The 7 Most Popular Different Makeup Looks
Makeup looks these days are so diverse, it can be hard to determine what’s popular. From the natural “no makeup” makeup looks to the rather colorful “post goth” style, it seems that every makeup technique possible is trending this year. Where can one even begin in dissecting the makeup world?
The seven most popular different makeup looks are:
- Monochromatic makeup
- Pure with Pastels
- Clumpy lashes with faux freckles
- Bold red lips
- Dewy and glossy
- Glitter and sparkles
- Post goth glamorous
These makeup looks are not too hard to achieve, regardless of what products you have. Let’s go through them one by one, and I’ll give you some helpful makeup tips in general along the way.
What Are the Different Makeup Looks?
Here are the 7 different makeup looks that have dominated the scene this year, in no particular order:
1. Monochromatic Makeup is Simple and Stunning
Monochromatic makeup, or the art of matching your eye and lip shades, most often with a neutral color, is nothing new. However, it has been making a comeback as one of the must-have looks for Fall of 2020, and it has been dominating the celebrity and catwalk scenes.
It’s an easy look to achieve, as it requires nothing more than a matching eyeshadow and lipstick or tint, and you can use any color you feel like you look the best in!
2. Rock Pure with Pastels Any Time of Year
The variety driven, more colorful cousin of monochromatic makeup is also making the waves this year. From cool sky blues to warm baby pinks, you have a lot of options if you wish to achieve this look, especially since pastel shades are made by almost every makeup brand and are easy to come by.
It may seem as though pastels are only appropriate for the spring, but more neutral pastels, such as cool purple or dusty rose, are growing in popularity for fall looks, as well as the traditional pastel styles of bright, multicolored “sherbert” eyes and bright eyeliner.
All in all, this is a versatile style that is perfect for any time of year.
3. Clumpy Lashes with Faux Freckles Make a Comeback
Inspired by the retro looks of 60s model Twiggy, chunky/clumpy eyelashes with faux freckles are making a surprising comeback this year. Freckle pens such as this one (courtesy of Lime Crime) are growing more ubiquitous, and chunky mascara such as the Clinique Women’s Chubby Lash Fattening Mascara are flying off the shelves.
This is another style that’s easy to achieve; simply coat your eyelashes with multiple layers of mascara and use a freckle pen on your nose and cheeks for a natural freckled look.
It may seem a little off-putting at first, but soon enough you’ll find a good balance with the extra mascara, ensuring it’s clumpy, but not too clumpy, and be able to achieve a unique, retro look.
4. A Bare Face With Bold Red Lips is Easy to Do
The bare faces with bold lips trend is easy to do and aesthetically pleasing. All you need is a foundation, a concealer, and a red lipstick you enjoy wearing – a popular favorite is the Lip Bar Vegan Lipstick in Cosmo.
This style is also one of the most versatile, as it allows you to pick a red that personally suits you instead of limiting you to a specific shade. I recommend trying this look at least once! Even if you don’t like it, it’s always a good thing to try new looks!
5. Dewy and Glossy/”Dolphin Skin” is a Unique Look to Try
Growing in popularity since the late 2010s, dewy and glossy looks, also known as “dolphin skin”, take glossy makeup to a whole new level, encouraging wet looking, “dewy” faces. This style is relatively minimalist, emphasizing the use of gloss instead of color.
To achieve this look, all you have to do is apply clear gloss to where you would normally apply eyeshadow or highlights, but not too much (remember that gloss can get sticky!).
If you’re uncomfortable using lip gloss all over your face, face glosses such as this Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow Face and Body Gloss aren’t hard to find. Keep in mind that face glosses are usually still sticky, so don’t over-apply them!
6. Glitter, Sparkles, and Metallics For Those Wanting Some Spunk
It may seem like a product of the disco age, but metallic and glittery makeup, especially on the eyes, has been rather popular this year. Jewel tone and gold makeup colors seem to have replaced the traditional grays and blacks for “smokey eye” looks, and subtle glitter have been recently hitting the runway.
Most, if not all, major makeup brands have a number of metallic and glitter eye products you can try if you want to achieve this look, and if you want to go bolder, metallic lipsticks are easy to find too!
7. Post Goth and Glamorous Highlights the Post-Goth Grunge
This look is more niche than the previous 6, but it’s incredible and worth a shout out. Post goth is the more minimalistic, 70s and grunge-inspired version of traditional and “new wave” goth attire, but with a makeup style similar to some of the previous looks.
