7 Make-Up Trends: What’s New For 2023

Make-up trends are fun to follow, but they also often reflect the spirit and psyche of a generation. In 2023, we’re (hopefully) past the worst of the pandemic and are looking at a brighter, more socially fulfilling future ahead. The popular trends right now reflect a general need to celebrate and have fun with make-up again. Pinterest reported a spike for search terms like ‘divorce party ideas’ and ‘break-up cake’, so it seems like we’re in the mood to party, no matter the occasion.

So, when we head out to meet our friends and families IRL, what make-up looks should we turn to? Beauty Daily scoured the internet to pick out the best make-up trends to get excited for this year.

1. The slim flick

The winged eyeliner trend isn’t going anywhere this year. But TikTok’s interpretation of it is a slimmer, straighter flick that we can expect to see everywhere this year. It starts from the centre of the eyelid – instead of the inner corner – and ends in a delicate wing that creates a lifted eye look.

Choose an eyeliner pen like the Graphik Ink Eyeliner and use its precise tip to get as close to the roots of the lashes as possible. You could also do this with a pencil eyeliner or a powder eyeshadow for a softer look.

2. Inner corner eyeliner

Another TikTok-origin eyeliner trend – inner corner eyeliner perfectly complements the slim flick. The term “inner corner eyeliner tutorial” currently boasts 22.7 million views on the platform. This effect takes the idea of a ‘cat-eye’ to the next level as it makes the eyes look very feline.

To recreate it, use the tip of a small flat brush dipped in black or brown powder eyeshadow to trace a line in the inner corners of your eyes. To do this, extend the natural outline of your eye, either from the upper eyelid or the lower one (whichever suits your eye shape), and then connect it back to the eye. To make it sharper, go over it with a liquid eyeliner.

3. Frosty eyeshadow

2021 saw a revival of the late 90s and early 2000s-inspired beauty trends – sales for frosted eyeshadow and lip gloss reportedly soared in the UK mid-last year. And the trend seems to be going strong this year too. Frosted eyeshadow in pale shades of blue and green are very cool again.

To make these shades pop on the eyes, make sure you prime your lids with some concealer first. This will provide an even base and make the colours seem more vibrant. The Ombre 4-Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Midnight Gradation has the perfect combination of frosted blues to recreate this look.

4. Velvet skin

Dewy, light-reflective skin has been all the rage for a few years now. This year, we could see a return to smooth, velvety skin. This is neither fully luminous nor completely matte. Instead, it’s all about controlled shine and a soft-focus effect – almost like a real-life beauty filter.

To create it, make-up artists begin with a base of liquid foundation. They then apply a sheer layer of loose powder on top. The key is to lightly dust a thin veil of powder on the skin using a fluffy brush instead of a powder puff or sponge. Add another thin layer along the T-zone and other areas that tend to get oily.

Tip: The Ever Matte Compact Powder and the Powder Brush are the perfect pairing to create this finish.

5. Green beauty

Although sustainable beauty is on everyone’s minds, this trend is about the colour green. As the vibrant make-up trends from the 70s and 80s make a comeback, the lively shade is making more and more appearances on runways, red carpets and social media feeds.

There are many ways to wear it. First, choose a shade of green that appeals to you: it could be an electric neon or a subtle sage. Wear it as a wash across the eyelids or as a simple stroke of eyeliner. We love creating a kohl-rimmed eye with the Waterproof Eye Pencil in 05 Forest.

6. Joyful make-up

As we navigate our way out of a global pandemic, expect a new wave of fun, happy make-up trends to make appearances, including stickers, crystals and other facial embellishments. You may have noticed this across social media already. Pinterest reported a 110% increase for the search term ‘crystal eye make-up’.

This may also have something to do with the popularity of the HBO TV series Euphoria, for which make-up artist Donni Davy creates some dreamy make-up looks – and has inspired everyone. There are 437,070 posts on Instagram with the hashtag ‘euphoria make-up’.

7. Watercolour smokey

In 2023, we’re looking beyond the formulaic smokey eyes of recent years to embrace a more artful version of the classic look. Watercolour eyes made a brief appearance on beauty feeds a year ago – they consisted of colourful splotches across the upper and lower eyelids.

This year, expect to see a darker, grungier version of the look – featuring shades of plum, bronze and steel. Pinterest predicted a revival of goth influences across fashion and beauty, and we think a lived-in, watercolour smokey eye would be the perfect interpretation of the trend.

To learn about the health and wellness trends taking over 2023, read: 9 Health And Wellness Trends To Look Out For In 2023.