Flaunt your flaws: discover why eye bags are the new beauty statement

It seems we’re officially reversing in time with almost everything, and the beauty world is no exception.

Remember when we were all told, “Get rid of those eye bags! Dark circles are a no-go!”

Concealer was our holy grail, our little magic wand to erase every hint of exhaustion. We layered, blended, and prayed for miracle creams. And now… well, apparently, all that effort was for nothing.

Welcome to the era where flaws are famous.

Those dark, puffy, or creased eyes that you've spent months desperately trying to camouflage? They’re apparently very cool. What was once a sign of sleepless nights, overwork, or stress is now a fashion statement.

Sigh.

While some people might breathe a sigh of relief, especially those of us who’ve been rocking the “I barely slept” look since forever, I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at the logic behind trends.

How are we supposed to keep up if everything flips overnight? One day, dark circles are “ew,” the next, it’s “Hey, flaunt your exhaustion because it’s a trend now!” Send help.

According to beauty writer Jessica DeFino, the winds of change are blowing wild and free. In her exploration of modern beauty, she points out how the same industry that used to sell us overpriced brightening eye creams is now celebrating puffiness and dark circles as markers of authenticity and realness.

In a viral TikTok post, content creator @eliseperry29 said: "Ladies, keep your lower bleph", revealing that puffy under-eyes can actually be "hot" and "sexy" and "French".

It’s giving me serious Regina George from "Mean Girls" vibes, the way they tried to take her down, from cutting holes in her T-shirts and making her face smell like feet, to tricking her into eating a chocolate bar loaded with calories.

Those "imperfections" became popular because someone trendy was rocking them.

There’s a certain charm in that, no doubt. The fact that life is unpredictable and perfection isn’t always attainable or even desirable.

There’s a positive side because it encourages self-acceptance, and it might even take the pressure off women (and men) who feel compelled to present a polished, flawless facade at all times.

But let’s not ignore the flip side. By labelling fatigue as fashionable, are we normalising exhaustion?

Is society subtly saying that overwork, lack of sleep, and chronic stress are acceptable, cute even, as long as you Instagram it right? There’s a danger in glamorising what, in reality, could be unhealthy habits.

It’s confusing, and honestly, a little exhausting in itself. The danger isn’t just in the mixed messaging, it’s in what we’re being taught to celebrate. Chronic stress, overwork, sleepless nights.

Sure, it can feel liberating, encouraging people to accept their natural selves, but it’s also a little misleading. Eye bags aren’t a lifestyle choice or a personality statement; they’re often just part of being human.

The truth is, some of us aren’t flaunting a “look” at all. We’re just living in skin and eyes we didn’t necessarily choose.

So yes, while I can sip my coffee and look at the trend with mild amusement, I’ll also keep a concealer handy… just in case. Some things, it seems, are trends, but some things, like actual rest, never go out of style.