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Weird Beauty Trends We're Seeing in 2025

Everyone knows that since 2020 we've been in odd times, with no need to elaborate. And because they were such an odd cluster of months filled with minimal contact with others, homemade haircuts, and spikes in online shopping, quite a few beauty trends for 2025 are expected to be... weirder than normal. Humans are social animals, so two years of social distancing is bound to lead to some innovation. However, because everyone was inside, people went a little overboard with their makeup and hair look. 

The theme for the year is one big contradiction: bold, colorful lines and a soft, natural radiance are battling for the top spot for 2025 trends. The rampant use of social media while stuck inside attracts users to flashy tutorials of neon eyeliner and DIY tie-dye nails, but the reality of life equals sweatpants and skincare. Essentially, TikTok teens are trying to see how much they can get away with both online and IRL. 

These 40 beauty trends vary from things that are just on the rise to the truly odd. Which of these weird trends will you try this year? Maybe you won't wear these looks outside to the grocery store but at least they're fun to look at!

Bleached Eyebrows

Bleached Eyebrows

From Ariana Grande to the random cashier at the corner store, men and women around the world somehow agree that bleached eyebrows are the trendy new look. If eyebrows are the windows to the soul, then eyebrows are the curtains... Bleaching them makes most people look like an egg (respectfully). 

The trend began when influencers decided that drawing attention away from eyebrows would highlight other facial features, like giant fake lips and bold eyeshadow. 

Nina L/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock

Flower Beards

Flower Beards

Men’s beauty is far too often left out of the conversation. Sure, it’s implied that women’s skincare and cosmetics can be used by anyone, but what are the trends that men specifically claim? If you were itching to see the next big men's beauty trend, it's here just in time for spring. Flower beards!

That’s right. Trade out your glitter for some fresh flowers to create the ultimate hipster flower beard. The style, with its avant-garde eclecticism, may appear a little too Instagram-y for the average man, but we’re hoping that it reaches past the bounds of photoshoots and becomes a common accessory. Plus, imagine how good your beard would smell!

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A.I Beauty

A.I Beauty

The rise of AI has infiltrated the beauty industry, transforming the way we approach self-expression. One such trend gaining momentum in 2025 is the use of AI-powered filters to enhance natural features. 

A popular example is the eyebrow TikTok filter, which uses advanced algorithms to analyze facial structure and suggest the perfect eyebrow shape and color. By utilizing this technology, individuals can achieve precise and personalized eyebrow looks, blurring the lines between digital and physical beauty.

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Snail Skincare

Snail Skincare

The newest mollusk-based skincare trend is here just in time for 2025! The early 2000s brought us snail mucin-based oils, serums, and slime facials that were popularized in Korea and spread across Asia. But like every other Koren beauty hack, the West couldn't bear to be left out of the weirdness! 

Just thinking of the texture of the snail slime on your face is already giving us the heebie-jeebies, and trying to do it ourselves while spas are closed feels illegal for some reason. Good thing there are simple snail mucin face masks carried at department stores for the general population to access. 

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False Eye Bags

False Eye Bags

Surprise, surprise! Another Tiktok trend made the weirdest beauty trends list for 2025, and we have Gen Z to thank for it! Makeup companies around the world have been brewing up the best concealers and products to counteract nasty eyebags and discoloration, but Korean teenagers turned this idea on its head in late 2021. 

We’re not joking. Take some eyeshadow in red, blue, or purple to achieve the eyebags of your dreams… whatever that means. For 2025, expect teenagers to prance around outside looking like they haven’t gotten any sleep in three months. 

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Tomato Girl

Tomato Girl

The ‘tomato girl’ aesthetic looks as bizarre as it sounds. Inspired by rosy complexion of Italian women, this look emphasizes a natural, flushed appearance. Key elements include a dewy complexion, a heavy orange-red blush, and minimal eye makeup.

Many women also apply fake freckles to make their ketchup-y complexion even more sunkissed.

