“Tired Girl” Makeup Trend Gains Popularity Among Gen Z

A new beauty trend dubbed “Tired Girl” is gaining traction on social media, embracing the look of sleeplessness with dark under-eye circles, pale skin, and lightly smudged makeup.

The style contrasts with long-standing beauty norms that associate fatigue with poor health or unattractiveness, instead celebrating imperfections once considered flaws.

One of the most visible inspirations for the trend is Wednesday Addams, portrayed by Jenna Ortega in the Netflix series Wednesday. In both seasons, Ortega’s character features subtly darkened under-eyes, a lighter-than-natural complexion, and naturally tinted lips — a look Ortega recently recreated on the London red carpet.

Similar aesthetics have appeared in past pop culture moments, such as Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted and Natalie Portman in Léon.

Contemporary adopters include Lily-Rose Depp, model-musician Gabbriette, and influencers Emma Chamberlain, Danielle Marcan, and Lara Violetta. On TikTok, tutorials under the Tired Girl tag have amassed hundreds of thousands of views, with some creators — like Violetta — describing “eye bags” as a chic, hard-earned accessory.

Makeup artists say the look favors a messy, undone finish with a rebellious edge, serving as a counterpoint to the polished “clean girl” aesthetic popularized by figures like Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber.

While it shares elements with grunge, goth, and South Korea’s aegyo-sal trend, Tired Girl is seen as part of a transient wave of niche “core” aesthetics online, similar to cottagecore or Barbiecore. Trend forecasters note that unlike earlier subcultures with deeper cultural roots, this look is more about quick self-expression and may be replaced by the next viral shift.

Behind the aesthetic lies a subtle commentary on beauty norms: the character Wednesday’s low-effort, functional appearance reflects a rejection of time-intensive grooming and a subversion of traditional femininity.

Stylists say the look is simple to replicate, requiring minimal products and skill.

Experts suggest its popularity may also be tied to Gen Z’s broader rejection of perfectionism, favoring relatability and vulnerability in an era of constant social and economic pressure.