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Beauty is a space to play, create, and think outside the box. While everyday makeup is fun and there are ways to incorporate personal expression, we are certainly in a world dominated by “clean girl” trends. These recent trends make it even more exciting when there is a new idea we haven’t seen before in the beauty community. When science, culture, and makeup combine, we see some of the most creative and exciting looks and ideas from creators, and just one small video on YouTube or TikTok can make a splash in the industry. 

 

The new uncanny valley makeup trend is a perfect example of this. The eeriness of uncanny valley makeup is a vital part of its creation: something is haunting yet lovely about these makeup techniques that have taken the beauty community by storm. The term uncanny valley was coined in the 1970s by Masahiro Mori, a professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. It refers to his work with human-like robots and the phenomenon of our affection turning into unease as the technology mimics us more closely. Mori describes the term, saying, “In climbing toward the goal of making robots appear human, our affinity for them increases until we come to a valley, which I call the uncanny valley.” Whether or not this is a term you have heard before, you’ve probably already interacted with this concept. 

 

With #UncannyValley amassing over 865 million views in 2023 and even more in 2025, it is certainly a trend that has impacted the TikTok community. One of the most exciting trends we’ve seen in 2025 is from creator Anna Murphy, who tested the waters of uncanny valley with her frightening yet beautiful “yarn face.” It is a perfect example of uncanny valley in use – Murphy’s facial expressions are alarming, yet intriguing, and there is something human, but not quite. While this might be the most recent example of uncanny valley makeup, it is certainly not the first. Making a boom in 2023, TikTok creator Emilia Barth seems to be one of the first creators to go viral for this trend, transforming herself into a humanoid-like robot that stirs a sense of unease in your body – something feels not quite right about the eeriness of her look. 

 

From a technical perspective, uncanny valley makeup is intense and often requires patience and precise technique to create an undeniably unsettling feeling in others. Makeup trends such as this are always fun to see because they are a form of art – people are completely transforming themselves and changing how others perceive them, even if it is just for a short TikTok video. Creators using this idea of uncanny valley to turn themselves into something human but not quite is a fun trend to watch, and it opens our eyes to different ways to be creative. 

 

As the world continues to modernize, we are seeing artificial intelligence in all aspects of life. Whether that be in the workplace, art, construction, or even driving, it certainly seems that AI is taking over. When it comes to the world of art and creativity, many are worried about the future of creating and artistic expression in the new landscape dominated by AI. This is even more prevalent due to ChatGPT's new update, 4o Image Generation, which allows for complex and detailed image creation in mere seconds. Critics have spoken out against this feature due to a lack of emotional creativity and the authentic human touch that seems to make art art. As an artist, it is daunting to create and build new looks in the face of AI, but that just makes the work all the more important. Human and artistic expression are integral to our experience, and creating art is something that all humans have the potential to do – there is no limit. This is part of the reason why it is so crucial to foster creative spaces on social media and in real life. The intersection between technology and art is huge, and one can’t exist without the other. 

To see a creator step out of the box entirely and create a new technique for makeup is impressive, and in the era of AI, it is more important than ever to create and share art. Uncanny valley makeup is the mesmerizing outcome that occurs when art and science come together to create something never done before. So, be creative in your expression of yourself. Have fun with makeup and different artistic trends you see in the media and come up with ideas you haven’t seen anywhere yet. This is a time for art to prevail, and it is in our power to create.