You might have seen TikToks of people wearing striking warm blush all over their faces, necks, and shoulders. Just like how heavy-handed they were with their blush, they aren’t going easy on their bronzer and highlight, either.
While they might look like they’ve spent all afternoon soaking in the pool or tanning by the beach, these sunburnt looks were created entirely with makeup!
@grapeintokyo Somone actually needs some tan 🌞🏖️ #gqchina #heatstrokemakeup #heatstroke #beauty
It started as a daring editorial concept, a bold response to a blazing heatwave. Now, it’s a viral makeup trend taking over our For You pages.
Read on for everything you need to know about this creative trend and how you can achieve it too!
What Is the “Heatstroke Makeup” Trend?
The birth of the viral “heatstroke makeup” trend can be traced back to a photoshoot for GQ China’s June issue.
As temperatures soared in Beijing, reaching a scorching 37℃ under a red heat alert, the GQ creative team decided to embrace the extreme weather and create something that soon became the talk of town.
Models Kim, Ye Hao, Yu Hang, and Ho Jun, were transformed into human canvases, their skin adorned with meticulously crafted sunburn-like marks, made more believable as these marks trace the outline of their singlets and necklaces.
The illusion of hours spent under the blistering sun was perfected with a dewy, glistening finish, making it look like they had just taken a refreshing dip in the water.
This bold interpretation of the heatwave not only captured the essence of the sweltering weather but also challenged existing beauty ideals and trends, proving that even discomfort can be transformed into a creative look!
Here’s How People Recreated the Look
Credits: @t.rinluck789/TikTok, @homelessmakeupb//TikTok, @thudannguyen99/TikTok
After GQ’s photoshoot went viral, beauty creators were inspired by the novel idea and have been attempting to recreate the look.
The main products used to emulate this look are warm blush, a natural bronzer, and glowy highlight.
The key to nailing this look challenges the traditional notion that “less is more.” When you’re trying to look like you’re suffering from a heatstroke, the more blush and bronzer you use on more areas of your skin, the better!
How To Make the Trend Work for the Summer
Credits: @bebbuoo/TikTok, @itseye.n/TikTok
While it might be a little too much to walk around looking like you might faint from the scorching heat, it’s still possible to channel this look for your beach dates and water music festivals!
Just like how Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t shy away from flushing her cheeks with lots of blush, we can lean into the overdone blush trend for this look.
If you want to rock this look for everyday wear, you can look into the rising igari makeup trend. This Japanese makeup style focuses heavily on the cheek area, with much emphasis on the use of blush and highlight.
Cream blush is easier to work with, especially if you want to layer it. Dewy or glowy finishes are great for replicating a sweaty look. The goal is to look flushed, which is essentially a milder, more wearable alternative of the heatstroke makeup look!
Don’t forget to wear a sleeveless tank top or singlet you don’t mind getting your makeup on — a lot of creators apply makeup over their clothing and necklaces as a stencil for sunburnt marks.
Finally, opt for wet, slicked back hairstyles, and spray on a lot of facial mist to complete the look!
Shop Products for the Trend
NARS Bronzing Cream
NARS Bronzing Cream retails for S$61.50 on lookfantastic.com.sg.
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush retails for S$39 on sephora.sg.
FLORTTE Love Yourself Multipurpose Cream
FLORTTE Love Yourself Multipurpose Cream is going at S$8.60 on shopee.sg at the time of writing.
SHEGLAM Cheeky Color Jam
SHEGLAM Cheeky Color Jam retails for US$5.49 (approximately S$7.30) on sheglam.com.
CHANEL BAUME ESSENTIEL Multi-Use Glow Stick
CHANEL BAUME ESSENTIEL Multi-Use Glow Stick retails for S$73 on chanel.com.
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer retails for S$36 on sephora.sg.
Featured image credits: @t.rinluck789/TikTok, @grapeintokyo/TikTok, GQ China
