I deactivated my Instagram account late last year, so for the last three-plus months, I’ve been fully committed to TikTok. It’s my favorite app for learning about new hair hacks, random celebrity drama, and, of course, makeup trends. Earlier this year, I tried contrast makeup, but that trend was geared more toward embracing makeup that was meant for you. The latest obsession,”unapproachable makeup,” is different. What is it, exactly? Well, typically, it’s a bold, in-your-face look that features dramatic, heavy eye makeup with lots of dark hues, intense contrast (especially when it comes to contouring), and deep lip shades. It’s supposed to look mysterious, sexy, and honestly, maybe even a little scary – hence the name “unapproachable.”
At this point in my life, I’m looking for the opposite of whatever unapproachable makeup intends to do. I want men to approach me. And not only that, but I want them to ask me to marry them and then father my children. (Just being honest here.) However, that doesn’t seem to be happening whenever I go out in public, so I decided it was time to switch things up.
I’m a minimal makeup girlie through and through. I dislike most foundations and I hate when my makeup looks heavy. I typically opt for a moisturizing skin-care routine paired with a lightweight tinted SPF, a tiny bit of eye makeup, bronzer, and blush.
This time, however, I did things differently. I wanted a hydrated base, so I used the Refy Face Sculpt Moisturizer ($50) paired with the Refy Glow and Sculpt Primer ($34).
Then, I applied a lot of heavy eye makeup courtesy of a couple of my go-to makeup palettes, like the Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette ($70) and the Charlotte Tilbury Beautifying Eye Trends Palette ($60). I even opted to put on false eyelashes – which I typically never do – but thankfully, the Ardell Naked Press On Pre-Glued Lashes ($9) made it easier than it’s ever been.
Instead of no foundation, I went for the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Foundation ($69) and an intense contour layered on top. I put eyeliner in my waterline, layered on lots of blush, and I even put on a brown lip liner and lipstick.
In the end, I didn’t look completely unrecognizable – I still looked like myself, at least in my opinion – but other people had different thoughts. I posted a video on TikTok wearing my unapproachable makeup before heading out for the night, and one comment in particular caught my eye: “You look so different with makeup.” It was absolutely meant to be a diss, but unfortunately, for internet trolls everywhere, it was exactly what I was going for. With that comment boosting my makeup abilities, I decided it was time to head out.
I left my house feeling confident, hot, and a little intimidating. I went out with my girlfriends for dinner at one of our favorite neighborhood spots that also happens to be a watering hole for single people and . . . the crowd went (as they say) mild. I didn’t end up getting approached by any men, but I did get compliments from three different women on my makeup. Final thoughts? Unapproachable makeup certainly works, but not in the way I thought it would. I don’t really think it deterred anyone from coming up and talking to me (I think that was mostly accomplished by my resting b*tch face), but it did work to help make me feel more confident and, well . . . hot. It’s a little too much makeup for me to wear on a regular basis, but I would recommend trying it out if you want a little shock to your system and you’re interested in switching things up.
Renee Rodriguez (she/her) is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.
