Deer makeup. Bunny makeup. Latte makeup. Clean girl makeup. Glazed donut makeup. Can you keep up? Do you have the new Rode lip liner to achieve the perfect no makeup, makeup look? Have you mastered that “it girl” makeup, Gen Z? No. You can’t. Because once you have it, social media discards it. 

Gen Z was practically raised on social media, and as a result, they can navigate all the ever-changing trends and beauty standards. But it’s exhausting. So yes, Gen Z can keep up with trends, and I argue that they’ve built what is trendy in mainstream media today.  But I believe that there is vanity in these makeup and beauty trends.  When kids constantly try, try, and try to mold their faces into what is in, they are blinded and can no longer see the beauty in themselves. 

Harmful beauty standards have always existed. The difference for Gen Z is social media’s obsession with one trend, then, about a week or two later, everybody thinks it’s too mainstream and basic. Now this is worse because in the two-thousands, at least you had time to thrift a look to look like Paris Hilton, then post on your Tumblr with the caption “that’s hot.”  

For Gen Z, by the time they acquire enough money to buy the makeup products that all cost about $30 or more each to achieve the “bunny makeup” look, they will find out that, because it’s fall now, “latte makeup” is in. Oh, and then they’ll find out that they actually have “siren eyes,” not “doe eyes,” so bunny makeup wouldn’t look good on them anyway. It is ridiculous that these are real words I have read while doom-scrolling on social media. 

Gen Z does not have the time or money to keep up with the rise and fall of trends on social media. And I don’t have the willpower to. Although I don’t think the makeup itself is harmful. Are the names for the style kinda dumb, yes. But enjoying trying out different styles of makeup is totally valid, and honestly, I encourage it. But it becomes harmful when social media becomes obsessed with it.

You’ll get FOMO when you can’t afford that viral product that an influencer, that you already forgot the name of, told you to “run, don’t walk” to get. You’ll become resentful of influencers like them who get hundreds of free products that will collect dust in a drawer, while you’re running out of eyeliner that you feel like you just bought.  Then, you’ll get angry at yourself because there are bigger things to worry about than micro-makeup trends. I’m projecting. You might not feel any of this, but I do. And I’m tired, aren’t you? 

Trends fading as quickly as they appeared come with Gen Z’s own harmful obsession with being niche.  The “that was so last season” joke carries truth. But now it’s “that was so last week.” Obviously, no one is saying this directly, but Gen Z tends to want to be the main character. Differentiate themselves from society. Be unique and not basic. Addicted to that feeling of pride that comes with going against the norm of society. But when a trend does what a trend is defined to do and becomes popular, people lose that enjoyment for it because they realize they aren’t different; they are a byproduct of what’s trendy.

There is a level of self-discovery with makeup that should be savored and enjoyed. Rushing and changing your makeup to look like what’s trending is like someone rushing you to finish your favorite meal. What was supposed to be enjoyable is now filled with anxiety to keep up, be quick, and it’s all powered by the fear of being left behind.  

Again, there is no issue in trying out new makeup looks. But I challenge Gen Z to slow down and take the time to get to know their face. Not Haliey Bieber’s face. Not the face of that influencer you can’t remember the name of. Your face. Your beauty. Find the makeup that enhances it. Challenge yourself not to be swayed by trends because they will change, but your face will always be yours. Yes, your face might change slightly, but your bones won’t decide to move three inches to the right every week. Which means, you have time to learn the valleys and hills of your face and love it.

That pressure to fit in, that weight on your chest, is removed when you realize there is no deadline to getting to know yourself. There is no pressure to have the exact products or look like someone else when you’re applying makeup for yourself. There is just the journey of finding you in a creative outlet like makeup.