Olga Ekaterincheva/Adobe Stock

Ear Makeup

Ear Makeup

We’re honestly surprised that it took so long for ear makeup to become a trend. Yes, it’s weird. But how weird is it really? If you think about it, we put makeup on every other part of our body, practically, including body foundation and glitters. And we decorate our ears with jewelry. What's wrong with a little sparkle over there as well?

We decorate our ears with metal and hoops all the time, even covering the area with some foundation to match the rest of the skin. So why not add a cutesy flower (or twelve)? Once everyone can go outside once more, we know this trend will be rampant at concerts and festivals once they open up again.

Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Oxygenation

Oxygenation

Oxygenation, a 2025 skincare trend, involves treatments and products designed to deliver oxygen to the skin, promoting circulation, cell turnover, and elasticity. Popular options like oxygen facials and masks claim to rejuvenate dull skin and reduce aging signs, offering an instant glow.

However, critics argue the skin already receives sufficient oxygen through circulation and question the long-term efficacy of these treatments, suggesting the results are more about hydration than oxygen delivery. With high costs and temporary effects, oxygenation faces skepticism despite its appeal as a luxurious, non-invasive skincare option. More scientific validation is needed to confirm its actual benefits

ChesterAlive91/Adobe Stock

Baby Blue Eyeshadow

Baby Blue Eyeshadow

The new generation blends the '60s and '90s with a return to baby blue eye looks. From eyeliner and shadow to lipgloss and hair chalk, baby blue is the strangest color fad for 2025. 

We're not saying that baby blue is ugly... but a lot of people can't pull it off. Especially if women aren't wearing much mascara anymore. Yikes! You'll likely look like a sea witch instead of a siren. 

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Aegyo Sal

Aegyo Sal

Aegyo sal is a Korean beauty trend that focuses on enhancing the area under the eyes, specifically the small pads of fat that puff up when you smile. In Korean culture, this feature is considered cute and youthful. In America, they just look like eyebags!


 

Leave this trend to the young girls who can pull it off. If you think it's cute and just have to try it, be subtle about it. Otherwise, the harsh lines will make you look sleepy and unnatural. 

(Image via Midjourney)

Lots of Layers

Lots of Layers

A layered look is a key trend for 2025, combining different textures, patterns, and lengths. Everyone knows that layering is the best winter fashion tip for staying warm and cozy, but the "trend" isn't trying to be classy. They throw any number of random patterns together, waltz out of the house, and call it fashion.

Just look at this picture! A neon turtleneck, a horrid grandpa-esque button up, another mystery layer, and a clashing fuzzy overcoat. Yuck.

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Popsicle Lips

Popsicle Lips

The "Blurred Lips" trend, inspired by Korean beauty, has become popular in 2025 for its soft, gradient lip look that creates a youthful, natural appearance. Rather than the traditional bold, defined lip line, blurred lips feature a seamless fade from the center of the lips outward, giving a soft, diffused effect. To achieve this, products like tints, balms, or matte lipsticks are often applied in the center of the lips and gently blended out using fingers, a brush, or a sponge.

The trend aligns with the K-beauty philosophy of fresh, youthful skin and emphasizes a natural, minimalistic makeup style. It’s particularly popular for everyday looks, as it avoids the need for constant touch-ups and feels comfortable throughout the day. Despite its subtle beauty, critics argue that it looks like you just sucked on a strawberry popsicle. 

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Sailor Inspired

Sailor Inspired

The sailor-inspired trend has seen a recent resurgence, but is it truly seaworthy? While the nautical theme can evoke a sense of adventure and carefree spirit, it can also easily veer into costume territory.

Personally, the "sailor" look leans juvenile and cliché. It's fine to incorporate subtle elements, like the woman in this photo, but don't go full costume. 

