In the year 2024, our makeup aspirations narrow down to one key desire. Whether it’s achieving an airbrushed flush, rocking ombré lips, or defining eyes with striking eyeliner, experts anticipate that the prevailing theme in 2024 makeup trends will revolve around simplicity and emphasis on singular focal points. According to Tasha Reiko Brown, a makeup artist based in Los Angeles, the shift is away from complex looks that demand intricate steps, paving the way for more user-friendly products and application techniques.

Simplicity doesn’t equate to giving up on bold makeup, and it doesn’t require incorporating a smoky eye, contoured cheeks, and bold lipstick simultaneously. (You also don’t need to resort to bleaching or bedazzling your brows, a trend that dominated 2023.) Ahead, makeup artists divulge precise techniques on how to achieve more impactful looks with fewer steps this year.

Makeup Trends: Draw the Line

Ensure your high-precision eyeliners are within reach because eye makeup is taking a graphic turn. According to Brown, “Striking shapes, trendy reverse liner, and bold lines are all designed to capture attention on the eyes.” Ever since the debut of sharp winged liners at Laquan Smith’s Spring 2024 show and the marker-like striped eyeliner showcased on Jil Sander’s Spring 2024 runway, the era of our subtle cat eye seems to be eclipsed.

If you’re on the hunt for a bold inky formula to experiment with, makeup artist Sheika Daley opted for Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, tracing an arrow design on models at LaQuan Smith’s show. This is the very formula we honored as the “classic black turtleneck of liquid liners” in our 2023 Allure Best of Beauty Awards. Brown recommends starting by placing a dot just outside the eyelids as your endpoint, checking for evenness, and then drawing out from the lash line to the dot.

Related Products:

Lancôme Idôle Ultra-Precise Felt Tip Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner

Nyx Professional Makeup Super Fat Eye Marker

Makeup Trends: Better Than Bare

In 2023, skin tints took the spotlight, pushing aside heavy foundations. However, it seems we still appreciate some coverage without the weight of a cakey feel. This year, brands such as MAC, Covergirl, and Fenty Beauty have introduced sophisticated formulas that strike the perfect balance, delivering coverage without sacrificing the lightweight texture and finish we desire.

Allure editors have swiftly incorporated the new MAC Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation into their makeup routines. The editor-in-chief notes, “It melts into my skin like a moisturizer but offers enough pigment to create a more even skin tone. I can even layer a bit more under my eyes to minimize the visibility of my dark circles.”

Related Products:

MAC Studio Radiance Serum-Powered Foundation

Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blur + Smooth Tint Stick

Glossier Stretch Fluid Foundation

Makeup Trends: Get Dolled Up

Blush is making a return to the apples of the cheeks after exploring various high points on the face. Referred to as “doll blush” by experts, it imparts a youthful look and adds definition to the face, sculpting the cheekbones, according to Los Angeles-based makeup artist Patrick Ta. Instead of applying pigment in a harsh circle, which can verge into clown territory, Brown suggests blending out the edges to create a softer gradient. This approach gained popularity after the TikTok-famous ombré concealer wave, a technique used to blend highly pigmented blush with complexion products for a more natural-looking finish.

Brands such as Make Up For Ever, Patrick Ta, and Armani Beauty offer airy blushes that effortlessly create a cloud-like finish on their own. Allure editors particularly adore the Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow blush, to the extent that it earned a Best of Beauty award. Allure deputy digital director Kara McGrath expresses her appreciation, stating, “I love how easily it blends into my skin without leaving any harsh lines.”

Related Products:

Armani Luminous Silk Glow Blush

Make Up For Ever HD Skin Twist & Light 24Hr Luminous Finishing Powder

Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo

Makeup Trends: Go Monochromatic

“Pumpkin spice,” “strawberry girl,” and “latte makeup” are all terms in the TikTok lexicon referring to monochromatic makeup. According to Brown, it’s about capturing one mood with a subtle shift in tones between the lip and the face. She predicts that this trend will bring back single-color palettes and enhance the popularity of multi-use color products like Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick and Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed Matte Color for Cheek & Lip—two products that Allure editors have been incorporating into their routines.

Related Products:

Ami Colé Desert Date Cream Blush & Lip Multistick

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed

Milani The Look All Inclusive Eye and Cheek Face Palette

Makeup Trends: Swipe Bright

For several months, the spotlight has been on bleached brows and bedazzled arches. Now, it’s the turn of eyelashes to embrace a burst of color. Models at the Prada Fall 2023 show and AZ Factory Spring 2024 show fluttered long falsies in shades of blue, pink, and purple.

You don’t have to bother with falsies and glue. Modern formulas such as YSL Lash Clash and Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara, along with timeless favorites like L’Oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara, are now available in blue, green, and purple hues. These options are ideal for incorporating a playful hint of color instead of sticking to the usual black or brown.

Related Products:

YSL Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara

Half Magic Eyelectric Extreme Lengthening Mascara

L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Mascara

Makeup Trends: Ombré Lips

The ’90s are making a comeback once again, but with a contemporary twist. Ombré lips, a modernized version of the darkly-lined lip that was popular decades ago, have gained popularity on TikTok, and experts predict that this trend will continue throughout the year. “It’s all about observing your natural lip colors and enhancing them,” says Holm. She suggests applying two shades of lipstick in the same color family, but with slight variations, such as a tan brown and rusty pink, before defining the lips with liner. The Ere Perez Coco Crayon is a favorite among us, known for its saturated matte finish and seamless blending.

Related Products:

Buxom Power Line Plumping Lip Liner

Ere Perez Coco Crayon

Pat McGrath Labs SatinAllure Lipstick

Makeup Trends: Add a Pop of Color

The ongoing preference for minimal makeup doesn’t signify the disappearance of vibrant splashes altogether; the spring 2024 runways demonstrated that a single pop of color is all it takes to make a statement. Models at the Helmut Lang and Max Mara spring 2024 shows sported nothing on their faces but a subtle dash of color on the eyes or lips. At Helmut Lang, the chosen “pop” was a bold red winged eyeliner, while the Max Mara look featured an understated cherry cola lip. Experts anticipate that more individuals will enhance their barely-there base with a striking sweep of eyeshadow in a vibrant hue or a bold swipe of lipstick in a vampy shade.

Related Products:

Dior Rouge Dior Forever Liquid Lipstick in 943 Forever Shock

Urban Decay 24/7 Inks Easy Ergonomic Liquid Eyeliner Pen

In the beauty landscape of 2024, a nuanced approach to makeup is prevailing, where simplicity and bold statements coexist harmoniously. The year unfolds with a resurgence of ’90s trends, now modernized, as seen in the popularity of ombré lips and a shift towards monochromatic makeup, referred to as “Pumpkin Spice” or “Strawberry Girl.” Notably, the emphasis on ease is driving makeup trends, steering away from complex looks and heavy foundations. Skin tints are thriving, offering coverage without compromising on a lightweight feel.

Eyes take center stage with graphic eyeliners and a vibrant revival of colorful lashes, while blushes return to the apples of the cheeks, creating a sculpted yet soft effect. The ‘less is more’ philosophy extends to the lashes, with formulas like YSL Lash Clash providing colorful alternatives to traditional black mascaras. Spring runways showcase the power of a single pop of color, be it a vivid eyeshadow or a statement lip, proving that in 2024, makeup is about individual expression, effortless elegance, and a perfect blend of tradition and innovation.