Forget eyeshadows or blushes, candy has become the must-have makeup essential

Candy has become a staple of TikTok users' makeup routines. Photo: AFP

Countless beauty tips have gone viral on the Chinese social network TikTok. But while some of them are as credible as they are effective, others can be more amusing, if not to say completely off the wall.

Such is the case of the "makeup candy hack", which is not exactly new, but which has been making a comeback in recent weeks.

The idea isn't to gorge on candy, or to show off the latest confectionary, but to paint your face using all kinds of candy.

Just type the magic words "makeup candy hack" into the platform's search bar, and you'll soon see a multitude of tutorials on the subject – although some users can also be seen dipping into jars of coloured candy to choose their eyeshadow shade of the day (but that's another story).

The idea is simple. Whether you opt for brightly coloured candies, or chocolatey treats (also in various colours), all you have to do is moisten the candy with a little saliva and apply it to your face in strategic places.

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Using candy as a substitute for blush seems to be the most popular option among TikTokers. In this case, it's best to opt for red or pink confectionery.

But this newfangled trick works just as well for eyeshadow – in shades ranging from black, for the perfect smoky eye, to the brightest shades for a summery or festive makeup look.

And the same goes for lipstick. Just pick the shade that suits you best. Sweet!

Still, it's worth pointing out that most of the videos on the subject, despite being genuine tutorials, showcase the trend in a very tongue-in-cheek way.

Such is the case with a post by one user(@poopiblh), shared over two years ago and already viewed almost two million times.

It shows the young woman buying candy while talking about the trend, then switching her eyeshadow and blush for the said confectionery, all done in a spirit of humour and self-mockery.

And she's far from the only one taking this approach, even if some social media users do take this hack more seriously.

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This beauty hack, if you can call it that, is reminiscent of the recent online craze for a candy-shaped blush – a real blush this time – called Jelly Tint by Milk Makeup.

A product that's as playful as it is cute, it has been the focus of much attention due to the way it's been used on social media.

Instead of using it to make up their cheeks and lips, users filmed themselves biting into the product. A dangerous idea, to say the least, considering that the blush in question is in no way edible.

While applying candy to the face may seem sticky and unappealing rather than clever or practical, we can at least say that it's in no way dangerous – although it can lead to the formation of blemishes. – AFP Relaxnews