Ah, white eyeliner! If you came of age in the mid-’90s, white eyeliner was basically the only makeup necessary. While we may have layered it on in a thick, not-quite-cat-eye swipe with little interest in technique or precision, white eyeliner was popular because it’s really so forgiving. No matter how you use it, white liner or shadow is guaranteed to make your eyes pop. Which is precisely why it appeared on so many runways at the Spring 2014 shows. From a soft wash of all-over white at Altuzarra to graphic lines at Kate Spade to BCBG’s romantic white cat-eye, it’s clear this makeup trend is back and better than ever. And our Beauty Panel certainly agrees!
The hair at Miu Miu Spring 2014 may be the biggest nod to the ’90s beauty trend yet. I’m not talking about the loose, wavy style but rather the skinny strands stuck to models’ lips as they walked down the runway. The ’90s were the era of lipgloss, and as every girl caught in a gust of wind knows, lipgloss is an undeniable magnet for hair.
When the first model came out, the lipgloss-stuck hair looked like a mistake. But nope: this was a very deliberate beauty statement for Miu Miu. So basically, Miuccia Prada has once again gone and piqued our interest in the ugly and made it instantly desirable. Designer magic!
The minimalist makeup look has been going strong for a few seasons, and as our Fall 2013 beauty trend report revealed, it’s not going away anytime soon. From the perfectly powdered skin at Haider Ackerman to the glossy lids at Giambattista Valli, models appeared on the runway sans eye and lip makeup. The minimalist trend may cause beauty junkies everywhere to reluctantly put down their beloved colour cosmetics—but there’s a whole slew of other products to consider in order to achieve the look.
To say that most of us won’t leave the house without a little makeup on is putting it mildly, especially when it comes to what we apply around the eyes. (Puffiness, dark circles and redness are what keep the concealer business afloat!) However, makeup alone can’t fix the sins of the skin, so it’s important to have a good skincare routine in place. To help you master the minimalist look, we spoke to Dermalogica’s skincare guru Amanda Matcham and Plutino Group makeup artist Natalie Ventola. Their tips, techniques and must-have products are sure to help you achieve the natural look with ease.
While summer definitely calls for brightly coloured lipsticks, sometimes it’s nice to tone down the drama and allow your natural beauty to shine. Looking to the 1990s for inspiration, many Spring 2013 runway shows featured minimalist beauty looks that truly made us envy simplistic style. From Alexander Wang to Balmain, fashion houses made the neutral look appear effortlessly chic.
To achieve the minimalist look, a neutral lipstick is essential—but how do you wear such a pale shade without washing out your entire face? It’s all in how you apply it. With the right colour and technique, a neutral lip colour can make a statement.
Not convinced? Let our Beauty Panel guide you. This week they’re sharing tips and tricks on how to choose and wear a perfect neutral lip colour—while ensuring that the rest of your look also stands out.
Challenge 21: What are your tips for choosing and wearing a neutral lip colour? See the answers now! »
About halfway through the spring 2013 shows in New York, one thing became clear: Contours, not colour, were set to define the season. Gone were the deep wine-stained lips and tinted lashes from fall; in their place was, well, very little to speak of.
“It is a reaction to the economic times we are in. Huge, glamorous, overdone hair and makeup don’t make sense,” says makeup artist Diane Kendal, who had a big hand in this sea change. Over the past few seasons, Kendal has made boyish, raw but beautiful faces something of a calling card as the backstage go-to for cool designers like Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang and, more recently, Victoria Beckham. “Their point of view is what I translate,” Kendal humbly insists, pointing out that there was a ’90s-era lens on the collective perspective for spring.
“The look seems to have a modern feel,” she says, explaining why designers requested the decade’s sparse style en masse. “People like the simplicity—the pureness of design. It’s clean.” It’s also significantly less undone than it was 20 years ago. “It’s less grungy this time around.” The new minimalism is about subtly accentuating features rather than cultivating a full-on “look.” The irony, of course, is that a full-on look is actually easier to pull off than the “nothing” makeup that Kendal and fellow face-painters such as Shiseido artistic director Dick Page pioneered.
In case you missed the memo, the 1990s are back in a big way. Minimalist and grunge designs have dominated the catwalk for spring (and fall!) and unsurprisingly this trend has crossed over into beauty as well. 1990s beauty is tricky in that it can easily go from relaxed to messy. So how do you try the 1990s beauty trend without looking like Courtney Love’s darker days?
We posed the question to our Beauty Panel this week and they came back with some surprising and innovative tips for the ’90s trend. From statement lips to smoky eyes, our Beauty Panel bloggers had lots of interesting makeup ideas to share.
Challenge 5: 1990s beauty is on trend for spring. How are you incorporating the ’90s look with your hair and makeup? See the answers now! »
Amidst the neon nail polishes, textured manicures and creative nail art, sometimes all we want is a simple, polished manicure. Enter the new nail polish collection from Revlon that is giving us exactly that. The iconic beauty brand has just launched Nude Expressions, a collection of eight neutral nail polishes. The shades are designed to match many skin tones for a minimalist style that is right on trend with the 1990s beauty look of the moment.
Modeled by actress and Revlon representative Olivia Wilde, the limited edition polishes include shades such as “Cool Beige” and “Natural Tan.” Both light and dark hues are included, and they vary from pink to yellow undertones—making the colours seem more like foundation or concealer than a typical nail polish range. Indeed, the “mannequin hands” look is back.
More was more on Peter Som’s Spring 2013 runway when it came to beauty. Bright orange eyelids were mixed with washed out pastel hair extensions, resulting in the ultimate cool-girl vibe for spring.
The Peter Som beauty team—led by Wella Professionals global creative director Eugene Souleiman and makeup artist Tom Pecheux—matched the collection’s watercolour-print boardshorts and billowy floral dresses with bright pops of colour. However, the models’ natural skin tone played a key role in the look. “There is no blush, no highlighter—no need,” said Pecheux, noting that all the models were returning from summer vacation with flawless, toned skin. As our spring trends guide reported, skincare products play a major role when it comes to the “natural” skin look. Pecheux used hydrating gel, foundation and a translucent powder to ensure complexions looked fresh.
As our Spring 2013 fashion and beauty trend reports show, 1990s style is experiencing quite the resurgence right now. Plaids, slip dresses, grown-out roots and faded florals all mark this return to grunge—and where fashion leads, pop culture follows. (Also, the fact that online editor Randi Bergman has been live-tweeting her way through every original 90210 episode on Netflix may have something to do with it…) It’s nearly impossible to visit your favourite website without coming across a ’90s reference, and as such we’ve rounded up 16 of the the best links to prove 1990s style is here to stay—for a season or two, at least.
Images courtesy Refinery 2916. Because we want to try these ’90s cool-girl beauty tutorials immediately [Refinery 29]
It’s time to say goodbye to fall’s dark lip colour, vivid eyeshadows and unforgiving hat-head. Spring is finally here, and we’re ready to freshen up with the latest spring beauty trends. Amidst the myriad of Spring 2013 beauty looks on the runway, nine key trends stood out. From minimalist 1990s beauty to vibrant blue eyeshadow, spring beauty has something for everyone. We’ve rounded up the top beauty trends for spring: Click through the best hair, makeup and nail trends from the Spring 2013 runway shows as well as the products you’ll need to get the looks. This fresh new beauty inspiration is sure to carry you through the season and right into fall.
