring trend
This isn’t the first time hot glue has been featured in viral beauty trends. Last year, TikTok beauty influencer Vanessa Funes, known as @cutcreaser, used a hot glue gun to craft futuristic eyeliner designs. Funes’s work, inspired by The Mandalorian’s Beskar armor, garnered over 14.9 million views with the hashtag #hotgluemakeup.
Funes explained her creative process:
“The first design I made was inspired by the Mandalorian’s Beskar armor but melted. So, I thought of melted metal and how that would look as an eyeliner design.”
Experts weigh in
While trends like these might seem harmless, experts urge caution. The potential for burns or other injuries from mishandling hot glue makes this trend especially risky. Dermatologists and beauty professionals stress the importance of keeping hot glue away from the skin and suggest safer alternatives for creative self-expression.
Other unconventional beauty trends
The “3D teardrop makeup” isn’t the only bizarre beauty craze making waves. Earlier this year, a TikTok trend in the United States encouraged users to consume edible clay and dirt, claiming benefits for gut health, skin conditions, and weight loss.
Edible clay products—marketed as powders and chunks—were sold on platforms like Amazon and Etsy, with prices ranging from ₹900 to ₹2,200. Despite its popularity, experts warned against the practice due to potential health risks.
While unconventional trends like these continue to emerge, critics and health experts alike emphasize the importance of prioritizing safety over fleeting internet fame.
