The final lap of the year provides an opportunity to be prophetic—at least in terms of beauty. An over-the-shoulder look at the looks that have been threading through runways and social feeds in recent months allows for a foreshadowing of what’s to come, allowing us to better prepare our individual takes. It’s also a good thing: staying one step ahead of trends like this is essential for maintaining one’s aesthetic balance.
2023’s beauty is defined by all things visionary, both in terms of application and final effect, from ethereal ornamentation to glow-up highlighter. Even referential notes skew forward-thinking beacons of our collective evolution—and all of its rule-bending beauty.
Here are the top nine beauty trends to look out for in 2023.
Ever-Evolving Shags
A mullet has never been more divisive. While modern beauty allows for any cut, the throwback shag is undergoing a stylized (and entirely contemporary) evolution. The choppy, unbridled wolf cut and the grown-out (and more feminine) octopus cut have inspired those who prefer short hair to get creative with their execution.
Lots of Liner
The application of eyeliner is seeing a lot of innovation. While long feline flicks are undoubtedly here to stay, the new year’s eyeliner will continue to elicit double takes, whether continued at the inner corners à la TikTok’s siren eyes trend or liberally drawn and finished with unexpected detail, as with Peter Philips’ crisscross liner for Dior. Ample liner is in sync with the current resurgence of romantic goth and grunge sleaze on social media. Furthermore, new technologies, according to the pros, are assisting in making the liner easy to apply—and difficult to destroy once the desired look is achieved.
Y2K Continues
Y2shimmery, K’s futuristic, and ever-so-slightly affected era will continue its refractive reign in 2023, with the aesthetic modernized as a study in a soft-but-playful palette. “I feel like the younger generation is reinterpreting the era through its colors and textures: metallics, glitter, and an array of pastels you see reflecting off a CD,” says Marcelo Gutierrez, a makeup artist who created a medley of Y2K-inspired holiday looks for our seasonal enjoyment. Holographic shadows, metallics, and frosted details should be avoided.
Polished Manicures
The colors you prefer are becoming warmer. From blonde to brunette, hair color trends are leaning toward the rich and toasty—think Bella Hadid’s Aspen blonde and Kim Kardashian’s honeyed lengths. These dimensional colors have a natural feel to them; even peroxide will consider personal tones for a flattering effect.
Warmed-Up Hair Colors
The colors you prefer are becoming warmer. From blonde to brunette, hair color trends are leaning toward the rich and toasty—think Bella Hadid’s Aspen blonde and Kim Kardashian’s honeyed lengths. These dimensional colors have a natural feel to them; even peroxide will consider personal tones for a flattering effect.
Retro Flash Makeup
In 2023, the skin will be lit. To complement flawless and well-cared-for complexions, washes of radiance, when applied with care, provide an out-of-this-world glow that feels like the main-effect finish rather than a brightening afterthought. Consider Gucci’s spring 2023 runway and the accompanying “Old Hollywood Flash” highlighter, which makeup artist Thomas De Kluyver created to mimic the effects of retro flash photography.
Skin Care as Makeup
The new makeup trend is a natural complexion. Tata Harper’s masks and treatments were featured in both Khaite and Gabriela Hearst’s spring 2023 shows, while Brandon Maxwell and Proenza Schouler focused on no-makeup makeup that allowed fresh skin to take center stage. Would-be naked skin was enhanced by highlighter and brush or bronzer pulls to sculpt and define, with dewy lips rounding out the looks at Fendi and Altuzarra. In every case, the lesson was clear: there is no substitute for a well-executed skin-care regimen.
Less Brows, More Fun
Slim (or silenced), statement-making brows are now a regular part of our look. This year saw the return of skinny Y2K brows (a welcome change from brushed-up brows) and bleached arches, and the latter’s presence on recent runways indicates that the less-is-more approach is here to stay. Marc Jacobs sent bleached brows down the runway this spring, a move echoed by Givenchy this fall, with makeup artist Lucia Pieroni honoring a theme of transparency with barely their brows. Doja Cat went a step further, shaving off her brows entirely in favor of a look that is both unsettling and breathtaking in its eccentricity.
Face and Body Jewelry
Embellishments remained (exaggeratedly) popular in 2022, and 2023 is expected to see even more temporary adornments that aid in the transformation of face and body into living art. Whether you prefer freckle-like jewel placement, gem-encrusted brows like those seen at Peter Do (or in our collaboration with Gutierrez), Isamaya’s third-eye jewels for Giambattista Valli, or the myriad surrealist additions shown at Puppets and Puppets (butterflies! stars! crystals! ), extras are sure to evolve even further in the coming months. And if your usual makeup is more minimalist, try the 3D trend on your nails.
