Make-up trends rarely reinvent the wheel, but they do have a habit of subtly evolving from year to year. Where 2024 championed feathery brows and balletcore blusher, 2025 is gearing up for a return to the millennium. Think cherry-red lips with a Y2K twist, high-gloss skin that blurs the line between skincare and make-up, and – yes – even a potential return to thinner brows.

To pinpoint exactly what’s set to define beauty in the coming year, we spoke to celebrity make-up artists Buster Knight, Karl Hodson and Jamie Coombes, and uncovered what people are searching for via Pinterest Predicts 2025, the platform’s annual prediction report. Whether you’re ready to embrace the Y2K revival or simply looking for ways to refine your routine, these seven trends are here to inspire your next beauty evolution…

Glossy, glazed and even ‘donut’ skin have been trends for the last few years, but in 2025, a glazed base will be acting as a soft, blank canvas for all the fun make-up to come. “The make-up trends for 2025 combine natural radiance with pops of colour and a touch of retro glam,” says Jamie Coombes, Dior make-up international pro artist. “Use cream and liquid highlighters, such as the Dior Forever Glow Maximizer, on the high points of the face to achieve a luminous, youthful glow. The focus is creating fresh, glowing skin that looks hydrated and healthy.”

According to Pinterest Predicts 2025 trends, 2025 is set to be the year of the make-up mood ring. “Gen Z and boomers are driving this high hue look that’s all about homing in on a colour aesthetic and flaunting it from chin to cheek.” 

“We expect to see people be more expressive with their make-up in 2025,” says Sydney Stanback, global head of trends and insights at Pinterest. “That’s what ‘aura beauty’ is all about – people will find a colour that most reflects their own aura and harness its power to express their individuality.” Searches for ‘full-colour make-up eyes’ and ‘purple blush make-up’ are both up (365% and 30% respectively) – it’s “a hyper-personal and fun approach to beauty”, says Stanback.

If there was ever a year for blusher, 2024 was it – and the trend is expected to continue through to 2025. “From what we saw on the catwalk, a big trend in 2025 will be blush and bronzer that replicates the look of being out in the sun all day,” explains Karl Hodson, Laura Mercier’s head of artistry. 

“This blush application isn’t apologetic – it makes a statement and stretches across the expanse of the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose in rich reddish pink shades with bronzer to add extra warmth. This should be applied to perfected but natural skin – time to swap the full coverage foundation for a lighter tinted moisturiser.”

‘Sea witchery’ is another Pinterest-fuelled trend predicted for 2025. “Dark, edgy beauty is the next new thing with Gen Z and millennials diving into sultry siren make-up, wet wavy hair and moody mermaid manicures,” says Stanback.

“People will bring this to life through opalescent eye shadows and high shimmer cheeks, matched with wet hair waves and 3D chrome nails,” he adds.

While the last few years have been all about creating a soft and subtle eye look – think brown mascara and barely-there liner – 2025 is expected to see a return of bolder, more graphic eye looks. “Retro eyeliner will make a strong comeback,” predicts Coombes. “The liner will define the eyes, whether sharp or smudged, allowing room for creativity, I recommend the Diorshow On Stage Liner.”

Nineties beauty trends have been all over social media for the last few years, so it makes sense that in 2025 we’ll make a move forward into the next decade. “Think pastel eyeshadows, frosted lipsticks and little to no base for spring 2025,” says celebrity make-up artist Buster Knight. “We’ve definitely seen a move away from the 90s, and with so many cool Y2K nostalgia hits in music, TV and fashion, make-up is bound to follow suit.”

It might feel like every millennial’s worst nightmare but it might be time for skinny brows to officially make a return. “I’ve definitely seen this coming around already, but I think thinner brows may be about to come back big time,” says Knight. “Thick, brushed-up gel brows are out – it’s time for something a little softer.”

While Carly Utting, Mac’s global senior artist, predicts that December will be the month for cranberry make-up, Pinterest data tells us that the colour trend will reach right through to the new year. “Gen Z and millennials will infuse cherries into their make-up this coming year with searches for cherry-coloured hues up across the board.” Searches for ‘cherry vibe’ are up 325% while the colour ‘dark cherry red’ is up 235%, suggesting that we can expect to see bright berry colours coming through in everything from lipstick, nails and blusher. 

“‘Cherry-coded’ will see many embrace the playful and tart nature of this shade, which is set to dominate make-up looks for the next year,” says Stanback.

Images: Getty