Buzz
Here's everything you need to know about the latest TikTok beauty sensation.
If you’re active on TikTok, chances are you’ve seen posts about negative canthal tilts. But what does this facial feature really look like, and does it actually affect your attractiveness? If you're searching for answers, you've come to the right place! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on negative canthal tilts, covering what they are, why they’ve gained so much traction on TikTok, and whether they impact someone's appeal (spoiler: they don’t!). Keep reading to find out all the details you need to know.
So, what exactly is a negative canthal tilt?
A negative canthal tilt occurs when the outer corners of your eyes sit lower than the inner corners, causing your eyes to angle downward. This has become a hot topic on TikTok, where some users mistakenly claim that negative canthal tilts are less attractive than positive ones.
How to Approach This Trend
What is a negative canthal tilt?
A negative canthal tilt refers to when the outer corners of your eyes sit lower than the inner corners. "Canthal tilt" is the term for the angle at which your eyes are positioned. When you have a negative canthal tilt, the outer corners of your eyes are slightly lower than the inner corners, causing your eyes to angle downward. On the other hand, a positive canthal tilt means the outer corners are higher than the inner corners, giving your eyes an upward angle.
- There's also the possibility of having a neutral canthal tilt, where the outer and inner corners of your eyes are level, meaning your eyes don't tilt up or down.
- Canthal tilts are mostly determined by genetics, but aging can play a role too. As you get older, your eyes may take on a more downturned look.
Why has negative canthal tilt become a trending topic on TikTok?
Canthal tilts have become a viral topic on TikTok, with some potentially harmful consequences. The trend began with a popular filter that purported to tell users whether they had a positive, negative, or neutral canthal tilt. While this might have seemed innocent enough, users soon started suggesting that a negative canthal tilt made someone less attractive, while a positive tilt made them more appealing.
- Generally, they argued that downturned eyes give off a sad or tired look, whereas upturned eyes make someone appear more youthful, alert, and feminine.
- This discussion is part of the broader “looksmaxxing” trend, where some men obsess over improving their physical appearance to attract women. They claim that a negative canthal tilt means “prey eyes” (i.e., weakness), while a positive canthal tilt signals “hunter eyes” (i.e., strength and beauty).
- These claims contribute to harmful and unrealistic beauty standards, making people insecure about a perfectly normal feature.
- Furthermore, these ideas are inaccurate—many celebrities widely regarded as icons of beauty actually have negative canthal tilts.
- We’ll dive deeper into whether canthal tilt affects attractiveness below.
Does having a negative canthal tilt impact attractiveness?
No, your canthal tilt doesn’t define your attractiveness. Despite claims on TikTok and Reddit suggesting that negative canthal tilts are unattractive, this idea is a major misconception. Attractiveness is subjective—it varies from person to person. Some might find upturned eyes more appealing, others might favor downturned eyes, and some may have no preference at all. It may sound cliché, but beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
- For instance, many people find downturned eyes to exude a dreamy, soulful, and ethereal charm.
- In fact, there was even a TikTok beauty trend called “puppy dog eyeliner,” designed to enhance a more downturned and rounded eye shape.
Plenty of attractive people have negative canthal tilts. One way to debunk the TikTok myth is by noting that many attractive people do, indeed, have negative canthal tilts. You probably know people in your life who fit this description, but here’s a list of celebrities with negative canthal tilts:
- Marilyn Monroe, Anne Hathaway, Sydney Sweeney, Katie Holmes, Laura Harrier, Camilla Belle, Princess Diana, Lucy Hale, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emma Chamberlain, Britney Spears, Timothée Chalamet, Henry Cavill, James McAvoy, Jacob Elordi
How to Address a Negative Canthal Tilt
There are several ways to alter the appearance of a negative canthal tilt. First off, there’s nothing wrong with having a negative canthal tilt—it’s not something that needs fixing. However, if you're dissatisfied with its appearance, there are a few options to address it. Here's a rundown:
- Makeup. For eyes that angle downward, certain makeup techniques can create the illusion of a more upturned look. For example, cosmetologist Shun Pittman suggests using cat-eye eyeliner to lift the eyes. Some TikTok users even use the positive canthal tilt filter to guide their eyeliner application.
- Non-invasive treatments. If the downturned look is due to aging, you can consider treatments designed to restore a youthful appearance. These include options like laser therapy, chemical peels, botox, or fillers.
- Surgical options. Surgical procedures such as blepharoplasty, brow lifts, or mid-face lifts are available. However, surgery is a big decision and permanent, so it’s crucial to make sure it's something you genuinely want. If you opt for surgery, it should be because it makes you feel empowered, not because you feel pressured by beauty standards on social media.
- Lifestyle changes. Puffy eyes can draw attention to the area. Getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and using cooling eye masks can help reduce puffiness and dark circles. While these won’t change the tilt, they can help improve the overall harmony of your face and keep the focus elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
Discussions about canthal tilts and their impact on attractiveness can be harmful. When TikTok users claim that “negative canthal tilts are unattractive” or “positive canthal tilts look more feminine,” it can lead many people to overanalyze their appearance and feel insecure about their facial features. This pressure may prompt them to consider cosmetic procedures to achieve more upturned eyes, even though they were previously content with their natural look before encountering these TikTok trends.
- In particular, the connection between positive canthal tilts and femininity can be especially harmful to trans women. If a trans woman has a negative canthal tilt and comes across this narrative on TikTok, she may feel the need to change something that is completely normal. The truth is, canthal tilt has no connection to gender, and many women, including cisgender women, naturally have negative or neutral canthal tilts.
- Additionally, trends focused on upturned eyes, such as the “fox eye” makeup and certain plastic surgery procedures, can be offensive and culturally appropriative. Asian people, who have often faced discrimination for the very facial features now being celebrated, may find these trends particularly troubling.
TikTok beauty trends can even cause physical harm. One example is the “looksmaxxing” trend, which encourages men to go to extreme lengths to alter their appearance. This includes dangerous practices like “bone smashing” (literally hitting oneself in the face with a hammer) in an attempt to reshape bone structure. These methods are not only ineffective but also pose serious health risks.
- If you've encountered these harmful discussions on social media and they're causing you to feel insecure or anxious about your appearance, remember that there is nothing wrong with having a negative canthal tilt. You are beautiful just the way you are, and there's no need to change a thing!
