The Beauty Forecast: Expect to See These Beauty Trends in 2023

As we enter a new year in beauty, we delved into a little forecast on trends that are set to take over our feeds and in real life

And just like that, a new era of beauty is upon us. It’s expected that an influx of makeup products, skincare practices, nail designs, and haircut ideas are set to up the future beauty ante, making now the perfect time to do a little foresight on what to expect in the upcoming year. As luck would have it, the Spring/Summer 2023 showcase left multiple easter eggs on what is yet to come. 

Minimal makeup formats as seen on Bottega Venetta and Proenza Schouler’s runway are etched on the beauty monolith for good. It’s easy to envision that a new skin-focused iteration will follow the arrival of the clean girl aesthetic and glazed beauty. Meanwhile, a more experimental and expressive play on makeup is predicted to create a new aesthetic that will extend the legacy Euphoria left in the industry. A wave of ‘90s classic trends is also anticipated to make their way back this year. But then again, who knows? Only time can tell. 

The rest might still be left unwritten, but one thing is for sure: there is so much joy in beauty again. Ahead, we listed the biggest beauty trends set to take over this year. 

Skin-focused makeup 

Skincare-forward makeup formats like clean girl aesthetic and glazed beauty will continue to front the beauty headline for the year. Perhaps a new approach to siren beauty or vampire skin is set to make a stronger comeback. Anything can happen, but a key takeaway here is that the focus will remain on a hydrated healthy complexion with a kiss of a glossy finish. Meanwhile, expect more skincare-infused makeup products in the market and wellness-minded campaigns on your feed by next year. 

Soft grunge glam

Donatella Versace’s Spring/Summer 2023 runway hinted that the ‘90s subtle grunge makeup is scheduled for a revival. A muted version of goth makeup, soft grunge glam denotes a wearable iteration of the category that focuses on light swishes of deeper eyeshadows on the lids, and statement plums or neutral-toned hues on the lips. It’s edgy, sultry, and sexy—a perfect choice for anyone who wants to embrace their dark feminine energy for this year. 

It-girl beauty 

Many trends have reflected a lot of ideas from the ‘90s to the early 2000s, including the original it-girl’s low-maintenance approach to beauty. It’s quite reminiscent of the looks seen on Chloë Sevigny, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Leighton Meester. It-girl beauty denotes a skin-focused base makeup that is minimally enhanced by a pink-toned blush and a swish of highlighter. Eyebrows are lightly sculpted by a gel or a pen while eyelashes are defined by a volumizing mascara. As for the lips, a swipe of a tinted balm brings a beautiful wash of color. 

Ghost brows and lips

Hailed as a wearable version of the bleached brows, the ghost iteration is achieved by using a shade that is closer to your complexion. It delivers a barely-there look that is visible enough to frame the face and at the same time, light enough to give your feature an editorial edit. Meanwhile, ghost lips refer to a look that mimics the lips’ natural color. A mix of your selected lip product and clear balm creates the perfect formula, while the dabbing technique allows the color to render seamlessly. 

Revenge of the mattes

Matte lipsticks are back with a vengeance. A twist to the classic, the lip product is now focused on a non-drying formulation that leaves the same lush, velvety, high-impact finish. It’s quite sultry and luxurious compared to other variations, making it the perfect product to complete a subtle glam or casual look. It also has the ability to instantly define the lips. And if that is not enough to convince you, most matte lipsticks are kiss-proof. 

Return of the sides 

Aside from matte lipsticks, classic hairstyles like side parts and side fringes are anticipated to make a big comeback this year. Personalities like Emily Ratajkowski, Dua Lipa, and Miley Cyrus have indicated its return as they embraced the hair look from the early aughts. But who can blame them? Trends are cyclical. And besides, side parts and side bangs can easily be adapted to flatter any face shape or forehead size. Take Pia Wurtzbach’s MEGA December 2022 cover shoot, for example. Here, her pixie cut received a fresh update with wispy side fringes. 

Featured Image RJ DELA CRUZ (via Instagram)
Photography MEETKESO
Makeup JAKE GALVEZ
Hair RJ DELA CRUZ
Styling ADRIANNE CONCEPCION and STYLED BY VINCE