How you’ll be wearing your makeup in 2020

It’s a whole new decade, so you bet there’s a wave of new and exciting things to do with your makeup. From coloured liner and stick-on gems to glossy lids and glowing skin, we tapped three of Sydney’s top makeup artists to find out how we’ll be wearing our makeup this year. Trust us, take ALL the notes.

#1 / Highlighting over shading 

Put down that contouring kit, babe. This year we’re going less Kim Kardashian and more Alicia Keys on the base front. Think light, dewy, I-just-drank-four-litres-of-water kinda look. “From recent Hollywood red carpets, we can see there is a big push for ‘non-touring’ - the no-makeup makeup look, with so much skin goodness and glow as a theme,” reveals celebrity makeup artist Michael Brown.

Worried that ditching the contouring kit will make your face look like an *actual* potato? Because same. But, don’t worry - there are a heap of other ways you can accentuate your features. “You can still create definition and shape to the face without going full contour. It’s about the shades you use, the right texture for your skin, and of course, blending,” Brown says. “Concentrate on highlighting over shading. Highlighting gives a lifting and a plumping effect. When used correctly, this also gives the illusion of facial structure.” For a serious multitasker that can be used on the face, eyes and lips, we love CHANEL Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in Sculpting.

If you’re still not sold on swapping out contouring for highlighting, Brown suggests going for a softer, less-structured application when using your bronzer. “[You can] still use your favourite bronzer underneath your cheekbone for face structure and lift, but rather than it being the only focus, add a blush on the apple of the cheek also to soften the look.”

#2 / Neutral tones 

Guys, the dark smoky eye is officially out. “Rather than dark, heavy shadows, we are seeing a lift in eye tones,” says Brown. He adds that taupe, caramel and even some neutralised soft pinks and peach will be the new go-tos in place of deep tone shading for the eyes. So, for the girls who always ends up going for the brown/neutral shades on their eyeshadow palette (i.e. all of us) – you’re not being boring, you’re being trendy!

Try: Lancôme Hypnose Eyeshadow Palette in 09 Fraîcheur Rosée

#3 / Sheer washes of colour

If neutral tones aren’t your thing, this is your jam! Dreamy, sheer washes of colour are having a major moment, and we’re all about it. It’s is the perfect middle ground if you love colour, but don’t want to be too OTT for the office. “We’re seeing a lot of sheer washes of colour inspired by art on the runway,” says M.A.C Global Senior Artist, Carol Mackie. “You can try this at home by adding a touch of colour to your eye makeup. Take a bright shade on your brush, dust it off lightly (by swiping it on a tissue) and then sweep the colour across the lid of the eye to create sheer-tone subtle shades."

Try: M.A.C Art Library: It’s Designer

#4 / Coloured eyeliner

If you haven’t noticed the colourful eyeliner trend yet (blue eyeliner is everywhere ATM), where have you been?! Brown says to ditch the big lashes and falsies and go for a minimal mascara look, teamed with a bright liner. “Big lashes and dark eyeliner ‘take over’ the eye, so go soft with lashes and maybe try a bit of colour for the liner so you don’t lose the eye with too much dark shade effects,” suggests Brown. “Coloured liner [can be] used in the lower lash line’s waterline to add colour or contrast to your eye colour. For upper lids, we are seeing a lot more coloured wing liner, often layered over a dark colour that is placed right at the lash line to still give lash definition.” Get in on the Pantone Colour of The Year and create a coloured eyeliner look by using Marc Jacobs Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Midnight Blue.

#5 / Metallic shadow and glossy lids

“Metallic eyes and glossy lids are big trends this year,” says Brown. Start with a metallic eyeshadow base (try a fine shimmer over glitter as it will look better under gloss), and apply an eye gloss over the top (try Kevyn Aucoin Diamond Eye Gloss) with a brush or fingers, making it as sheer or opaque as you please. 

