This one is not about achieving glass skin or having that peachy glow. It’s about looking pagod—but make it pretty.
We’ve had coquette makeup, clean girl look, strawberry makeup, latte makeup, latina makeup… TikTok loves giving every look a name and turning it into an aesthetic. But this one is not about glass skin or a peachy glow. It’s pagod but make it pretty.
Makeup has always promised to make us look better than just alive. Brightening concealers, dewy foundations, contour tricks that will make you look like you had eight hours of sleep. But lately, TikTok has gone in the opposite direction. Instead of covering up exhaustion, people are spotlighting it. It’s called the “tired girl” makeup.
Related story: Flight face is real—here’s how to protect your skin while flying
Related story: How to achieve the clean girl aesthetic
It’s a beauty trend that makes you laugh because, let’s be honest, we’ve been doing this unintentionally for years, right?
What exactly is it?
Think of it as the anti-clean girl aesthetic. No glass skin, no slicked buns, less glow. Instead, it’s all about dark circles, hollow cheeks, and smudged liner that looks like you wore it last night and forgot to take it off.
Beauty content creators on TikTok are deepening their under-eyes with burgundy and brown shadows, sculpting with gray-toned contour, and keeping lips bare or muted. It’s messy, gothic, and a little haunting but, honestly, in a chic, cool way. If you manage to channel a bit of Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted, Lily-Rose Depp’s undone cool, or Jenna Ortega’s moody look, you’re right on track.
Why is it trending?
On social media, even the most normal thing can suddenly become an “aesthetic.” Maybe we’re all just tired. Maybe we’re joking about it. Or maybe it’s just another beauty trend. Still, it’s catching on because almost everyone can relate. It also helps that pop culture has been feeding into it. When Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday dropped on Netflix, her smudgy eyeliner, pale skin, and moody vibe kind of set the tone too.
Or maybe it’s simply the trend right now, people are curious and they want to try it—and some are even making it part of their look. Smudged eyeliner, pale skin, even shading your under-eyes darker on purpose. It’s moody, a little messy, but also a little edgy.
Related story: SKIP or SHOP: The ultimate guide to choosing your next blush
Related story: From lids to tips, here’s how you can rock 2025’s most delicious shade
Should we really be glamorizing exhaustion?
We don’t want to be dark here but is this just a way to laugh at our collective burnout or are we actually highlighting being drained? Here at The POST, we’ve written about how Gen Z is reshaping work culture from quiet quitting, and non-linear careers that prioritize mental health over job titles, and I feel that the tired girl makeup trend feels like a reflection of that. Yes, it’s funny, it’s relatable, but it also says something about how normal it has become to be tired all the time.
Oops, maybe that’s another deeper conversation worth having. But for now, let’s keep it light. Because if you’re curious, we’ve broken down a few steps on how to pull off the tired makeup look.
How to do it
Sometimes the easiest way is to just roll into the day with barely three hours of sleep. But if you’re actually well-rested, here’s how to fake it:
Start with the eyes. Skip concealer. Dab a deep peach or burgundy shade under your eyes (others use lipstick!), then layer brown or gray shadow. Blend with your fingers. The messier, the better.
Smudge your liner. A pencil liner works best. Run it across your lashes, then blur it out. Drag it slightly downward at the corners for that “I’ve been up since 2 a.m.” vibe.
Keep the base sheer. We’re not after heavy coverage here. Opt for a light foundation, a light BB cream or none at all. Then a muted blush, and a cool-toned contour will do. The goal is to give off that hollow look.
Go lazy on the lips. Balm, gloss, or a muted tint is enough. No reds or bright pinks here.
Tip: if you’re already running on caffeine and using #puyatislife, then I guess you’re good to go. But seriously, treat it as a makeup trend, not a lifestyle. Rest and recharge when you can. Play around with the look, smudge your liner, skip the concealer, but don’t let the aesthetic outlive you.
Related story: Attention, skin care enthusiasts! You may want to double check the products in your dresser
Related story: 7 K-beauty products you’ll want in your routine this year
Related story: SKIP or SHOP: The truth about face massage tools
