The New Rules Of Makeup

The M.A.C global forecast will make you break your colour codes.

- Vasudha Rai

Much like fashion, beauty trends, too, come full circle. Think about it. Darkly outlined lips that were a fashion fail till the early 2000s metamorphosed into last year’s much loved ombre pout. Blue eye shadow, that star of the ’80s, has had a fabulous return in the last two years. But while colour in itself is hardly newsworthy, upcoming trends reflect big changes in how they will be used.

One overarching change is that makeup and hair are more ‘fluid’. Instead of one look that defines a decade, new makeup is all about individual style. You can go strong or soft or both, depending on what you feel like on a particular day. “Makeup is going through a reactionary phase,” says Gordon Espinet, senior vice president of global artist training, development, and makeup artistry, M.A.C. “It’s a rebellion against the airbrushed looks on social media, where everyone looks exactly the same.” Which means that while earlier designers set the trends and real women had to catch up, it’s now the opposite. Personal style is key. There’s also a balance of opposites: Designers are pairing tough outfits with soft makeup, and picking a don’t-mess-with-me liner for a feminine ensemble. The result: There are no absolutes, leaving room for one to tailor looks based on preference. The M.A.C global trends presentation in Berlin showed us how. Remember, you read it here first. 

THE NEW RED LIP