What is the ‘unapproachable makeup’ trend?

Bored of the “pretty” look? Say goodbye to traditional feminine allure, wave away peach-flushed cheeks and girly pink lips and say hello to the new trend taking TikTok by storm. Enter; unapproachable makeup.

Why is ‘unapproachable makeup’ popular?

This trend defies conventional beauty standards and encourages makeup lovers to push boundaries and gender norms. This sultry look thrives on drama, with feline features from strong contouring to smoky eyes and striking lip colours.

Having taken the hearts of social media influencers, over 100 million people have searched for #unapproachablemakeup on TikTok. And, if it’s good enough for that many makeup wearers then it’s good enough for us. Want to know how to emulate the look? Read on to find out.

How to create unapproachable makeup

Unapproachable makeup follows a baseline formula combining a contoured, “clean girl” base paired with intensely dark eyes and bold lip combinations. But as always, beauty rules are there to be challenged. So take inspiration, but there is always an opportunity to put your own spin on a macro or micro trend.

Clean base 

A clean base starts with skincare and preparation. Start with an effective exfoliator like the Clarins Comfort Scrub. This gel-in-oil formula exfoliates the skin whilst also preventing dryness, using a combination of sugar micro-crystals and mango butter. Simply dampen your face with water, and gently massage the product into your skin (avoiding the eye area) before rinsing to wipe away dead skin cells.

Follow with your favourite moisturiser. Prioritise a rich yet lightweight lotion such as the Clinique Dramatically Different moisturiser to hydrate skin for a healthy look with no greasy residue left behind. Apply all over your face and neck to prep for the “clean girl” aesthetic.

A CC creme is a great go-to product to blur imperfections and colour-correct whilst maintaining the understated, flawless base that epitomises “unapproachable” skin. The Erborian CC Creme does all that meanwhile reducing the appearance of fine lines and signs of fatigue. This product can even replace your moisturiser so simply apply it after your daily cleanser.

Contouring

Unapproachable makeup paints a picture of our favourite Gen Z celebrities from Bella Hadid to Gabriette. And what do they all have in common? Cheekbones. And luckily they are easily achieved using the right bronzer or contour products like the NUDESTIX Tinted Blue Stick Foundation.

Opt for a colour one or two shades darker than your natural complexion, making sure to consider whether you have a warm or cool undertone. Then swipe across your face onto all the areas that are naturally shaded on a sunny day or areas where you want to create a shade, such as just below your cheekbones. Buff or stipple the colour targeting the area where you applied with the end goal of a natural finish.

Dark, smokey eyes

The next key ingredient? Sultry, feline eyes. Popularly described as “almond eyes”, this look can be achieved by lining the upper lashline with a dark eyeliner such as this Kajal Pencil by Clinique. After tracing your upper lash line, continue along the outer edge of the eye line — running parallel to the arch of your brow for your best bet at asymmetry. Yet the most important step is to create a small wing on the inner corner of your eye too.

Trace the upper and lower water lines with the same pencil, before smoking it out using a cotton bud, flat brush or even your fingertips to create a truly dark smoky look.

Eyelashes

Continue to elongate and embolden your eyes for a sexy look through and through. Be intentional with your mascara application and don’t be worried about going completely “over the top”. Try the Sisley So Curl mascara for an instant, long-lasting, eye-opening curl. Add a half lash at the outer corner of your eye, or a cluster of individual lashes to add the finishing touch to your beautiful eye makeup.

Lips

Viral “unapproachable makeup” looks favour warm, rich lip tones that combine a defined lip line with a glossy finish. The Jane Iredale Pencil Lip Definer in Nude is the perfect shade. A nutty autumnal warm brown that will look great with almost any complexion.

If you love the glossy look but can’t find it in your heart to swipe on a sticky formula, why not try a lip oil? The same finish with added nourishment and no-stick formula for comfortable wear all day long. Clarins Lip Comfort Oil in 01 Intense Nude provides a vibrant complementary colour with a lightweight cream oil.

More beauty products this way

Not found the product for you? Simply browse our extensive range of makeup for more face, eyes and lip products. Or to stay on top of the latest beauty, makeup and skincare trends, visit the allbeauty blog.