10 Beauty Trends That Are Making A Comeback In 2022

Here are the biggies that are worth taking note of.

1. Skinny Eyebrows

After years of seeking out bushy, "bigger is better," à la Cara Delevingne and '80s Brooke Shields brows, it seems that the bold aesthetic has lost some of its fervor.

This means that those of us with naturally thinner arches may finally be relieved to know that thinner, arched brows are seeing a resurgence.

Yes, we are truly tired of overcompensating with products and more permanent treatments such as microblading, so this return to slimmer eyebrows almost feels like a breath of fresh air because it's less about chasing a trend and more about going with what works for you.

Think subtle enhancements over stark transformations, which is what Bella Hadid always goes for and never fails to look anything less than stunning.

But regardless of how thick or curved you decide to go, keeping your hairs in place with a flexible brow gel is always a must-do.

Product to try: Benefit Cosmetics – Gimme Brow + Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel ($24)

2. Neon Eyeshadow

What started as a small trend during the Spring 2018 runways turned into a year-round staple look for many creative beauty addicts.

However, we did see this trend plummet during 2020 and 2021 when many were focused on light, classy, Charlotte Tilbury-style eyeshadows with a bigger accent on brown, nude, and champagne notes.

But, as is often the case with trends, they go, and then they come back, which will definitely be the case for neon eyeshadow looks in 2022.

While some folks are doing more complex things with neon eye shadow, the hot trend right now is simply a swath of one bright color on the lid, with a little bit of mascara and a minimal look on the rest of the face.

Everyone from Kylie Jenner to Rihanna has been spotted wearing this trend, and it looks fabulous and striking on virtually all skin tones – something that can't be said for all colors.

Product to try: Juvia's Place – The Warrior III Eyeshadow Palette ($20)

3. Juicy Lip Gloss

If '80s makeup had a calling card, lip gloss would probably be a worthy contender.

Gloss, no doubt, had been taken over by matte formulas over the last decade, but it surely seems to be making a comeback. Even though it started in 2020 when everyone was wearing a mask and just trying to keep their lips hydrated, it evolved into an everyday look for many that remains strong in 2022.

While flashy, metallic shades dominated lip gloss back in the day, the 2022 version veers towards natural peachy and pink tones.

In any case, we're happy the lacquered shiny lip is here, and we're hoping it's here to stay.

Product to try: Fenty Beauty – Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer ($20)

4. Contouring

Contouring is another trend that seems to come and go every few years, and while it was definitely huge in 2016 and 2017, thanks to the Kardashians, it seemed to die out somewhere between 2018 and 2019.

But we're now seeing a fresh interest in this technique, especially when looking at the stunning contoured looks created by celebrity makeup artists such as Charlotte Tilbury, Priscilla Ono, and Patrick Ta.

Yup, contouring is undoubtedly picking up steam in 2022, and we’re definitely expecting to see more sculpted looks throughout this year.

Product to try: Charlotte Tilbury – Hollywood Contour Wand ($40)

5. Blush Draping

Blush draping is a technique that involves sculpting the cheeks by using blush and taking it all the way up to the temples, bridge of the nose, earlobes, and bringing it down to the sides of the neck.

This method is slowly becoming an alternative to somewhat overused highlighters, and although it first stepped on the scene in the '80s, it seems like it's going to be big in 2022 too.

“The reason the technique works so well is that it mimics a cold morning fresh-face. It’s a pretty way to harmonize your entire look,” explains makeup artist and YouTube star Wayne Goss.

If applying blush anywhere other than your cheeks sounds scary, Goss assures us that as long as you aren’t too heavy-handed, it will have an overall subtle effect.

As far as your blush choice, it’s really up to you, says Goss, but he personally leans toward shimmer. “In the ‘80s, it was matte, matte, matte, but using a blusher with shimmer is ever-so-pretty, and you get to skip the highlighter.”

Product to try: Patrick Ta – Double-Take Cremè & Powder Blush ($34)

6. Matte Makeup

Matte look never really fell out of fashion, but as is the case with a few other trends on this list, it did take a dip during 2020 and 2021, when everyone was more focused on taking good care of their skin, using less makeup, and rocking a naturally glowy look.

However, as the world is slowly getting back to normal, it's almost as if the interest for that good old heavy matte makeup look is increasing. Icons like Adele, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kylie Jenner, and Rihanna all love a matte look, and it seems like this is something we will see more of in 2022, after two years of natural glow.

Product to try: Gucci – Mat Naturel Beauty Setting Powder ($62)

7. Chunky Highlights

If there's one hair color choice that will dominate this year, it's definitely going to be the '90s chunky highlight. However, this time around, the chunky highlight has had a bit of a makeover.

Combining the original concept with other techniques such as balayage, baby lights, or face-framing, the humble chunky highlight will be everywhere, so here's something to think about if you've been itching for a change.

Product to try: Redken – Color Extend Blondage Anti-Brass Purple Hair Mask ($31)

8. The Big '70s Blowout

A voluminous, ‘70s-style blow-dry will no doubt be the biggest hairstyle of the year.

Celebrity hairstylist Luke Hersheson explains, “We’re all starting to feel the need for super-luxe, glossy, blown-out hair again." So it’s really no surprise that big, glossy blowouts are set to make a huge comeback this year. 

Maybe it’s being able to go back out and socialize again after two years of on-and-off lockdowns. For 2022, we’re talking big, bouncy, ‘90s-supermodel style volume.

Product to try: Revlon – One-Step Volumizer ($35)

9. Hair Accessories

Snap clips, butterfly clips, colorful bobby pins, bows, scarves, and padded headbands will all be a part of the cute and aesthetic way of keeping your hair in check and looking stylish on any given day in 2022.

10. '90s Style Boy Bob

Made famous by mushroom cut princes like Nick Carter from Backstreet Boys, Ritchie Neville from Five, and pretty much every member of Westlife (with an honorable nod to actors like Leonardo DiCaprio), chin-grazing, cropped bobs – a.k.a. “boy band hair” – will definitely be making a triumphant return in salons.

According to Dee Parker Attwood, owner of Wieselmann salon and Schwarzkopf Professional ambassador, this version of the boy band cut is a little *trendier* than the one you might remember.

"We're naturally moving away from blunt, sharp one-length looks and looking to embrace styles with more texture."

According to Dee, many people choose the boy band bob because this attractive cut has a masculine feel with a slight feminine twist that gives the classic style a fresh look.

It looks nice on many people, it's incredibly easy to style, and it's here to stay throughout 2022.

Closing Thoughts

Although trends come and go, we can't help but jump in on the fun and give ourselves a well-needed change after these couple of years.

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