Table of Contents
Regarding makeup in 2024, we all want the same thing. An airbrushed flush, ombré lips, striking eyeliner… Makeup experts predict that 2024 makeup trends will center around the power of one. They expect we’ll move away from looks that require many moving parts, which means more “easy to use” products.
Keeping things simple (forgoing a smoky eye, contoured cheeks, and bold lipstick all at once) doesn’t mean abandoning bold makeup. (You also don’t have to bleach or bedazzle your brows like we saw all of 2023.) Ahead, makeup artists share exactly how to do more with less this year.
Here Are 7 Makeup Trends You’ll See in 2024
Draw the Line
We advise you to Keep your high-precision liners nearby because eye makeup is getting graphic. Striking shapes, trendy reverse liners, and bold lines draw attention to the eyes. Since spotting the sharp winged liner at Laquan Smith’s spring 2024 show and the marker-like striped eyeliner on Jil Sander’s spring 2024 runway, our subtle cat eye has yet to see the light of day.
Are you in search of an inky formula to try this out? A Makeup artist traced Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in an arrow design on models at LaQuan Smith’s show, the same formula a beauty magazine dubbed the “classic black turtleneck of liquid liners” in their 2023 Best of Beauty Awards. Place a dot just outside the eyelids as your ending point, check for evenness, then draw out from lash line to dot,” says an expert.
Better Than Bare
Skin tints replaced heavy foundations in 2023, but we still like some coverage — without a cakey feel. So this year, brands started giving us the best of both: MAC, Covergirl, and Fenty Beauty. They recently launched sophisticated formulas that provide coverage without compromising the lightweight texture and finish.
Some professionals have added the new MAC Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation to their makeup routines. It melts into my skin like a moisturizer but has enough pigment to make my skin tone seem more even. I can layer more under my eyes to make my dark circles less noticeable.
Get Dolled Up
Blush returns to the apples of the cheeks after exploring almost every other high point of your face. Experts call it “doll blush “— a “youthful look that adds definition to the face because of how the blush sculpts the cheekbones.” Instead of packing on the pigment in a harsh circle (when you start to enter clown territory), Brown says blending out the edges will create a softer gradient.
We saw this after a wave of the TikTok-famous ombré concealer, a technique used to dilute highly pigmented blush with complexion products for a more natural-looking finish.
Brands like Makeup For Ever, Patrick Ta, and Armani Beauty have airy blushes that create a cloud-like finish. Our editors love the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow blush (so much that we gave it a Best of Beauty award). We love how easily it blends into my skin without leaving any harsh lines.
Go Monochromatic
Pumpkin spice, strawberry girl, and latte makeup are all TikTok-speak for monochromatic makeup. It’s one mood with a subtle shift in tones between the lip and the face, and experts predict the trend will revive single-color palettes and elevate multi-use color products like Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick and Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed Matte Color for Cheek & Lip.
Swipe Bright
Bleached brows and bedazzled arches have been in the spotlight for many months. Now it’s time for eyelashes to have their dance with color. Models at the Prada Fall 2023 show and AZ Factory Spring 2024 show batted long blue, pink, and purple falsies.
No need to reach for falsies and glue, though. New formulas like YSl Lash Clash and Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara and older staples like L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara come in blue, green, and purple, perfect for adding a wink of color in favor of the expected black or brown.
Ombré Lips
The ’90s are back… again — but with an update. Ombré lips, the modernized version of the darkly-lined lip that was popular decades ago, has been popular on TikTok, and experts say it’ll continue to trend all year. It’s all about looking at your natural lip colors and accentuating them.
Before defining the lips with liner, an expert applies two shades of lipstick in the same color family but slightly different hues, like a tan brown and rusty pink. We are fans of the Ere Perez Coco Crayon, which has a saturated matte finish and blends effortlessly.
Add a Pop of Color
The continual lean towards minimal makeup doesn’t mean vibrant splashes are disappearing altogether; the spring 2024 runways proved that a single pop of color is all you need to make a statement. Models at the Helmut Lang and Max Mara spring 2024 shows walked with nothing (on their faces) but a dash of color on the eyes or lips.
At Helmut Lang, the “pop” of choice was a bright red winged eyeliner, while the look at Max Mara was an understated cherry cola lip. Experts predict that more and more people will be topping off their barely-there base with a firm flick of eyeshadow in a vibrant color or a swipe of lipstick in a vampy shade.