People have been warned against TikTok’s passport makeup trend. Everyone wants to glam up and look their best for a photo that would stay on an official document for several years. However, it is important to know the dos and don’ts, as it could land a traveler in trouble at the airport. While the glamourous trend is back, a TikToker previously urged people not to take “hot” photos for their passports after she almost could not board her flight.
Travelers warned against makeup that ‘significantly alter’ appearance
Last year, Alisha Marie (@alishamarie) shared her experience in a viral TikTok video. She said that the authorities “almost” did not let her get on her flight. They said that she did not look like her passport photo. Alisha warned that people should “never do hot photos” for their passports. The TikToker then showcased her photo on the document and continued to show the difference between how she looked then. Sporting a black hoodie and a baseball cap, Alisha seemed make-up-free in her airport look. She wrote in the caption, “[I’ve] never been SO HUMBLED IN MY LIFE.”
Another TikToker shared her “humbling experience” when she arrived at the airport make-up free for a morning flight. The content creator did not think “it would be a big deal.” However, while checking in, the airport authority looked at her passport and told her that she looked “different.” She wrote in the TikTok’s caption, “[I] only have myself to blame.”
In a statement shared with The Washington Post, the State Department said that wearing makeup is permitted for passport photos. However, they have encouraged people to stick to a look “consistent with your regular makeup style.” The State Department also shared that there were reports of travelers experiencing delays because the border authorities faced issues in “confirming their identity.” They have asked people to avoid makeup that can “significantly alter” their appearance.
To facilitate smooth traveling, people are warned against the passport makeup trend and stick to a “natural makeup look.”
