Makeup Artists Say These Looks Will Be Outdated in 2025
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Having been a beauty editor for six years, I've got a pretty strong eye for the makeup trends that'll stick. Like, I knew the second I spotted "clean girl makeup" on my FYP that we'd be in it for the long haul. (Everyone's obsessed with being a ~pink pilates princess~ and keeps selling out every bronzing drop dupe that launches. It wasn't all that shocking.) But I also can pick up on what's slowly fading out of style just as easily. And in 2025, there are a few makeup trends I predict we'll be ditching. Listen, it's not that they didn't look good. They're just a lil outdated now. Instead, we'll be upgrading our looks for something a bit cooler, according to experts.
Granted, if there's anything I've learned, nothing truly goes out of style. Sure, we might be "over" the 2016 warm-toned smokey eye in 2024, but it'll always come back around. The Juicy Couture tracksuit you swore you'd never wear again after middle school? Already back. Same goes for makeup trends. So if one of the below trends is your absolute go-to, keep wearing it. "I strongly believe there are no rules in makeup," says makeup artist Carolina Gonzalez. "I find beauty and inspiration in all of it." But if you do want to update your look in 2025, keep scrolling for our picks:
Sharp Contour
Here's the thing: It's not that contour is completely dead. It's just different now. It doesn't have to be the same intense, opaque look we sought after years ago. Not only does this go against the light, airy makeup look of 2025, it clashes with the overall vibe of beauty today that's less planned-out and intentional.
Instead: Soft Sculpt
In 2025, contour looks more like a gentle swipe of a light bronzer versus a whole dedicated contour product. It's easier, and much more simplistic, requiring far fewer steps and products. The formulas are ultra-soft and blendable and often in sticks that you can just swipe on, like Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus and Ciele Sculpt and Protect. Or they give you the ability to extend your glow a lil longer with some extra self-tanning, re: the Dolce Glow Contour Self-Tanning Sculpt and Glow.
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Food Trends
"The trend that needs to die is the makeup/food correlations," says makeup artist Daniel Martin. Latte eyes, cinnamon bun girl, cherry cola lips—we're over all of it. It was cute at first, and potentially even a great way to get the beauty novice to feel like they could participate in beauty trends. But now, "everyone's just copying one micro trend after the other," says makeup artist Donni Davy. "It kind of cheapens self-expression and makeup because everyone's doing the same things."
Instead: A Move Toward Individuality
"It's so freeing and so fun to find your signature thing," says Davvy, like a sharp wing, a strong lined lip, a glowy cheek, or a glittery eye. Whatever makes you you—stick with it. Forget the trends, she says. "When can being different become cool again?" she adds. In 2025, think about makeup from a self-expression lens that isn't so tailored to how traditionally "attractive" something makes you look. Going against the grain will feel like the "it" thing again.
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Extremely bright under-eyes
Gone are the days of packing on a full-coverage concealer two to three shades lighter than your face in a giant triangle under your eyes. That ultra-highlighted look not only feels a bit dated, but it can actually emphasize darkness and bags once it starts getting cakey and dry.
Instead: Shimmery Under-Eyes
Your under-eye bags are kind inevitable, so just let 'em be. Maybe dab on a little bit of Fenty Beauty Bright Fix Eye Brightener Concealer or Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener to help disguise them a little bit. But dare I say, in 2025, we'll just be embracing them with some shimmer.
At 3.1 Phillip Lim spring/summer '25, makeup artist Fara Homidi used gave models a hint of shimmer on their inner corner of their eyes to add brightness without necessarily covering up their darkness or under-eye bags. "I used a brightened lavender SheGlam powder to freshen up the look," she says versus going into a grunge territory while still adding an editorial effect. To make this easier, use a teeny tiny shader brush to pack on shadow. And if there's some shimmer fall-out? Let it happen. It's all part of the look, bb.
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Fake Freckles
While a few subtle fake freckles here and there will never fully go out of trend, a full face covered in them just gives off a costume effect these days. Not only does this look take a lot of time and precision, it's also just doesn't jive with the other fresh, glowy trends we'll be seeing in 2025. Which brings us to...
Instead: All-Over Flush
Gonzalez has gone viral time and time again for the blushy, glowy cheeks she's created on Sabrina Carpenter. And this flush will extend beyond the apples in 2025. We're talking noses, foreheads, and chins covered in pinks, dusty rose, mauve, and berry tones, depending on your skin tone.
To create the look, Gonzalez is a huge fan of mixing the Armani Cheek Tints in different shades on theback of her hand, then applying with her fingers or a sponge. "To add glow, I then dab on the Armani Luminous Silk Acqua Highlighter on the peaks of the cheekbones," she adds.
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Soap Brows
We hate to say it, but the laminated, brows-that-could-read-heaven look is over. Bushy, full eyebrows will never be out of trend, though. Instead, it's all about how they're styled.
Instead: Subtle Brows
Gabbriette said it first: May your hearts be full and your eyebrows be thin. And while not everyone will be following suit on the razor-thin brow trend per se, we can confidently say brows are getting thinner, straighter, and less pronounced. You don't have to pluck or tweeze your ultra-bushy brows, though. Instead, just grab a clear brow gel and gently brush them together to create a softer shape. We're big fans of a soft wax, like Benefit Fluff Up Brow Flexible Brow-Texturizing Wax or Kulfi Free The Brow Volumizing & Laminating Brow Gel—they'll help hold your eyebrows in place all day without adding any crunch.
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Meet the experts:
Daniel Martin is a makeup artist based in New York, NY. He's known for his work on celebrities, including Meghan Markle.
Donni Davy is a makeup artist based in Los Angeles, CA. She was the head of makeup for Euphoria, which earned her an Emmy. She's also the founder of Half Magic, a makeup brand about self-expression and individuality.
Carolina Gonzalez is a celebrity makeup artist based in New York. New York whose worked with Sabrina Carpenter, Ashley Park, and Blake Lively.
Fara Homidi is a makeup artist based in New York, NY. She is the founder of her own namesake brand, but also works with other brands for editorials and runway shows.
Why trust 'Cosmopolitan'?
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from concealers for acne to "no makeup" makeup. She's an authority in all makeup categories, but is an expert when it comes to makeup trends after sitting front row at NYFW (humblebrag), interviewing some of the biggest names in the business, and chatting away with experts on set.
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