Victoria Fox/Adobe Stock

Spartan Beards

Spartan Beards

The spartan beard is in this year for all the wannabe King Leonidases out there. It’s one of the oddest beard looks out there because all the hair is concentrated on the chin area, and then it’s short on the side. It might look good for men who want a more defined chin, but there are other looks for that too.

It provides the look of a squarish jaw and it's definitely a vanity look for men. To keep it, a man has to put some effort into manicuring it in the long term, or else it will look like any other scruffy beard. That being said, it looks a little too neat to the point it doesn’t look natural. Nevertheless, expect plenty of Spartan warriors in 2025.

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Velcro Rollers

Velcro Rollers

You heard that right. Velcro rollers are back. With all of the technology available today — like the Dyson Airwrap, heatless curls, and a plain curling iron — why do women always crawl back to the worst option?

Velcro rollers can be uncomfortable to wear, especially for extended periods. Even worse, velcro can snag and pull on hair, potentially leading to breakage and damage, which is the opposite of what most women are going for when using heatless curling methods. 
 

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Colorful Lashes

Colorful Lashes

Colorful mascara is nothing new and not exactly “weird." However, we think that this trend is weird enough for 2025. Why? Wildly colorful lashes are typically reserved for costume parties and pre-pandemic music venues but teenagers and millennials alike now view purple mascara as an appropriate daytime makeup look. 

But in these days of baggy pullovers and sweatpants day in and day out, colorful lashes are a fun way to spice up those endless video calls.  Who thought we'd ever get tired of comfy clothes and makeup-free days? If the pandemic has allowed us any sort of joy, it's allowing us to experiment with makeup and lower the risks associated with self-expression, even when it's just through screens!

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Microbiome-infused Body Care

Microbiome-infused Body Care

The idea is to introduce beneficial bacteria to the skin's surface to outcompete harmful bacteria, leading to healthier, more radiant skin. However, while the concept is intriguing, it's important to approach it with a critical eye; there's limited scientific evidence to support the claims made by many microbione-infused products.

While the skin does have a microbiome, it's a complex ecosystem that's constantly adapting to its environment. It's unclear whether introducing specific bacteria, especially through topical products, can significantly alter this delicate balance. The skin has natural protective barriers, and it's unclear whether these products can truly penetrate the skin's surface to have a meaningful impact on the microbiome. 

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Permanent Cosmetics

Permanent Cosmetics

Permanent cosmetics are the real-life version of "digibeauty," and most permanent procedures are performed due to the pervasive influence of social media filters and unachievable expectations over young people. It's not enough to apply eyebrow gel and mascara every morning; we need it all the time to feel beautiful!

Most of these procedures are done with techniques from tattooing to create an overall fuller look. Microblading your eyebrows allow you to ditch the brow pencils, and injecting ink above the lashes makes cat eyeliner as easy as can be. Sorry, beauty gurus, no need for Youtube tutorials in 2023!

Ectoin

Ectoin

Ectoin, derived from microorganisms in extreme environments, is gaining traction in 2025 skincare for its protective and hydrating properties. It shields skin cells from UV rays, pollution, and blue light while calming inflammation and improving the skin barrier, making it ideal for sensitive or aging skin.


 

Popular in moisturizers and serums, ectoin aligns with the demand for eco-conscious, science-backed solutions. However, critics question its real-world efficacy compared to more affordable ingredients like hyaluronic acid and view its high price as unjustified. While promising, ectoin’s lasting impact will depend on further research, transparent claims, and demonstrable benefits in everyday skincare routines.

serhiibobyk/Adobe Stock

Ribbed Leggings

Ribbed Leggings

Ribbed leggings seem like a comfortable option, but consider the drawbacks. Ne major concern is the potential for a frumpy or unflattering appearance. The ribbed texture can sometimes accentuate imperfections or create a bulky look, especially when paired with the wrong clothing.

Also, the tight fit of leggings can be uncomfortable for some, particularly those with sensitive skin or circulation issues. You must invest in thick, high-quality pieces to avoid the dreaded "diaper" look.

