This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Asa Conroy. Find them on Instagram at @asakayconroy. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, beauty trends often find ideas in the recently released (or deceased) pop culture characters. Following the arrival of the long-awaited sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice make-up artists felt motivated to create a dynamic lip look to mimic the bio-exorcist. However, the trend has garnered some controversy because it is not very lip-filler friendly. Beetlejuice lips have taken TikTok by storm, but not everyone is buying tickets. Let’s see why.
The trend, once referred to as zebra lips by its original creator (Luara Reisinger), has now been reborn as Beetlejuice lips. In a video with over 42 million videos and nearly 5 million likes, Adrianna Kalisz combined zebra lips with bright colors in honor of the ghost with the most. To the sound of “Say My Name” from the Beetlejuice musical, the beauty creator paired about-face’s Vertigo Flower eye paint with Karla Cosmetics’ Moonshadow eye shadow with the zebra lip technique. Everyone seems to be obsessed!
How Does it Work?
The Beetlejuice lip technique is pretty easy to follow. First, you apply your choice of lip gloss, lipstick, or anything that is safe for your lips that is in a bright shade (Ideally, green or purple, but it’s your choice). Second, you have to purse and scrunch up your lips so that your natural wrinkles and lines appear. Then, you lightly apply eye shadow or any other kind of dark powder with your brush or finger (whatever works as long as it’s gentle). When you smile you should get a cool design that resembles the stripes of Beetlejuice’s suit.
Beauty creators flooded the for you page with their own stunningly striped lips. Some, such as 6ar6ie6 switched the color palette with a dark lip with bright stripes. Others, like Nicole Suliveras, decided to double the brightness with a purple lip and green eye shadow. There are tons of fun variations for everyone to try for a bold look in their everyday lives or something to save for Halloween.
The possibilities are endless! Or so it seems. Not everyone is eagerly trying to find their seat in the afterlife waiting room. And it’s not because they don’t want to marry Beetlejuice.
So What’s the Problem?
Some beauty influencers had issues in their (sometimes many) attempts to recreate the look. Jeffree Star, along with other make-up artists, questioned if Kalisz duped the internet. However, a commonality shared between many of the artists with the same complaints is the fact that they have had lip augmentations. Whether it be fillers, implants, fat transfers, or lifts, many people seem to share that struggle.
As the key to this technique is to scrunch, those who cannot struggle with joining in. Especially those with lip augmentation. This is because the collagen or implants add volume to lips. It often results in filling out the wrinkles and lines, leaving those without unable to purse and scrunch in the way that is needed. This has led many to brand Beetlejuice lips as one for “the natural girlies” who embraced what many refer to as imperfections.
Tensions seem to be brewing because of this makeup trend.
Battle of Beauty
Not everyone is thrilled with this attitude. On one hand, it’s a positive thing to find beauty in our natural features even if they do not fit a perceived ideal of unwrinkled lips. For many years elective surgery and procedures have been endorsed for those who don’t live up to a revered beauty standard. On the other hand, lip augmentation does not need to be seen as a shameful thing. That is the unfortunate result of some of this natural praise.
People get work done on their lips for a variety of reasons. If someone feels comfortable and confident by augmenting their lips, that is good for them. Of course, everyone should hope that whoever makes this choice does so in a safe and healthy way. At the end of the day, it is their choice, and they do not need to be ashamed of it. Just as people should not be shamed for not making the same choice for their lips. Even if it means that some users can’t participate in trends like everyone else.
Is Lip Filler the Problem?
That might not be the case. Not everyone with lip filler seems to have the same issue. There are make-up artists who have had their lips augmented who completed the three-step process with no issue. It is possible the amount of lip augmentation has an influence on their success.
However, that also might not be the case because not everyone with “virgin lips” (lips without any augmentation) has successfully participated in the trend. Some people blame the artist for not properly scrunching their face, some follow Star’s theory, and others fault the amount of eye shadow put on to the lips. One of the main pieces of advice when attempting to create the Beetlejuice effect is to be light and gentle with the eye shadow. If you are a bit heavy-handed with the powder, you might overpower the brightness/visibility of the underneath color.
Alternatively, a new method has grown for those unable to crease. Begin with the same first step of painting your lips. Instead of scrunching, apply mascara (of your desired color) in a striped pattern onto a beauty blender. Then, you daub it on for a similar look. You may not get the same effect as the original method, but you still have the opportunity to create a unique look for yourself. Most likely, you would not create the same lines every time, so that is a fun change from Kalisz’s token to Beetlejuice.
Trends Can Work for Everyone
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice recently came out in theaters, and we got a spooky beauty trend to go along with it. Now, thanks to beauty influencers we have the perfect look to match the movie. Somethings work better for some than others. That’s what my mom always says. However, that does not mean that everyone should give up. We can make trends work for everyone. It’s good to remind ourselves of the accessibility of trends. Rather than shame or dismiss people who struggle to participate. We can uplift everyone’s beauty and have fun with a movie-inspired look.
What do you think of Beetlejuice lips? Is it worth the arguing? Let us know in the comment section below!
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