Vampire Skin Is the Beauty Trend Taking Over Our TikTok Feed

If you've made Twilight your whole personality (guilty), TikTok's latest beauty trend is gonna be right up your alley.

The platform that's given us siren eyes, baddie makeup and sunburnt blush is adding vampire skin to the list of intriguing 2022 trends. The skincare/makeup hybrid hack is helping us glow like our favorite vampire fam (and #TeamJacob fans are going to be so pissed).

So, what is vampire skin?

Vampire Skin is a makeup technique that mixes foundation and a shimmer product (aka highlighter or eyeshadow) to leave a dramatic glow. It was created by TikTok creator August Sombatkamarai, who crafted the iridescent finish that would make Edward himself jealous.

Why is it so popular?

Look, vampires in general are having a moment again. Think: Interview with a Vampire (the reboot), The Invitation, What We Do in the Shadows, anyone? But nothing quite beats the popular Twilight series which turns 14 this month. Once a Twihard, always a Twihard.

Yes, it was a bit dramatic when Edward showed Bella what his skin looked like in the sun (because he has the skin of a killer, Bella!). But now, Gen-Z is getting ahold of the iconic look in all its glory.

Plus, in a beauty sense: dewy, glossy skin has been a big hit this year. From the glazed donut to jello skin, we always want a statement glow. So, the #vampireskin trend is not so weird, and the 1.5 million TikTok views are proof.

How to Achieve Vampire Skin

Whether you're a beginner or pro, the vampire skin look is pretty simple to follow. Here are a few steps to achieve the trend:

• Prep the skin. Once you finish your usual skincare routine, prep the skin with a primer to hold all your makeup together for the rest of the day. It's also helpful to make the finish less clunky, especially for oily skin.
• Create your shimmer mixture. The key is mixing your favorite liquid foundation and liquid highlighter together. You'll want to do equal parts of each product, but it's totally fine to add a little bit more highlighter to elevate the shimmer finish. A helpful tip: You can swap the duo for a tinted moisturizer and/or a glitter spray for a less heavy finish.
• Apply the mixture to your face. Use a beauty sponge or brush and apply the combo to your skin. Note: Be gentle and consider a dabbing technique when blending onto your face.
• Add more shimmer. If you need more, use eyeshadow and focus on the areas that hit the light (i.e. apples of the cheeks, nose, chin and brow bone).
• Set your makeup. It's easy to grab a setting powder, but it can minimize your sparkles (and you don't want to lose any glow), so consider a light spritz of setting spray.