Faces Not Like a Construction Site... Japanese Schoolgirls Making 'Tears' with Industrial Adhesive

Shortage of Industrial Glue Guns Causes Supply Crunch

The adhesive tool commonly seen at interior construction sites, the 'glue gun,' has recently become an essential makeup item for Japanese middle school girls. The trend of decorating the face with 'fake tears' made from glue guns has gained popularity on platforms like TikTok.

Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) highlighted the recent craze for 'glue gun fake tears' among Japanese teenagers on the 23rd (local time).

Makeup that attaches fake teardrops made with a glue gun to the face. Photo captured from SCMP.

Fake tears are a new makeup method where water drop shapes are made using a glue gun, and once the glue cools and hardens, they are attached to the face. This trend has gained popularity among some teenagers as it is shared on social networking services (SNS). A Japanese media outlet even introduced this makeup as "3D tear drop makeup."

AMF, a Japanese company promoting student products, mentioned that it is uncertain how long the popularity of 3D tear drops will last. The makeup trends among Japanese schoolgirls change very rapidly, and it is rare for a popular makeup style to last more than two weeks. Japanese schoolgirls are said to experiment with various styles daily, take selfies, and share them on SNS platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

The 3D tear drops also emerged from this playful culture. Since they cannot frequently purchase expensive cosmetics like adults, a trend has taken root where they create inventive makeup using inexpensive tools instead.

The process of creating glue gun makeup. Screenshot from an online community

Recently, as girls have been acquiring glue guns, a 'glue gun shortage' has reportedly occurred in some areas. However, glue gun manufacturers have warned against using glue guns on the skin for cosmetic purposes, as it may irritate the skin or cause allergic reactions due to the chemicals involved. They also emphasized that glue guns were developed for craft making, not for decorative use on the body.

Meanwhile, the glue gun craze among Japanese middle school students has drawn negative reactions from netizens overseas, including in Japan and China. In particular, in China, criticism has poured in regarding the 'fake tears,' with comments such as "It's ridiculous," "It looks like snot, not tears," and "Is this trend really spreading in Japan?"