(Image via Pexels)

Slicked-Back Hair

Slicked-Back Hair

The slicked-back hair look is trending in 2025 as part of the ongoing fascination with clean, structured styles that convey sophistication and control. The look can be achieved using products like gel, pomade, or styling cream, which smooth the hair back into a shiny, uniform shape, giving an elegant and professional appearance. It’s embraced for its timeless appeal and the sense of neatness it conveys, offering a chic alternative to looser, more tousled hair trends.

For those with thinner or finer hair, the style can sometimes look flat or lack volume, making the overall appearance less dynamic. Additionally, the heavy use of styling products can weigh hair down, leaving it greasy or stiff, and the slickness may cause the hair to lose its natural texture. The look also doesn’t suit everyone—those with round or fuller faces may find it elongates their features in an unflattering way. 

Taylor Hill/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

Red Lips + Gold Eyes

Red Lips + Gold Eyes

This trend is just too much. Everyone should follow the basic rule of pairing eyeshadow with lipstick: one area can be bold, but the other must be neutral. Flashy gold eyeshadow paired with a bold red lip is overwhelming to look at. In fact, it probably ages you 10 years or more. 

Even worse, pounds of blush and fake freckles cheapen the look even more! Remember: one area of your face can be bold, but leave the rest alone!

(Image via Midjourney)

Skinimalism

Skinimalism

2025 beauty is basically one giant contradiction. Skinimalism is the minimalism of beauty, which promotes cutting down on the sheer number of products you purchase, use, own, and throw away for both skincare and cosmetics. Less is more in the world of skincare, especially for people with sensitivity issues and are prone to irritation from excessive produce use. 

If we’ve learned a thing or two about Korean skincare, it’s that maintaining a healthy base equals fewer cosmetics. By focusing on select skincare products that target specific needs, you can save money on products while also helping the environment because you won’t rely on a full face of concealer to feel beautiful.

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Clear Acrylics

Clear Acrylics

Ultra-long acrylic nails are a modern beauty staple pushed into mainstream fashion by rappers, musicians, and influencers alike, yet anyone keeping up with trends knows that they're often defined by bright colors and blingy designs. What happens when you skip the polish step entirely? It becomes the weirdest new trend, of course!

Clear acrylics might be a “what’s the point?” look for some people, but see-through nails are a surprisingly cool way to complement every one of your outfits in an understated way. However, we might have to draw the line at all-clear clothing. Good thing natural-colored nails are classy rather than criminal!

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Giant Accessories

Giant Accessories

Bobbi pins and clear hair elastics function under the notion of being barely noticeable and, consequently, as natural as possible. That was once the only way to do your hair. After the '80s scrunchies died out, nobody wanted to see your hair elastics. However, society has created a countermovement to this idea with giant accessories.

We’re talking everything from scrunchies (yes, they're back) and scarves to barrettes and claw clips. It’s weird enough that the '90s claws are coming out again in the modern '20s, not to mention their newly gargantuan size! And scrunchies are even bigger and gaudier than before if you can believe it! Good luck seeing your luscious locks past the scrunchie taking up half your head. 

(Image via Neilson Barnard/Staff/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)

No Mascara

No Mascara

The "No Mascara" makeup look has become a notable trend in 2025, largely driven by the desire for a more natural, effortless appearance. With the growing emphasis on minimalist beauty routines and the rise of clean, “no-makeup” makeup looks, skipping mascara fits perfectly into this movement. 

For some, the lack of mascara can make the eyes appear less defined or even a bit bare, especially for those with naturally light or sparse lashes. Without the added volume or length that mascara provides, eyes can seem smaller or less striking, which can detract from the overall balance of the face. 


 

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Tapestry Hair

Tapestry Hair

Weaving external materials into our hair has existed since the dawn of the human race. We're not claiming that braiding is anything new but creating art with our hair has seen many modern variations over the years. Of course, there will always be beads and feathers, but actually sewing strands of hair together to create a tapestry is definitely odd.

