Japan’s latest make-up trend, popular among teenage girls, involves using hot melted glue to create droplet shapes that mimic tears. - Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/IG@_griiiiz/X.com
TOKYO: A new make-up trend gaining popularity among Japanese teenage schoolgirls involves using hot melt glue to create droplet shapes that are then adhered to the face.
The trend has drawn criticism in both Japan and China. Critics have labelled it “ridiculous” due to its resemblance to sperm and snot.
According to the Japanese show Ninosan, the style known as “3D teardrop make-up” has recently captured the attention of Japanese secondary school girls.
This style entails using hot melt glue to form teardrop shapes that stick to the face, mimicking tears rolling down the cheeks.
It gives the girls a delicate appearance that evokes sympathy, making them look as if they are crying.
The make-up process involves extruding hot glue onto a smooth surface, such as a plastic sheet, rather than applying it directly to the skin. Once the glue cools and solidifies, it is carefully removed and attached to the face using fake eyelash glue.
Rika Shiiki, the leader of AMF, a Japanese firm specialising in promoting product lines for students, has noted that trends among secondary school girls in Japan change rapidly, typically lasting only two weeks to a month.
These girls enjoy experimenting with different styles, taking selfies, and sharing them on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.
This has led to the rise of trends that utilise affordable materials to craft unique decorations, creating original styles that attract attention online.
Some girls have discovered that hot melt glue can be shaped into various designs. When applied to the face, the glue creates an eye-catching effect that photographs well.
The trend has quickly spread across Japanese schools, even resulting in shortages of hot melt glue in some areas.
However, manufacturers of hot melt glue have warned against using it for cosmetic purposes, as it is a chemical substance that can easily cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.
They also cautioned that hot glue guns are intended for crafting, not for creating decorations that come into contact with the skin.
The trend has sparked significant criticism among Japanese audiences and recently triggered backlash among Chinese netizens, who have labelled it “ridiculous” and “bizarre” after it was shared by Chinese media.
One Japanese viewer remarked: “Wait, doesn’t this hot glue tear make-up look suspiciously like sperm?”
Another added: “Seriously? Are secondary school girls really into this kind of inappropriate trend now?”
Chinese netizens were equally critical, with one commenting: “This looks more like snot than tears. It’s disgusting, not cute at all.” - South China Morning Post
