Looking back on the past 12 months of beauty—set against a backdrop of extreme highs and lows in the news—a rather provocative spirit shines through. It was the year of cosmetic excess, of wonderfully weird wellness and a freewheeling, anything-goes approach that seemed to defy the odds. Here, 13 dazzling trends that defined 2016 and happily suggest there are brighter things on the horizon.
Glitter Went Everywhere
The velvet ruby-slipper mouths at Atelier Versace’s Fall 2016 show, designed by directional makeup artist Pat McGrath, embodied the year’s explosion of glitter—no longer reserved for the eye, but slathered on lips and along dark roots. An unorthodox sparkle has even become a bit of everyday adornment, as a few flecks of gold pressed onto the lid or lip by Solange Knowles (shown) and other social media stars.
Delicate Décolleté
Chokers and off-the-shoulder tops were ubiquitous on street style stars, putting newfound attention on the décolletage—and turning a well-hydrated neck and gleaming collarbone into the year’s best stealth accessories.
The Pregnancy Body RevealForget the post-baby body reveal: Victoria’s Secret Angels Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo (shown) led the charge to embrace the inherent beauty of pregnancy, showcasing their bikini-clad bumps on Instagram in all their feminine glory.
Red Eyeshadow Went Mainstream
When did a serious case of red-eye become cool? When unconventional It girls like Soko (shown) took to smearing crimson pencil haphazardly across the lids, inadvertently making the case for devil-may-care beauty done right.
The Long Manicure
In direct response to the minimal nude nail, a long set of acrylics became the year’s most coveted manicure. Beloved by Rihanna and Adele in shapely fire-engine red, the extreme style stole the show at Balenciaga’s Spring 2017 show, where nail artist Mei Kawajiri outfitted models with OTT blinged-out confections that drove social media wild.
The Death of Waxing
Say goodbye to the Brazilian. A full bush has become a feminist, laissez-faire alternative to waxing, bolstered by support from artist Petra Collins and Broad City’s Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, who have voiced support for women’s right to groom—or not groom—as they like.
Everyone Took a Social Media Break
Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid: Countless high-profile celebrities decided to sign off of their social media accounts and unplug this year, shining a spotlight on the importance of self-care and taking time for yourself, whoever you are.
The BFF Workout
This year, best friend fitness ruled the workout world, from partner classes to sparring bouts in the boxing ring. Then there were Victoria’s Secret Angels Jasmine Tookes and Josephine Skriver (shown), whose cult Joja Instagram account gave two gloriously toned reasons to lean on a friend and try leg lifts in tandem.
Body Positivity
Ashley Graham (shown) had a banner year. From her historic Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue cover to the debut of her own Barbie—whose thighs she demanded touch—the supermodel became an outspoken voice in the body positivity movement, alongside rising stars like Barbie Ferreira, who stood up for her stretch marks on Instagram.
Makeup-Free Selfies
From Alicia Keys (shown) to Adele, a barefaced selfie became a power move for celebrities, an authentic display of come-as-you-are confidence that felt like a breath of fresh air.
The Body-Shaming Backlash
When Cara Delevingne (shown) hit back at a British tabloid that claimed she had been banned from the 2014 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show—for being bloated, of all things—it came as yet another thoughtful celebrity response to body-shaming, as Daisy Ridley, Gigi Hadid, Serena Williams, Jennifer Lawrence, and more stars took to social media to take a stand against it.
The ’80s Came Back
Following seasons of romantic ’70s beauty, ’80s excess came roaring back into the picture this year, best demonstrated by the methodical draping of blush. As seen on Kristen Stewart (shown), the bold contour and color arrived to challenge soft, pretty convention and prove that a full face of makeup was back in vogue.
Everyone Bought Crystals
Though plenty of wacky wellness trends swept the industry this year, none felt more pervasive than the rise of crystals—an accessible, pretty piece of New Age wellness that made its way into sound baths, energy tights, and all points in between.
