Yarn Makeup: TikTok’s Creepy New Beauty Trend

 

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A post shared by Anna Murphy (@annas__sfx)

Every now and then, TikTok throws something completely unexpected into the beauty mix—something that makes you stop mid-scroll and go, “Wait, what am I looking at?” Lately, that moment is all about Yarn Makeup. Yes, actual yarn. On people’s faces. And somehow, it doesn’t look like a last-minute Halloween fail—it looks intentional, almost sculptural.

This trend does not focus on things we usually see when it comes to makeup. Yarn Makeup is bold, strange, and a little mesmerizing. It turns faces into canvases where a spiral of wool might trail across the cheekbone or wrap neatly around one eye. The look is somewhere between a high-concept editorial and something you might make in a craft room. 

Who Actually Started It?

This yarn-wrapped wave started with Anna Murphy, a Canadian makeup artist who’s built a following by blending theatrical ideas with practical, hands-on execution. She posted a short video where pastel yarn spiraled perfectly around her face, and the internet took notice.

Murphy didn’t just go viral, she opened a door. People followed, and TikTok was flooded with similar videos – people covering their faces with yarn.

What Do You Need to Try Yarn Makeup?

Getting into Yarn Makeup doesn’t mean raiding a pro artist’s kit. In fact, most of what you need is already hiding in your craft drawer or Halloween bin. Still, a few key tools make a huge difference:

• Yarn: Go for something lightweight. Too thick, and it won’t hold shape or sit right on the face.
• Face Base: Murphy used Meron white liquid makeup, which dries quickly and won’t smear like cream products.
• Adhesive: A solid stage adhesive like Ben Nye Spirit Gum is a must—it holds well and gives you just enough working time.
• Scissors: You’ll need precision here, especially near your eyes or mouth.
• Patience: Not a tool, but essential. You’re creating a 3D pattern, and it takes time to look clean.

For this trend, you need no filters, no layers of Photoshop. Just yarn, glue, and a bit of vision. You don’t need to be a makeup artist to try it—you just need to be up for the challenge.

How Does Anna Murphy Actually Do It?

If you want Anna to help you try this wild trend, here’s what she does. She posted a video of herself wearing Yarn Makeup on Instagram a few days ago. 

“I just used some Meron white liquid makeup,” Anna explains, describing her base layer. It dries on its own, so it stays put—unlike cream foundations that can slide around.

Once the white base set, she moved quickly to keep things sticky. “I’d just go over with some Ben Nye spirit gum, just a few centimeters out so it would still be tacky by the time I got to it.” That timing matters—too dry, and the yarn won’t stick; too wet, and it slides.

Then comes the actual application. She starts laying down yarn in a spiral, adjusting as she goes. But there’s no forcing it across the whole face. “When I got to my mouth area, I would just cut it. Same with my eyes… so that I could, you know, see.”

She’s not precious about it, either. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s expression. Still, there’s a rhythm to it. “Normally I’m just in the zone, listening to music, and I just get it done.”

Doing the trend is more hands-on than you’d think. You’re not just painting—you’re building. The yarn needs to follow the shape of your face, and the glue has to be tacky, not wet. Around the eyes and mouth, trimming is key. Not just for comfort, but to keep things in place. It’s more like piecing something together than doing typical makeup. Once you get into it, it starts to flow.

And if you’re thinking about trying it for yourself? “Absolutely. Go for it,” she says. 

Is Yarn Makeup Saying Something Bigger?

Yarn Makeup takes beauty in a different direction—one that leans more into craft than polish. It borrows from theater, sculpture, and that familiar mess of creative chaos. You’re laying down texture, building lines with your hands, working with material that was never meant for skin, and somehow making it look intentional.

What’s interesting is how naturally it fits on TikTok. Beauty there isn’t about clean techniques or products anymore—it’s about experimenting in real time. No filters, no perfect endings. Just people trying things out, seeing what sticks, and turning that process into the content itself.

This kind of look isn’t made to last all day, and it doesn’t need to. It’s quick, strange, and expressive. There’s freedom in that. You’re not fixing flaws or chasing trends—you’re playing with shape, color, and texture in a way that leaves room for surprise. And sometimes that’s exactly what makes it worth watching.