Hej, predivna! Spremna za malo ljepote i inspiracije?

Hey gorgeous! Ready for a little beauty and inspiration?

If you’ve been online at all in the past month, you’re probably aware of two things. One, Christopher Nolan’s much-anticipated ancient epic “The Odyssey” came out. And two, Zendaya not only starred in it, but also dominated the red carpet (and the internet) with her Athena-inspired outfits. Two makeup looks in particular have digital beauty lovers in a chokehold: a diffused, bright white inner corner on her eye, and barely-there mascara (no visible false lashes) paired with ruddy windswept blush. You could say she broke the internet TWICE in a span of mere weeks.

Not Just A Passing Trend

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a beauty moment so completely capture the public’s attention. The widespread nature of this fascination, which reaches beyond chronic makeup devotees to casual wearers, makes me think of the summer of “glazed donut nails.” As a refresher, Hailey Bieber’s light-colored chrome polish appeared on the fingers of nearly every influencer and many manicure-enjoyers in 2022. You can still see its effects in the ever-popular option of press-on nails; most lines feature a pearly Hailey-inspired option to this day. But this blushing “bare” skin phenomenon also feels slightly different. What is it about this look that is so noteworthy? Is this a shift towards more truly natural makeup looks? And most relevantly of all: what does it all mean for those of us in the industry?

A Shift In Beauty

Zendaya is not the only tastemaker sporting this trend; it girls Alexa Demie and Gabriette Bechtel have also been spotted at high profile events with no false lashes and relatively natural-looking skin. Recent trending conversations about extremely perfected, “uncanny valley” beauty – the clearly Botoxed, false lash-y formula that defined beauty in the first half of the 2020s – seem to have finally made their mark; cosmetic work and makeup alike is getting more undetectable, creating a look of deceptively natural perception. And while of course every person should engage in whatever makeup, treatments, or procedures that make them feel best, there is no denying that there is a much wider cultural impact of these individual decisions, especially for women. 

The Big Picture

So what’s the good news? Luckily, there are several pieces. To start with, blush lovers can once again rejoice. This decade has seen the highest interest in the cheek product in years, and these skin-forward looks are cementing that demand. To get more abstract, however, this is cracking the door for a wider definition of beauty. I am extremely passionate about celebrating authentic identity, whether that means age, race, gender expression, or any combination of the defining parts of ourselves. Seeing makeup trends sway even slightly towards more naturalistic looks that emphasize individuality over an over-perfected, one-size-fits-all formula is unbelievably refreshing and exciting. Even though these celebrities have different tools, techniques, and (ultimately) lifestyles that help them to look more naturally refreshed than the average person, the exposure to more authentic facial characteristics is undoubtedly having a positive effect on beauty lovers. 

However, there is something more important to keep in mind. No matter what the trends are, uniqueness, authenticity, and our natural faces are ALWAYS in style – and if you ask me, much more compelling than trying to be another person’s version of “perfect.” If this excitement over an eyebag-friendly makeup look has proved us anything, it’s that authenticity is irresistible and something to be celebrated. And that includes embracing what sets us apart. I hope you’re feeling as inspired as I am to view our own “imperfections” in a new light. They’re not flaws; they’re markers of character, of personality, and of that undeniable essence that makes each one of us, one of a kind.

Ljubav, sjaj i poljupci!

Love, shine, and kisses!