As the years go by, trends come and go.
Makeup techniques, styles, and colors go in and out of trend every day. The beauty standard is constantly evolving, with a common example being the drastic difference between makeup in 2016 and today.
In 2016, makeup was all about bold looks and creativity. Wearers wanted to make a statement with dramatic eyeshadow, heavy contouring, dark brows, and bold liquid lipsticks. Above all, 2016 makeup is known for its “full-face,” matte look.
(Photo courtesy of Sahid Makeup on Instagram)
Anastasia Beverly Hills dominated the beauty scene with its eyeshadow palettes and eyebrow products, like the Dipbrow, while Kylie Cosmetics revolutionized the market with its Lip Kits, kicking off the era of matte liquid lipsticks.
Kylie Jenner, NikkieTutorials, and Jaclyn Hill were the beauty influencers who taught the world how to achieve the perfect full-face look. However, trends have changed, and these influencers no longer dominate the beauty industry.
James Charles and Mikayla Nogueira are now in the spotlight. They show the world how to achieve the glowy “no-makeup” look.
Makeup in 2025 is defined by its simplicity. Blush has become more prominent, and contouring is much softer than before. Brows are now more natural, with a greater emphasis on healthy, glowing skin rather than heavy coverage.
Newer makeup brands such as Rare Beauty, Makeup by Mario, and Rhode sell some of the best products to ensure customers achieve a glowy yet beautiful look.
Students at Leesville have their own opinions on what makeup style is the best.
“I like 2016 makeup more [than 2025 makeup] because it was more fun. Makeup now is dewy and boring,” said Ipek Aydin, junior.
On the other hand, Lindsey Ziolkowski, junior, said, “I don’t like 2016 makeup because it’s matte and caked on. I prefer a more natural look.”
No matter what you prefer, we can all agree that it has been interesting to witness the dramatic change in the makeup industry within the past decade. I’m personally looking forward to seeing what other trends will evolve in the coming years.
(Photo courtesy of Hailey Bieber’s Instagram)
Leave a Reply