Beauty influencers embrace 'Moo Deng' makeup trend

A new viral beauty trend known as "Moo Deng" makeup has taken over the fashion and beauty world, inspired by a popular internet meme featuring a baby hippo named Moo Deng. The trend, characterized by a wet-look aesthetic with heavy blush and gray eye shadow, has quickly gained traction among beauty influencers and social media users. Originally popularized by Sephora Thailand in a blush roundup, the trend has since been endorsed by major beauty platforms such as Allure and Cosmopolitan.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sephora Thailand (@thaisephora)

The look is far from a joke, with Moo Deng even being featured in the New York Times Style section. Vogue referred to the trend as "The Moment," while Hyperallergic offered a complete timeline of Moo Deng's rise from a cute internet oddity to a full-fledged cultural phenomenon. Tutorials have flooded social media, showcasing various takes on the Moo Deng look—from editorial adaptations to simple everyday versions. A standout feature of the trend is pink mascara, along with glowy skin that some influencers credit to ring lights.

Despite its whimsical nature, the Moo Deng makeup trend raises questions about beauty culture and consumerism. "Perhaps we seek to access our inner Moo Deng—adorable, ungovernable, confident," mused one influencer. However, the consensus is clear: it’s beauty influencers capitalizing on a viral meme to create the latest makeup craze, showing the industry's endless creativity.

With Moo Deng's makeup look sweeping social media, the trend highlights the power of memes to influence beauty standards and trends in the digital age.