What’s the Sharpie lip liner Trend? Why you shouldn’t do it!

Ah, the Sharpie. For generations, this humble, ink-laden wizard has been the trusted companion of artists, movers,  and anyone attempting to distinguish their Tupperware from their roommate’s. Its superpower? Permanence. Its ultimate mission? To boldly go where no other marker has gone before, sticking around like that aunt who came for coffee, but never leaves. But just when we thought we had the Sharpie pegged, Gen Z, with their boundless creativity and apparent disregard for dermatological common sense, decided it was time to give this iconic tool a vibrant new role: lip liner. Yes, you read that right. The “Sharpie lip liner” trend is precisely what it sounds like: young adults tracing the delicate borders of their mouths with a standard-issue permanent marker before sealing the deal with a topcoat of gloss or lipstick. Because who needs actual, purpose-built, dermatologically-tested lip liner when you can have the fragrant embrace of industrial chemicals?

Why Oh Why, Gen Z? The Quest for a Lip Look That Lasts Longer Than a Lifetime Mortgage

One must pause and ponder the philosophical underpinnings of such a trend. Is it the rebellious urge to defy conventional beauty norms? Or simply the desperate desire for your lip stick to stay on through the heat wave of the summer? In a world obsessed with viral moments and fleeting fame, perhaps the idea of a lip line so immovable it could withstand a hurricane has a certain allure.

We live in an age where “hack” culture reigns supreme. Need to peel a banana? There’s a hack for that. Want to fold a fitted sheet without weeping? There’s a hack for that. So, it logically follows (in a very, very twisted, Sharpie-fume-induced logic) that if a marker can write on anything, surely it can define a lip. Forget touch-ups; this is a one-and-done solution that screams, “My beauty routine is so efficient, I can now spend more time showing you how to do it on  TikTok!”

Admittedly, the ingenuity is… there. In a terrifying, “don’t try this at home, or anywhere really” kind of way. Who needs a perfectly curated palette of lip pencils when you can just grab a marker designed for labeling moving boxes? It’s cost-effective, readily available, and guarantees a statement lip – though that statement might be, “I’ve just had a very unfortunate accident involving office supplies.” The humor practically draws itself, much like the Sharpie draws on… well, everything but skin, according to common sense and basic safety guidelines.

The Doctor’s Orders: Ditch the Sharpie Before Your Lips Look Like a Science Experiment Gone Wrong

Now, as much as we love a good chuckle at the latest internet shenanigans, this particular trend comes with a rather large, neon-inked warning sign. Doctors, those perpetually worried killjoys who insist on things like “health” and “safety,” have stepped in with a buzzkill message: stop putting permanent markers on your face. Specifically, they’re pointing fingers (and tutting disapprovingly) at a chemical called xylene.

Xylene, for those who skipped their advanced chemistry class to take up a career as a TikTok influencer , is not your skin’s best friend. In fact, it’s more like that toxic ex who strips away your natural oils and leaves you feeling irritated and utterly depleted. When applied to the delicate skin of your lips – which, mind you, is much thinner and more permeable than, say, the side of a cardboard box – xylene can cause a delightful array of issues. Think irritation, redness, dryness, cracking, and even allergic reactions that could leave your pout looking less “plump and defined” and more “puffed up and peeling.” Unless you’re aiming for that ‘just survived a chemical spill’ aesthetic, this is probably not the look you’re going for.

Beyond the immediate irritation, there’s the delightful possibility of ingesting these chemicals. Every lick of the lips, every sip of water, every bite of a snack becomes a miniature chemical cocktail party. And while a Sharpie might give you the confidence of a perfectly outlined lip, it certainly won’t give you the peace of mind that comes from not consuming industrial solvents. Long-term exposure? We’re talking potential damage to organs, though one hopes the sheer unpleasantness of chemical-flavored breath would deter anyone from making this a permanent (pun intended) part of their beauty regimen.

So, while the meme potential is undeniably high, and the urge to achieve that perfectly durable lip line is understandable in our fast-paced world, perhaps we should leave the Sharpies for their intended purpose: labeling freezer bags, crafting DIY protest signs, or drawing mustaches on your dad For lips, let’s stick to products specifically designed for human faces – preferably ones that don’t come with “ventilation required” warnings. Your future, healthy lips will thank you, and you’ll avoid the awkward explanation to your dermatologist about why you smell faintly of art class.