Blush on eyelids, lipstick as eyeshadow: TikTok's most quirky makeup trends for 2025

Think out of the makeup box.

TikTokers have shown us that lipstick can double as a dramatic cream eyeshadow or even a makeshift contour, especially in deeper, matte shades. This isn’t exactly new, editorial makeup artists have done it for years, but it’s finally trickled down into everyday makeup routines and, of course, onto TikTok.

As you can see, you can play a little fast and loose with beauty rules. You don’t need to dab blush just on your cheeks and neither does your eyeshadow have to come in pan form. In today’s beauty playground, your makeup bag is less about instruction manuals and more about imagination.

So, welcome to the age of multipurpose makeup, where’s no one’s waiting for permission to play. “Makeup now is about mood, not method,” says Dubai-based makeup artist Leila Arif. “If I want to use a creamy berry lipstick to sculpt my cheekbones, why not? If it blends beautifully and makes you feel good, that’s what matters.”

Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have only accelerated the shift. Scroll for five minutes and you’ll see creators using blush on their eyelids, bronzer as eyeshadow, and highlighter on lips. It’s not about breaking rules for shock value, it’s about making your own.

So, here are some fun hacks to try.

Blush, the multi-tasker

Blush is no longer confined to the apples of your cheeks. In fact, it's showing up just about everywhere. Dabbed on the nose bridge for a sunkissed effect, swept across eyelids for a monochromatic look, or layered over lips for a soft, blurred pout, explains Arif.  Cream blush in particular is your new saviour. Its  texture makes it ideal for cheeks, eyes, and lips alike. And honestly, using one product across your face isn’t just creative, it’s practical. And some TikTokers swear, that it helps in hiding those dark circles. “It can help for sure,” agrees Arif.

Less clutter, more coherence. You can even use it as a colour-corrector!

Lipstick: Not just for your lips anymore

Lipsticks tend to be highly pigmented, creamy, and long-lasting, perfect for cheek sculpting or even giving your lids a glossy, editorial sheen. Mauves, browns, and deep berries are helpful for defining the face with richness and warmth.

Pro tip: Matte lipsticks are best for contouring, while creamy formulas work best on cheeks and lids.

Some TikTokers suggest using eyeliner too, for contouring. Now that's, creative.

Why you need to break a few rules

Why does this shift matter beyond aesthetics?  At its core, it reflects a bigger cultural movement, one that values personal freedom, creative expression, and letting go of perfection, says Arif.  “In the past, makeup was about chasing an ideal. Now, it’s about play. You don’t need a makeup artist’s approval. If you love it, you wear it.”

 And honestly, there's power in that. Makeup becomes less of a mask and more of a mirror, reflecting who you are today, not who you’re supposed to be.

The joy of hybrid skincare

 There’s something delightfully satisfying about hybrid skincare, it’s kind that multitasks well. Look at moisturisers that double as primers, serums with built-in sunscreen, or tinted creams that hydrate while evening out your skin tone. These aren’t just space-savers in your bathroom cabinet; they’re joyfully efficient, cutting down your routine without compromising on results. Hybrid skincare feels like a small luxury: Less time layering, more time glowing. And let’s be honest—there’s a quiet thrill in using one product that does three things well. It’s beauty, simplified—but never boring.

As Kimia Nourtajalli, a Dubai-based makeup artist and stylist, had earlier told Gulf News, “Hybrid make-up gives you the best of both worlds. You save time, and, at the same time, protect your skin while enhancing your beauty. Suppose you apply a tinted foundation with SPF and vitamin E. In one application, on clean skin, you're getting the benefits of skincare, sun protection and flawless skin.”

Let your makeup bag bring out your inner artist

Using makeup in unconventional ways doesn’t require expensive products or pro tools. It’s about working with what you have, and seeing possibilities instead of limitations.

Need a peach-toned eyeshadow? Tap your favourite blush on your lids. Want a quick flush of coluor on your cheeks? That creamy lipstick in your purse will do the trick. It’s like a beauty improv: low pressure, high reward.

So, if you're holding a product and wondering, ‘Can I use this somewhere else?’—the answer is probably yes. Try it. Smudge it. Blend it. Wear it out. And if it doesn't work? Wipe it off. No big deal.

In a world obsessed with labels, on products, on people, on everything, makeup is one place we’re finally learning to un-label. It’s not blush, eyeshadow, or lipstick anymore. It’s just colour, so you can see yourself as the artist.

So go ahead—blush your eyelids, contour with that burgundy lipstick, swipe gloss where it doesn’t “belong.” In this era of beauty, rules don’t define you. You define the rules.