This boho-inspired trend spread across the world after online influencers and mainstream celebrities promoted everything from indie concerts to big-name music festivals like Coachella. Typically, music festivals have their own dress code, including intricate hairstyles. As for the practicality of the trend, we'd rather not think about the technicalities of brushing...

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Exosomes

Exosomes

Exosomes, tiny cell-derived vesicles, are emerging in 2025 skincare for their potential to boost collagen, repair skin, and reduce inflammation. Harvested from stem cells, they are touted as revolutionary for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. However, skepticism surrounds their efficacy, as their ability to penetrate the skin and deliver benefits is not yet fully proven. 

High costs and ethical concerns over stem cell sourcing also limit their appeal. While exosomes offer exciting possibilities in biotech beauty, their success hinges on further clinical validation, transparent regulation, and addressing affordability and ethical issues for broader acceptance in the skincare market.

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Bubble Ponytail

Bubble Ponytail

Apparently, influencers nowadays can’t get enough bubbles! From bubble nails to jewelry to hair, bubbles aren't going anywhere in 2025. Albeit the bubble ponytail is actually pretty cute and easy to achieve, unlike the controversial bubble nails, but we're curious where and how this bulbous and weird beauty trend began.

According to AboutHer, the bubble ponytail was first seen in 2014 during the Valentino Fashion Week runway show but it took nearly eight years for the trend to take off outside luxury beauty circles. All you need is to have enough hair for multiple hair ties to scrunch up each section into a bubble. Extensions count, of course! Plus, plenty of hairspray helps to set the bubbles in place. Use excess hair in each section to wrap around the hair tie for added class. 

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Drugstore > Luxury

Drugstore > Luxury

In 2025, the shift towards drugstore makeup over luxury brands is surprising, as luxury cosmetics have traditionally been associated with prestige and superior quality. However, several factors explain this trend. Drugstore brands have improved their formulas significantly, offering high-quality products at more affordable prices. Social media influencers and beauty enthusiasts often highlight these budget-friendly options, further promoting their popularity. 

Consumers are now prioritizing performance, accessibility, and inclusivity, with drugstore brands releasing trend-driven products quickly and catering to diverse skin tones. This change challenges the idea that higher cost equals better results, as drugstore makeup often rivals luxury options in quality. The shift also reflects a move away from traditional luxury goods, possibly due to economic factors or changing consumer values. 

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Smudged Eyeliner

Smudged Eyeliner

The grungy look will certainly be in for 2025, as it already seems to have withstood the test of time. The smudgy eyeshadow look has been present at numerous fashion shows and its usually topped off with some smudgy eyeliner look as well. It’s not the neatest look but a lot of people can really pull it off.

To create the look, all you need is an eyeliner that smears fairly well and a smudge brush or cotton swab to smear it. It needs to look somewhat deliberate, so you don’t just look like a hot mess. This look is particularly loved by celebrities like Zendaya and Avril Lavigne.

(Image via Unsplash)

'90s Lips

'90s Lips

'90s lips are making a huge comeback in 2025. For some women, it's stunning and they should always wear the brown-liner-and-gloss combo. But you are not among those women, likely. 

This look should be reserved for a specific natural aesthetic, and you have to match your undertones with the shades of lipstick you buy. Otherwise, you'll look like a brown-nosing clown. 

(Image via Midjourney)

Western Inspired

Western Inspired

Okay, seriously? Western wear was cool when Yellowstone dominated our TVs, but the trend is over. Stop trying to revive it for 2025! Those boots are so uncomfortable if they're bought cheaply, suede is impossible to clean, and, sorry, you can't pull off that cowgirl hat. Leave it for the concerts, not Sunday brunch.

To be clear, we're not criticizing Southerners who wear real Western clothes on the daily; we're talking about the fast-fashion mass production of these goods, which are all primarily ugly plastic materials that fall apart after one wear. 

