Uncanny Valley Makeup TikTok Trend

Submission 3,274

Part of a series on The Uncanny Valley. [View Related Entries]

Featured Episode

About

The Uncanny Valley Makeup Trend is a TikTok trend that was popularized in November 2023. After TikToker @blonde.girlyy posted a video trying makeup that makes her look "not human" around Halloween 2023, various other creators posted videos trying to evoke an uncanny valley feeling from viewers as the visual effect spread online.

Origin

TikToker @blonde.girlyy posted a video on October 27th, 2023, trying to make herself look "not human." Lukewarm response to her clip, alongside comments that called her concept "uncanny valley," compelled her to make another video on October 30th in which she specifically tried to evoke an uncanny valley feeling from viewers. The initial post gathered over 18 million views,^[1] while her subsequent post^[2] gathered over 13 million views and 1.6 million likes in roughly one week (seen below).

@blonde.girlyy #fypシ ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress

@blonde.girlyy TRUST THE PROCESS… #fypシ ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress

Spread

Various TikTokers participated in the trend in late October and early November 2023, with TikToker^[3] @emmakeupandlashes posting an uncanny valley House of Wax look on October 31st, 2023, gathering over 1 million plays and 39,000 likes in a week (seen below, left). On November 1st, TikToker^[4] @jaenidemilice posted a video participating in the trend that gathered over 270,000 plays and 19,000 likes in a week (seen below, right).

@emmakeupandlashes House of wax vibes (ib: @Emilia Barth ) #fyp #foryou #makeup #makeuptutorial #uncannyvalley #scary #mask #houseofwax #content #viralvideo #halloween #halloweenmakeup ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress

@jaenidemilice Attempting Uncanny Valley makeup 🫡 #fyp #halloween #halloweenlook #halloweenmakeup #uncannyvalley ♬ original sound – jaenide🐞🐛⭐️

On November 3rd, 2023, TikToker^[5] @alkiiwii posted a video showing her take on uncanny valley makeup, gathering over 14 million plays and 1.8 million likes in five days (seen below, left). On November 4th, TikToker^[6] @mybroseph posted a video participating in the trend, gathering over 12 million plays and 2.3 million likes in four days (seen below, right).

@alkiiwii UNCANNY VALLEY #uncannyvalley #uncannyvalleymakeup #uncannyvalleyeffect ♬ original sound – Amiceaa

@mybroseph my attempt at the #uncannyvalley trend #trend #uncannyvalleystare #makeup ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress

Various Examples

@yodelinghaley I feel so unserious bc i flopped at the makeup 😭😭 dc @Emilia Barth ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress

@beautybyzoeg #uncannyvalley #uncannyvalleyeffect #makeup #fyp ♬ WHY ARE PEOPLE USING THIS – ♾️🌈 -- Talia/Lena ⋆˚˖°☁︎⋆

@abbyandrewyt Funny how the same comment can have such a double meaning😅 #uncannyvalley #uncannyvalleymakeup #makeup #alopecia #storytime ♬ original sound – Abby Andrew

@sarahbeth.sfx I dont think it looked quite right yet, but what do yall think? What should i do differently? #uncannyvalley #uncannyvalleymakeup #makeup #mua #fyp #creepy #sfx ♬ Brutus (Instrumental) – The Buttress