- THE TREND: Fake sunburn and suntan marks, all of the beauty, none of the damage.
- WHO’S DOING IT? Pop princess Addison Rae is doing it on the cover, Kim K did it on the slopes and Sabrina Carpenter on set.
- HOW CAN I GET IT? Use blush, concealer, and some sunglasses for the full outline look. Or you could always go outside, just don’t forget sunscreen.
As Euros summer winds down, there’s one trend that’s yet to fade, for a while at least. It seems sunburns are summer’s hottest beauty look. Addison Rae and Bella Hadid both showed off their tan lines for Perfect magazine, models missed a spot in Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” video, TikTokers are playing around with sunburn make-up, while GQ China got fans hot under the collar with their ‘Heatwave’ shoot.
Sunburn as an aesthetic is nothing new. French artist Thomas Mailaender was playing with sunburns in 2015, while in 2022 make-up artist Lucy Bridge created a palm tree outline in tan marks in a campaign for fashion retailer Browns. Sunburn-adjacent aesthetics like posing in tanning beds have also proven popular in the past – see Slayyyter’s 2019 mixtape cover or hrh’s SS23 campaign. But recently the heat on the trend has been turned up a notch. Last November, Kim Kardashian showcased her ski-mask sunburn in the Skims Holiday campaign and since then the aesthetic has been seen all over fashion editorials, music videos and across TikTok.
The TikTok trend originated with a video by creator Isabel Rose, in which the MUA created a burnt outline of a bikini top, cross-shaped pendant and sunglasses. The look went viral and since then the trend has taken off in various forms across social media, from “sunburnt boy blush” and “heat stroke make-up” to “sunburn chic”. The look can be achieved in various different – sun safe! – ways using a combination of blush, bronzer and concealer. When it came to Rae’s tan lines for her Perfect cover, make-up artist Janessa Paré used an airbrushing technique.
“I airbrushed Addison’s whole body over the same bikini using the Temptu system and their s/b bronzer and a deeper base mix. After multiple layers, I added red into the mix and focused close to the bikini to mimic where you would turn red and get a slight burn in classic sensitive areas,” she explains. “After this, I applied traditional concealer in pale tones to her body where we did not spray to add even more contrast in tone and texture. Finally, we used approximately three large cans of shine spray throughout the day to add the sweaty glowing effect.”
The popularity of this trend coincides with the growing awareness of and market for sun protection, which has risen exponentially over the past few years. In 2023, Google searches for skincare with SPF surged by over 63 per cent, as more advanced conversations around the dangers of sun damage and the importance of sunscreen have evolved. This SPF proactivity is also catalysed by the insecurities that plague a generation obsessed with anti-ageing and vanity. Whatever the reasons, the SPF agenda has proven effective with melanoma skin cancer mortality rates projected to fall by 12 per cent in the UK between 2023-2025 and 2038-2040.
However, as with any mainstream trend, a counter-movement is emerging. Similar to the rejection of the clean girl aesthetic that led to the ugly beauty movement, or the 90s minimalist and androgynous style in reaction to the bombast and glossy exaggeration of the 80s, the emphasis on sun protection and looking after your skin has created a wave of fake sunburns as an “alternative” and edgy aesthetic. It’s a reactionary challenge to what we’re being “told” to do, as all counter-cultural aesthetics are.
There’s also present within the trend a sense of yearning for freedom and the outdoors, similar to what is driving the horsegirl perfume and tattoo trends. “Me when I want people to believe I leave my house,” comments one TikTok user under a video of someone recreating a sunburn look. This trend taps into a broader desire for the outdoors, which is also observed in trends such as the Prairie girl and Trad wife. People are yearning for the simplicity that is associated with nature and a complete disconnect from capitalistic chaos of 2024 living.
“They are imperfect and are a map of long days in the sun having fun” says Paré, explaining that the aesthetic adds a “youthful and playful feeling that is very appealing right now.” Attesting to the trend’s popularity, Paré tells Dazed, “I’ve definitely been doing more sun-flushed treatments lately, especially with blusher tones,” but she shares, “as a skin specialist, I prefer to see it sprayed on people now since we know the long-term damage they cause.”
Yet although safer than an authentic sunburn, this trend still normalises risky behaviour. It’s reminiscent of the problematic aesthetics of past trends like heroin chic and indie sleaze, which glamorised health-compromising looks. If you’re embracing these simulated sunburns, stick to the faux glow – it’s all the beauty, none of the damage.
