September signals the return of spring – a season of rebirth that denotes a time of fresh blooms, warmer weather, and (for our more fashionable friends) New York Fashion Week. With the change of seasons comes a change of wardrobes, both for our clothes and our bathrooms. As to what trends we can expect from the beauty world in the months to come, BD spoke to the experts:
Brows are bigger than ever
Cara Delevingne helped to bolster the trend of large brows that hadn’t been seen since Brooke Shield’s heyday, and it’s a trend Yves Saint Laurent national artist Ross Andrewartha believes will stick around. “Full, fluffy brows are here to stay! We want bold but natural brows. If you have darker hair choose a colour two shades lighter to achieve a natural full brow and if you [have] lighter hair choose a colour two shades darker to add definition and shape.” Brow products have extended far beyond the traditional eye pencil – now brands are introducing increasingly innovative waterproof, long-lasting formulas that bolster brows with applicators designed with the ease of a pen or angled liner brush.
Just look at the increasing range of brow-focused options from ’s Brows Are It line, (including the Mane Stain Waterproof Brow Cream), or the Dual Brow from . For celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, eyebrows will long remain important to beauty looks for one particular reason. She tells WWD: “Brows are the pillars of the face – they define your beauty. Eyebrows are actually the key to facial identity, they’re what makes us recognisable.”
Skin is in
Fresh-faced beauty continues to dominate the catwalks – it’s a make-up look Tilbury has seen time and time again at recent fashion weeks. She comments: “A juxtaposition, or contrast between the make-up and the clothes really brings modernity to the total look – and a fresh minimalist natural look to the face really does this – which is what we’re seeing with the current natural make-up trend that we’ve seen on many of the recent runways.” Andrewartha agrees that the more ‘naked’ the skin the better. He explains what beauty trends we can expect: “‘Skin realism’ is my word for this season’s skin. We are looking at invisible, dreamy skin – the 'no make-up make-up', raw, organic skin that gleams with radiance. The art of highlighting is everything this summer. But subtle, fresh, natural highlighting – not sparkles and dark contours!” Says Perdis: “Skin should look like skin, with a natural matte finish. Opt for foundations that have a nod to skincare or better yet a skincare base to their formula. These types of formulas are also great for summer as they’re quick and easy to apply and don’t feel heavy on those long, balmy summer days.”
Duong agrees, saying: “A fresh and ‘barely there’ base [is on trend] which I absolutely love. Get your skin in its best condition and gorgeously glowing with a serum – the workhorse to any skincare regimen. I always steer towards a super lightweight yet hydrating formula during the warmer weather… there’s a real emphasis on flawless skin for S/S17.”
It’s about naked skin, but one without blemishes, with the trend to fall reliant on light concealer, highlighter hybrids like Yves Saint Laurent’s Touche Éclat and Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter. Perdis suggests: “If you’ve got a pimple or need a little more coverage in an area, use a concealer to perfect, the finish is more natural and you won’t feel weighed down with coverage all over.” Tilbury is also a believer in the longevity of the highlighted skin trend. “One trend I know will remain, is beautiful, highlighted skin. When juxtaposed with a bold lip or a statement eye, glowing luminous skin keeps the look fresh and modern,” she says. It’s a trend that has long established itself in the marketplace with highlighters now considered a mainstay in every beauty bag. The highlighter palette is an increasingly appealing option to consumers, with brands such as Nude by Nature introducing one-stop destinations for contouring and highlighting alike.
Soft eyes, strong lips
Tea bags are no longer just for drinking, with a tea stain predicted to sweep eye make-up trends in coming seasons. Says Andrewartha: “Tea bag-stained eyes are a must for spring/summer and the Australian girl! This season’s trend is about soft, sheer and beautiful skin.” He says the key for consumers is being brave: “These sepia, nutty caramel tones are new to some people but don’t be scared – get inventive as these colours can be really complimentary. Introducing these earthy hues on the eyes adds a real feminine touch.” The look should be about ease continues Perdis, “It’s all about effortless eyes – the ‘slept-in’ kohl liner (which was seen at Phillip Lim’s NYFW S/S17 show), white liner to instantly open and brighten your peepers or an absolute fave, the subtle sheen of a glossy lid, which was absolutely perfected at Marchesa’s NYFW S/S17 show. Our Matte Kajal liner is officially the easiest product to use for a kohl smokey eye – line, smudge and voila – you’re ready to go.” It’s about building up pigment so the look is more of a wash rather than an intense block of colour, agrees Andrewartha: “It doesn’t take much to achieve this look, adding these colours into your crease is a great start which you can eventually build on, even swapping your black pencil for a brown for soft definition. ”
In direct contrast of a soft eye is a trend expected to continue from previous months – the statement lip. A punchy pout of classic red or trendy berry has continued to be visible on the world’s catwalk and will remain a key trend, correlating with a rise in liquid lipsticks and heralded by celebrities including Kylie Jenner. “Statement lips are definitely a must this season, deeper reds, but my most favourite would have to be the vampy oxblood. This statement piece would definitely be a signature this season,” says Andrewartha. He agrees liquid lipstick in particular has not yet reached its popularity threshold, with the trend influencing the latest lip development from YSL. “Liquid lipsticks are the go-to this season! The new YSL Vinyl Cream offers high impact long-lasting colour and the end result looks like a three-dimensional gloss. They're easy to wear and apply – they're a must-have for everyone this season!”
