Get ready to revamp your makeup game as bold and vibrant looks are making a comeback this Spring 2023, as seen on runways. The season is all about experimenting with multiple layers of liner, blush, and eyeshadow. However, if you prefer a more understated look, worry not, as there are trends for you too.
The Spring/Summer 2023 Haute Couture season officially commenced in January, and brought with it some trend-setting beauty looks that are now appearing all over the runways and red carpets. Although the designs are exceptional on their own, the makeup is also worth obsessing over. From subtle no-makeup makeup looks to bold and metallic eyeshadows, brands like Dior and Schiaparelli have shown us that you really can do it all!
Expect to see a blast from the past with Y2K-inspired makeup, including frosted lipstick, and TikTok-inspired techniques. Get ahead of the game with these Spring 2023 beauty trends that are bound to flood your social media feeds.
Frosted Everything
Y2k shimmer can be polarising, but oh-so-fun. To avoid looking like you raided your mum’s ancient (and expired!) make-up stash from the ‘80s, opt for dimension (as opposed to a one-note shade), like makeup artist Ash K. Holm did here on Hailee Steinfeld. Inspired by the Y2K era, metallic or shimmery eyes are all about combining glitter and grunge. And, it may be a little extra, but Rita Ora’s icy lipstick shows that the trend isn’t just reserved for eyes.
Underpainting
This spring, expect a more subtle take on contouring. Also called the ‘Mary Phillips contour’— it’s a method popularised by Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner’s makeup artist that entails applying contour first, with concealer and foundation layered on top. The look is barely there but still makes your cheekbones pop.
No-Makeup Makeup
The Spring 2023 runway shows have declared that the new trend in makeup is actually not wearing any! Several designers including Khaite and Gabriela Hearst opted for a natural complexion look using Tata Harper’s skincare masks and treatments. Brandon Maxwell and Proenza Schouler followed suit with a no-makeup makeup look that highlighted fresh, radiant skin.
Other designers such as Fendi and Altuzarra enhanced the skin with highlights, brush strokes and bronzer, while maintaining a dewy finish on the lips. It’s clear that a well-executed skincare routine is essential to achieving the perfect, effortless look. At Missoni, models looked natural but polished, with a slight flush on the cheek.
Smokey Eyes
The smokey eye trend has been around for a long time, but it’s making a major comeback this spring. At Jason Wu’s show, makeup icon Diane Kendal and her team created a modern version using products from Jason Wu Beauty. They added an angular wing to give the look an extra edge. And smokey eyes don’t always need to be done in shades of black and grey. We love a warmer take on the classic look as well.
Super Blush
As seen at Christian Cowan, a heavy-handed, ‘80s-style blush application can elevate any makeup look in minutes. “It’s all about performative glamour,” designer Christian Cowan said in a statement. “It’s the place glamour’s ability for self expression and its ability to hide our true identity intersect.
The colour story is more is more; layering blushes and berry tones to create a prismatic theatrical look.” Blush was definitely not subtle at Etro, where it took on an almost video game-like quality.
‘90s Supermodel
“My inspiration for this look is 90s beauty and style icon Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy,” Sandy Liang SS23 lead makeup artist Carolina Dalí-Trites said in a statement. “It’s a modernised version of her effortless and minimalist makeup style. Satin skin that’s matte on the centre of the face and glowy elsewhere, an effortless brown lip and natural brows.” Dali used a range of ILIA products to pull the show’s final makeup looks together.
The ‘90s colour palette of browns, bronzes, and taupes doesn’t have to feel dated when done in new textures and finishes. With the soft smokey eye and muted lip, the look at Philipp Plein was ’90s supermodel.
Super Dew
This season is also all about radiant, dewy skin with plenty of highlighter to channel an ethereal glow-from-within look. Skin doesn’t have to be glittery to glow. Instead of traditional highlighter, try a skincare-makeup hybrid that boosts skin’s luminosity right away and over time.
Pops Of Colour
At Alice + Olivia’s NYFW presentation, bright eye colours accented the designer’s vibrant SS23 collection. Trade basic black for an eyeliner with a little more punch. Trust us, you’ll never look back.
Barely There Brows
Take one out of Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Sofia Richie’s book and capitalise on the barely there brow trend that sees bleached brows at the forefront. An easy trick to recreate this without actually bleaching your hair is to use a long-wear, full-coverage concealer. We recommend using a clean mascara wand or comb to pick up a minimal amount of concealer and begin combing against your brow hair — this will place an intense amount of product not only at the root of your brow hair, but also on the skin underneath for a cohesive application.
Grunge Throwback
Messy, lived-in eye makeup will have a strong resurgence this spring. Imperfection is the key to the ‘90s grunge aesthetic, characterised by smudgy, punk-rock eyeliner, heavy mascara, and dark lipstick. This trend is perfect for so many as this look calls for a done yet undone effect.
While graphic eyes or cat eyes may require more patience and perfection, this trend is meant to look imperfect. Meaning, a quick, on-the-go application is all it takes to master this trend. Dior and Tom Ford sure seem to have this locked down for the runway.
