Reinvention is often associated with the new year, but a low-lift way to try something different without the pressure? Makeup! We reached out to four pros across the country for their thoughts on the trends we’ll be seeing on our social feeds and IRL. Spoiler alert: we’ll be taking a trip back to the ’90s and ’00s.
Fine line
The subversive skinny brows that last saw a resurgence in the ’90s have come back to haunt us once again, thanks in part to “It Girl” Gabbriette Bechtel. According to Vancouver-based makeup artist Paula Lanzador, the thin defined brow will continue to pop up this year. If you’re keen on trying it out for yourself, she says a brow specialist can help you find a shape that is flattering for you.
Into the blue
“Blue eyeshadow has to have its turn in the spotlight,” Toronto makeup artist Alanna Fennell said. This is especially true now, given the resurgence of other ’90s hair and beauty trends like skinny brows, claw clips and lipliner. On the Spring 2025 runways, swipes of blue eyeshadow were front and centre at Marques Almeida, Luisa Beccaria and Harris Reed. According to Fennell, we can expect to see modern but wearable shades such as pale blue pearl and smoky navy.
In your face
It was a great year for blush in 2024: with singer Sabrina Carpenter as their poster girl, TikTok users embraced “blush blindness,” and beauty brands launched new takes on rouge. Toronto makeup artist Lateisha Grant says the heavy-handed washes of coral, pink or red will remain strong as a look in 2025.
Winning streak
If executing a crisp, clean cat-eye flick is not your forte, you’re in luck. Montreal-based makeup artist Shannie Jung named smudged black eyeliner as another ’00s beauty trend that will continue in 2025. Lanzador hopes black eyeshadow makes a comeback as well, and judging by the looks of Charli XCX’s “Brat”-era makeup and the fall 2024 presentations at NYFW, it just might.
Warm-up routine
Recreating a sun-kissed glow is one way to keep summer going year-round. This year, the pros predict we’ll be reaching for “blonzer,” a product that merges blush and bronzer. “[It] gives an effortless and natural flush to the face,” Fennell said. And Grant agrees: she believes the hype will only grow as we head into the warmer months and shift to liquid and cream blushes in earthy brown tones with a hint of radiance, for that signature blonzer effect.
Ice age
Both Grant and Lanzador anticipate the return of frosted eyeshadows. “Frosty eyes will be trending in the winter months and transition to subtle sparkly [or] metallic accents come the warmer months,” Grant said. Expect to see it applied over the whole lid using eyeshadow sticks, liquid shadows and pressed powders. Lanzador said it’s part of the Y2K look. which also includes a strong highlight on the brow bone. Think The Simple Life, Charlie’s Angels and Top 40 music videos of the aughts.
(Soft) Glam squad
Celebrities love “soft glam” makeup for its natural and diffused look, and it will continue to be popular this year. With a natural base, subtle contour and defined lips, it’s a flattering style, and Lanzador says makeup artists Mary Phillips, Nina Park and Emily Cheng work wonders with it on the red carpet. As for why it’ll stick around? “I think it’s the most achievable on any budget, and you don’t look overdone,” she said.
Lined up
Prominent, bold and defined lipliner has been trending for a few years, and our experts agree it’s not going anywhere. According to Lanzador, it’s the finishing touch that pulls a look together, even when you’re wearing minimal makeup. And she says people have started to blend their liner for a softer take.
Fennell also expects to see more blurred effects with natural, soft brown shades.Meanwhile, Grant says online creators might recreate experimental looks — like Pat McGrath’s silver-lined mouths on the Miu Miu runway — or try a scaled-back version. But for the everyday, we’ll stick to dark red, dark brown and even black lipliners.
Bold moves
Our experts predict a year of playful experimentation with bold colour. Take singer Chappell Roan, for example — Lanzador says she “plays it heavy” with her ’80s glam-rock look.
Jung says we’ll see vibrant shades like “berries and blues” on the eyes, cheeks and lips. Maybe a smoky blue eye paired with dark cherry lips à la Chappell or, as Jung suggests, a monochromatic look with varying tones of the same hue.
“Makeup is meant to make you feel great and to explore your own sense of style,” Jung said. “Never be scared to go off the beaten path and create new trends as well — or revisit old ones!”
