Do you remember the last time you played dress–up? Maybe it was when you were a little kid. For others, like me, you might find yourself playing dress up whenever you go shopping and come home with new clothes or beauty products. Experimenting with your look in the comfort of your own home is not only a playful way to pass the time but also allows for creativity to thrive without any judgment from looking eyes. This is probably why one of TikTok’s latest trends is all about a carefree approach to makeup. Pre–shower makeup, which is basically just doing a full face of makeup before getting in the shower and then washing it all off, has taken over beautytok and sparked somewhat of a creative revolution.
As makeup novices and veterans alike apply bold, colorful, and sometimes even costume–level makeup, it’s fitting that the lyric “You’ve never been to heaven, have you?” from Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lipa’s song Sweetest Pie underscores this trend. At its core, pre-shower makeup really is just about having a good time. Many beauty enthusiasts who have tried the trend, consider pre–shower makeup to be an extremely relaxing and nostalgic pastime. “Experimenting with makeup looks calms me down and makes me super relaxed. I could even call it therapeutic because I’m alone with my thoughts and I get to let my thoughts flow while doing something fun,” says TikToker and beauty influencer, Mirta Miler. For others, this ritual has become a way to spark new creative ideas. “Experimenting with new products, new colors, new shades on different parts of my face, really helps me get out of those creative blocks,” says Tao, makeup artist and beauty influencer.
Unlike the “clean girl makeup” and minimalist beauty trends that have recently become popular, pre–shower makeup has urged people to dig deep and explore their most innovative and imaginative sides. There really are no rules. Who cares if your look turns out horrible? Or if you spend your entire night in front of your mirror making your face up like a character from Avatar? That’s the beauty of it! It’s not about the end result. It’s about the journey and how it makes you feel. At the end of the day, we all just want to feel something, right? Many even connect it back to childhood moments and the freedom of uninhibited imagination. “It makes me feel free, almost like a little kid again,” says beauty influencer Brooke Monk, whose pre-shower makeup video has amassed over 24 million views and 3.5 million likes.
Though some may consider the trend a bit controversial and even wasteful, for makeup lovers, getting to experiment with outlandish beauty looks outweighs any negative stigmas about the trend itself. “I think it shows the creative side of people who enjoy makeup. We all need a reminder that makeup is a fun and playful way to express ourselves,” says Monk. She goes on to say, “I loved the sense of community and relatability the trend created, which is why I wanted to participate in it!”
Through social media, many beauty lovers have found solace in having a space where others share their passions for makeup, skincare, and all things beauty. Knowing that there are people who find joy indulging in makeup, especially to the degree where they do it just for fun, has made many beauty enthusiasts feel seen and understood. In her pre–shower makeup video, Miler exclaims, “I fully didn’t know that other people did this! Why haven’t we ever discussed this before?”
The excitement truly lies in knowing that no one ever has to see the look you’ve created unless you decide to show it. You aren’t doing your makeup for the world, it’s solely for yourself. In a time when creativity is so heavily commodified, it can be hard for many artists and creatives to balance what is for public consumption and what is simply a necessary expression of personal passion and a desire to try new things. “I remember one time I came home from dinner, and I had just bought new products from Sephora. That night, I did a green holographic lip with a glittery orange eyeshadow,” says Tao.
Playfulness and imagination have always been at the forefront of the most innovative beauty trends and editorial beauty looks. Artists like Pat McGrath and Danessa Myricks are coined for having long opted for eccentric, colorful, no holds barred makeup looks that leave viewers stunned. The pre–shower makeup trend inspires us to do the same. By not taking the end result so seriously, we can remember why we love beauty so much in the first place; :because it’s fun! Monk explains, “Makeup has no rules and with that comes the freedom to be an artist using it. I think it’s incredibly important we indulge our creative imagination every once in a while, whatever form that takes, including using makeup,”