It's all about playful, experimental, and fresh looks
In a year that many of us spent indoors or hidden behind a mask, the way we think about beauty has changed more profoundly than, perhaps, at any other time in living memory.
2020 has also reminded us what beauty is all about: having fun, feeling better about ourselves and, thanks to social media, connecting with one another in the process. From glass skin to fluffy brows, here are the most notable beauty trends from the year that was.
Pastel eyeshadow
In learning how to smile with our eyes, or "smize," we turned to pastel colors and the brightest of liners to express ourselves creatively—or glam up even when there was nowhere to go.
Euphoria sparkle
HBO’s Euphoria sparked a hyper-real makeup movement, with fans of the series recreating the kaleidoscopic sparkle of the show’s Gen-Z magpies. Be it a dash of glitter on the eyes or constellation of Swarovski crystals across the face, we injected iridescent sparkle into the every day.
Glass skin
This year is all about a moisturized, lit-from-within glow. Originating on the K-beauty scene, loyalists to this 2020 beauty trend use extensive skincare to create a complexion that looks like it was sculpted from glass.
Fluffy brows
Thankfully the overly-filled-in Instagram brow was over this year. Instead, we opted for tinted brow gels and thin brow pencils to subtly define our natural brow shape, creating a fluffier, more natural look.
Floating crease liner
A retro-inspired beauty trend in 2020: the floating liner. Taking inspiration from the dramatic cut creases of the '60s, a swipe of liner above the crease is a simple update to your usual cat-eye.