Full lips are in, and celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie, Priyanka Chopra, and Rosie Huntington-Whitely are inspiring women everywhere to plump up their pouts for a sultry and younger look. There are hundreds of beauty hacks to fake a fuller pout on YouTube, but nowadays, a strange new trend is going viral as teenagers are challenging each other to apply glue on their lips on social media. Not only does this trend cause physical pain, but experts warn that this could be dangerous to your health. Learn more about this bizarre beauty challenge and all the reasons why you should skip this craze.
It all began on TikTok
Reports claim that the viral lip hack began on the video sharing app TikTok on Sept. 6. It was said that a TikTok user named @gnarlysinner started the trend, which spread like wildfire on the app. In the videos, teenagers can be seen applying a dab of eyelash glue to the area just above their lip, then they would pull their upper lip towards it to create a fuller lip. The trend has made its way to Twitter, and now the medical community is warning teens about the dangers of this beauty hack.
Dermatologist Shari Marchbein spoke with Allure, saying that applying any type of glue to the skin is “a bad idea” for a number of reasons. Marchbein said that apart from being a potential skin irritant, eyelash glue or any kind of glue can trigger a bad allergic reaction and may even cause permanent scarring. Moreover, it can cause poisoning as the dermatologist warns that glue contains acrylates, which can be toxic if ingested.
Safer alternatives
If you’re looking to get a fuller pout without sacrificing your health, Viva Med Spa recommends looking for a safe alternative to deliver temporary or permanent results. You can have plump-looking lips by using a nude lipliner to overdraw your lipline before filling in your lips with a light pink, peach, or nude colored lipstick. Meanwhile, using an overnight lip mask can hydrate your lips, giving it a fuller look in the morning. Choosing a lip color with a glossy finish can also give your pout a plumped up look.
For a permanent solution, you can undergo a dermal filler treatment– Juvederm, Voluma, and Restylane are some of the approved treatments that can be administered by a doctor or a licensed esthetician. Before going in for fillers, it’s best to do a consultation first so you can be evaluated, and from there the doctor or esthetician can create a treatment plan based on the evaluation.
Better to be safe than sorry
Social media has spawned a lot of beauty trends that give visible results. However, it’s important to know that not all of them are safe for your health. If you’re eyeing a tube of glue and thinking about joining in on the craze, stop right there and pick up a pot of hydrating lip balm instead. No beauty hack is worth the pain, so skip this lip trick for the sake of your wellbeing.