The makeup itself takes inspiration from previous trends, with often bright and colorful “mod eye” makeup common in the 60s (albeit with less exaggerated eyelashes), a simple foundation and concealer base, and neutral, sometimes glossy, lips. It’s relatively easy to do, and allows for some experimentation with eyeshadow colors! (If you want to dig in further on eyeshadows check out this article one blue eyeshadow looks and check out this article for types of eyeshadow looks!)
If you’re unsure of whether or not any of these looks will suit you, I encourage you to try them anyway or shoot for an easier eyeshadow look and work your way up! Even if no one else will see it, it’s always good to experiment to find what you enjoy makeup wise.
What Makeup Makes You Look Prettier?
People’s preferences in makeup can vary widely, but here are a couple of basic, general makeup techniques that work on almost everyone:
- Do not overdo it with foundation. Whether you use the liquid or powder kind, the easiest makeup mistake people can make is using too much foundation. Only put on a little at a time until you’re satisfied with the amount on your face.
- Do not forget your setting powder or spray. Good setting powder or spray can do wonders for keeping your makeup on. My recommendation is to use powder twice; once after you put your foundation on and again after you finish applying your makeup.
- Use concealer to hide your blemishes. From covering dark under-eye circles to minimizing the appearance of zits, concealer can hide the imperfections on your face and give you somewhat of a “blank canvas” to apply makeup on.
- Use an eyeshadow primer. Recently, NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Eyeshadow Base Primer in the “white pearl” shade has grown in popularity because of its quality. It allows the eyeshadow to pop more than ever. Depending on the style you’re going for, a white, nude, or black primer can keep your eyeshadow in place and make it really stand out!
- Apply some lip balm along with your foundation. I don’t know about you, but I absolutely hate the feeling of my lips feeling shriveled up after applying lipstick. This is why I began to apply lip balm long before my lipstick, so my lips will feel soft and rejuvenated beforehand.
- If you choose to highlight and/or contour, know your face shape. The best way to highlight and/or contour your face will depend on your face shape. If you don’t know your face shape, look in the mirror to find the widest part of your face, the shape of your jaw, and the length of your face, and compare it to descriptions of face shapes you find.
- Do not forget to blend. The worst mistake you can make with makeup is forgetting to blend your foundation and concealer after applying them, as that can make your makeup look rather freakish. You can use your hands or a brush to do so, but many people prefer blender sponges such as this Aesthetica Cosmetics Beauty Sponge Blender.
Best YouTube Video to Apply a Simple Makeup Look
YouTube makeup tutorials are not for everyone, but there’s no denying that they can be an excellent resource for learning how to apply makeup. They show off the basics to the more complex looks one might see on the red carpet.
If you want to learn the basics, here are two of my personal favorite YouTube tutorials for a simple makeup look:
Makeup for Beginners: Everyday Makeup Tutorial | Step by Step | Danielle Mansutti
Everyday Beginner Makeup | MARIMBA NOLAN
Maybe you want more than a YouTube video, check out these online makeup courses for beginners!
What is “E Girl” Makeup?
The most infamous trend that emerged in 2019, the E girl (short for “electronic girl”) makeup style is as big as ever this year, especially on popular social media app TikTok. Initially an “ironic” trend, it gained traction throughout last year and is now one of the most notorious youth subcultures.
It takes inspiration from alternative makeup and subcultures of times past, such as 90s skater, 00s emo, and hip hop, as well as popular young stars such as Billie Eilish and the late Lil Peep. Many consider them the modern-day “scene girl” due to their mixture of colorful and grunge aesthetics.
As a result, the E girl makeup is also quite unique, consisting of under-eye shapes (often, but not all the time, hearts), heavy “igari/hangover esque” blush, and glossy lips. However, this is considered the “base” makeup in the subculture, and practitioners are encouraged to add on to it in a way that suits them.
The makeup itself is heavily inspired by means of emo and Japanese alternative styles, such as lolita, decora. Popular “E girl” makeup brands include, but are not limited to, Milk Makeup, Glossier, and a large variety of drug store brands.
If you’re interested in trying “E girl” makeup, tutorials for doing so aren’t hard to come by. Some favorites are:
♡HOW TO BE AN E GIRL♡ (makeup, hair, clothes) | eve frsr
E girl makeup tutorial easy #egirl #makeup #tutorial #easy #gasaisan | Freaking gasaisan
E girl makeup tutorial | calliefornia beauty
And there you have it: the 7 most popular different makeup looks of this day and age! Whether you are more of a bright pastel kind of makeup wearer or a monochromatic queen, you can see that the current trends are versatile and easy to wear, along with a couple of tips along the way.
Just don’t forget the most important makeup advice: Wear what makes you feel the most comfortable, even if it isn’t trendy. Makeup looks its best when applied in the way you feel its best!