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Metallic

Metallic

Yes, metallics aren't new, but it's a very odd choice for 2025 after the past three years. Why? Natural looks, the "clean girl aesthetic," and "skinimalism" dominated 2024, so it's strange that people are abandoning their new lifestyle for a few glittery eyeshadows. 

We're not mad, just confused. As long as you do it right, it's fine, but we know from 2016 that women go overboard on the metallics when they're given the chance. 

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White Monochrome

White Monochrome

White monochrome fashion is trending in 2025 as part of the broader movement toward minimalist, elegant styles that emphasize simplicity and sophistication. While the look can be striking, it can sometimes feel stark or sterile, lacking the warmth and depth of more colorful or textured outfits. It also doesn’t offer much room for individuality, as the simplicity of the style can seem monotonous or even boring to some. 

One of the biggest challenges is its maintenance—white clothing is notoriously difficult to keep pristine, as stains, dirt, and wear become highly noticeable. Wearing an all-white outfit requires constant vigilance to avoid accidents, and even a slight spill can ruin the sleek appearance. 

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Modern Mullets

Modern Mullets

Traditional curled and fluffy mullets haven’t completely died out in the South, but their popularity tapered when the hype for Billy Ray Cyrus's "Achy Breaky Heart" dissipated after the early 2000s. Ironically, his daughter Miley Cyrus's take on the look has revitalized interest in the look, just with a few updates. 

Now introducing the modern mullet! It unifies business and party without the outdated feathering, frosted tips, or split ends. Instead, this mullet, with roots in the punk subgenre, prioritizes face-framing pieces and complementary colors over yee-yee carelessness. Even better, the modern '70s-inspired shag is gaining steam in the beauty world as well for those wanting a more subtly uneven look.

(Image via Amy Sussman/Staff/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images)

Butter Yellow

Butter Yellow

Butter yellow is the perfect color for spring... and if you're a child. Just because something looks good enough to eat doesn't mean it should be the next big fashion trend.

Any adult wearing butter yellow must do so carefully and mindfully, or else you'll look like a washed-out spring chicken.

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Manchester Girl Makeup

Manchester Girl Makeup

Machester girl makeup is synonymous with cakey foundation, thickly painted brows, giant fake eyelashes, and lipstick that's usually overlined for added plumpness. Geordie Shore, you know exactly the kind of make-up look this Manchester girl TikTok trend is trying to achieve—think caked-on foundation, harsh eyebrows, over-the-top false eyelashes, and big lips.

The trend started on Tiktok after teenagers got wind of the UK-based reality show Geordie Shore. If that title sounds familiar, the show itself is inspired by the American MTV reality TV phenomenon Jersey Shore featuring Snookie and the rest of the New Jersy crew. Luckily, you don't need to watch the show to get a sense of the trend, but we doubt you'd want to replicate it anyway.

(Image via CBS Photo Archive/Contributor/CBS/Getty Images)

Skinny Pants

Skinny Pants

Skinny jeans, jeggings, and capris were virtually retired in 2019, but they're creeping back into the fashion zeitgeist. We couldn't be more underwhelmed... Capris? Really?

We definitely don't miss having to jump and squeeze into skinny jeans that looked good on nobody. Straight-leg is the way to go and that's how it always should be. 

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Stick-on Accessories

Stick-on Accessories

Glitter was a big cosmetics trend a couple of years ago, and the appeal has only evolved. Rhinestones and pom-pom constellations are replacing henna freckles in a bigger —and — shinier fashion. Plus, glitter is terrible for the environment. Not that rhinestones are completely sustainable options, but at least we're not dumping plastic flecks down the drain as much!

There are plenty of skin-adhesives safe to use on the face, but those are usually expensive or reserved for professional use. Lash glue is a practical and inexpensive alternative! If all of the hipster Cali girls are able to get their rhinestones to stay stuck for an entire Coachella weekend in the middle of the summer using only lash glue, you can, too.

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