Footage shows how a trending TikTok illusion is being made – appearing to show face masks lifting into the air like hot air balloons.

The amusing clips of candles seemingly emitting enough hot air to send the parachute-like surgical masks floating skywards have become a trend on the social media app this month.

However, not everyone watching the short videos seems to realise how they are being duped – with someone out of shot actually holding the face masks and lifting them upwards.

Comments on popular clips include ‘bro, this is amazing, they’re like Chinese lanterns’. Another user added: ‘This is so cool. It’s the best use for face masks ever.’

Videos of the illusion have been posted in several countries, with people making use of their green, grey and blue face masks.

However, revealing footage show a person is actually lifting the face mask to create the cute illusion.

Despite the heat produced from the tea-light candle being strong enough to burn holes in the mask, the video shows hot it is not strong enough to lift its own weight off the ground.

Hot air balloons are able to fly when the heated air inside the envelope makes them buoyant as it has a lower density than the colder air outside.