Beetlejuice lips are Tiktok's newest obsession

Latest trend celebrates imperfections of a natural pout

For once, the hottest term on Beauty TikTok isn't some internet-fuelled insecurity about your face. Instead, it's a rare and refreshing trend that dares to celebrate the imperfections of a natural, unmodified lip. Its name? Beetlejuice lips.

Beauty creator Adrianna Kalisz sparked this look in a video that's racked up over 41 million views on TikTok, and it's not hard to see why. It's a two-toned lipstick look with a bit of a twist. The magic happens when you apply a base lip colour, typically in a bold chartreuse green or deep maroon, then scrunch up your lips like you're in the middle of an intense pout session. With your lips creased, you dust a contrasting eyeshadow into the folds, letting it settle naturally. And voila! You've got yourself Beetlejuice lips.

This look wasn't exactly invented by Kalisz, she was just one of the ones who used TikTok fame to get it trending with others like popular YouTuber NikkieTutorials. Portuguese beauty creator Luara Reisinger previously coined a similar style, calling it "zebra lips." Kalisz even credited Reisinger in her video's caption. But with the release of the sequel to the 1988 classic, Beetlejuice lips quickly took on a life of their own.

What became clear fast, though, is that it's a technique that thrives on natural creases. The key to this trend is how the eye shadow highlights your lips' natural folds. And if you're rocking lip filler? Well, the trend might just pass you by. A full, smooth pout just doesn't create the same dramatic contrast.

For proof look no further than makeup influencer Jeffree Star, who gave Beetlejuice lips a whirl. Unfortunately for Star, his lips, rather than showing dramatic stripes, turned into a powdery mess. "Have we been duped?" he asked. One top comment noted, "I think it's because you have lip filler, so your lip creases aren't as deep and obvious." To which Star replied, "Facts."

One London-based makeup artist revelled in the chaos, posting, "My new guilty pleasure is watching beauty influencers with too much lip filler try Beetlejuice lips." With nearly 9 million views, it's safe to say that people are loving this trend that embraces imperfections.

Weird beauty trends, like Beetlejuice lips, are a pushback against the overly polished looks that dominate the beauty space. It's about treating makeup as art that enhances natural imperfections. Even viral creators like Mei Pang and Netta Szekely have played with layering makeup over natural crinkles and creases, garnering millions of views in the process.