#6 / Deconstructed eyeliner 

If you suck at trying to create the perfect winged eyeliner look, we’ve got some good news. “When it comes to trends observed at fashion week internationally, this season we are seeing a lot of black eyeliner that is deconstructed,” says Mackie. “Rather than dragging out your liner with a sharp wing, blend out your liner with a soft brush or only line the outer corners of the eye.” 

#7 / ‘Euphoria’-inspired eyes

Makeup maximalists, it’s your time to shine, because this trend is going to give you all the excuse you need to go entirely OTT. “We’re seeing makeup being used in a more playful and artistic way....2020 is the time to play!” says Mackie.

“I feel we are going to see plenty of colour and jewelled eyes, the use of glitter, or pastel candy eyes, all thanks to Euphoria,” says celebrity hair and makeup artist Mia Hawkswell. Not familiar? Euphoria is a TV series on HBO, and it has basically ushered in a new beauty era of embracing bold colours, playful lines, and a whole lot of sparkle. Spotted all over the New York Fashion Week Spring 2020 runways, it was only a matter of time before Euphoria-inspired beauty looks filtered into mainstream beauty.

To get the look, add strokes of colour to your lids (think yellow, peach and blue) and experiment with sequins and glitter around the eyes. “This look is all executed with a cool, low-key vibe – focusing on only one feature with bare skin, some lip balm, and a sweep of mascara,” explains Hawkswell. “Keep it simple - use your finger to apply [colour], and press it onto your lid. Softly bounce your finger around the edges for a soft, uneven blend. I find when I’m using colour, the less technique, rule and tools I use, the better the look turns out.” Hey, it might not replace your everyday makeup look, but it totally should be your new go-to for when you went to amp things up for a night out.

For a good mix of bold, colourful shades, try NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette in Brights. To get in on the jewelled eye look, something like the In Your Dreams Gold Zorya Face Gems will do the trick.

#8 / ‘90s lined lips

The nostalgia is hitting us hard with this one. “Natural, lip-lined lips are giving us ‘90s vibes this year [in] peach, beige, creamy nudes and soft pinks; glossy centres [with] outlined edges are all the rage. But in general, shiny lips are becoming the new way to add a plumping effect so lips don’t appear dry after long wear,” says Brown.

If you’re looking for a good nude lip liner, you can’t go past M.A.C Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare.

#9 / Glowing skin

According to the pros, skin will continue to rule makeup in 2020. “Glowing skin is universally popular, flattering and absolutely still ‘in’,” says Mackie. “We have observed a shift in the trend with [people] holding back a little on the glow and being more mindful of where they highlight, and in some instances, contour. Highlighting is becoming more paired back with more specific placement to enhance the natural cheekbones, giving a fresher and more sophisticated glow to the skin,” she says.

“From glass skin trends to just ultimate glossy and glowing complexions on red carpets and runways, it just means that instead of reaching for your foundation and concealer first, we should be thinking more about moisture, primers and natural highlighting. Glow before you add coverage,” suggests Brown.

“At the end of the day your natural skin is going to effect the makeup over the top; no matter how good the product or application is, the skin underneath makeup tells the story for long wear,” says Brown. 

#10 / Fluffy brows

Say goodbye to painstakingly drawing on your brows every morning, because undone, effortless brows are in, and strong ‘Instagram’ brows are out. “A natural-looking fluffy brow, that has been lightly filled in and built out softly, is where it’s all at,” says Hawkswell. “No squares, no hard lines, no solid dark colours.”

“Brows are fluffier than ever,” adds Brown. “The rise of the ‘soap’ brow trend is big. Using a spoolie brush with a drop of water and rubbing it on a soap bar or a soap brow product can really help brows appear fuller and fluffier.” If you’d like to give it a go, there are some handy little soap kits kicking around (made specially for your brows, of course), like BROWKo Brow Soap. 

“We still like dense brows though, so a touch of brow makeup - preferably a thin point pencil - to flick and mimic real brow hairs can fill in any gaps and add shape, especially for the peak to the tail of the brow,” says Brown.

If you’re looking for more beauty trends, check out three haircut trends that are about to be huge.

Have you tried any of these makeup looks before? Let us know in the comment section below.

Main image credit: @monikablund