Graphic eyeliner, doll-like blush, and colorful eyelashes are all in store.
In 2024, all we want is one thing — at least when it comes to our makeup. An airbrushed flush, ombré lips, striking eyeliner… experts predict that 2024 makeup trends will center around the power of one. We’re moving away from looks that “require a lot of moving parts” which means more “easy to use” products says Tasha Reiko Brown, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
Keeping things simple (as in forgoing a smoky eye and contoured cheeks and bold lipstick, all at once) doesn’t mean you have to abandon bold makeup. (And 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.
Meet the experts:
Patrick Ta is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and founder of Patrick Ta Beauty, Sheika Daley is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist, Tasha Reiko Brown is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and Ash K Holm is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist.
Draw the Line
Keep your high-precision liners nearby because eye makeup is getting graphic. “Striking shapes, trendy reverse liner, and bold lines draw attention to the eyes,” says Brown. 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 hasn’t seen the light of day.
In search of an inky formula to try this out? Makeup artist Sheika Daley traced Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner in an arrow design on models at LaQuan Smith’s show. “Place a dot just outside the eyelids as your ending point, check for evenness, then draw out from lash line to dot,” says Brown.
Better Than Bare
Skin tints replaced heavy foundations in 2023, but it turns out we do still like some coverage — without a cakey feel. So this year, brands started giving us the best of both: MAC, Covergirl, and Fenty Beauty recently launched sophisticated formulas that provide coverage without compromising on the lightweight texture and finish.
Allure editors have already 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'm even able to layer a bit extra under my eyes to make my dark circles less obvious,” says Allure editor-in-chief.
Get Dolled Up
Blush is returning to the apples of the cheeks, after exploring just about every other high point of your face. Experts are calling it “doll blush “— it’s a “youthful look, that adds definition to the face because of how the blush sculpts the cheekbones,” says Los Angeles-based makeup artist Patrick Ta.
Instead of packing on the pigment in a harsh circle (this is when you start to enter clown territory), Brown says blending out the edges will create a softer gradient. We got a glimpse of 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 Make Up For Ever, Patrick Ta, and Armani Beauty have airy blushes that create a cloud-like finish on their own. Allure editors love the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow blush (so much that we gave it a Best of Beauty award). "I love how easily it blends into my skin without leaving any harsh lines," says Allure deputy digital director Kara McGrath.
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,” says Brown, who predicts 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 — two products that Allure editors have had in rotation.
Swipe Bright
For many months, bleached brows and bedazzled arches have been in the spotlight. 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 that,” says Holm. She applies two shades of lipstick in the same color family, but slightly different shades, like a tan brown and rusty pink, before defining the lips with liner. 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 strong flick of eyeshadow in a vibrant color or a swipe of lipstick in a vampy shade.
The original article can be found on Allure US.
