It’s funny how a year cooped up indoors brought out some pretty out-of-the-box beauty trends for people who, for the most part, spent the majority of time at home. It just goes to show how skincare and makeup are often indulgences for your own self, something you do for your personal pleasure. In 2021, we saw a mix of fresh makeup techniques, artistic eye looks, and a fixation on looking younger (let’s see how many times you read the word “lift,” henceforth).
Overall, it was quite an interesting year for beauty in the makeup and skincare department. And as with most trends, we encourage you to try them out for yourself and see if they work for you. Now, let’s get started on the round up!
6 makeup and skincare trends that dominated social media in 2021:
1. Super Glossy Lips
The Y2K aesthetic that went full force in fashion made its way to beauty, too. We saw the movement in the form of ultra-shiny, plumped-up, Bratz-Doll-esque lips. What we love about this trend is how you can do it with your own style—whether you want a pretty pink lip or a beachy coral look. What matters is that generous glide of lip gloss at the end. (Cue Lip Gloss by Lil Mama!)
Products to try:
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, P1330, FENTY BEAUTY, sephora.ph
Hydragloss in So Fetch, P299, ISSY AND CO, Shopee
Colour Glaze, P279, COLOURETTE, Beauty MNL
2. Face Yoga
The past year has seen beauty-lovers turn their homes into personal spas. One of the most popular trends we’ve seen is giving yourself a face massage, or what has been coined as “face yoga.” You don’t even need a guasha or any fancy metal tool, just your trusty hands! ICYMI, there has been an onset of face yoga teachers gaining traction online, too, if you want to try it out.
3. Face-Lifting Blush
There were two trends that dominated the Instagram and Tiktok pages of the makeup world this 2021: a blush obsession and face-lifting techniques. Put those two together and you’ve got face-lifting blush! Say goodbye to applying blush on the apples of your cheek; follow the contours of your cheekbone and apply the product right on top, instead. Why hello there, Bella Hadid bone structure!
Products to try:
Airblush in Razz, P495, SUNNIES FACE, sunniesface.com
Blush in Orgasm, P1500, NARS, Lazada
Water Kiss and Bloom Lip and Cheek Tint, P329, HAPPY SKIN, Happy Skin
4. '80s Eyeshadow
Because the pandemic is running its course for longer than anyone expected, it seems like there’s a collective desire for escapism and exuberance. In beauty, this took the form of wild eye makeup, in particular, a no-holds-barred '80s eyeshadow look. This trend was probably the most free-reigning among the rest, as you could play with color (cool hues or punchy citrus tones), texture (a glossy sheen or glitter galore) and shape (a wispy dust or a graphic form). Try it out on your next dressy soiree.
Products to try:
Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2, P4900, ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS, sephora.ph
Keri Boom Eyeshadow Palette, P245, VICE COSMETICS, Vice Cosmetics
Liquid Fairy Lights Eyeshadow, P950, PIXI, sephora.ph
5. Graphic Eyeliner
Another bold eye makeup trend was the graphic eyeliner craze. We have social media to thank for mesmerizing videos of artists who seem to have surgeon-steady hands and create perfect shapes in a smooth swoop! You can keep it simple by trying out the lined inner corner look, or move towards crazier shapes. It might take you a lot of makeup remover and q-tips, but it’ll definitely be worth the try.
Products to try:
Aqua Resist Color Pencil Eyeliner, P1250, MAKE UP FOR EVER, sephora.ph
Hypersharp Liquid Pen Eyeliner, P345, MAYBELLINE, Lazada
Super Pomade Eyeliner, Shadow, and Brow Pigment P1180, KVD BEAUTY, sephora.ph
6. Smoked-Out Wing
The ever-popular cat eyeliner look saw a subtler adaptation with the smokey wing. Kiss your liquid eyeliner goodbye for a minute and replace it with a smudgy pencil or dark eyeshadow. Create the cat eye effect by applying the product with a stiff brush and smoking it out, following the angle and line you’d create with a regular liquid eyeliner. Et voila! A softer yet equally striking cat eye.
Products to try:
Long-Lasting Khol Eye Pencil, P440, SEPHORA COLLECTION, sephora.ph
Mac Frosted Firework Powerpoint Eye Pencil, P1300, MAC Lazada
Snap Shadows P1590, FENTY BEAUTY, sephora.ph
Preview is now on Quento! Click here to download the app for iOS and Android and enjoy more articles and videos from Preview and your favorite websites!
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
