If you’re someone who loves getting a head start on beauty trends before they’re all over Instagram, you’ve come to the right place. Unfortunately, the pandemic is keeping us home but that by no means is a reason to forgo our love for make-up, right? With the festive season just around the corner, we’ve put together a list of hair and make-up looks that can easily be tweaked to fit the theme of your celebrations–virtual, low-key or intimate. Even with restrictions and lockdowns being lifted all over the country, we’ve accepted the reality that masks will be a part of the foreseeable future. And for that, there has been no shortage of eye make-up looks that will give your regular old smokey eye look a run for its money!
Here are five beauty trends you’re going to see everywhere…
Disco lids
Image source: Instagram/charlieriddle
With mask requirements still in place, it is the best time to bring out your vivid eyeshadow palettes. The colour that’s making waves this season? Blue–the US-based fashion label LVB way. Think metallic and shimmer-drenched formulas, not the ‘90s frosty finishes.
How to get the look: Coat your lids with metallic blue eyeshadow and blend it into your crease with a fluffy brush. Here’s the trick: If you’re using a cream or liquid formula, let it dry down completely and then pat in some silver glitter eyeshadow to intensify the glam.
Slick centre parts
Image source: Instagram/courtneyperkinsmua
Centre parted hairstyles look great on most face shapes which is why they’re firm winners in our books. At designer Jonathan Simkhai’s show, we saw tons of slicked-back middle parts, perfect for when you want to dress up your mane with hair accessories.
How to get the look: Is there anything chicer than a perfectly slicked back bun? Begin by straightening your brands with a flat iron. Then, use a hair gel to slick your hair back and pull your hair in a ponytail. Twist your hair till it coils on itself and then secure with bobby pins.
Goth eye make-up
Image source: Instagram/AliceAndOlivia
Gossip Girl lovers, unite! At the Alice + Olivia show, the preppy-goth theme came through perfectly–think edgy, inky liner. If this seems a tad bit too dramatic for your liking, simply leave your bottom lash line bare and focus on your upper lids only.
How to get the look: Draw the shape of your cat-eye using a kohl pencil. Buff it out so you have smudged-out edges and fill in the shape with matte black eyeshadow.
Graphic eyeliner
Image source: Instagram/AnnaSui
The key to nailing eyeliner looks like the ones seen at Anna Sui lies in playing with colours and crystals. Play with hues like oranges, mauves, and greens, and draw on arcs in the creases of your eyes.
How to get the look: The two tips that will help you to draw perfect arcs are: One, keep your elbow on a hard surface so you can move and swivel your hand while drawing the shape in your creaser. Two, begin by making dots in the centre of your crease and moving towards the outer corner. Join the dots and then continue doing the same thing in the inner corner of the eye.
Statement lips
Image source: Instagram/PrabalGurung
Bold lipstick may look intimidating but one swipe is all it takes to make you look bright and ready to seize the day, even if you have nothing else on. At shows like Prabal Gurung and Jonathan Simkhai, we saw matte cherry reds and shades of mauve whereas Moschino had models wearing brighter pinks on their pouts.
How to get the look: To get the perfect matte statement lip, begin by exfoliating your lips. Whip up a honey and brown sugar scrub and slough off dead skin. Then, apply lip balm and let it sit for at least five minutes. Swipe off the excess and apply your matte lipstick in thin coats with a brush.