Twenty twenty-three was undeniably a solid year for beauty trends. We saw the rise of food-centric makeup looks like "latte makeup" and "strawberry girl makeup." We saw "clean girl" beauty reach a crescendo. We saw faux freckles everywhere. It was a wild year marked by specific aesthetics thanks to TikTok trends.
As beauty editors, we've been privy to many of the trends before they've hit the mainstream. Now that 2023 is reaching a close, we're looking back on the trends that we think should begin to fade in 2024, and looking forward to what they should be replaced with. Keep reading for our best trend predictions.
Out: Super-Sleek HairstylesIn: Messy Buns
Honestly, I live for a slicked-back bun. In fact, if my hair had a Spotify wrapped for 2023, it would probably be my most-worn hairstyle. At the end of the day, however, I think they've become a little played out—super-sleek styles don't feel as fresh as they used to. I'll still opt for a sleek style every once in a while, but I think 2023 will be all about embracing your hair's natural texture and pulling it into looser, more playful styles that still have structure (we saw this shift beginning to happen at Fashion Week this fall). Think face-framing tendrils, hair purposely being left out of buns, and less reflective shine.
Out: "Precious" Hair Accessories
In: Hair Sticks
"Don't get me wrong—I am still very much into claws, clips, scrunchies, and headbands, but I'm having major fatigue with hair accessories that are overly 'precious' via butterflies, flowers, stars, etc. Instead, I think elegant, ballet-inspired adornments will emerge as a starring trend in 2024. We already know ribbons will be huge, but I also see chic hair sticks gaining major momentum. The playful, Y2K influence is still there, it just feels a little more chic and a little less juvenile than some of the stylized accessories we've seen in the past year or two. (I'm obsessed with Tidal's handmade sticks which are already becoming popular among celebrities and their hairstylists.)" —Erin Jahns
Out: Extreme Micro Trends In: Simple Pops of Color
"Maybe this is a hot take, but I'm kind of over people naming every hair hue, makeup look, or nail color after some kind of obscure dessert (sorry!). Don't get me wrong—micro trends are definitely fun and we can thank TikTok for giving us so many options. While I do love a good name like 'black cherry' for a pretty hair hue, the latest renditions have gotten a little out of control. It might be wishful thinking that this will stay in 2023, but I had to throw it out there anyway. We saw a lot of simple pops of color on the SS24 runways and I hope to see more of it throughout 2024. A bold statement lip, eyeliner, or eye shadow can add so much to a simple makeup look. A blue winged liner or purple lip is the perfect way to experiment with color without going too overboard (unless you want to!)."—Shawna Hudson
Out: Muted/Cool-Toned Hair Colors
In: Warmer, Brighter Hair Colors
"I was recently talking to my hairstylist about how cool-toned hair colors seemed to be the standard throughout the last few years. Whether it was ash blonde or a gray-toned brown, I feel like almost everyone has opted for hair color on the cooler side of the spectrum. She agreed. Lately, though, we've noticed that the tides are turning. Maybe it's thanks to the copper hair trend, but we've been seeing (and loving) warm, decadent hair colors. Think golden blonde, sun-kissed brown, and everything in between. As someone who always requests warm tones, I'm selfishly hoping to see more of this trend in the New Year."—Kaitlyn McLintock
Out: Clean-Girl Makeup
In: Color Play
"As much as I love the effortless makeup that TikTok has associated with the clean-girl aesthetic over the past couple of years, I'm missing the eye-catching and colorful makeup looks of the 2010s! I've been loving the Y2K beauty trends that draw from more youthful and 'precious' details, but I've also been noticing a major rise in incorporating pops of color (cherry red is still going strong). In 2024, I'm hoping to see makeup looks that are as bright and energetic as the people wearing them."—Maya Thomas
