Overview
#FoxEye was a controversial beauty trend involving makeup techniques, thread lifting, or surgical procedures to create an elongated, upward-slanting eye shape resembling a fox. The look aimed for an “exotic,” almond-eyed appearance popularized by models Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner.
Techniques
Makeup Method:
- White eyeliner in inner corners
- Dark shadow/liner pulled outward and upward
- Strategic brow shaping to lift outer edges
- Tape or brow glue to physically lift eye corners
Cosmetic Procedures:
- Thread lifts (temporary, 1-2 years)
- Lateral canthoplasty (permanent surgical eye lift)
- Botox to lift brow tails
Viral Moment
The trend exploded in July 2019 when Instagram model Emma Hallberg posted a fox eye tutorial using finger-pulling to demonstrate the desired shape. The gesture, combined with the aesthetic’s appropriation of Asian features, sparked immediate backlash.
Controversy
Critics accused the trend of cultural appropriation, as it mimicked East Asian eye shapes while those same features faced discrimination. The finger-pulling gesture was particularly offensive, resembling racist mocking. Asian influencers called out the hypocrisy of white women being praised for “exotic” eyes while Asian people faced bullying for natural features.
Platform Response
TikTok removed many #FoxEye videos in 2020 due to the offensive gesture, though makeup tutorials (without the problematic hand pose) continued. Several beauty brands quietly distanced themselves from the trend.
Decline
By 2021, the trend largely disappeared from mainstream beauty content, replaced by more inclusive eye makeup trends. The controversy became a case study in beauty culture’s problematic relationship with racial features.